The army harmelesse: or, A dispassionat and sober discussion of the late and present proceedings of the army, under the command of His Excellencie, Sir Thomas Fairfax. Wherein the equity and unblamableness of the said proceedings are demonstratively asserted, upon undenyable principles and maximes, as well of reason, as religion.

§. IV.

First then, from that great and Soveraigne Law, or ma∣••me of State, the equitie, or Authority whereof (I presume) was never yet questioned, or opposed by any, I reason thus:* 1.1

If the safety of the people, be the saveraign and supreme Law, whereunto all Lawes, Customes, Priviledges, Po∣liticke constitutions, interests of Princes and Rulers whatsoever, ought to give place, then have the Army done nothing but what is justifiable, yea, and what was their duty to doe, in the things for which they were ac∣cused by many.

But the safety of the people is the Soveraign and supreme Law, where•••••••• all Lawes, &c.

Ergo. The Minor though for the 〈…〉〈…〉 of the 〈…〉〈…〉

of the earth deny plainly enough in works, and many of their Parasites, in the consequentials of many unsound Doctrines and positions which they assert: yet because I never heard of any man that denied it face to face, we shall (for the present) supersede the proofe of it. The consequence in the Major Proposition, I argue and debate thus. The Ar∣my in all they have done (I mean, in the matter under con∣test) have no waies violated or transgressed that supreme Law, and consequently have not transgressed any other Law subordinate to it, or depending on it; and so are blamelesse. For in every combination or subordination, whether of per∣sons, or of things, no inferiours, or subordinate, whether person or thing, can be injured, but that which is supream or first in either, must needs partake thereof, and suffer wrong also; yea, the truth is, that the whole subordination, and that in every part or member of it suffers wrong, whensoe∣ver any one part or member of it so suffers: The meanest Subject in a Kingdome or State cannot be injured, without injury and wrong done to the Prince, or supreame Ruler of this State, so that if the Prince be not injured, certain it is, that no subject under him suffered wrong. Thus then evident it is, that if the Army have done nothing in way of violation of that supream Law, the Safety of the people, nei∣ther have they transgressed any other.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Salus populi suprema lex.