The third part of The soveraigne povver of parliaments and kingdomes. Wherein the Parliaments present necessary defensive warre against the Kings offensive malignant, popish forces; and subjects taking up defensive armes against their soveraignes, and their armies in some cases, is copiously manifested, to be just, lawfull, both in point of law and conscience; and neither treason nor rebellion in either; by inpregnable reasons and authorities of all kindes. Together with a satisfactory answer to all objections, from law, Scripture, fathers, reason, hitherto alledged by Dr. Ferne, or any other late opposite pamphleters, whose grosse mistakes in true stating of the present controversie, in sundry points of divinity, antiquity, history, with their absurd irrationall logicke and theologie, are here more fully discovered, refuted, than hitherto they have been by any: besides other particulars of great concernment. / By William Prynne, utter-barrester, of Lincolnes Inne. It is this eighth day of May, 1643. ordered ... that this booke, ... be printed by Michael Sparke, senior. John White.

TO HIS EVER-HONOVRED, NOBLE, KINDE FRIENDS, THE Right Honourable Lord Ferdinando Fairfax, the Right Worshipfull, Sir William Waller, and Sir William Bruerton, Knights, Commanders in Chiefe, of the Parliaments Forces, in severall Counties.

Deservedly Renowned Worthies,

YOUR Incomparable Valour, Zeale, Acti∣vity, Industry for the preservation of Your Dea∣rest Country, Religion, Lawes, Liberties, and the very being of Parliaments, all now endangered by an unnaturall generation of Popish and Malignant Vipers, lately risen up in Armes against them in diverse parts of this Realme; and those many miraculous Victo∣ries with which God hath beene lately pleased to Crowne your cordi∣all endeavours, to promote his glory and the Publicke safety, as they have justly demerited some gratefull generall Acknowledge∣ments from the whole Representative Body of the State; so they may in some sort challenge a private gratulatory Retribution from Me, who have formerly had the happinesse to participate in your Chri∣stian

Affections, and now reape much Consolation by your Heroick Actions.

Having therefore seasonably finished this Third part, Of the So∣veraigne Power of Parliaments and Kingdoms; copiously Vin∣dicating, the Lawfulnesse, Iustnesse of the Parliaments present Necessary Defensive Warre (in which you have had the Honour to be imployed, not onely as Chiefe, but which is more, as most successefull Commanders, in your severall Countries,) in point both of Law and Conscience; and fully wiping off those blacke Aspersions, of TREASON and REBELLION, which the opposite par∣ty (really guilty of these crimes against both King and Kingdome, as I have elsewhere manifested, and here lightly touched) have out of Malice, Ignorance, or both conjoyned, most injuriously cast upon your Loyall, honourable proceedings, which rejoyce the soules of all true Philopaters, who cordially affect their Country or Religion; I could not, without much ingratitude, yea injustice, have published it to the world, but under the Patronage of your ever-honored resplendent names, who have so valorously, so successefully pleaded this Cause already in the Field, that it needs the lesse assistance from the Presse.

My many inevitable interruptions and straites of time in its con∣texture, which may happily detract something from its perfection; shall I hope, derogate nothing from your Honourable, Friendly accepta∣tion; whom I have thus conjoyned in the Dedication; because the Parliament hath united you in their present Warlike employments, and God himselfe joyntly honoured you with successe, even to admira∣tion among the Good, indignation amidst Malignants, envy with the Malicious, and, I trust, to an active sedulous emulation in all your Fellow Commanders, imployed in other Quarters in the selfesame Cause.

Your present busie publike, and mine owne private Imployments, prohibite me to expatiate; Wherefore earnestly beseeching the Glori∣ous

Lord of Hosts to be ever mightily present with your severall No∣ble Persons, Forces, and to make you alwayes eminently, active, Va∣lorous, Victorious, as hitherto he hath done, till Peace and Truth, Tranquillity and Piety, by your severall triumphant Proceedings, shall once more lovingly embrace and kisse each other in our divided unreformed, sinfull Kingdomes; And till the effect of these just warres You manage, shall be quietnesse and assurance to us and our Po∣sterities after us for ever; I humbly recommend your Persons, Pro∣ceedings to his protection who can secure you in and from all dangers of warre, and rest,

Your Honours, Worships most affectionate Friend and Servant, WILLIAM PRYNNE.

Notes

• Part 1. Edit. 2 p. 108, to 1. 12.