THe variety of dangers, unto vvhich this Parliament, and in it this Kingdome is now subject, and the manifold distempers, vvhich are the causes of these dangers, together vvith the multiplicity of those evill influences, vvhich are the causes of these distempers, as also the great mischiefes and miserable destruction, not only threatned, but really intended, and at this time attempted against this Parlia­ment by the Manassites of the times, hath necessarily occasioned this ensuing Appeale, as vvell to generations to come, as to those now present.

The common and Epidemicall disease wherein this Kingdome at this time lies now gasping under (being filled with nothing but feares, jealousies, and perplexities, as may be observed by the miserable complaints of all men, whose hearts are tender of the good and welfare of the Common-wealth) hath a Superiour and universall cause from the evill Counsels & wicked designes of those, who under his Majesty threaten to carry all before them, against the Parliament, and all others who will not stoope to the illegall demands of the King: These evill influences hath been formerly the cause of the preparations for War wirh Scotland, and the procuring a rebellion in Ireland, and now is the cause of distractions and divisions betwixt the King and his faithfullest Subjects; and of procuring preparations of War here in England, by his Majesty seduced by wicked Counsell, principally aiming first at Hull, and then at London, which are become the objects of the Kings hatred, not excluding the Par­liament.

The Parliament is the foundation and basis of Government, and consequently of the peace and happinesse of the Kingdome; as it creates the Law by which we are ruled and governed in peace and quietnesse; so it preserves the Law in power and autho­rity: It hath not only power and authority to preserve good Lawes being made, but also to create such new Lawes, as by which the Kingdome may be ruled and go­verned in peace, and also to repeal such Laws as are opposite to the peace and pro­sperity of the same, all Laws lying at their feet, to use them for the best advantage for the King and Kingdome. First for the King, to reduce him from that seduced condition wherein he is: And secondly, for the Kingdome, to rescue and deliver it from those dangers and miseries it is liable to at this time, by reason of his Majesty so seduced.

For all the power which Princes have, is but derivative and secondary: The foun­taine and efficient cause is the people, and from hence the inference is just; The King, though he be singulis major, yet he is universis minor, for if the people be the true efficient cause of power; it is a rule in nature, Quicquid efficit tale, est magis tale, And hence it appeares, that at the founding of Authorities, when the consent of so­cieties convayes rule into such and such hands, it may ordain what conditions, and [Page 2]prefix what bounds it pleases, and that no dissolution ought to be thereof, but by the same power by which it had its constitution.

And as for the finall cause of Princes power, or Regall Authority, his Majesty doth not in any of his papers deny, that the same people are the finall cause, which is the efficient cause of it, and indeed it were strange, if the people in subjecting it self to command, should aime at any thing but its own good in the first and last place, Power originally being thus inherent in the people, which is nothing else but that might and vigour which such or such a society of men containes in it self, and when by such or such a Law of common cons [...]nt and agreement it is derived into such & such hands, God confirmes that Law, and so man is the free and voluntary Author, the Law is the Instrument, and God is the establisher of both: Therefore not that Prince which Tyrannizeth over his Subjects, but that Prince which ruleth, and is most Po [...]ent in his Subjects, is indeed most truly Potent.

Now if Kings are so inclinable to follow private advice rather then publike, and to prefer that which closes with their naturall impotent ambition, before that which crosses the same, are without all limits; Then they may destroy their best Subjects at pleasure, and all Charters, and Laws of publike safety and freedome are void, and God hath not left humane nature any meanes of sufficient preservation.

But on the contrary, if there be any benefit in Laws to limit Princes, when they are seduced by vvicked counsells, and vvill not hearken to the great Counsell of the Land, doubtlesse there must be some Court to judge of that seducement, and some Authority to inforce that judgement, and that Court and Authority must be the Parliament, or some higher Tribunall; now none are so ignorant to affirm, a King in his single person is a Court (either in time of Parliament, without his Parliament, or out of Parliament, in his own person alone) to judge in any cause, nor his meere fancy authority sufficient to inforce judgement in any cause, much lesse, nay altoge­ther is he unfit either to judge of his own seducement, or to inforce such a judge­ment by any Authority, though he were not seduced, for the King is not above the Law, but in subjection to it, his meere will being not the rule of the Law, but the Law the rule of it, therefore the will of a King is not an unlimited will, and in case a King be seduced by wicked Counsell, and vvill not rule by Law, nor heathen to the Petitions of his three kingdomes, then the Law is free to reduce him.

Now it is not unknown to all the vvorld, how powerfull & active the vvicked coun­sellors about his Majesty hath been, and still are, for the accomplishment of their own ends, seeking to destroy and extinguish that power, the true Religion, the Li­berty and Laws of the Kingdome, by many traiterous endeavours, from time to time. First to keep off Parliaments, then either to dissolve them vvhen they are ga­thered, or to raise in his Majesty a disaffection to his Parliament, and so at last to draw him into the Northern parts from them, to prevent all their just and lawfull designes, and now infusing into his minde such false reports, as hath raised in him an invete­rate hatred against them and all others vvho vvill not assist him in his demands and designes, publishing in his name divers ignominious reproaches against the Parlia­ment, in king his Majesties Court a Sanctuary for all kinde of Delinquents, against the justice and lawfull priviledge of Parliament, and drawing to Torke by Letters, and other meanes, divers Members of both Houses, vvhereby they set up a counterfeit imaginary visage of a Parliament, to the great danger, not only of the disturbance, but even of the subversion of the fundamentall constitution and frame of this Kingdome.

Now vvhether this Parliament hath not to this day vvatched over our Religion, the Liberty and Laws, of this Kingdome, the preservation of his Majesties person from the vvicked designes of his and our enemies; and that vvith great care, labour, and industry, to the hazard of their lives and fortunes, let the vvorld judge. If they should call heaven and earth, God and man to vvitnesse the same, they might doe it vvith a more safer and peaceable conscience then, &c.

There needs no other Plea for them, than those good and legall Votes, Ordinances, Re­monstrances, Declarations, and Pititions, which hath issued from them since his Majesties absence; since which time he hath refused to assist them in their lawfull Designes, for the setling of the three Kingdomes in peace and prosperitie: but hath rather hearkened to the destroying Councells and reproachfull speeches of the Ishmaelites of the Times, as the effects doth declare, to the saiuing of the spirits of his best and most faithfull Subjects of his three Kingdomes, laying all the blame upon the Parliament. Indeed, if there be any thing in them blame-wor­thy, certainely its onely their too much lenity and patience towards those offenders, who have beene the prime causers of all those distractions, namely the Prelats, who have beene formerly accused of High Treason by both Houses of Parliament, and since they have taken bayle for all or most of them; the evill effects whereof hath lately appeared, in the practise of one amongst the test, to wit, that Archenemy Jo. Eborac. who is [...]ow gon to Yorke in a Warlicke manner, and for ought that can be gathered, to assist the King (seduced by evill Councell) in his intended warre against the Parliament, whose adherents have, and still doe foment nothing but threats against those, whom the Kingdome of England confideth in, and hath chosen to be their guide, Resolving not only to obey them in all their just & lawfull Commands; but also to defend them a­gainst all illegal oppositions what or who soever they are, witnes their frequent free & larg brin­g [...]ng in of mony, plate, and horse, and also their acknowledgements, published in the Petitions of most of the Counties of Endland, as may hereafter (in time convenient) be printed together, and compared wi [...]h a few Collections of Pititions; many of which collections are pretended (though falsely) to have beene delivered to his Majestie, and others to his Privy Councell; To instance one amongst the rest (viz.) That false Petition of the Nobility, Gentry, Burroughes, Ministers, and Commons of Scotland, delivered to his Majesties most ho­nourable Privy Councell; and printed at his Majesties Printing House, to delude the world, and make them beleve it was a true Petition. Now let all the world judge whether his Maje­sties intentions can be good, and whether it be not below himself, to suffer such things to passe in silence, without requiring (from the Parliament) Justice to be execured upon such p [...]r­sons.

There hath beene Printed divers times, many false, scandalous and invective Pamphlets against the Parliament, and those who stand for the publike good, and they have never been inquired after▪ nor complained of to the Parliament from York, or those parts; To instance some few of late, (viz.) the New Orders of the Par­liament of Roundheads, the Round Heads race, the Wardens Speech, the Declaration or Re­solution of the County of Hereford, with many more, which might be named, and shall if neede require; and as for the new Orders of the Parliament of Roundheads, it was observed that John Thomas, (for whom it was Printed, as is credibly reported) was knowne to set out of London for Yorke that very day it was published, and there re­sides to send to his wife to Print here in London, whatsoever is there Printed in Yorke; [Page 4]but as for such Bookes which ha [...]ve beene Printed, or such Sermons which have beene preached, for, and in the behalfe of the Parliament, justifying their legall and righteous proceedings; The Authors, Printers, and Publishers thereof, must be found out and proceeded against by Law, as Treasonable, Factious, Seditious, Schis­maticall, and I know not what persons.

These things being premised and compared together, an Appeale is here made to the whole world, for the vindication of the Parliament, in Sixe particulars, to consider of and judge.

1. Whither the Parliament hath protected any such Preachers & Pampheteers at any time (as is unjustly laid to their charge) (when it hath bin discovered to them who and what they are) by stopping the course of Justice from taking place against them, it they have beene proved Treasonable, Factious, Seditious, or Schismaticall.

2. Whether the end of such con [...]i [...]ance, or taking notice of such false scandalous Pamphlets, be not purposely intended to suffer the affections of his Majesties subjects to be drawne away from the Parliame [...]t, that so an utter extirpation of the v [...]ry being of Parliaments, may be obtained, as well for future Generations, as for the time present. For it is well knowne, that if this Parliame [...]t could once, be either exringuished, or its power weakened, which is all one; Then all will be at the Kings meere Will, and the mercy of His and the Parliame [...]ts Enemies. Nothing then will stand in their way to oppose them; but a flood of violence will runne over and cover the whole surface of the Kingdome, and carry away all, both present injoyments, and future hopes of Religion, Liberty, and whatsoever else is precious and deere to the whole Kingdome.

3. Whether it hath not beene (since this Parliament first begun) the pollicy of evill Councellors (who are the greatest enemies the King and the three Kingdomes can possibly have) to strike at Parliaments, or divide Parliaments, by making factions, and casting in Diversions and Obstructions to hinder and interrupt the proceedings of the same, and to perswade the King so to doe, whose advice and counsell he hath adhered unto, as evidently it doth appeare by the evill effects that hath followed ther­upon, to wit, the causelesse division betwixt him & his Parliament continuing solong, that it hath caused a very great jealousie of much danger and misery, suddenly to come upon this Kingdome, if it be not speedily prevented by the wisedome of the Parliament, and the concurrence of the well disposed Subjects of the Kingdome; the which if they shall so doe, they will manifest to the world, that they are carried by no other respect, but of the publike good, which should alwayes be preferred before their owne lives and fortunes.

4. Whither there hath not beene a Succession of designes against the Parliament, first, to awe it, secondly, to take away the freedome of it by the terror of an Army, & then to bring force against it actually to assault it; witnesse his Majesties comming to the House of Commons, in such a manner, & with such a troope to demand those five Members, which He accused of High Treason, and other misdemeanours, which is judged by both Houses of Parliament, to be a high breach of their Priviledges. The deliverance of which Members at that time, the whole world is Appeal'd unto, whe­ther an Annuall day of Thanksgiving ought not to be kept unto God through the whole Kingdome of great Britaine: for as much as at that time it was seared (and that not without cause) an intent was with the sword to cut in sunder this onely Band, with ties, and knits up King & People together in one firme and indissolvable knot of Peace and Unity.

5. Whether the Obstrucing the proceeding of the Parliament were not absolutely in­tended; first by the Rebellion in Ireland, to the consuming of that Kingdome; the heads of which Rebellion, many, if not most of them, were transported into Ireland by the Kings speciall Warrants; the names of which Rebells may be seene in an Answer of both Houses to the Kings Message, sent to him, March 16. 1641. which Answer was set forth by their Authority, to be Printed and published. Secondly, whether the hindering of the proceedings of Parliament were not absolutely inten­ded, by the distempers, distractions, and jealousies fomented here at home to teare out the bowells of this Kingdome; the Parliament being by that meanes disabled from helping it; witnesse that Master peece, whence all the rest receive counte­nance and support, (viz.) His Majesties absence from, and not agreeing with his Parliament, but withdrawing his influence, whereby such remedies could not be applied as was necessary, but what was done, it was with infinite trouble to the Parliament, and excessive charge to the Subject, double and treble, what otherwise would have served the turne. So the Subject is grieved and oppressed with charge, and the blame of all is laid upon the Parliament, as being unjustly charged to be the cause of all those evills, which the Authors of them have made.

6. And last Appeale, Whether the wicked practises of enemies at home and a broad are not the cause of hindering the Parliament from their Actings and Ope­ratings towards the setling of the great Affaires both of Church and State, and pro­viding for the defence and safetie of his Majestie and his Kingdome, both from for­raigne Invasions abroad, and secret stirrings of the discontented party at home.