A brief narrative of the manner how divers Members of the House of Commons, that were illegally and unjustly imprisoned or secluded by the Armies force, in December, 1648. and May 7. 1659. coming upon Tuesday the 27th of December 1659. ... to discharge their trusts for the several counties and places for which they serve, were again forcibly shut out by (pretended) orders of the Members now sitting at Westminster, who had formerly charged the Army with the guilt of the said force, and professed a desire to remove it, that all the Members might sit with freedom and safety. Published by some of the said Members, in discharge of their trust, and to prevent the peoples being deceived of their liberties and birthright ...

A brief narrative of the manner how divers Members of the House of Commons, that were illegally and unjustly imprisoned or secluded by the Armies force, in December, 1648. and May 7. 1659. coming upon Tuesday the 27th of December 1659. ... to discharge their trusts for the several counties and places for which they serve, were again forcibly shut out by (pretended) orders of the Members now sitting at Westminster, who had formerly charged the Army with the guilt of the said force, and professed a desire to remove it, that all the Members might sit with freedom and safety. Published by some of the said Members, in discharge of their trust, and to prevent the peoples being deceived of their liberties and birthright ...

A brief narrative of the manner how divers Members of the House of Commons, that were illegally and unjustly imprisoned or secluded by the Armies force, in December, 1648. and May 7. 1659. coming upon Tuesday the 27th of December 1659. ... to discharge their trusts for the several counties and places for which they serve, were again forcibly shut out by (pretended) orders of the Members now sitting at Westminster, who had formerly charged the Army with the guilt of the said force, and professed a desire to remove it, that all the Members might sit with freedom and safety. Published by some of the said Members, in discharge of their trust, and to prevent the peoples being deceived of their liberties and birthright ...

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Title page

A Brief Narrative of the late forcible Seclusion of the Members of the Commons house of Parliament.

[Page]

[Page]

A Brief Narrative of the late forcible Seclusion of the Members of the Commons house of Parliament.

GOd who never failes by terrible things in Righteousness, to make his Power and Wisdome known to the sinful and rebellious world, having in a wonderful and unexpected way, without hands, or visible means, much broken and weakned that Military Power, which for eleven years imposed upon this Nation at their pleasure, making themselves and their General Councils (a Fabrick intended to give Laws to the Kingdome, instead of Parliaments,) the instruments of their own dissolution and confusion; the Officers with a fear when none pursued, leaving their Commands, and the common soldiers wandring about the streets like sheep without a Shepherd, ready for any new Masters through want of pay, and the Members of the House of Commons now sitting at Westm. being by divers rebukes, and dispersions from the Army, prepared to entertain healing Counsels; there were high expectations raised in the good people of the Land (who had layen under the smart and burden of many years unsettlement, illegal arbitrary proceedings, [Page] and heavy unjust exactions) that now the Old Parliament should again sit and vote freely, as they did before that great interruption in December 1648. the miserable and fatal effects wherof have sadly exercised these three Kingdoms ever since. But the ambition of some, and guilt of others representing a free Parliament (though the only probable means of our recovery and settlement, and therefore deservedly in all times the darling of the English Nation) to be a monster that would devour us and our Liberties; In clandestine meetings of some of the Members with William Lenthal Esq (who by continuing Speaker longer than ever any did in England, hath sufficiently discovered to us the danger and mischiefs of such a president) it was resolved, (to prevent a free assembling of all the Members) to give secret summons to as many of an ingaged party as might make a House, to meet in the usual place at Westminster, on Monday the 26. of Decemb. 1659. about seven of the clock at night (it being for the more close disguise published in the licensed Diurnal the same morning, that they intended not to sit till Tuesday the 27th.) And accordingly by Torch and Candle light, (in the same surreptitious manner as was done on the 7th. of May last, upon the Armies invitation) late in the night upon the said 26th. of December, the Speaker, with about forty Members more went from Whitehall, (where they met) the back way thorough Channel - Row to the House, where they sate a good while, and setled the temporary conduct of the Embrio Army (for it is yet to form) in Collonel Okey, Collonel Alured, and some others, ordered monies for them, and adjourned till next morning: when, to avoid repetition, you shall have the names of those who appeared to sit, and may be guessed, but could not be so easily discovered to have sate the first night.

On Tuesday morning the 27th. of December, they made haste early to the House, whereof, and of the former nights practice, some faithfull Members of the House, now eleven years secluded by force, having notice, as many of them as could suddenly get together, judged it their duty (now [Page] that the House seemed by an admirable providence of God, to be delivered from that force and bondage they had been under so many years) to attend the discharge of their Trust for their Country, and contribute their best Assistance and Advice for filling of the House, that by full and free Councils the sad breaches of these Nations might be made up, and our Foundations setled. In pursuance of this their Resolution there went to the House the Persons following, viz.

Sir Gilbert Gerard.

Sir William Waller.

John Crew Esquire.

Arthur Annesley Esq

Serjeant Maynard.

Mr. Nathaniel Stephens.

Mr. Richard Knightley.

Sir. Anthony Irby.

Sir John Evelin of Surry.

Serjeant Waller.

Collonel Leigh.

Mr. John Nelthrop.

Sir John Temple.

Mr. William Prynne.

Mr. Povey.

Mr. Henry Hungerford.

Sir. Robert Pye.

Mr. Owfield.

Mr. Charles Pym.

Collonel Lloyd, and

Mr. Peck.

Mr. Francis Bacon, comming alone to demand his Right, was excluded before they came.

Being come to the Lobby door through a Guard of Souldiers that were upon the stairs, we knocked for Admittance; but the Door-keeper having opened the Door, and seeing us there shut it again, telling us, That he had Orders to keep all the secluded Members out; We demanded, from whom? he said, from the house; yet two of us that were nearest the Door overcame him with reason to let us into the Lobby; With which those that guarded the House door, being (it seems) alarum'd, (for by the whole carriage of the business, it was apparent, they expected we would as heretofore continue our claim in the peoples behalf) cryed out aloud, Cooper, (which was the name of the outward Door-keeper,) keep close the door, the House hath ordered that none of them should be suffered to come in, and will be very angry if you admit any of them; whereupon he kept out all the rest, closing [Page] the door often upon them striving for entrance when others passed in or out. But those who had already got in, exprest a great resentment of this continued force upon the House, demanding if there were any there who could produce any warrant for what was done? and telling the Guards and Officers, there, that it was strange usage to the Members of the House, to deny them this privilege of entrance into the Lobby, where the very Footmen and others were freely admitted; and how there were some antient Members without, viz. Sir Gilbert Gerard, Mr. Crew, Mr. Stephens, Sir William Waller, and others, who could not bear the crowd upon the stairs, and that we liked their company so much the better than what we found within, that unless all were admitted, we and the people took sufficient notice of the force, & affront, and would be gone. Yet asked first for the Officers that commmanded the Guard, who were pretended to have orders for this force, viz. Coll. Okey, and Coll. Alured, who being ready at hand were presently brought to us, and after some expostulations, were so far convinced of our rude entertainment, that they caused the Door to be open, and let the rest of us into the Lobby. Our next attempt was, to go into the House; but then the said Collonels desired us to forbear: We asked, by what warrant they kept us out whom they knew to be Members, they having sworn obedience to the Parliament? they replyed, they had orders for what they did; we desired a sight of them, and we would retire, and trouble them no further; Col. Alured said, that their Order was not about them: but some others, and one Hage by name said they had verbal Orders to keep us out; at length Col. Alured told us, if we would rest our selves in the inner Lobby, he would by the Serjant acquaint the House of our coming, and demand of admitance; and accordingly he went presently to the House door, and knocking, the Serjant came to the door to him, but at the opening of it, seeing some of us there, offering to come in, held the door almost shut; Whereupon Col. Alured told him, that the Members were come, and endeavoured to get into the House, desiring him to acquaint the Speaker, and house so much, (as some of the Members did also) which he [Page] promised, and immediately did, returning to the door, to tell us, that he had done so, and that the House had thereupon taken up the debate of that businesse, and the Turn-key presently took the key out of the door, to prevent any further attempt of going in. Col. Ingolsby, whilst we were at the first door came in, who was the only sitting Member that we saw, (for none came out whilst we were there;) him we desired to acquaint the House with our attendance, and the force upon us, which he promised to do, and we believe did.

Having attended above an hour, with more distance and strangenesse, than ever we were used to, when we went on Messages to the Lords house, who usually came many of them out, and discoursed very familiarly with us; whereas not one of these self-made Lordlings (whether out of Pride, Guilt, or both, let others judge) vouchsafed to come neer us. We grew weary of waiting so long and Servilly upon those who in their highest Capacity are but our equals, though we had born it thus sar, to acquit our selves of neglecting no condescention, that might make way to the discharge of the Trust we are in sor our Country. And therefore we made Col. Alured acquainted, that we were resolved to stay no longer, unless the House declared they desired we should; Whereupon he went again to the House door, which upon his knock being opened, he acquainted the Serjant so much, willing him, to give notice thereof to the Speaker, and Members sitting: which he presently did, and within a short time after, the Serjant came out to us, and having made a preamble, that he had no direction to come and tell us any thing, he told us of his own civility, that the House had possed a vote in our business, which in effect was, the appointing the fifth of January, to take it into consideration: Which we looked upon as their confirming, and owning this sorcible exclusion of us, and so departed.

And because we are well assured, that care will be taken with the Mercenary pens, to disguise and conceal this affair, as much as they can from the Nations, since in the very Journal Book, all mention of our address and claim in [Page] the peoples, and our own Rights, hath been industriously avoided, that we may discharge our Trust, as far as we can, to the Kingdom, we have given this account thereof, and shall now insert the Order it self, with the names of the Members present at the passing thereof.

Tuesday Decemb. 27. 1659.

Resolved by the * Parliament.

THat on the fifth day of January next, this * House will take into consideration, the Cases of all * absent Members, and also how to supply the vacant places in order to the filling up of the * House, and that in the mean time it be referred to a Committee to consider of all proceedings and all Orders and Cases touching absent Members, and make their report at the same time, viz.

Mr. Scot.

Col. Feilder.

Mr. Robinson.

Major Salway.

Sr. James Harrington.

Col. Lister.

Mr. Millington.

Sr. Tho. Widdrington.

Lord chief Baron Wild.

Mr. Say.

Sr. Tho. Wroth.

Mr. Skinner.

Baron Hill.

* Earl of Salsbury,

Mr. Garland.

Col. Harvey.

Mr. Fagg,

Mr. Solicitor Reynolds.

Sr. John Trevor.

Mr. Lenthal.

Alderman Atkins.

Mr. Pury,

Mr. Challoner.

Mr. Carew Ralegh.

Mr. Oldsworth

Col. Dove.

Col. Eyres.

Col. Peter Temple. And the said Committee are to meet this afternoone at two of the clock, in the Speakers chamber; and so de die in diem, and to adjourn from place to place.

[Page] Besides those named of the Committee, there were present in the House, as the best Information tells us, these following, viz.

Sir Henry Vane.

Col. Henry Martin.

Lord Mounson.

Isaac Pennington.

Col Ingolsby.

Mr. John Corbett.

Col. Downes.

Mr. James Temple.

Mr. Cawley.

Col. White.

Col. Sydenham.

Mr. Robert Cicill.

Mr. Strickland.

Serjeant Nicholas.

So that it seems the whole number of the House who have made this high breach of the privilege of Parliament were 42. which agrees with the entry of a division the same morning in the Journal book, upon which there were 41. and 17. besides the Tellers, making in the whole Note, that of these 42. Members, 2. were Earls, uncapable of fitting as Commoners; 2. Prisoners in Execution, disabled to sit, whiles such: 3. or 4. no Members of the old Parliament, being elected since the Kings death, by Writs from the Keepers of our Liberties; So as their Legal number was but 15. at most, and so no House. 42. As for the dilatory order it self, (wherein they make themselves alone our Judges, being now our Seeluders,) we shall need say little to it, since it sounds forth its own emptiness, injustice and delusion; yet we cannot but take notice of the little ingenuity appears in it, to call us absent Members, whom they knew to be at the Door claiming our Right, and to talk of considering the cases of all absent Members, when they knew above two hundred of us have no other case to be considered, but that which hath had a lamentable influence upon the whole Kingdom, that is to say, our ‘forcible exclusion: which by the course of Parliamentary proceedings, they well knew, ought as the most fundamental privilege to be taken into consideration before all other matters, and not to be deferred to another day, much less for ten daies, when the Members excluded by force attended in crowds at the door, for a removal of the force.’ But to say no more, we look upon it (as subtilly as it seems to be carried) as a Discovery evident enough to discerning Spirits, of an intention to deprive double the major part of the House of their liberty to fit, (notwithstanding their undoubted right of [Page] being Members, and Counsellors of the Kingdoms) and to contract our free and full Parliaments, in whose wisedom and faithfullness we have been safe and happy for many generations, to a scant, unsafe Oligarchy, though this must not be known till the yoak is sitted for our necks, and a sufficient force setled on them.

But since we are now excluded by the Act of our Fellow-Members, we do expect (and doubt not but the Nation will do the same) some account of the grounds and reasons (if there be any, other than bare power and will) why near three parts of four, yet living, of the Members of the House of Commons, who are of known faithfullness to their Country, are thus debarred the liberty of discharging our Trusts for those who have elected us, and suffer much by having none in publick Councils to represent them, or be sensible of their Grievances: And we hope whatever illegal impositions & burthens shall be laid upon the people, or pressures they do undergo during our inforced absence, we shall in the sight of God and man be clear from the blame of, though we make no further attempts to vindicate ours and the peoples rights in such way of Address, (to so few of our Fellows) as would set us below the dignity the Peoples free choyce hath placed us in.

And though we do not arrogate to our selves Supreme Authority, or the name of a Parliament: nor with that formality used by our Fellow-Members now sitting, publish our Resolutions or Opinions to the Kingdoms, yet we doubt not the people of England, and the rest of the Nations in Covenant with us, are now more quick-sighted than ever (by the experience of many revolutions through male administration of Government) to put a right esteem upon transactions on all hands, and are by Solemn Oaths and Obligations so sufficiently & clearly minded of their duty, & the Right Constitution of Parliaments, that we shall have more need to perswade them to a wise moderation and discreet zeal, than have occasion to warn them of the danger they are in, to lose the Liberties of Freemen and Parliaments for ever, and call upon them to assert those rights, which, [Page] though we will never betray nor yield up to any, yet we hold our selves obliged to let them know, we alone are not at present able to defend.

We must not conclude, till we mind the people who have intrusted us, That in July 1647. when both Houses were under but a sudden, weak and transitory force, there was a judgement past in Parliament in See the Ordinance of Aug 20, 1647. August following, declaring the said force to be treason, and all Votes, Orders and Resolutions passed whilst that force continued, to be null and void, for this only reason, because the Parliament was under a force, and not free.

And to look further back, because their order providentially reminds us, it may be remembred that the same 5. day of January in the year 1641. upon a small breach of Privilege, in comparison to this, made by the late King, in demanding only 5 Members of the House of Commons, after a particular impeachment of high Treason, without secluding any. It is declared by the House Exact Collection, p. 36, 37, 38, &c. That the same is a high breach of the Rights and Privileges of Parliament, and inconsistent with the Liberty and Freedom thereof: and therefore this House doth conceive, they cannot with the safety of their own Persons, or the indempnity of the Rights and Privileges of Parliaments, sit there any longer, without a full Vindication of so high a breach and a sufficient guard. And thereupon they adjourned into London, to sit in a grand Committee, and made a high Declaration, touching the said breach of Privilege; whereas above 200. of us living, stand still secluded, without the least offer of an impeachment.

And which is a sad circumstance in the force, by which we are now secluded, some of them are actors in it, and now sitting in the Houfe, or invited thither, who were very instrumental, in the late interruption, in October last, and in proceedings pursuant thereunto; as if all crimes in Members were Venial, but a faithfull adhearing to Oaths, Trusts, and Privileges of Parliament unpardonable, Charecteristical only of Persons unfit to have a share in Government, by the Interest and Judgement of those that forcibly secluded them, though called by the people to it.

[Page] To conclude, we know not what can be added, to make this Kingdom compleatly miserable, but that as the Majority of the Commons being forcibly excluded, the door is barred againg them, by a few; so by the same power, such qualifications and tests may be imposed upon the body of the people, as may by being submitted to, deprive us of free Parliaments for ever, and contract the suffrages of the people, into the disposure of a very few, to the smart and ruine of all; which God in his mercy avert. For our parts, we shall have this comfort in the evil day; if God for the crying abominations of the 3. Kingdoms, shall bring it upon us, that we have with faithfulnesse given warning of the inundation, when the Cloud was but of the bignesse of a mans hand, and done what we could to prevent it.

FINIS.

[Page]

Notes

*

So they stile and make themselves already.

↵

*

If but an House, and that a very thin one, then no Parliament as yet.

↵

*

We were all present.

↵

*

Why the Parliament, in the prologue; and but this, and the House, twice in the body of this Vote?

↵

*

If a Commoner, no Earl.

↵

§

§

[Page] [Page] A BRIEF NARRATIVE Of the manner how divers Members of the HOUSE of COMMONS, That were illegally and unjustly imprisoned or secluded by the ARMIES FORCE, in December, 1648. and May 7. 1659. COMING Upon Tuesday the 27th of December 1659. (upon the providential reducing of most of the Army to obedience, by the immediate hand of God) to discharge their Trusts for the several Counties and places for which they serve, were again forcibly shut out by (pretended) Orders of the Members now sitting at Westminster, who had formerly charged the Army with the guilt of the said force, and professed a desire to remove it, that all the Members might sit with freedom and safety.

Published by some of the said Members, in discharge of their Trust, and to prevent the Peoples being deceived of their Liberties and Birthright, for want of Right Information from those who were elected to represent them, but are forcibly excluded publick Councils by some of their Fellow Members, particularly enumerated.

Habakkuk 1. 3,4. ‘Spoiling and Violence are before me, &c. Therefore the Law is slacked, and judgement doth never go forth; for the wicked doth compass about the Righteous, therefore wrong judgement proceedeth.’

London Printed for Edward Thomas, at the Adam and Eve in Little Britain, 1660.

Information about this book

Title statement

A brief narrative of the manner how divers Members of the House of Commons, that were illegally and unjustly imprisoned or secluded by the Armies force, in December, 1648. and May 7. 1659. coming upon Tuesday the 27th of December 1659. ... to discharge their trusts for the several counties and places for which they serve, were again forcibly shut out by (pretended) orders of the Members now sitting at Westminster, who had formerly charged the Army with the guilt of the said force, and professed a desire to remove it, that all the Members might sit with freedom and safety. Published by some of the said Members, in discharge of their trust, and to prevent the peoples being deceived of their liberties and birthright ...

Prynne, William, 1600-1669.

Edition statement

1659

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Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

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Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A91152

ID [STC]

Wing P3912

ID [STC]

Thomason E1011_4

ID [STC]

ESTC R203219

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99863259

ID [PROQUEST]

99863259

ID [VID]

115449

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A91152)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 115449)

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Source

— A brief narrative of the manner how divers Members of the House of Commons, that were illegally and unjustly imprisoned or secluded by the Armies force, in December, 1648. and May 7. 1659. coming upon Tuesday the 27th of December 1659. ... to discharge their trusts for the several counties and places for which they serve, were again forcibly shut out by (pretended) orders of the Members now sitting at Westminster, who had formerly charged the Army with the guilt of the said force, and professed a desire to remove it, that all the Members might sit with freedom and safety. Published by some of the said Members, in discharge of their trust, and to prevent the peoples being deceived of their liberties and birthright ..., Prynne, William, 1600-1669..

Extent

[2], 10 p.

printed for Edward Thomas, at the Adam and Eve in Little Britain,. London :: 1660 [i.e. 1659]. (By William Prynne.) (Huntington Library copy has MS. date: 30 Dec. 1659.) (Running title reads: A brief narrative of the late forcible seclusion of the Members, &c.) (Annotation on Thomason copy: "xber [i.e. December] 30 1659"; the date has been crossed out.) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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