A briefe memento to the present un-parliamentary junto touching their present intentions and proceedings, to depose & execute Charles Steward, their lawfull King. By William Prynne Esquire, a Member of the House of Commons, and prisoner under the Armies tyranny; who, it seemes, have levyed war against the Houses of Parliament, their quandam-masters whose Members they now forcibly take and detaine captives, during their lawfull pleasures.

A briefe memento to the present un-parliamentary junto touching their present intentions and proceedings, to depose & execute Charles Steward, their lawfull King. By William Prynne Esquire, a Member of the House of Commons, and prisoner under the Armies tyranny; who, it seemes, have levyed war against the Houses of Parliament, their quandam-masters whose Members they now forcibly take and detaine captives, during their lawfull pleasures.

Table of contents

Title page

An Ordinance for declaring all Votes, Orders, and Ordinances, passed in one or both Houses, since the force on both Houses, Iuly 26. untill the sixth of this present August, 1647. to be null and voyd.

A breif Memento to the present Vnparliamentary Iunto, touching their present intentions and proceedings to Depose and Execute CHARLES STEWARD, their law•…ull King of ENGLAND, &c.

Prov. 28. 23.

A POSTSCRIPT.

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A BRIEFE MEMENTO To the present VN-PARLIAMENTARY IUNTO, Touching their present Intentions and Proceedings, to Depose & Execute CHARLES STEWARD, their lawfull KING.

By William Prynne Esquire, a Member of the House of Commons, and Prisoner under the Armies Tyranny; who, it seemes, have Levyed War against the Houses of Parliament, their quandam-Mastersswhose Members they now forcibly take and detaine Captives, during their lawfull Pleasur [...].

PROV. 24. 21, 23. My Sonne, Feare thou the Lord and the King, and m [...]ddle not with those who are given to Change: For their calamitie shall Rise Suddenly, and who knoweth the ruine of them both?

GAL. 1. 10. If I yet pleased men, I shou'd not be the Servant of Christ.

LONDON, Printed Anno Dom. 1648.

An Ordinance for declaring all Votes, Orders, and Ordinances, passed in one or both Houses, since the force on both Houses, Iuly 26. untill the sixth of this present August, 1647. to be null and voyd.

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Die Veneris, 20. August. 1647.

VVHereas there was a Visible, Horrid, Insolent, and Actuall sorce upon the Houses of Parliament, on Munda [...] the 26. of July last, wherupon the Speakers, and many Members of both Houses of Parliament wereAnd yet never Member was then forcibly imprisond orseclused the House as above 200. are now by the Army. forced to absent themselves from the Service of the Parliament; and whereas those Members of the House could not return to sit in safety before Friday the sixt of August: It is therefore declared by the Lords & Commons in Parliament Assembled, That the Ordinance of Munday the said 26. of July, for the repealing and making voyd of the Ordinance of the 23. of the said July, for the setling of the [...] of the Citie of London, being gained by force and violence, And all Votes, Orders, Ordinances, passed in either or both Houses of Parliament, since the said Ordinance of the 26. of July, to the said sixt of August, are null and void and were so at the making thereof, and are hereby declared so to be the Parliament being under a force, and not free. Provided alwayes, and be it Ordained, That no person or persons shall be Impeached or punished for his or their actions by, or upon, or according to the aforesaid Votes, Orders, or Ordinances, unlesse he or they shall be found guiltie of contriving, acting, or abetting the aforefaid visible and actuall force, or being present at, or knowing of the said force, did afterwards act upon the Votes so forced or were guilty of entring into, or promoting the late Ingagement for bringing the King to the Citie, upon the [...]armes and conditions expressed in his Majesties Letter of the 12. of May last.

John Brown Cler. Parliamentorum:

A breif Memento to the present Vnparliamentary Iunto, touching their present intentions and proceedings to Depose and Execute CHARLES STEWARD, their law [...]ull King of ENGLAND, &c.

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Gentlem [...],

IT is the observation of King Solomon, Pro. 25. 11. That a word spoken in due season, is like Apples of Gold and Pictures of Silver. And seeing I (and above two hundred Members more) being forcibly secluded from you by the Officers of the Armies unparale [...]d violence upon our Persons and the House, cannot speake my mind [...]reely to you in, or as the House of Commons, I held it my duty freely to write my thoughts unto you, only as private P [...]rsons under a force, consulting in the House, without your Fellow-Members advice or concurrence, about the speedy deposing and execu [...]ing of KING CHARLES, your lawfull Soveraigne, to please the Generall, Officers, and Grand Councell of the Army [...] (who have unjustly usurped to them the supreame authority both of King and Parliament) or rather the [...] suits and Popish Priests among or neare them, by whose Councells they and you are now wholly swayed, and whose trayterous designes you really execute, in most of your late Votes and Actings. [...] Cook. 3. Institu. 4. [...]. Stam-for [...]d Plea of [...]c Crown. 1. 1, c. 1. 2.

I have onely a few words of consideration to impart unto you: Dictum sapienti s [...]t est.

First, I shall minde you, that by the * Common Law of the Realme, the Statute of 25. E. 3. and all other Act [...] concerning Treason, it is [Page] no lesse then High Treason, fór any Man by over-Act, to compasse or imagine the depositio [...], or death of the King, or of his eldest Son and Heire, though it be never executed; much more if actuasly accomplished. That many have bin arraigned, conde [...]ned, executed for such intended Treasons in former ages; as the Earle of Arundell and others; by Iudgement in Parliament, 21. R. 2. Plac. Coronae: N. 46. 7. and the Gunpowder Traytors, 3. Iacobi to omit others, whose Examples should be others admo [...]ions, the Heads and Quarters of some of them yet hanging on the Houses, where now you meete and si [...].

2ly. That in the Oath of Allegiance which you have all taken, immediatly before your admission into the House as Members; You doe truly and sincerely acknowledge, professe, testifie, and declare in your consciences, before God and the World; That our Soveraigne Lord King Charl [...]s, Is lawfull an [...] rightfull [...] of this [...]., and of all other His Majesties Dominions and Countries: And hat the Pope, neither of himselfe, nor by any authority of the Church or See of Rome, or by any Other meanes. Nor any other hath any power or [...] thority to depose the King, or to dispose of any of his Majesties Kingdomes or Dominions, or to discharge any of His Subjects of H [...]s Allegiance and obedience to His [...], or to give leave to any of them, to offer any violence to His [...] Person, State or Gover [...]ent. And that notwithstandiug any sentence or Note this. Declaration of Depri [...]ation made by the Pope, &c. or any absolution of the said Subjects from their obedience, you will beare true Allegiance to His Majestie, his Heires and Successors, and him and them w [...]ll defend to the utmost of your power. Against all attempts and [...] whatsoever, which shall be made against his or their P [...]rsons, their Crown and Dignity, by reason or colour of any such Sentence or Declaration, or otherwise. And doe thereby further sweare, that you doe from your hearts abhor, detest, and abjure as impious and Herericall, that damnable doctrine and position that Princes which be excommunicated or deprived by tht Pope. may be deposed or murthered by their Subjects, or any other whatsoever. And that you doe [...]lieve, and in conscience are resolved, that neither the Pope, nor any person whats [...]ever, hath power to [...] you of this D [...]th or any part thereof; and that all these things you did plainly and sincerely acknowledge and sweare according to these expresse words and their plain and common sence, without any equivocation, or mentall evasion[Page]or secret reservation whatsoever. And that you did make this Recognition and acknowledgement heartily, willingly, & truly, upón the true faith of a Christian Now whether your present actings, & intentions against the King [...]e not diametrically repugnant to this so [...]emn Oath (which most of you have taken [...] [...]hese warrs, & som of you since the Treaty, when [...] Serjea [...]ts at [...], &c.) let God and the World before whom [...] [...] & [...] owne Consciences in which you then swore, determine you [...] [...] the Popes & [...] desigues.

3dly. That you [...] s [...]lves a [...]ng [...] Members, have in above one* Exact Collections. p. 6. 19. [...]1. 59. [...]6. 6. 8 [...]. 102. 103. 118. 123. 125. 141. 1 [...]2. 1 [...]3. 17. 1 [...]0. 1 [...]5. 219. 259. [...]81. 30 [...]. 3 [...]0. 312. [...]60. 376. 457. &c. hundred Remonstrances, D [...]clarations, Peti [...]ions; Ordinances and Printed Papers, pub [...]ished in the name, and by [...] authority of one or both Houses of Parliament, professed, both to the King [...]himselfe, Kingdome, World, and forraigne States, that you never intended the least hurt, injury, or violence to the Kings Person, Crowne, Dignity, or Posterity: but intend to him and his Royall Posterity, more honor, Happinesse, Glory and Greatnesse, then ever was yet enjoyed by any of his Royall Predecessors: That you will ever make good to the uttermost with your lives and fortunes, the Faith and Allegiance which in truth and sincerity you have alwayes borne to His Majestie. That you haue proposed no other ends to your selves, but the performance of all Duty and Loyalty to His Majesties Person. That all contributions and Loanes upon the Publique Fa [...]th should be imployed onely to maintaine the Protestant Religion, the Ki [...]gs Authority His Person, His Royall Dignity, the Lawes of the Land, Peace of the Kingdome, and priviledges of Parliament, [...]d not to be imployed against His Ma [...]esties Person or Authority. That the Armies and Forses raysed by the Honses,* A Collectson. &c. 18 [...]. [...] [...]. 49. [...]. 61. [...]. 96. [...]. [...]. [...]. [...]. [...]. [...]. [...]. [...]. [...]. [...]. [...]. [...]. 9. [...] [...]. were raysed for the [...] and defence of the Kings Person, & of [...] Houses of Parliament, &c. [...] His Majesties personall [...], honeur, and greatnesse are much dearer to you then your owne lives and fortunes which you do [...] most heartily dedicate. & shall most willingly imploy for the maintenance and support thereof. Tha [...] the Parliament will ev [...]r have a care [...]o prevent a [...]y [...] w [...]ich [...] [...] m [...]y justly apprehend to His person. That both Houses are resolved to [...] their lives and [...], [...]or the [...] and [...] [...] the true Religion. [...] [...] Person, [...], and State the power and priviledges of Parli [...]ment. [...] [...] [...] His [...] [...] againg [...] [...] an [...] Army, as [...] [...] to witnesse their constant and [...] Loyalty to His [...] [Page] both Houses so solemnly declare; That upon his disbanding his forces, and return & harkning to the advice of his Great Councell, They wil really endeavour to make both him & his as much beloved at [...]lome, & feared abroad as any Pr. that ever swayed this Scepter: whic [...] is their [...] and constant Resolution: from which they will not be diverted for any private or self-respects whatsoever: That they will faithfully endeavour to secure his [...] Person & Crown srom al dangers; inculcating the apparent danger to his [...] Pers [...]n among his Popish and Malignants Armies & ill Councellors, & upon that reason, perswading and inviting him to desert them, and close with his Parliament: protesting, that the Parliament hath bin, is, and ever will be more ready then they, to secure and uphold the Authority, Prerogative, and Honour of the King, and preserve the safety of his [...] Person, which they have oft times [...] by many humble Petitions and Declarations to Him, the World, and Kingdome; with many ot [...]er such like expressions. Which whether your present Actings and Councels do not directly oppose, contradict, and give the lye unto, to your eternall infamy and breach of publike faith, as much as in you lyes, let both Houses, the world and all men judge, as they will do in due season.

Fourthly, Consider, that when theExact Collection, p. 298. 695. 696. 657. 658, 991. King and his partie did tax the Houses for insinuating, That if they should make the highest presidents of other Parliaments their patterne, there would be no cause to complaine of want of modesty or duty in them: That is, th [...]y m [...]y [...] the King [...] they will, and are not to be blamed for so doing: and that the Army raised by the Parliament, was to [...] [...] and [...] the King. Both Houses by two solemne Declarations, did most professedly declare and protest against it, as the falsest and most malicio [...] accusation that could be imagined: that the thoughts of it never [...], nor should enter into their loyall hearts, ‘That as God is witnesse of their thoughts, so shall their actions witnesse to all the world, that to the honor of our Religion, & of those who are most zealous in it, they shall suffer far more for & from their Soveraign then they hoped God would ever permit the malice of his wicked Councellors, to put them to, since the happinesse of the Kingdom doth so mainly depend upon His Majesty and the Royall Authority of that root.’ That they hoped ‘the contrivers of these false & scandalous reports, or any that professed the name of a Christian, could not have so little charity, as to raise such a scandall, especially when they [Page] must needs know, the Protestation made by the Members of both Houses, whereby they promise in the presence of Almightie God, to defend and preserve his Majesties Person,’ ‘The promise and Protestation made by the Members of both Houses, upon the Nomination of the Lord of Essex to be Generall, and to live and dye with him, wherein is expressed,Which they oft professe both of the Army under the Earle of Essex, and S.. [...], [...] [...] Collecton of all [...], &c. 8. 13. 41. 43. 44. 49. 51. 61. 64. 96, 99. 623. 696. 879. Appendix p. 15. That this Army was raysed for defence of the Kings Person.’ Their often, earnest, and most humble addresses to his Majestie, to leave that desperate and [...] Army wherewith he is now encompassed, raysed and upheld, to the hazard of his own, and the Kingdoms [...], & to come in Person to his Par [...]ment, where he should be sure to remain in honour and safety; and their humble petition directed to be presented to him by the hands of the Earle of Essex, before any blow given, to remove his Royall Person from the Army: a request inconsistent with any purpose to [...] th [...] least violence to his Person: which hath, and ever shalbe dear u [...]to them. Now put it to your Soules and Consciences, whether yours & the Armies present Councells and Actions, do not really justifie the King and his parties former suggestions, and give the Lye to these Declarations of both Heuses? who certainely, when ever restored to a condition of freedome and libertie of meeting together againe, will crave publike reparations and justice against you, if you violate both their honour, faith, and engagements to the King, Kingdome, and forraign States, against these their Declarations & Protestations too.

Fifthly, Remember,Exact Collections, p. 663 [...]. 666. 687. 686. 907. 911. that the Lord and Commons Assembled in Parliament, Octo. 22. 1642. did, in the presence of Almightie God (which, the strongest obligation that any Christian, and the most solemne publike faith that any state, as a Parliament can give) for the satisfaction of their own Consciences and discharge of that great trust that lyes upon them, make this Protestation and Declaration to all this Kingdome and Nation, and to the whole world, That no private passion or respect: No evill intention to his Majesties Person. no designe to prejudice his just Honor and Authoritie, engaged them to rayse forces or take up Armes. ‘That if he would return to his Parliament in peace, and by their counsells and advise compose the distempers and confusions abounding in his Kingdomes; They would receive him with all Honour, yeeld him all true obedience, subjection, and faithfully endeavour to defend his Person & Estate from all danger, and to the uttermost of their power establish him, in all the blessings [Page] of a glorious and happy Reigne.’ And that they had no intention or desire to hurt or injure his Majestie, either in his Person or in h Power. Which they seconded by many subsequent Declarations. Since which, both Houses and the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland have entred intoA Collection, &c. [...]. 327. 359 39 [...]. 404. 4 [...]6. 420. [...]o [...]28. 806. 887. 808. 878. 879. 889. A solemne League and Covenant, For the Honour and happinesse of the Kings Majestie, and his Posterity, [among other ends therein specified;] That they shal sincerely, really, and constantly endeavour, with their estates and lives, to preserve and defend the Kings Majestie & Person and Authority, in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms, that the World may beare witnesse with their Consciences, of their Loyalty, and that they have no thoughts, nor intention to [...] his Majesties just power and greatnesse, That they will with all faithfulnesse endeavour to discover all evill Instruments and Incendiaries, Those who depose or divide his Head from his shoulders must be most guiltie of this dividing. dividing the King from his people, that they may be brought to publike Tryall, and receive condigne punishment: And shall never suffer themselves diriectly or indirectly, by whatsoever combination, persawasion or [...]errour, to be withdrawn from this blessed Union, &c. which so much con [...]erneth the glory of God, the good of the Kingdomes, and the Hon [...]t of the [...]ing, but shall all the dayes of their lives zealously and co [...]stantly continue therein against all opposition. And conclude; This Covenant wee make in the presence of Almightie God the searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to observe the same, as wee shall answer at the great day, when the secrets of all hearts shall b [...] diselosed. This Covenant you have all [...]aken your selves (some of you often) andA [...], &c p. 4 [...]0. &c. i [...]posed it on all the three Kingdomes: And will it not stare in your [...], your consciences, and engage God himselfe, and all three Kingdoms, as one man against [...]ou, if you should pr [...]eed to depose the King destroy his Person, or dis-inherit his Posteritie? yea, brin [...] certaine ruine upon you and yours as the greatest2 Tim. 3. 3, 4. [...], and most perjured Creatures under Heaven [...] O think, and [...] most seriously upon it, before you proceed to further [...] [...]. [...]. [...]. [...]. [...]. 3. [...] in. dors. [...]. Pat. [...] [...]. [...]. 1. m. [...]. [...]. p. 14 [...]. [...]. 24. E. 3. William Thrope, Chiefe Justice of the Kings Bench, for for [...]aking 80 l. bribes of severall persons, was by speciall Commission, [...], Convicted, and Condemned to be hanged, and to forfeit all his Lands, [...], Goods, and Chattels to the King [...] because thereby, Sacr [...]mentum Domini Regis quod erg [...] populum habuit custod [...]ndum fregit, [...], falso & rebelliter, qua [...]tum in ipso suit: [Page] which Judgement was affirmed to be just a [...]d reasonable in full Parliament where it was openly read by the Kings command, as is evident by 25. E. 3. Rot. Parl. nu 10. If then this chiefe Justice: for breaking hi [...] Oath to the King and his people, as a Judge, only in taking two or three small bribes, deserved to be hanged, and to forfeit all his Lands, Goods, and Life, by the judgement of a full Parliament, then what will such Members deserve to suffer, who shall violate, not only what Oathes of Allegiance and Supremacy to the King and his heires, but likewise the severall Pro [...]stations, solemn League and Covenant, and the multiplyed publique faith, engagements, Declarations, Remonstrances, and promises of both houses of Parliament, made to God, the King, the whole Kingdome and people of England, Scotland, and Ireland, the States of the united Provinces, and all the world, and that malitiously, falsely and Rebelliously, as much as in them lies, and their owne private Faith, Oathes, Vowes, and Covenants involved in them, in deposing [...] executing the King, [...] the Prince, violating the [...]riviledges, usurping the power of the Parliament to themselves, when most of the other members are vrolently secluded by the Army, to the subvertion of the freedom and liberties of al Parliaments [...] thi [...] being one Article against King Rich. the 2d. in 1 H. 4. Rot. Parl. n. 25. 66. 70. when he was deposed, ‘That in the Parliament held at Salop intended to oppresse his people, he did subtilly procure and cause to he granted, by consent of all the states of the Kingdome (which you have not) that the power of the Parliament should remaine with certaine person [* Lords and Commons] to determine certaine Petitions21 R. 2. [...]. 16. then delivered, but not dispatched, after the Parliament ended; by colour whereof? the said deputed persons proceeded by the Kings pleasure & wll, to other things generally concerning the said Parliament, to the great derogation of the State and priviledges of [...]he Parliament, and thegreat inconvenience and pernitious example of the whole Realme, and to gaine some colour and authority to their doings, the King caused the Parliament Rolls to be altered and deleated according to his Vote, contrary to the effect of the foresaid Concession;’ as you have presumed to null, repeale, and unvote divers Votes, Orders, and Ordinances of both Houses made in pursuance of the foresaid o [...]thes, protestations, the solmne Leagué and Covenant, Remoustrances, Declarations of both houses, & the treaty, when the houses were full, and not under the Armies force or violence: And if their [Page] proceedings and the whole Parliament of 21 R. 2. were declared 1 H. 4. c, 3. null and void, and the King worthy to be deposed, for such proceedings then; let Serjeant Throp, and other Lawyers not acting with you, consider and i [...]forme you, what punishment you deserve for such breach of faith, priviledges of Parliament, & usurpation of a monopoly of Pa [...]liamentary power to your selves now, whiles under the Armies force, & most Members sorced thence: in which case you oughtAs the House did in the ease of the sive Members, Exact col lection, p. 35. 10. 36. not to Sit, Vote, or conclude any thing, but only to * adjourne till the force removed & al members may freely meet in ful parl. as is [...]lear by that memorable Record of 6. E. 3. Parl. apud Ebor. n. 1. 2. Dors. Claus. 6. E. 3. m. 4. 6. E. 3. apud West. parl. 2. n. 1. 13. E. 3. parl. 2. n. 4. 15 E. 3. n. 5. 17. E. 3. n. 2. 6. 18. E 3. n. 1. 2. 5. 20. E. 3. n. 5. 11. E. n. 4. 22. E. 3. n. 1. 25. E. 3. n. 1. 29. E. 3. n. 4. 36. E. 3. n. 1. 37. E. 3. n. 1. 42. E. 3. n. 1. 50. E. 3. n. 1. 51. E. 3. n. 3. 1 R. 2. n. 1. 2. R. 2. n. 1. 3. R. 2. n. 1. 4. R. 2. n. 1 5. R. 2. [...]. [...]. n. 1. [...]. 2. n. 1. 6. R. 2, parl. 1. n. 1. parl. 2. n. 1. 8. H. 4. n. 28 50. 149. H. 4. n. 1. 13. H. 4. n. 1. and many more rolls: where the Parliament when any considerable number of the Members of either House were absent, was constantly adjourned and refused to sit or to doe any thing (though not under any force,) till the houses were full, much more then when under the Armies sword: it being against Magna Charta, as theMathew Paris, p. 882. 885. [...]18. Dan. p. 172. Barons declared in Parl. Anno Dom. 1257. in the reigne of K. H. the 3d. for a few Members to sit, when the rest are absent.

6thly. Confider: that though many of the Kings of Judah and Israel were extraordinary sinfull and Idolators, bloody and tyrannicall great oppressors of their people, yea shedders of Priests, of Prophets, and other good mens innocent blood, not onely in the wars but in pe [...]ce: yet there is not one president in the Old Testament of any one King ever juditially impeached, arraigned, deposed, or put to death by the Congregation, Sanhedrin, or Parliaments of Judah or Israel. That those who slew any of them in a tumultuous or treacherous manner, were for the most part slaine themselves, either in a tumult, or 2 Kings 14. 6. [...]. 15. 10. 14. 15. 30. [...]. 21. 24. else put to death by their Children who sueceded to the Crow [...]e, or people of the Land: and that the Israelites after their revolt from Rehoboam, had never any one good King, or good day almost among them, but were over-run with Idolatry, prophanenesse tyranny, iuvaded by enemies, involved in perpetuall warres, Civill or Forraigne, and at last all destroyed and carried away Captives into Babylon: at the Books of Kings and Chronicles will informe you. [Page] That the rule in the old Testament is, not to take any wicked Kings from their Thrones and behead them: but,Rom. 13 1, 2. &c. Tit. 3. 1, 2. 1 Pet. 3. 13, 14. 17. 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2, 3. Take away the wicked [...]. 21. 5. from before the King, and his Throne shall be established in righteousnesse. And the Rule in the New Testament: To be subject to Kings and the Higher Powers, and to submit unto [...] them, even for conscience and the Lords sake: and to make Prayers, Supplications, and Intercessions for them, that under them we may lead a peaceable and quiet life, in all godlinesse and honesty: for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour: not to depose or shed their blood, for which there is no precept. And is not this plaine way of God the safest for you and the Army to follow, yea the onely short cut to Peace and settlement? Ruminate upon it, and then be wise, both for your soules good, and the Kingdomes too.

7thly, Consider, that you now meet, and sit under the armed force and violence of a mutinous Army, who have leavied Warre against the Houses to dissolve them, imprisoned many of your Members, forbly secluded more, and driven away almost all from the Houses; That till the removall of this horrid force, and re-assembling of all your scattered Members with freedom and safety in the Houses, all you Vote, Act, Order, or Ordaine, by the Armies own Doctrine in their Remonstrance of Aug. 18. and the Declaration and Ordinance of both Houses (made at the Armies instance) Aug. 20. 1647. is null and void, even at and from the time it was voted, acted, ordered, ordained, a [...]d so declared by your selves even by this unrepealed Ordinance, and by former Parliaments to, as 21. R. 2. c. 12. 1. H. 4. c. 3. 31, H. 6. c. 1. 39. H. [...]. c. 1. And however you may take upon you the name and power of the Houses of Parliament, and unvote, vote, order, and ordaine what you please; yet take it for an infallible truth, that none of theSee their Protestation. Dec. 11. 1648. secluded and absent Members, none of the Counties, Cities, and Borroughs, for which they serve, nor those for whom you serve and represent; nor yet the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland (who have as great or greater a share and interest in the person of the King, as their lawfull Soveraigne, and are engaged by Oaths, Covenant, and all the forecited premises to protect his person and Crown with their lives and estates, against all violence and danger) with his Queen, Child [...]en and Allies in forraigne pa [...]ts, of what Religion soever, will never own you [in your present condition, and constitution] to be a Parliament, but rather a Conventicle or Junto', [Page] nor any thing you vote, order, or ordain to beSee A Collection &c. p. 93. 221. 222. 225. 253. valid. And therefore whatever you vote, order, or: ordaine concerning the Treaty, the deposing or executing the King, the dis-heriting or banishing the Prince, dissolving the present Parliament, setting up a new confused Representative, or new forme of State Government, only to please the Office [...] and Army, or rather those Jesuits and popish Priests, who have over-reached, and instigated them forcibly to prosecute these their treasonable designes, and accomplish this their long expected desire and work; you must do only as private men, not as a Parliament: And if so, what lesser offence then High: Treason against the King, Parliament, and Kingdom, your present actings and proceedings will prove in the conclusion, if you persevere and persist in them, I leave to a free Parliament, the learned Judges, and all Lawyers now sitting and voting among you, to consider and resolve. Which the Officers and Councell of the Army considering, would cast the Odium and danger of all upon you, the better to exempt and acquit themselves if after reckonings should come, as probably they may, and certainly will in Gods due time, if you and they repent not. Give over, and crave pardon ere it be over late.

8Iy Remember, That no Protestant Kingdome or State ever yet defiled their hands, or stained the purity and Honour of their Reformed Religion, with the deposition, or blood of any of their Kings or Princes, much lesse of a Protestant King or Prince, of a temperate and sober life as the King is; who never immediatly imbrued his own hands in any one mans blood, in any tyrannical or bloody way before or since the wars, (for ought I can heare) but only in a Military. And for a reforming Protest. Parl pretending the most of any to piety & Religion, to stain their profession or honour by the deposition, or defile their hands with the blood of a Protest. King, or for an army of Saints to do it, or they to please a Saint [...] seeming Army, and that against so many forementioned Oaths, Protestations, Declarations, Remonstrances, Solemne Leagues & Covenants one after another to the contrary, would be such an unparalleld scandall to the Protest. Religion and all professors of it (who have upbraided the Jesuits and Papists with this perfidious and treasonable practise, of which they have bin deeply guilty, and themselves innocent) both in our own 3. Kingdoms & the whole Christian world, as would give the greatest occasion, advantage, and encouragement to the Jesuits, Papists, and [Page] all licentious persons to joyne their hands, heads, purses, to suppresse and extirpate it, and all the professions of it, both at home and abroad, that ever yet they had, and make Parliaments for ever hereafter execrable and detestable, both to Kings and People.

9ly. Consider, that Scotland and Ireland are joyntenants, at least wise Tenants in Common with us in the King, as their Lawfull Soveraigne & King, as well as ours; & that the Scots delivered and left his per [...]on to our Commissioners at New [...]Wstle, upon this expresse condition: That no violence should be offered to his Person, &c. according to the Covenant. How then you can un-King or depose him as to them, or take away his life upon pretext of Justice, without their concurrent assents, is worthy your saddest thoughts. If you do it without asking or receiving their consents, you engage both Kingdoms to make a just Warre against you, to proclaime and to Crown the Prince of Wales their King (though you should lay him aside) as being next Heire apparent. And no Ordinance you can now make, will be any legall barre against him, to the Crowne of Engl. where he will finde sen thousand persons for oue, who [...] joyn with Scotland and Ireland to set him upon his Fathers Throne, as King of England, and avenge his blood upon all who shall be ayding or assisting* Walsingham Hist. Ang. p. 107, 1 [...]8. 109. Polichron 1. c. 44. [...] Holinshed Grafton in Ed. 2. & Rich. 2. Henry the 4th. to its spilling, or his death owning. And what then will become of you and your army, when thus deserted by most, opposed by all 3. Kingdoms, and all the Kings, Qu [...]ens, and Princes Allies, united forces? Where will you, where will your St. Cromwell, St. Ireton, St. Pride, St. Peters, (that fast and loose carnall prophet and Arch Jesuited Incendiary in these present tumults (with other Grand Saints of the Army) who now force you, the Generall, Army and whole Kingdom, upon such dangerous Councels as these, by the Jesuits principles and practises) then appear, to save either themselves, or you, or your posterities from exemplary justice without mercy, or hopes of pardon? Consider this then seriously, if not as Christians, yet as [...] and selfe-ended men, and then repent and be wise in time.

Tenthly, Remember, that you have neither Law nor direct president [...] what you are going about:1. H. 4. Rot. Parl. n. 1. to 60. where the whole proceedings are at large related. Edward the 2d. and Richard the 2d. were forced by Mortimer, and Henry the 4th. to resigne their Crownes in a formall manner, the one to his Son, the other to his conquering Suceessor, neither of them to the Parliament, & then deposed [Page] by a subsequent sente [...]ce in Parliament, as unfit to Reigne, without any formall Iegall tryall, or answer: and that not in an empty Parliament under a force, as now, when most Members were forced away and secluded, but in a full Parliament, wherein the Articles drawen up against them were never so much as rtad; and their depositions made [upon their owne voluntary concessions only] to confirme, their precedent Resignation, Besides, neither of these Kings though very bad, and Paptists, were ever condemned to loose their heads or lives, but were to be well and Honourable treated: And those Proceedings were onely by Popish Parliaments in time, of ignorance, who had no such Oathes, Vowes, Covenants, protestations, and other forementioned considerations to tye their hands, as you and we all have now. Yea this ve [...]y [...]. [...] solemnly and parcularly protested,Exact Col. p. 69. 696. that they did never suffer these Presidents to enter into their thoughts, and they should never he their practise what ever they suffered from the King or his, and that for the honour of our Rel gion, and the most [...] in it. B [...]t that which is very observable, Roger Mortimer, the principle actor in deposing King Edward the 2d. and Crowning his Sonne Edward the 3d, King in his stead, (as you must now Crowne the Prince Wales, in his Fathers sleed, if you depose the King, else you pursue not this president as you should do) in the Parliament of 1 Ed. 3. (in which I finde no record concerning this deposall:) was in * a full Parliament, within four yeares after, with some other of his Confederates, E. 3. [...], Par. n. 1. 107. impeached, condemned, and executed, as a Traytor and Enemy to the King and Kingdome, by the Judgement of the Lords, and that by King Edward the third his owne assent, without any legall hearing or Tryall, (just as he h [...]d there deposed this King without it) for murthering King Edward in Berkley Castle after his deposall: and Sir Thomas de Berkley, in whose Castle he was slaine, being indicted of Treason likewise for the same [...]urther,* 4, E. 3. n. 16. before the Lords in Parliament, pleaded not guilty thereunto and was tried at the Lords Bar in a legall manner, by a Jury of twelve Knights, there sworn and impanneled, and by them acquitted upon full evidence and tryall? when as Sir Simon de Bereford, was impeached, condemned and executed by a judgement given against him by the Lords alone, without any triall, for murthering this deposed King, and Thomas * 4. E. 3. n. 3. 5. de Gurney and William Ocle, adjudged Traytort by them for the same offence without any evidence appearing to record. These presidents [Page] then, will be of very hard digestion, aud not paralleld to our times, or the Kings case: Who, having upon the late Treaty granted u [...], for the speedy settlement & security of our bleeding Kingdomes Churches and Religion, what ever we could in honor, justice, or reason desire, and farre greater advantages and security then any of our ancestors, or any Kingdome under heaven from the Creation to this present demanded, or enjoyed from any of their Princes (as I dare make goo [...] to you and all the woeld;) and that which the Commons house, aster two whole daies & one whole nights debate, thought and voted, a sufficient ground for them to proceed with the King, to the speedy setling of the kingdoms peace, how you, or the A [...]my; after such large Concessions, contrary to the votes of both houses when full and free, can in h [...]nour, justice, reason, discr [...]tion, or conscience proceed to depose or decapitate the King, as a violater of his faith, a Traytor &c. without making your selves more perjured, treacherous & greater Traytors in all kinds, then he, and incu [...]ring the same judgment & execution as you shall passe & inflict upon him, I leave to your safest consultations to advise off I have thus freely, faithfully, & plainly, discharged my minde & conscience to you, without feare or flattery, for the Kings, Kingdoms, Parliaments, protestant Religions, I am certaine Ireland is (almost inrecoverably lost) your owne, and the Armyes weale and safety too, if God in mercy please to give you heads or hearts to make timely use of [...], and not suffer your selves to be Jesuit-ridden any longer. Cons [...]er, you have most of you Estates, all of you Heads, or lives, and soules to save, or loose, both here and hereafter? If this, and all the precedent considerations will not prevaile with you, to take you off from you [...] present desperate Councells and proceedings, for your owne, the Kingdoms, Churches, Religions, Irelands, Parliaments, your owne posterities, and the Armyes safety too, ride on triumphantly still in Ignatius Loyola his fiery Chariot, like so many young Pha [...]tons, till you fall and perish. It is sufficient for me, however you digest this present friendly Memento to you, that I can truly say, liberavi animam meam, whatever becomes of you or me. Who doe here solemnly protest to all the world against these your proceedings, as altogether null, void, Vnparliamentary, illegall, unchristian: if not perfidious and Treasonable in these respects.

[Page]I shall close up all with the Golden sentence of God himselfe? and the wiseft of men, King Solomon, which is twice rrpeated verbatim that it might be the better semembred and considered by you, & all others in such Exigences of publique affaires, as we are now fallen into, Prov. 22. 3. and 27, 12. A prudent man soroseeth the evill and hideth himselfe, but the simple passe on and are punished. And with that which is paralel to it. Prov. 14. 14, 15, 16. The s [...]mple beleeveth every word, but the prudent m [...]n looketh well to his goings, A wise Man feareth and departeth from evill, but the foole rageth and is confident, and shall be filled with his owne wayes: which is thus interpreted. Ptov. 1. 18. 38, 32, 33. They lye in wait for their owne blood, they lurk privily for their owne lives, whose feet run to evill, and who make hast to shed others blood. Fot, the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fooles shall [...] them. But who so hearkneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall he quiet from feare of Evil.

From the Kings Head in the Strand Jan. 1. 1648.

Your affectionate friend and servant, as farre as you appear to be Gods; your Soveraignes the Kingdomes, the Parliaments, Religions, theirs who have intrusted you, or your owne true friends. WILLIAM PRINNE.

Prov. 28. 23.

He that rebuketh a man; afterward, shall finde more favour, then he th [...]t flatterreth him with his lips.

A POSTSCRIPT.

I Am confident, that if the Members now mee [...]ing at Westminster will but perswade the Generall and his Pratestant Officers immediately. o tender the Oathes of S [...]premacy and Alegience, the solemne League and [...], and the New Oath of [...], [...]or the bette [...] discovery and speedier cōnviaction of [...], Popish Priests and Papists consented to by the King in the [...] Treaty; to all the Officers [...], and Souldiers in the Army, they will presently discover an whole Conclave of [...], Papists, Priests, and Jesuited Papists amongst them, who have instigated them, to disobey and [...] both Houses, imprison their Members, to impeach, try, depose, execute the King, desolve the pre [...]ent Parliament, subvert the present Government, and constitution of Parliament, betray Ireland to the Rebels, and bring [...] [...] to present Confusion, the practises, designes and stu [...]es of none but Jesuits and [...]apists, which all true Protestants cannot but abhor.

FINIS.[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

A briefe memento to the present un-parliamentary junto touching their present intentions and proceedings, to depose & execute Charles Steward, their lawfull King. By William Prynne Esquire, a Member of the House of Commons, and prisoner under the Armies tyranny; who, it seemes, have levyed war against the Houses of Parliament, their quandam-masters whose Members they now forcibly take and detaine captives, during their lawfull pleasures.

Prynne, William, 1600-1669.

Edition statement

1649

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Text Creation Partnership,

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Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2003-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A56138

ID [STC]

Wing P3909A

ID [STC]

ESTC R203360

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99825241

ID [PROQUEST]

99825241

ID [VID]

29618

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A56138)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 29618)

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— A briefe memento to the present un-parliamentary junto touching their present intentions and proceedings, to depose & execute Charles Steward, their lawfull King. By William Prynne Esquire, a Member of the House of Commons, and prisoner under the Armies tyranny; who, it seemes, have levyed war against the Houses of Parliament, their quandam-masters whose Members they now forcibly take and detaine captives, during their lawfull pleasures., Prynne, William, 1600-1669..

Extent

16 p.

[s.n.],. London :: printed anno Dom. 1648 [i.e. 1649]. (In the space following "quandam-masters" on title page is the Latin abbreviation for "-bus".) (The publication year is given according to Lady Day dating.) (Reproduction of the original at the British Library.)

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