The compleat History of independencie Upon the Parliament begun 1640. By Clem. Walker, Esq; Continued till this present year 1660. which fourth part was never before published.

The Rigour, Cruelty, and Injustice of this New erected Counsel of Blood, or High Court of Justice, enforced the Low Countries to revolt and cast off the King of Spain.

LEt us now examine whether in some one little Province or Island belonging to that vast Roman Empire: and in some mean petty fellowes (Na∣tives of that Island) men even at home of obscure Birth, Breeding, and Fortunes; we cannot finde examples of Ambition Usurpation, and Tyranny, as high and transcendent, as bloody and destructive, as covetous and greedy, as any of the fore-recited pre∣sidents: And (which is worst of all) carried on by those that call themselves Christians, nay Saints, (which is more than they vouchsafe to Saint Peter

and the rest of the Apostles, though glorified Saints in the Church Triumphant) and such as in all their bloody, oppressing, cheating Designs (promoted by Perjury, Treachery, breach of Faith, Oaths, and publick Declarations) pretend to the singular favour, Providence and will of heaven, as confidently, as if they could shew Gods special Commission, to warrant Usurpation, Treason, Tyranny, and Thievery.

It is not unknown by what Artifices, frauds, falsified promises, Oaths, and Covenants, a party of Antimo∣narchists, Schismaticks, and Anabaptists lurking in the Parliament fooled the people to contribute their blood and money towards the subduing of the King (and in him of themselves) and how by the same wayes and subtilties the said party in the two Houses (now com∣bined openly, under the General Title of Indepen∣dents) engaging and conspiring with the Officers of the Army and Souldiery expelled by armed force seven parts of eight of the House of Commons, leaving not a∣bove 43. or 44. of their own engaged party sitting, men inriched with publick spoyls) and voting under the power of the Armies Commanders, whose commands are now become a law to the said sitting Members, as their Votes are become Laws to the Kingdome. In Obedience to their said Masters of the Army, The said remainder of Commons voted down the House of Lords (though an integral and principal Member of the Parliament of England, far antienter than the House of Commons, and having a power of Judicature to administer an Oath (which the House of Commons never had, nor pretended to have, until this time that they overflow their Bounds, and the whole Kingdomes, under the protection of their Army) which prerogative of the

House of Lords is clearly demonstrated by the House of Commons standing bare before them at all conferences, as the Grand Inquest doth before the Judges) because they rejected the Ordinance for Trial of the King. And now these Dregs and Lees of the House of Commons, take upon them to be a compleat Par∣liament: To enact and repeal Statutes; To subvert the Fundamental Government, Laws and Liberties of the Land; To pull up by the Roots without Legal proceedings) every mans private property and pos∣session, and destroy his life: To burden the people with unsupportable, unheard of, unparliamentary Taxes, Impositions, Excise, Freequarter, buying of New Arms after the Countrey have been disarmed of their old Arms three times in one year; Pressings and Leavying of Souldiers, Sequestrations, Plunder∣ing of Houses and Horse, and many other oppressions, more than the Turke, Russe, or Tartar ever heard of: of all which our Grandees are free, and lay them upon others as partially as they please, purposely to consume them. To make Religion but a stalking horse to their Designs, and the Ministers thereof but Hostlers to rub down, curry, and dress it for their riding; to whom they send Commands, what they

shall, and shall not preach to the people; as if preaching were the Ordinance of man, not of God. At last by way of preparative to their machinations, they pass these following Votes.

1. That all Supreme power is in the people.

2. That the Supreme Authority under them, is in the peoples Representatives, or delegates in Parliament as∣sembled. Meaning themselves (you may be sure) the Quintessence and Elixar of the House of Commons, extracted by those learned Chimcks, Doctour Fairfax, Doctour Cromwel, and the rest, graduated at that de∣graded University of Oxford. Here note they voted the Supreme power to be in the people, that they might use those Gulles as Conduit pipes or Trunks to convey the Supreme Authority into themselves, the better to enslave the people; And tickle them, whilest they fasten about their necks the Iron yoke of a Mili∣tary Oligarchy, wearing the Mask of a perpetual Par∣liament.

3. That whatsoever the Commons in Parliament shall enact, shall have the power and force of an Act of Par∣liament, or Law, without the consent of the House of Lords, or the Kings Royal Assent; any statute, law cu∣stome or usage to the contrary notwithstanding (they might have said all our statutes, laws, customes, &c. notwithstanding) This one vote hath more of Dissolu∣tion and more of Ʋsurpation and Innovation in it, than any I yet ever read of; This is universally Arbitrary, and layes the Ax to the root of all our Laws, Liberties, Lives, and properties at once.

What these men will, they vote: What they vote is Law. Therefore what they will is Law.

4. That to wage war, or to bear Arms against the Re∣presentative body of the People, or Parliament is high Treason. By the Law all Treasons are committed a∣gainst the King, his Crown and Dignity.

5. That the King hath taken up Arms against this Parliament, and is therefore guilty of all the blood shed this War, and should expiate those crimes with his blood. If the King were not guilty, these men are; And therefore they passed this Vote, Se defendendo. Yet observe that herein they became Judges in their own cause, and forejudged his Majesty before his Trial, if that may be called a Trial, that was carried on by men, who were both Accusers, Prosecuters, parties and Judges; and had neither Law, president, forma∣lity of proceedings, nor any other foundation of Ju∣stice or Reason to warrant them, nor were delegated by any lawful Authority?

These Votes thus passed, and by this kinde of men, were the foundation upon which they built their great Engine to destroy the King and Kingly Govern∣ment together with the Religion, Laws, Liberties, Lives, and properties of the people; all condemned in that deadly sentence given against the King) For having (as aforesaid) created (by their own Votes) themselves as absolute a power as they pleased and cast the people and all they have into that bottomless Chaos of their Arbitrary Domination: They erect an Extrajudicial, unpresidented High Court of Justice to Try (or rather to condemn without Trial) the King, consisting of 150. Commissioners, Souldiers, Parliament men, Trades men; the most violent, en∣gaged and factious incendiaries of all the Antimonar∣chical faction: Amongst whom were many low

conditioned Mechanicks, and Banquerouts, whose Fortunes are since repaired out of the Kings Estate, and other publick Lands, Goods, and Offices, as a reward for that Royal Blood they spilt. The King the Fountain of Law, Justice, Mercy, Honour, War, and Peace; the Head of the Parliament, and Supreme Governour over all persons, and in all causes) thus violently removed; presently (as if the Mounds and banks of the Sea had been overturned) an impetuous inundation of bloody, thievish Tyranny and Oppres∣sion brake in upon us: So that no man can call his life, liberty, house, lands, goods, or any other his Rights, or Franchises his own, longer than the gracious as∣pect of some of our Grandees shine favourably up∣on him.

In the next place: contrary to their own Decla∣rations of the 9. Feb. and 17. March 1648. Wherein they promise that in all things concerning the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, they will ob∣serve the known laws of the Land, with all things inci∣dent thereto) They pass misbegotten Acts of Parliament, one of the 14. of May, another of the 17. of July, 1649. whereby (in derogation and annihilation of that ex∣cellent Stat. 25 Ed. 3. Chap. 2. Ascertaining Treasons, and reducing them to a small number, and leaving no∣thing to the interpretation of the Judges, that the peo∣ple might not be ensnared) they exceeding by multiply∣ing Treasons, bringing bare words as well as deeds within the compass of that offence: and making many duties to which the laws of God & the land, the Protestation & Co∣venant, the oaths of allegiance, obedience, & supremacy ob∣lige us, to be high treason, & these new acts of treason pen∣ned in obscure, ambiguous terms, purposely to leave a lati∣tude

of Interpretation in (their own creatures) the Judges, that the People may be ensnared.

The King thus taken out of their way. They passe pretended Acts. 1. To Disinherit his Children. 2. To abolish Kingly Government for ever. 3. To con∣vert our ancient well-tempered Monarchy into that (which they call a Common-wealth, or Free-State; al∣though nothing be therein free but their lusts: nor hath it any form or face of Civil and just Go∣vernment; wherein a confused Multitude rule by their own Wills, without Law: and for their own benefit; no consideration being had of the good and happinesse of the people in general. 4. They Constitute a Senate, or Councel of State of 40 men (a∣mongst which some Trades-men, Souldiers, illiterate Lawyers, Parliament-Members, men already engaged over head and eares in sin, therefore to be confided in) to these or any nine of these they entrust the Ad∣ministration of this Utopian Common-wealth, and these they would have us believe (without telling us so) are the Keepers (or Gaolers) of the Liberties of England.

These things being but Introductions to the Usur∣pation of these Kinglings: and having been already shewed to the world by many pens. I content my self to give a cursory view of them, and haste to my intended task, to shew that this Usurped power is kept and administred by as wicked and violent poli∣cies, as it was gotten by.

The first endeavour of all Tyrannical Usurpers is, To lessen the number of their Enemies; either by

flattering and deceiving them: or by violently extir∣pating and rooting them out. And such have been the attempts of our new Cromwellian Statists, ever since (without any calling from God or the people) they took upon them the Supreme Authority of the Nati∣on; subverted our well-mixed Monarchy, and crea∣ted themselves a Free-State

1. They endeavoured to sweeten and allure to act with them, as many of the Secured and Secluded Mem∣bers, Ministers, and other Presbyterians, as they could, to the end that ex post facto being guilty of their sins, they might be engaged in one common defence, and go halfs with them in their ignominy and punishment, though not in their power, profit, and preferments, in which the Godly will admit no Rivals, but (like their Patron the Devil) cry all's mine. But this Design fail∣ed for the most part.

2. Their second Endeavour was how to diminish the number of their Opposites, Royalists and Presbyteri∣ans, by a Massacre, for which purpose many Dark Lan∣thorns and Poniards were provided last Winter, 1649. But fame prevented this plot: which coming to be the common rumour of the Town, put them in mind of the danger, infamy, and hatred that would overwhelm them. So this was laid aside.

At last they invented two other Engins, no less bloody then, and as effectual as a Massacre.

3. The Engagement is the first of these two Gins) which all persons are enjoyned to subscribe by their Act 2 Jan. 1649. To be true to the Common-wealth of England, as it is now established, without a King, or House of Peeres. And this is obtruded under no lesse penalty, than, To be totally deprived of all

Benefit of Law whatsoever. Now the Lawes of the Land being the only Conservators of our Lives, Liber∣ties and Estates (without which Lawes all men have a like property to all things, and the strongest have right to all is possest by the weaker; since the Law onely distinguisheth Meum and Tuum) what is this but to expose the Liberties of the Non-Engagers to false Imprisonments; our Estates to rapine, spoil, and in∣justice: and our Lives and Persons to wounds and murders, at the will and pleasure of such as will en∣gage with our Usurpers: but especially at the plea∣sure of their own Souldiers: to whom (I conceive) this Outlawry was intended as an Alarm or Invita∣tion to plunder and massacre the Non-Engagers, and to pay themselves their Arreares of which these Parliamennt men have cousened them) out of their Estates, and though the Souldiers were not so wicked as their Masters, yet we daily see many good Fa∣milies in England despoiled of their Estates, for want of protection of the Lawes, brought to mise∣rable beggery, rather than they will wrong their con∣sciences by subscribing this damnable Engagement contrary to the Protestation and Covenant imposed by this Parliament, contrary to the known Law of this Land, which this Parliament hath declared to observe and keep in all things concerning the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, with all things incident thereto; contrary to this Parliaments rei∣terated Votes, that they would not change the An∣cient Government, by a King, Lords and Commons. And contrary to the Oathes of Allegiance, Obe∣dience, and Supremacy: whereby (and by the Stat. of Recognition, 1 Jac.) our Allegiance is tied onely

to the King, his Heirs and lawful Suceessors; from which no power on earth can absolve us, and so much we attest in the Oath of Supremacy. Politicus (Inter∣preter to our new State-puppet play) Numb. 19. from Sept. 19. to Sept. 26. out of the dictates of his Masters tells us, that in Answer to the Kings Act of oblivion granted, the Parliament intends to pass an Act of General pardon; for which they expect in future a General obedience and submission to the Government (you see though they will not be the Kings subjects, they will be his Apes) and in the beginning of the said Pamphlet, Politicus saith, That Protection implies o∣bedience, otherwise they may be handled as publick Enemies and Out-laws, and ought to be destroyed as Traitors. Here you have the end to which this gene∣ral pardon is intended; it is but a shooing-horn to draw on the utmost penalty upon Non-engagers, ap∣pointed by the said pretended Act 2. Jan. 1649. to weed them out of this good Land, that the Saints on∣ly may enjoy the earth and the fulness thereof; to which purpose all their new coyned Acts and Laws are directed. The Scripture points forth these kind of men, when it saith, The Mercies of the wicked are cruel. The sum of all is, If we will not acknowledge Allegiance to these Mushromes, we shall be Traitors without Allegiance (a Treason never yet heard of in any Law) If we will acknowledge Allegiance, we put our selves in a capacity to be Traitors, when they shall please to make us such. But let them know, That we are all Englishmen, Free-born alike, un∣der the protection of an ancient, legal Monarchy, to which we owe Allegeance; and how we come to forfeit that legal Protection, our setled Laws

and Government; and be subjected to a New, un∣known protection obtruded upon us by a company of upstarts (Mushromes of Majesty, so mean in birth and breeding (for the most part) that the place of a Constable equalls the highest of their education) imposing what Laws and conditions upon us they please; I would be glad to hear without being hin∣dred by Guns, Drums, High Courts of Justice, and other Instruments of Violence and Murther. But the greatest Mystery in this cheat is, That our Self-created Supremists, having voted the original power to be in the people, and but a derivative Authority to be in themselves as the Representative of the people, should notwithstanding so yoak their Sovereign Lord the people, and make them pay Allegiance to their own Delegates (the eighth part of a House of Commons) under the penalty unless they subscribe as the far major part have not) of out-lawing and de∣priving all the people of this Land of all benefit of the Laws they were born to; and consequently of annihilating and making them no longer a Nation or people. As if they were meer Salvages, newly con∣quered, collected and formed into a politick body or Commonwealth, and endowed with Laws newly in∣vented by the Novice Statists. But the unlawfulness of the said Engagement with the Injustice of the Self-created power that obtrudeth it hath been hand∣led by many good pens, especially by the Cheshire and Lancashire Ministers in their plea for Non-subscri∣bers. Therefore I pass on to my principal scope; The second Engine appointed to root out all such as are of a different party, the High Court of Justice. A for∣midable Monster, upon which no pen (that I know of) hath yet adventured.

4. In treating of the High Court of Justice, I must consider, 1. By what persons and Authority this new erected unpresidented Court is constituted? 2. Of what persons it is constituted? 3. The way and manner of their proceedings? What Formalities and Laws they observe therein? How suitable to the known Laws of the Land, and the Parliaments Declarations, Protesta∣tions and Covenant they are? 4. To what end this Court is constituted?

1. The Persons constituting this extrajudicial Court are the present pretended Parliament, consisting of forty or fifty thriving Commons only, who conspired with Cromwel and the Army to expel seven parts of eighth of their Fellow-Members, without any cause shewn, abolished the House of Peers, erected this High Court of Justice (in nature of a Court Martial) to murther the King, abolished Kingly Government, turned it in∣to a thing they call a Free State, disinherited the Royal Family, and now usurp to themselves (without any calling from God or the People) more than a Regal, Legal or Parliamentary Authority, wherewith they have subverted the Fundamental Government, Religion, Laws, Liberties and Property of the Nation, and en∣vassallised and enslaved them to their Arbitrary Do∣mination; the Authority by which they erect this ex∣trajudicial Court is, The usurped, Legislative power; by colour of which they passed an Act dated 26. March 1650. establishing the said High Court of Justice. Yet their own creature Master St. Johns, in his Argument against the E. of Strafford (in a Book called Speeches and Passages of this great and happy Parlia∣ment, printed by William Cooke, 1641. pag. 24.) saith, The Parliament is the Representative of the whole King∣dome,

wherein the King as head, The Lords are the more Noble, and the Commons the other Members, are knit to∣gether as one body politick; The Laws are the Arteries and Ligaments that hold the body together. (And a little after) Its Treason to embesel a Judicial Record, Straf∣ford swept them all away. Its Treason to counterfeit a 20 s. peece; here is a counterfeiting of Law (so in these counterfeit new Acts) we can call neither the counter∣feit nor true one our own. Its treason to counterfeit the great Seal for an acre of land, no property hereby is left to any land at all (no more is there by the votes and practise of our new Supremists (thus far Mr. St. Johns.) But that the Parliament doth necessarily consist of the King and the two Houses assembled by his Writ, & can pass no Act without their joint consent. See the pre∣ambles of all our Statutes, all our Parliament Records, all our Law books, Modus tenendi Parliamentum. Hack∣wels manner of passing Bills. Sir Tho. Smith de Repub. Anglorum. Cambdeni Britania. All our Historians, Poli∣titians, and the uninterrupted practise of all Ages. That it is now, lately otherwise practised, is not by any Law of the Land, but by the will of lawless power and Rebellion, that hath cancelled all our Laws, Li∣berties and Properties, and subverted our Fundamen∣tal Government, and disfranchised and disinherited the whole Nation. Yet Master St. Johns in his said Argument against Strafford, pag. 38. was then of opi∣nion, That to subvert the Laws and Government, and make a Kingdome no Kingdome, was Treason at the Common Law. This Act 26. Mar. 1650. is a new model∣led Commission of Oyer and Terminer; and all the people of the Land, are by the consequence thereof disfranchised and proscribed. The illegality and ty∣ranny

thereof, they have introduced, who in this Par∣liament so zealously complained against the Court of the President and Counsel of York, or of the North, as an intollerable grievance (notwithstanding it had been of as long continuance as from 41 H. 8.) as ap∣peares by a worthy Members Speech or Argument a∣gainst it (in the said Book of Speeches and Passages p. 409. made by order of the House of Commons in April 1649. I find not one Exception there made against the Court of York, to which this upstart High Court is not more liable than it. 1. The Commissioners of this High Court are not appointed to enquire, per Sa∣cramentum proborum & legalium hominum, that is, by Juries; as by Magna Charta, and above 30. Statutes confirming it, all Commissions ought to run. 2. They are not appointed (nor sworn) to hear and determine, Secundùm Leges Angliae, according to the known Laws (as they ought to be) but according to certain Articles and powers given in the said Act 26. March, 1650. 3. The said Act 26 March leaves a dangerous la∣tude to the interpretation and discretion of the Com∣missioners (contrary to what is done in the Act 25 Edw. 3. chap. 2.) namely; It hath one Clause enabling them to inflict upon Offenders such punishment, either by death or otherwise corporally, as the said Commissioners, or the major part of them present shall judge to apper∣tain to Justice. This leaves it in the brests of the Com∣missioners (without any Law or rule to walk by) to inflict what torments and ignominious punishments they please, although not used in our Nation; and ar∣bitrary corporal pains are proper to slaves, not to subjests. Here (after the loss of all but their bodies) the people may see their bodies subject to the lawless wills of

our Grandees. And by another clause, this Act im∣powereth the Commissioners. To examine witnesses up∣on oath, or otherwise, if need be. This word (or otherwise, &c.) gives them power to examine witnesses with∣out oath (if they cannot procure witnesses so far the sons of Belial, and cauterised in conscience as to ad∣venture upon an oath) even in case of life and death, and mutilation of members; contrary to the current of all our Lawes, and practise of all our Courts of Law, and of all Nations. See Stat. 1 Edw. VI. chap. 12. 5 Edw. VI. chap. 11. Cooks 3. Inst. p. .24, 25, 26. Deut. 17.6. Ex ore duorum vel trium peribit qui occide∣tur. Deut. 17.6. Matth. 18.16. John 18.23. 2 Cor. 13.1. Heb. 10.28. This is the most arbitrary and destroy∣ing liberty that ever was given to Judges; And such as none but professed thieves and murderers will ac∣cept or make use of. The Scripture saith, An oath is the end of controversy between man and man. How then can they end and determine a controversie without oath? But the end of all controversies before this Butcher-row of Judges, is cutting of throats., and confiscation of estates. And by the same clause of the said Act (To examine witnesses) they may, and (I hear) do examine witnesses clandestinely, and proceed upon bare Depo∣sitions read in Court, whereas they ought to produce the witnesses face to face in open Court, and there swear them, that the party accused may interrogate them, and examine the circumstances, and whether they contradict themselves, or one another, for clearing the Evidence? And whether they be lawful witnesses or no? Nay (I hear) they do privately suborn and en∣gage witnesses without oath. And then produce them

to swear what they have formerly related only: and if they scruple at an oath; punish them for mis-inform∣ing the State. 4. That I may make some more use of the aforesaid Members words, Whether the King, or a prevailing Party usurping his Kingly power, may canton out a part of his Kingdom (or cull and mark out for slaughter some principal men, and deny them the benefit of Law, in order thereto, as these Judges do) to be tried by special Commission, since the whole Kingdom is under the known laws and Courts established at West∣minster? It should seem by this Parliaments eager complaint against the special Commission of York, this Parliament hath determined this question in the nega∣tive already (whatsoever their present practise to car∣ry on their Design is) See Stat. 17. Car. 1. against the Star-Chamber. To what purpose serve those Statutes of Magna Charta, and the Petition of Right, if men may be fined and imprisoned (nay murdered) without Law, according to the discretion of Commissioners? This discretion is the quick-sand that hath swallowed our Properties & Liberties (but is now ready to swal∣low our carkasses.) Thus far that Gentleman, Whose words then carried the Parliamentary stamp upon them. Let me add some more exceptions of my own against this High Court of Injustice. 5 Souldiers of the Army are appointed by the Act 26 March, to be assistant to the Commissioners, contrary to the peaceable pro∣ceedings of the Law, which never makes use of any but Civil Magistrates and Officers of the Law. See Stat. 7 Ed. I. 2 Ed. III. chap. 3. 7. R. 2. chap. 13. 6. And contrary to the old oath which all Judges ought to take, in these words. You shall swear well and faithfully to serve the King and people, in the Office of Justice, &c.

And that to what estate and condition they be come be∣fore you in the Sessions with force and arms, against the peace, against the Statute thereof made, to disturb the Execution of the Common Laws, or to menace the people, that you arrest their bodies, &c. Stat. 18 Ed. 3. in An. Dom. 1344. p. 144. Poultons Book of Stat. at large. But the oath appointed for these Commissioners to take, is not penned in terms of indifferency, nor doth any waies oblige them to the people, 26. Mar. 1550. (viz.) You shall swear well and truly according to the best of your skill and knowledge, to execute the several powers given you by this Act (not well and lawfully to serve the people.) Be∣sides, they swear to execute the several powers given (not to do Justice according to the Laws. Now the Laws are the only rules of Justice, by which we distinguish crooked from strait, true from false, right from wrong. This is not the work these Judges are packed for, but to execute Acts of power and will. But powers are often usurped, tyrannical, illegal and unjust: So are these. Injuria est quod contra legem fit. 7. How can the House of Commons (if it were full and free) constitute a new unpresidented Court of Justice, nomi∣nate and ordain Judges, and enable them to administer Oaths, having never had, nor so much as pretended to have any power to judge, to nominate Judges, or to administer an Oath; as having never been more than the Grand Enquest of the Kingdom, humbly to present to His Majesty in a petitionary way, the grie∣vances of the people? Nemo dat quod non habet. 8. Sup∣pose the House of Commons had power of Judica∣ture, delegated to them from the people as their Re∣presentative? Delegati non possunt substituere Delega∣tos, & Protestatam sibi concreditam, in alios transferre.

Delegates cannot make subdelegates, and transfer their trust to others. See Col. Andrews 3. Answers given into this High Court, for his defence. Printed at the latter end hereof.

2. My second consideration will be, Of what Per∣sons delegated or Commissioned, this Court consisteth? The pretended Act. 26. March 1650. names 25. Commis∣sioners, all which (for their better credit) it enacteth Esquires, amongst whom are 4. or 5. that have pro∣fessed the Law, (as farre as wearing a Lawyers Gown comes to) but were better known by their leisure then by their Law; untill by adhering to our pre∣vailing Schismaticks, in subverting our Laws, they seem to be eminent Lawyers. Of Keeble see the Triall of L. Collonel John Lilburn, first and second Part. Steel cited expired Statutes at Winchester against Cap∣tain Burley. The rest are (for the most part) poor ignorant Trades men, some so young they are but lately out of their Apprentiships, others Broken Trades-men that have compounded with their Cre∣diturs, some of vild and base professions; One or two of these Wolvish Saints (I hear) have with some difficulty escaped the Gallowes for Man-slaying: Wil∣liam Wibeard Esquier is a Rope-seller: this employment may happily help him to the Hangmans Custom. William Pemoier Esquire was heretofore an Ape-car∣rier, Cherry-lickom or Mountredinctido. Cook a Vintner at the Bear at the Bridge-foot, he keeps a vaulting-School for our sanctified Grandees, and their Ladies of the Game. If the House of Commons had power to make Judges (which I have disproved) yet, Ex quovis ligno non fit Mercurius. They must name such Persons as may be competent Judges. And therefore

must not choose. 1. Ignorant men. 2. Nor such as the Law calls, Viles Personas, men base or con∣temptible for their Persons or Sordide callings; Mechanicks of the lowest rank. 3. Persons of Scandalous life and conversations. 4. Not Banque∣routs and Indigent Persons. Necessitas cogit ad turpia. 5. Not partiall and preingaged Persons, chosen to suppresse another party. As these Commissioners are engaged to the present power to suppresse all others. 6. Nor such as Schismatically or Heretically affected, are seasoned with such Doctrines and Principles, as neither agree with the Duties of a good Christian, a good Common-wealths man, nor a good Judge. Which two last Objections not only these Commissioners, but the pretended Parlia∣ment that commissioned them are apparently guilty of, as being all of the Independent Faction conspiring to rob and rout out all other Parties: Royallists, Presbyteri∣ans and Levellers: For which purpose this New Tri∣bunall or Inquisition is set up. Independency being a meer complication and Syncretismus, or rather a Sink and Com∣mon Sewer of all Errours, Heresies, Blasphemies, and Schismes, (though they peevishly differ in some inconsidera∣ble Tenents) yet having one Generall End or scope at which they all chiefly aime (viz.) power, preferment, profit, and the suppression of the Truth and Magistracy, they have likewise some common principles to soader them together, which they use as a Meanes conducing to that Generall End. Some few whereof I will here set down for my Readers satis∣faction. 1. To tollerate no King nor Magistrate Superior to themselves, as Being a Tyranny or Bondage over the Christian Liberty of the Saints and Kingdom of Christ. Because they know no Christian Magistrate can tol∣lerate them, being (by the Genius of their Sect)

enemies to all Civil Societies, whether Monarchi∣call, Aristocraticall, Democraticall or Mixed; as the Kingdom of England was before these men de∣stroyed it. Besides their common Doctrine, That they are appointed to break the powers of the Earth to pieces, To levell the hils and fill up the vallies, That they are called, To bruise the Nations with a rod of Iron, and break them in pieces like a Potters vessell: Which they have done in England, and threaten the like in France, Germany, &c. whereof, their Pulpits and discourses sound. Observe their Practises in the Low Countries. Where having by their spies and Emissaries, found out some Burgers of the same humour with themselves; They propagated their Doctrine so far; as to endeavour to strike the Aristocraticall Members out of that Common-wealth by abetting some of the States Provinciall to lessen (and so to abolish by degrees) The Lords States Generall (the Optimates of that State) To ruine the Prince of Orange, to whose Family they owe their Liberty; To dissolve the Generall Union of the said United Provinces, and so take in pieces the whole Frame of that Republick. To say nothing of their Insolencies in fighting and killing their men, because the Belgike Li∣on will not strike saile to their Crosse and Harpe; and in blowing up the Antelope in Helversluce: Which shews what good Neighbours Holland, and other Parts, are like to have of the New State of England and Ireland (when they have made themselves intire by the purchase of Scotland) that is born (like our English Richard III.) with Teeth in its head; and snappeth at its Neighbours before it be out of its Swadling clouts. This is the cause that Cromwell, before he set saile for Ireland, caused his Journey∣men,

the pretended Parliament. To passe an Act for Tolleration of all Errors, Heresies and Schismes, under the Notion of Liberty of Conscience, and Ease for Ten∣der Consciences. 2. Their second Principle is, That the Good things of this World belong onely to the Saints (that is; Themselves) all others being usurpers thereof: and therefore they may rob, plunder, sequester, extort, cheat and confiscate (by illegal Laws of their own making, by extrajudicial Courts and partial Judges of their own constituting) other mens goods and estates, upon as good Title as the Jews spoyled the Egyp∣tians, or expelled the Canaanites. 3. Their third Principle. That the Spirit (which sanctifies and illuminates these men) in every particular man blowes when and where it will, some∣times this way, sometimes that way, often contrary waies: And therefore they can make no profession of any certain Rule of Doctrine or Discipline, because they know not which way the Spirit will inspire. For this reason they are still pulling down old and setting up New Doctrines, as the Nomades do cottages, onely constant in unconstancy. They professe their consciences are the Rule and Sym∣boll both of their Faith and Doctrine, by this Leaden Lesbian Rule they interpret, and to this they con∣form the Scriptures; not their Consciences to the Scri∣ptures; setting the Sun-Dyall by the clock; not the clock by the Sun-Dyall. That every man must pray according to the Dictates of his Private Spirit; They reject the Lords Prayer, for fear of quenching the Spi∣rit. When they break their Faith, Articles, Promises, Declarations and Covenant; they Alleage, the Spirit is the Author thereof. When Cromwell (contrary to his vowes and Protestations made to the King) kept him close Prisoner in Carisbrook Castle; He affirm∣ed the Spirit would not let him keep his word. When,

contrary to the Publick Faith, they Murdered Him: they pretended: They could not resist the Motions of the Spirit. Sua cuique Deus fit dira libido. This Hobgoblin serves all turnes. 4. Their fourth Principle is, That they may commit any sin, and retain their Sanctity in the very Act of sinning: For what is sinfull in other men, is not so in the Saints; who may commit any crime against the Law of God, and yet it cannot be imputed to them for sin; Because they know in their Consciences what they do. So ten∣der and delicate are their Consciences, That they are ca∣pable of any Offence against their Neighbour, without breach of Justice or Charity. A righteous man is a Law to him∣self. 5. Their fift Principle is, That 7. make a Church: al∣though men, women and children, and that this Church is In∣dependent upon any other. The Anabaptists (though they neither professe to follow Paul nor Cephas) yet declare themselves to be some of Cromwells Church, some of John Goodwins, some of Kiffins, some of Patiences, and some of Carters Church. 6. Their sixt Independent Prin∣ciple is. That if a man be questioned for any crime, though his Judges have neither competent witnesses, proofs nor Evidence of his guiltinesse, yet if they think in their Consciences he his guilty; they may condemn him out of the Testimony of their own Private Consciences. Is it not fit men so Principled should be Judges and Jury too; and condemn men by in∣spiration? So Colonel Andrews and Sir John Gell were condemned; for Bernard and Pits (witnesses against them) were apparently suborned by Bradshaw and Sir Henry Mildmay against them, and forsworn in the same cause; and good proof offered to the Court, that they were both Flagitious men, of scan∣dalous life and conversation. The letter (supposed to be sent by Andrews to Gell) was delivered to

Bradshaw, whereof Bradshaw sent a Copy onely to Gell at 10. of the clock at night; and had a war∣rant then ready to arrest Gell, which was done earely next morning before he could conveniently discover it: Yet was Gell sentenced for Misprision of High Treason. See Sir John Gells case stated August, 1650. with Colonel Andrews Attestation (in his behalf) under his hand a little before his death. And though Sir John was Impeached and Mr. Atturney prosecuted him onely for Misprision; yet had he much ado to keep that bloud-thirsty, old cur Keeble from taking a leap at his throat, and giving Judgement against him for High Treason. So for want of Law Sir John had like to be hanged by Inspiration and Instinct of the Spirit. He that will see more of the Independent Tenets, Let him read Cl. Salmasius chapter 10. Defensionis Regiae, Elenchus Motuum nuperorum in Anglia. And the History of Independency first and second part. These 6. I have selected, that by comparing their Doctrine with their daily Practise, the Reader may perceive what pious Christians, good Patriots, and upright Judges, these engaged, Independent Commissioners of the High Court of Justice are like to prove. The builders of this New Common-wealth or Babel, hold forth to the People, Justice and Liberty, as their Motto: as if those excellent gifts had never received their birth, nor been so much as shewen to the People untill they murdered the King, and stepped into his Throne. But how righteous a Free-State or Common-wealth is this like to be? And how well are the People therein likely to be instructed in the waies of Righteousnesse, Justice and Charity, and improved in good life and conversation, by men so principled as aforesaid, Let

the world judge. Especially when they observe, That our New Statists have enacted in the said pretended Act. 2. January, 1649. enjoyning the Engagement, That whosoever will promise Truth and fidelity to them by subscribing the Engagement may deal falsely and fraudulently with all the world besides. And break all Bonds, Assurances and Contracts made with Non-engagers, concerning their Estates; and pay their Debts by pleading in Bar of all Actions, That the complaint hath not taken the Engagement: This is to rob the Egyptians of the good things of this world, This is to break their Faith by the Motions of the Spirit, This is to cheat and rob their Neigh∣bours without breach of Charity or Justice, and without imputation of Sin according to their aforesaid Te∣nets.

3. I am come now to consider in the third place, The way and Manner of their proceedings; How consonant they are to the usuall proceedings of our known Lawes, and Legall Courts of Judicature; (the best Inheritance of all Freemen) whereof see Colonel Andrews 3. Answers in his Defence given into the said High Court, herewith printed.

1. The first course they commonly take is; To break open mens Houses, Studies, Chests, &c. and seise their Papers; and thereby hunt for Matter of Charge against them: And then to examine them against themselves, upon the said Papers, contrary to Magna Charta which saith, Nemo tenetur prodere se∣ipsum. And contrary to the Doctrine of Christianity, which forbids a man to destroy his own life, or be, Felo de se, as many men unwittingly do, who answer to captious, ensnaring questions. When that tempting

question was put to Christ; Art thou the King of the Jews? He returned no other Answer then Thou sayest it: Why askest thou me? Ask them that heard me, That is, Ask witnesses. It was objected against the Oath ex Officio, That it was High Injustice to examine a man against him∣self: Because his Answers may only serve to condemn, but not to acquit him.

2. They usually break open houses with Souldiers, at all houres of the night, pulling men out of their beds with great violence and Terrour, and so carry them away, un∣der pretence whereof Robberies and Murders have been committed, Whereas by the Stat. 1. Ed. VI. chap. 12. and 5. and 6. Ed. VI. chap. 11. A man ought not to be accused of High Treason but to one of the Kings Coun∣sel; or to one of the Kings Justices of the Assize; or to one of the Kings Justices of the Peace being of the Quo∣rum: or to 2. Justices of the Peace where the Offence is committed. Cooks 3. Instit. chap. High Treason, pag. 26. 27, 28.

3. They Commit men to Prison without any Accu∣sation or Accusor made known, and during pleasure: and detain them in Prison many yeares together with∣out any Legall proceedings or Charge against them; sharing their Estates, Offices and Revenues (by Se∣questrations and Suspensions of the Profits) amongst themselves; without any Crime objected: And so leave them to starve, rot and dye in nasty Gaoles for want of Maintenance, under the cruelty of covetous and mercilesse Gaolers, whom they bear out (for mony) in all their Extortions. And being thus im∣prisoned and wounded with the displeasure of the State, no man dares adventure, upon any security, to lend him money for fear of incurring the disfavour

of the State, and a Note of Malignancy, whereby their Prisons are become private Slaughter-houses, as well as their Courts Publick shambles of Injustice. Pri∣soners in the Tower of London (To which prison no Goale-delivery belongs) were alwaies wont in the time of (that supposed Tyrant) King Charles I. and his Predecessors, to have allowance from the King, ac∣cording to their severall degrees; As 5 l. a weeke for an Esquire, &c. although the King deprived them of no part of their Estates untill conviction, and this Maintenance was provided for them by the Lieu∣tenant of the Tower; and in respect of his care and paines in procuring it he had Fees, and not otherwise, though now they continue and encrease the said Fees; the cause being taken away the effect ceaseth not. But these men now in power, after they have Committed men and robbed them of their Estates, without cause shewen, are so far from giving them any allowance to feed them; that they shut them up close Prisoners in unwholsome Chambers, denying them the Liberty of the Tower, and the benefit of fresh Aire (the Cameleons Diet) for their health, and resort of friends, for their accommodation. And that they may be sure to deprive them of all legall meanes by habeas corpus to recover their liberties; They Commit men by illegall warrants not expressing any particular Offence or cause for their Commitment: so that it is impossible for the keeper of the prison to obey the habeas corpus, which is directed to him in these words: Praecipimus tibi quod corpus A. B. unâ cum causa detentionis suae, habeas coram nobis, &c. ad recipiendum ea quae curia nostra, &c. Whereupon the Gaoler or Sheriff is to bring his Prisoner to the Bar, and tender his mittimus to the Court,

shewing the particular cause of his Imprisonment, that the Court may judge whether it be Legall, or no. Dolo∣sus versatur in Generalibus. In the Acts of the Apostles, chap. 25. vers. 26, 27. Festus thought it unreasonable to send Paul a prisoner to Cesar (to whom he had appealed) and not withall to signifie the Crimes laid to his Charge. See Cooks 2. Instit. fol. 591.

4. Their usuall Course of practising and suborning witnesses, tempting them with hopes and terrifying them with fears, is so notorious; That it is known the Counsell of State have hundreds of Spies and Intelligencers, Affi∣davit-men and Knights of the Post, swarming over all England as Lice and Frogs did in Egypt: and have both Pensions and set rates for every Pole brought in: So that now the whole Nation is proscribed, and every mans head set to sale, and made a staple commodity, (far beyond the definite Proscriptions of Silla and the Triumvirate a∣foresaid) These Sons of Belial are sent forth to com∣passe the earth seeking whom they may devour. These, (with the Liberty of Priviledged Spies) speak bold language to draw other men into danger: and plot conspiracies, which themselves de∣tect, and are rewarded like Decoy Duckes for their paines. Of this sort are Bernard and Pits set no work to betray Gell and Andrewes, as aforesaid. For which Bernard had 300 l. and a Troop of horse conferred upon him. Johnson that falsly accused Sir Robert Sherly, and Colonel Egerton for their charity in relieving his wants, is another; Varney is a Fourth. So well are they fitted with these Sonnes of Belial, that no Naboth can keep his Vineyard, if a Grandee cast a covetous eye upon it; they can prove what they list. Nay it is usuall for our Grandees to molest one man with

examining him 20. or 30. severall times, against one Prisoner, and upon one point, to distract his memory, and not to let him be quiet untill he perceive he must speak what their questions and discourses lead him to, to redeem himself from vexation. To say no∣thing of their Menaces, To torture men if they will not confess, what they impudently pretend is already dis∣covered by other meanes: And their insinuating into the Affections of witnesses, by asking them, Whether the State doth not owe them money? And why they do not use fitting meanes and opportunities to recover it? And why they do not make meanes for some beneficiall em∣ployment?

5. In Magna Charta, chap. 29. it is enacted, That no Freeman shall be taken or imprisoned; or be disseised of his Free-hold or Liberties or Free-Customes, or be outlawed or exiled, or any otherwise destroyed; nor we will not passe upon him or condemn him, but by lawfull Judgement of his Peers, or by the Law of the Land. We will sell to no man, we will not deny or defer to any man, Justice or Right. See Sta∣tute 2. Edward III. chap. 8. 5. Ed. III. chap. 9. 14. Ed. III. chap. 14. 25. Ed. III. chap. 4. 11. R. II. chap. 10. Pet. of Right. 3. Car. 1. 10. Edward IV. fol. 6. Dier folio 104. Cook lib. 5. folio 6. lib. 10. folio 74. lib. 11. folio 99. Regist. folio 86. Where note the word (Peers) signifies, that no man is to be condemned or destroyed, but by the lawfull verdict of a Jury of 12. sworn men of the Neighbourhood where the Fact was committed; because (in probability) Neighbours may have best cognisance of the Fact, and of the life and conversation of the Party Accused. And these only are Competent Judges of Matter of Fact; and in ma∣ny cases of Matter of Law too, if they will take the

knowledge of the Law upon them. Neither can this Petty Jury of 12. men go upon the Prisoner unlesse a Bill of Enditement containing the whole Matter of charge be first found in open Court by a Grande Jury or Enquest of sworn men; who are to enquire of the Fact upon the Oathes of two lawfull witnesses (at least) to every materiall Point of the Enditement: and then, when the Grande Enquest are all agreed, the Foreman endorseth upon the back of the Bill (Billa vera) and then presents it in open Court, as the In∣formation for the King of the whole Enqueste: otherwise the Enditement is quasht, and null. Cookes 3. Instit. chapter High Treason and Petty Treason. And whereas the Statute saith, (but by his Peeres. or by the Law of the Land) Lex Terrae, signifies, The Antient Customes of the Land; Amongst which Fundamentall Customes; Trialls by Juries hold a principall place. And when the King Charles I. accused this Parliament, That they disposed of the Subjects Lives and Fortunes by their votes, contrary to the known Laws of the Land, This Parliament in their Remonstrance, Sept. 1642. (1. Part of the Book of Declarations fol. 6 9 3. highly resented it. And Magna Charta being nothing else but an Affirmation of the Common Law, inserted this Clause (or by the Law of the Land) as a speciall caution, not to annihilate or frustrate (no; not so much as tacitely, or by preterition) any of the said Fundamentall Lawes or Customes; nor any other particular lawfull Customes, which are not one and the same in all parts of England: Witnesse the Custom of Gavelkind in Kent. I have told you what our known antient Legal Courts of Justice do. And I must tell you that Legal formes and set Modes of proceedings are

so essentiall unto Justice, that without them we can not mea∣sure the Rectitude of Obliquity of Justice or Injustice: where they do not chalk forth the way, both Judges, Lawyers, Officers and Atturneys will tread what subtle, obscure pathes they please, usurp an Arbitrary power and la∣titude to prevaricate; and so far corrupt and work the Law of their sense, that they will rather Leges da∣re, then Leges dicere, so that what is Law in one mans case, shall not be so in another mans, They will so intricate and intangle causes; that every case shall be Casus pro amico; as Civilians call it; when upon full hea∣ring, The Merits of the cause appear so equall, and undistinguishable on both parties; that the Judge may (according to his discretion) look upon the Merits of the Persons onely: and give the cause; Pauperiori, viâ Charitatis, or digniori, ratione virtutis. Justice not fixed by Formalities, will become such a vagrant, that no man shall know where to find her. Let us now see what our new sham∣bles, our upstart High Court doth. Which in this work of Reformation and Destruction, so much abhorres Superstition and Ceremonies, and sticks so close to a Summary way of proceeding, that they have not onely stripped, but flead her: as their Masters the Par∣liament not onely fleece but flea the People. In lieu of a Bill of presentment, by a Grande Enquest, the pretended Parliament or Counsell of State, send a List of such Persons names, as they have proscribed, And set a Nigrum Theta upon, (as men dangerous to their designed interest) to the Masters of their Slaughter-house, The said High Court, together with such De∣positions as they have taken in corners, against the Prisoners: and this is such a forejudging of them that the said Court neither will nor dare acquite, whom

their Masters and Pay-Masters have precondemned. Next Articles of Impeachment in nature of a charge are drawn up against the Prisoner (although such Arti∣cles are nothing in Law, which regards onely a Bill of Inditement) Then the Prisoner (after a close Imprison∣ment for he knows not what) upon two daies warn∣ing is led to the Bar; where the first work is to dazle his eyes, amaze and distract his Judgement and Memory with the terror of their Souldiers, the Nu∣merousnesse, high affronting words and looks of his Judges; having thus mortified the Prisoner, he is com∣manded to hear his charge read: and bid plead to it, Guilty, or not Guilty. If he own their Jurisdiction and plead the said Generall Plea, they have him where they would have him: they never ask him; how he will be tried, Whether by God and his Coun∣try? For God hath no hand in these proceedings, nor amongst such Judges: and this rod of Iron is provided to bruise his Country, as well as himself. Lieutenant Col∣lonel Lilbornes Trial hath taught them That it is an easier Matter for them to pack a Butcher-Rowe of confi∣ding, partiall Judges, then a Jury; who are liable to be challenged, if suspected of partiality. When Col∣lonel Andrewes claimed to be tried legally as a Free∣man by a Jury, and vouched Great Charter, and ma∣ny other Statutes, (whereof see his aforesaid 3. An∣swers) that sneaking Bloud-sucker, illiterate Keeble answered, Those Statutes were out of date now, (meaning, They were taken away by conquest.) So that this Shamble Rowe of Judges, take upon them to be, both Judges of the Law, (without acknowledging the Fundamentall Lawes of the Land, or taking any Oath of Indifferency to the People) Triors of the Fact, or

Jurates of life and death (without being sworn to find accor∣ding to Evidence) as well as Parties and Prosecutors. Theeves upon the high way may as justly arraign a True man before them, because he brought no more Mony in his purse, offered to draw his sword and hid his mony about him in contempt of their Jurisdiction and Au∣thority; and condemn him upon such a Mock Triall and Mummery or Enterlude of Justice, as these Fellows. If they allow him Counsel, his Counsel must apprehend the mindes of his Judges, at his perill; and not be so faithfull and diligent as to help his client in earnest; Lest the Counsel of State, or some other power (whose will is a Law) interpose, and banish him 20. miles from London; as they did Master Sprat, Sir John Gells Solicitor, before Sir Johns businesse was ended; whereby Sir John was left destitute of meanes to follow his bu∣sinesse, himself being Close Prisoner. If they permit any witnesse to speak on the prisoners part, He comes at his pe∣rill: Sir John Gells first witnesse was so baffled in Court, that the rest stole away and durst not appear. I have not heard whether they give any Copy of their Aricles of Im∣peachment to the Prisoner, (for they cover all their do∣ings with such a Plaguy Egyptian Darknesse, that we cannot see a glimpse of light) or whether they go a Starre Chamber way, and make him Answer Ore tenus, and ex tempore for his life and Estate. But if they give him any Copy, or any time to answer, it is not above four or five daies or a week, nor do they allow him Counsell or any o∣ther Clearing of the way to his defence, untill he have en∣snared himself by owning their Jurisdiction, and pleaded the Generall Plea, Not Guilty. If he pleade not an Issuable Plea, and yield to their Jurisdiction, quitting all benefit of the Law and Legall proceedings; the Razor is at his throat,

they thirst after his Bloud; and they presently sentence him guilty of contumacy and take it pro confesso. And if he do submit and plead: His plea will have the operation but of a Psalm of Mercy, prolonging his life but for a short time, in the interim Keeble and his Court plays with him as a Cat with a Mouse, and then devours him. For no man is sent to this Court to be Tried, but to be condemned. In hac arena dimicatur sine missione. Herein they shew themselves much more Ty∣rannous and bloudy then the Duke D' Alva when he e∣rected his said Counsel of Troubles, called Concilium Sanguinis, or the Bloudy conventicle; as this will shortly be. For saith Strada Declar. 1. lib. 7. Procurator reginus menses 4. Conficiendae Accusationi accipiens sibi; 5. Concede∣bat ad Defensionem regis (Egmontio, Hornano, &c.) The Kings Atturney took 4. Moneths time to draw up the charge or accusation, and gave 5. Months time to the Respondents to make their defence. And had he given less then 5. Moneths time, To Instruct Counsel, Pen their Answers, produce and summon witesses, inquire into the lives and conversation of their Accusors, his feet had been swift to shed bloud. Nulla unquam de morte hominis cunctatio longa est, But our Inquisitors take whole yeares to themselves to hunt for Matter of Accusati∣on, and hire and engage witnesses against men kept in ignorance and want with close Imprisonment: and al∣low not them so many daies to make their Defence. All manner of Accusors and witnesses, though apparently suborned and forsworn in the same cause, and proofes with∣out exceptions offered to the Court that they are of infa∣mous life and conversation, are in this Court (the Object of whose desires are Bloud and Confiscations, not Ju∣stice) lawfull witnesses, such witnesses were the said Ber∣nard and Pits; Monsters of men. See Sir John Gells

case stated: Printed about August, 1650. To cite any anti∣ent known Laws or Statutes, or any other then their own new coined Acts, passed by this 8th. Parts of a House of Com∣mons, (since they became elect Members chosen by Thomas Pride) is to incur the High Indignation of the Court, ex∣pressed abundantly in their words and looks. But to put them in mind of the Parliaments many Declarations, To maintain the antient known Laws, Liberties and Properties of the People, is to scandall the present Government and incur the Censure of that unknown Mysterious Crime which knaves call Malignancy. The witnesses and Judges being thus irrefragable; the first may swear what they will, the second may judge what they will, since they are left at large and have all things in scrinio pectoris: and Book Law must give place to Bench Law, The Juris∣diction and Authority of this New unparalled Court is such a Mistery of iniquity, so unscrutable and unquestionable, that if a Prisoner scruple (in the least) either it, or any of the uncouth proceedings of it, it is a Mortall Sinne to him; and he is presently interrupted, and af∣fronted both with disdainfull words and looks, And told, We are satisfied with our Authority that are your Judges, (So are Theeves upon the high way satisfied with their Authority that rob and murder us by Gods Providence and permission.) It is upon Gods Authority and the Kingdoms (yet what they do is against the will of God revealed in his Scriptures: and against the known established Lawes, Statutes and continuall Practise of the Kingdom:) Which Authority commands you in the name of the People of England to answer them. (Yet at least) 9. Parts of 10. of the People so much abhor these and other their Practises, that every mans mouth speakes against them with bitter curses and reproaches,

to restrain which they have minted Acts of New Treasons, to make men Offenders, nay Traitors, even for bare words; and erected this bloudy, illegall Theater, The High Court (so called, for its High Injustice) as a Spanish Inquisition over them, and every mans hand would be about their eares, did they not keep an Army of Janisaries to suppresse them.) Their Authority they do avow to the whole World, that the whole Kingdom are to rest satisfied therewith. (You see here a Whip and a Bell provided to keep the whole King∣dom in awe: the declared Supreme power of their So∣veraign Lord the People, must resign their known Lawes to their Trustees, their Representatives in Parliament, and take New Lawes from their Arbi∣trary votes, or woe to be to their Necks and Shoulders.) I must interrupt you, what you do is not agreeable to the Pro∣ceedings of any Court of Justice. You are about to enter into Argument and dispute concerning the Authority of this Court: before whom you appear as a Prisoner; you may not dispute the Authority of this Court: nor will any Court give way to it, you are to submit to it. (It is not safe to confute a lie told with Authority. Yet if a man be Endited of Treason or Felony in the Court of Common Pleas, a man may Demur to and dispute the Jurisdiction of that Court; because it is not in Criminall Causes, Compe∣tens Forum; nor the Judges Competent Judges: every man, and every cause must be tried Suo Foro, non Alie∣no. So if a Peer be arraigned in the Kings Bench. And for this upstart, unpresidented High Court; it is no Court of Judicature at all; as being erected with∣out lawfull Authority; Consisting of Incompetent Judges: no Records belonging to it: and tending to disinherit, and disfranchise all the People of Eng∣land,

and to murder them.) You may not dispute the Juris∣diction of the Supreme and Highest Authority of England, from which there is no Appeal, The votes of the Commons of England assembled in Parliament is the Reason of the King∣dom. (Oh Brutish, irrationall Kigdom! Where 40. or 50. Anabaptisticall Members, the Dregs and lees of the House of Commons, after all the best and since∣rest (7. Parts of 8.) had been racked and purged out at the Bunghole by Cromwell the Bruer and Pride his Dray∣man shall be called the Reason and Law of the Land. This confirmes the truth of what King Charles I. Objected to the Parliament (whereof I have formerly spoken) That they disposed of the Subjects Lives and For∣tunes, by their own Votes, against the known Lawes of the Land. But that there should be no Appeal to their declared Soveraign Lord the People, from their subordinate Trustees in Parliament is wonderfull; Considering that in all Governments the last Appeal is ever the Highest and most Absolute power. But it may be they will be the Peoples Trustees in spight of their Teeth, and by the power of the Sword; and so free themselves from rendring any account of their Stewardship. You may not demu••re to the Jurisdiction of the Court. If you do, they let you know, that they over∣rule your Demurrer, and affirm their own Jurisdiction. Reason is not to be heard against the Highest Jurisdiction, the Commons of Engl. make a direct and positive Answer, either by denying or confessing, and put in immediately an issuable Plea, Guilty, or Not Guilty of the Charge, or we will record your Default and Contumacy, and by an implicite confession take you Guilty proconfesso, and immediately give Judgement against you. This (as I told you before) is it that blanches the Deer into the Toile, But God deliver us from that

Jurisdiction that is too high to hear Reason: and that o∣verrules Demurrers before they be heard.) I have told you as much of the proceedings of this Court as the No∣velty, Obscurity, Uncertainty and confusion thereof will give me leave. Let me now (by way of overplus) give you the great dangers and Slavery that will befall all sorts of People if they tamely and cowardly suffer them∣selves to be deprived of their antient, Legall Trialls by Enditement and Juries of the Neighbourhood: (then which the whole world cannot boast of a more equall way) and suffer their Lives, Liberties, Estates and Ho∣nours to be subject to an Arbitrary, Extrajudiciall con∣venticle of Bloud, (Cromwells New Slaughterhouse) which hath neither Law, Justice, Conscience, Reason, Presi∣sident or Authority Divine or Humane, but onely the pretended Parliaments irrationall Votes and the Po∣wer of the Sword to maintain it, which will prove a Cittadell over their Liberties, a Snare to their Estates, a Deadfall to their Lives, and Scan∣dall to their honors and Families, if not timely oppo∣sed.

1. By the Law The Enditement must specifie what the Treason is, and against what Person committed; As, against our Soveraign Lord the King, his Crown and Dignity. But in the said Articles of Impeachment, it is alleaged that the Treason is committed against the present Govern∣ment; or, against the Keepers of the Libe••ties of Eng∣land; but in this dead-water our turning Tide be∣tween the old Regall, and this New, unknown Government; no man knows how to do, look or speak for fear of contradicting the guilt of an Inter∣pretative Treason, upon the said two Statutes for New Treasons, and before this boundless, lawless New

Court. And to say that Treason is committed against a Go∣vernment in abstracto is Non-sence: it must be said that Treason is committed against the Governors in Concreto, na∣ming them. For there being, no Treason without Allegeance; And Allegeance being a personall Obligation, must be due from a certain known Person, to a certain known Person or Persons. And therefore the Keepers of the Liberties of Eng∣land, not being yet made particularly known to us, who they are, or where to be found, or what their power, Duty or Office is; and being not tied by any set Oath, to deal well and truly with the People, (as Kings are by their Coronation Oath; for if the stipulation be not mutuall, the People are Slaves, not Subjects.) Since the Duties of Allegeance and Protecti∣on; Obedience and Command being reciprocall (as they must needs be, the Parliament having declared the Su∣preme power to be in the People; they must not go∣vern them Mero Imperio (by Lawless votes) like Turkish Tartarian and Russian Slaves.) I cannot owe nor perform Allegiance to those Individua vaga (the Keepers or Gao∣lers of our Liberties) nor to an Utopian Commonwealth. And without Allegeance no Treason: for in all En∣ditements of High Treason it must be alleaged, That the Accused did (Proditoriè) perpetrate such and such Crimes, Contra debitam Allegantiam suam. And the word (Proditoriè) signifies the betraying of a Trust: According to the Proverb; In Trust, is Treason. Now where there is no profession of Allegeance, there is no Acceptance of a Trust, no man can trust me against my will. I was born under a Regall Government, have read the Stat. Recogniti∣on, 1. Jac. Have taken (as well as others) the Legall Oathes of Allegeance, Obedience and Supremacy to the King his Heires and Lawfull Successors, imposed upon me by lawfull Authority, and from which no

power on Earth can absolve me: and so much I at∣test in the Oath of Supremacy. And how I should now come (after the New Moduling of the Parlia∣ment and Kingdom by Souldiers) to owe Allegeance to Cromwell the Bruer, Scot the Bruers Clerk, Bradshaw the Murderous Petty fogger, Sir Henry Mildmay the Court Pander and Projector, Holland the Linkeboy, John Trench∣arde that packed a Committee (in which he was a Member) and voted to himself 2000 l. Love the super-inducted Six Clerk, or any other of that Self-created Authority, let them sheath their swords and tell me.

2. An Enditement must certainly allege the Offence com∣mitted, in respect of the Matter, Time, Place, Persons and o∣ther Circumstances; But in these Articles of Impeach∣ment they tie themselves to no such certainties; Where∣by the Accused knows not at what ward to lie, nor how to make his Defence. The Circumstances of Time, Place and Persons, being the assured Testimony of all Humane Actions. This Lawless Court leaves him in a vast Sea of Troubles, without Pole-star, card or compass to steer by: The Arbitrary Opinions of this Court, de∣clared upon emergent Occasions, being a false-hearted Pilot to him. These Judges not being of Counsel with the Prisoner, as our Legall Judges are, who swear to do Justice according to the Law.

3. By the Law, any learned man that is present, may inform the Court, for the benefit of the Prisoner, of any thing that may make the proceedings erronious. Cooks 3. Instit. p. 29. But the whole Proceedings of this Court, their Meeting and sitting being erroneous, here is no room left for Ad∣monition, To take away their errours, is to take away Court.

4. Cooks 2. Instit. pag. 51. expounding the 29. chapter of Magna Charta hath these words. All Commissions ought to be grounded upon the Laws of England (not upon the votes of the House of Commons) and to contain this Clause in them. To do what is just according to the Laws and Customs of England, (not to execute the severall powers given them by the Act. 26. March 1650) and a little fur∣ther he saith, Against this Antient and Fundamentall Law I find an Act of Parliament made 11. Hen. VII. c. 3. That as well Justices of Assize as Justices of the Peace, without any finding or presentment by the verdict of 12 men, upon a bare Information for the King before them made, should have full power and Authority by their Discretions, to hear and determine all Offences and Contempts committed, or done by any Person or Persons, against the Form, Ordinance or effect of any Statute made and not repealed; saving Treason, Murder or Felony. By colour of which Act shaking this Fundamentall Law, it is not credible what horri∣ble Oppressions and Exactions, to the undoing of in∣finite number of People, were Committed by Emp∣son and Dudley Justices of the Peace throughout England. And upon this unjust and injurious Act, a New Office was erected (as commonly in like cases it falleth out) and they made Masters of the Kings Forfeitures. (I hear such an other Offfce will be erected, when the Novelty of this wonderfull High Court is lessened, and the yoke thereof throughly setled upon the Peoples Necks) Yet observe the said Act. 11. Hen. VII. c. 3. went not so high as to Treason, Murder and Fe∣lony: But by the Stat. 1. Hen. VIII. chap. 6. the said Act 11. Hen. VII. was repealed, and the reason given, For that by force of the said Act it was manifestly known; That many sinister and crafty, forged and feigned In∣formations

had been pursued against many of the Kings subjects, to their great dammage and wrongfull vexation. The ill successe hereof (saith Cook) and the fearfull end of these two Oppressors, (who were Endited and suffered for High Treason for all the said Act 11. Hen. VII. pas∣sed in a full and Free Parliament. Cooks 3. Instit p. 208.) Should admonish Parliaments, That instead of this Ordi∣nary and precious Triall by the Law of the Land, they bring not in Absolute and Partiall Trialls by Discretion. And in his 4. Instit. page 41. Cook saith, Let Parliaments leave all Causes to be measured by the golden and streight∣ned wand of the Law, and not the uncertain and crooked cord of Discretion: for it is not almost Credible to foresee, when any Maxime or Fundamentall Law of the Land is altered, what dangerous inconveniences will follow; as appeares by this unjust and strange Act 11. Henry VII. chap. 3.

5. This Parliament alwaies declared they bore Arms a∣gainst the King, in Defence of the Laws, Liberties and Pro∣perties of the People. This way ran the whole current of their Declarations. And they alwaies reckoned Magna Char∣ta, the Petition of Right and Trialls by Juries, the Chief and most Fundamentall of all our Laws. See their 1. Remon∣strance: Therefore in their 7. Article against Strafford. They charged him with High Treason, for giving Judgements a∣gainst mens Estates, without Trials by Juries. Much aggrava∣ted by Master St. Iohns in his aforesaid Argument against Strafford. And for the better preservation of Legall Trialls by Juries, it is provided in the Bill of At∣tainder of Strafford, that the case of the same Earl should not be used as a President in succeeding times. And in two of this Parliaments late Declarations 9. Febr. and 17. March 1648. The Parliament promiseth,

To preserve and keep the fundamental Laws of the land, for preservation of the lives, liberties and properties of the people, with all things incident thereto. Now to erect an arbitrary lawless high Court, to give judgment against mens lives and estates, and attain their bloods, without Enditement found by a grand Jury, and a trial by a Jury of twelve sworn men vicineto, is a far fouler breach of trust in them against their Sovereign Lords the People, than all they charged the King withall, and a far higher act of tyranny and injustice than either the late King, or Empson and Dudley, or Strafford were accused of. But if they alledg, They do not put down Juries in general, but only in some particular mens cases and upon necessity. I answer, That we are all born Freemen of England alike, That our ancient known Laws, Laws Courts and trials by Juries are our inheritance equal alike to all. And one party or part of the people ought not to be disherited, disfran∣chised or forejudged no more than another. No man can be said guilty of any crime until he be legally convicted and sentenced, the Law must first go upon him and condemn him, Ubilex non distinguit, non est distinguendum. If we do not live all under one Law and form of Justice, we are not all of one Commonwealth. See the aforementioned Gentlemans Argument, against the special Commission of the Court of York. For Necessity; our present power is under none, but the fears and terrors of their own guilty consciences. No apparence nor probability of any ene∣my by their own confession; nor can they plead in their excuse, a necessity which they have brought upon them∣selves. I know some Kings have, de facto, used the Ani∣madversion of the Sword to cut off such powerful and dangerous persons as could not safely be called to ac∣count by the Law; so dyed Joab, Adonijah, &c. for which

the rule is, Neminem adeo eminere debere, legibus in∣terrogari nequeat; qui jus aequum ferre non potest, in eum vim haud injustam fore. No man ought to advance himself above the powers of the Law; he that will not submit to equal right, if he be cut off by violence, suf∣fers no wrong; but this is to be understood of the emi∣nency and greatness of the person, not of the greatness of the crime, whereof no man is to be forejudged, because a great crime may prove a great calumny, until a legal trial have adjudged it. But there is no person in England so eminent for power or Authority, but that the least of Bradshaws Ban-dogs can drive him to the Slaughter-house, & make him offer his throat to Keeble. Therefore Animadversio Gladii, if at any time lawful, is now un∣lawful. To make great examples upon men of little power, is great injustice. But the way of this Court is not A∣nimodversio per Gladium. It is a Mocking, a Counter∣feiting, an Adulterating and Alchimisting of Justice; it is to falsifie her weights and ballance, and steal her sword to commit Murder withall.

6. By the known Laws Matter of fact is intrusted to the Jury, matter of Law to the Judges, to prevent all errours, combinations and partiallities. The Judges are sworn to do justice according to the Law; the Jury are sworn to finde according to their evidence. But in this high Court the Commissioners or Judges are all packed, confiding men, chosen by and out of one party, to destroy all of a different party. They usurp the office of Judges, not be∣ing sworn to deal well and lawfully with the people (as by the said Stat. 18 Ed. 3.) nor to do justice according to the Law. But only to execute powers given by the said Act, 26. Mar. 1650. And they arrogate (as Jury-men) to be Triers of the Fact, without being sworn, to find according

to evidence. So that they are Judges, Juries, and parties, (& for ease of their tender consciences (without any Oath of Indifferency. A most excellent Compendium of Op∣pression. They may go to the Devil for injustice, and not be forsworn. Great is the priviledge of the godly.

7. The prisoner may except against his Jurors, either a∣gainst the Array, if the Sheriff or Bayly impannelling the Jury, be not wholly disingaged and indifferent, both to the cause, and to the parties, prosecuting, and prosecu∣ted; or against the Poll, he may challenge 35 peremptorily, & as many more as he can render legal cause of challenge for. As for defect of estate, or other abilities, or for partia∣lity, Disaffection, Engagement, Infamy. But this Array of Jury-men Judges (a Medley so new we know not how to express it) though picked and empannelled by an en∣gaged remainder of the Commons, and abnoxious to all exceptions, must not be challenged, their backs are too much galled to indure the least touch. Take heed you scandal not the Court (cries Mr. Atturney) See Col. An∣drews three Answers.

8. Many exceptions in a legal Trial, are allowed a∣gainst Imperfections, Ʋncertainties and Illegallities in the Bill of Endictment, for the advantage of the Priso∣ner. But no Exceptions are allowed against these ille∣gal Articles of Impeachment, which are made uncer∣tain, intricate and obscure and ambiguous purposely to puzle, confound and entangle the Respondent.

9. By the Law a bill of Endictment must have two full and clear lawful witnesses to every considerable Matter of Fact, both at finding the Bill and at the Trial. Cooks 3. Instit. pag. 25, 26. And Probationes debent esse luce clariores. Proofs must be as clear as the Sun, not groun∣ded upon Inferences, Presumptions, Probabilities. And the Prisoner must be Provablement Attaint, saith the

Stat. 25. Ed. 3. chap. 2. Cooks 3. Instit. pag. 12. The word (attainted) shews he must be legally proceeded with; not by absolute power as formerly had been used (and as is now used by this bloody High Court) But before these Slaugh∣ter-men of the High Court, all manner of witnesses, Le∣gal or Illegal, one or two, sworn or not sworn, or ap∣parently forsworn and suborned, and all proofs clear or not clear are sufficient. The Prisoner is sent thither foredoomed, and hath its deaths Mark, his fate in his forehead.

10. The said Act 26. March 1650. carries two faces under one hood, and looks backwards as well as for∣wards. To facts precedent as well as subsequent the said Act, contrary to the nature of all Laws, whose office is to prohibit it before it punish, to warn before it strike. Where St. Paul defineth Sin to be the breach of Com∣mandement, or Law. I had not known Sin but by the Law. The Law must therefore be precedent to the Offence. But these Acts are not Laws to admonish, but Lime-twigs and Traps to ensnare and catch men. See Col. Andrews 3. Answers at the latter end of this book.

Fourthly and lastly, I am to consider, To what end and purpose this new invented High Court is constituted and appointed? Concerning which see a Letter dated 6. June 1650. Stilo veteri, from the Hague, (suppo∣sed to be Walter Stricklands, the Parliaments Agent there) as I finde it in Walter Frosts brief Relations of some affairs and transactions, &c. from Tuesday June 11. to June 18. 1650. wherein the Epistoler hath these words,

One piece of the cure (viz. of the dangers that threaten your new State) must be Phlebotomy, but then you must begin before Decumbency, and then it wil be facile to prevent danger, &c. they are here most of all afraid of your high Court of Justice, which they

doubt may much discourage their party, they wish you would not renew the power thereof, but let it expire: then they think that after Michaelmas they may expect Assistance with you. And indeed that Court is of almost as much use to you as an Army: and will prevent the rising of as many Enemies, as the other will destroy, only you must be sure to execute Justice there with all severity. A few of the first stir∣rers taken away, by the power thereof, without re∣spect to cousin or Countrey, will keep all the rest quiet. But whosoever that Court condemns, let them be as already dead, &c. But let them be most free in cutting the vena Coephalica (that is the Presbyterian Party) for the Basilica (or Royal Party) will be la∣tent. The Median (or Levellers) would be spared as much as may be, that the body be not too much ema∣ciated. Besides, the blood is most corrupt in the Coe∣phalicks (or Presbyterians) and is the very causa continens of your disease. You need not fear to take freely of this vein, &c.

Here you see this State Moun∣tebank gives you the use and application of this cor∣rasive. (The High Shambles of Justice) so fully that I shall not need to comment upon it. And in the latter end of a Letter from Cromwel, dated from Dunbar, 4. Sept. 1650. (as I find it in Politicus) speaking of his new purchased victory over the Scots, Cromwel saith; God puts it more and more into your hands to improve your power, (viz. your absolute Authority) we pray own his People more and more, (that is, the Army) they are the Chariots and Horsmen of Israel (of the King∣dom of the Saints) disown your selves but own your Au∣thority (which you enjoy under the Protection of the Army, your Lords Paramount) and improve it; to Curb the Proud and Insolent, &c. (That is, all men of dif∣ferent

opinions and parties from them, that will not engage to be true and owe Allegiance to the Kingdom of the Saints, and resign their Laws, Liberties and pro∣perties to their lusts and wills.) That I have not mis∣construed the contents of Cromwels mystical letter, will appear by a Discourse in the same Politicus, Numb. 17. from Thursday Sept. 26. to Octob. 3. 1650. Where (ac∣cording to his custom) delivering forth State-Oracles to the people, He tels them in plain English, That after the Confusions of a Civil War, there is a necessity of some settlement, and it cannot be imagined (the Controversie being determined by the Sword) that the Conquerours should submit to the conquered, though more in number than themselves. Nor are they obliged to settle the Go∣vernment again according to the former Laws and Con∣stitutions, but may erect such a form as they themselves conceive most convenient for their own preservation. For after a Civil War the written Laws (viz. establish∣ed Laws of the Nation) are of no force, but onely those which are not written. (And a little after) the King ha∣ving by Right of war lost his share and interest in Au∣thority and power, being conquered, by Right of war the whole must needs reside in that part of the People which prevailed over him: There being no middle pow∣er to make any claim, and so the whole Right of Kingly Authority in England being by Military Decision resolv∣ed into the prevailing Party, what Government soever it pleaseth them to erect, is as valid de Jure, as if it had the consent of the whole Body of the People. That he should affirm, That after a Civil War the Established Laws cease, is so gross a piece of ignorance, that there is hardly any History extant but confutes it: After our Barons war, and the Civil War between York and Lan∣caster,

Our Established Laws flourished; so did they after the Norman Conquest. How many Civil Wars in France have left their Laws untouched? That of the Holy Leage lasted 40 years; Belgia keeps her Laws maugre her intestine Wars: What is now become of the Parliaments declared Supreme Power and Sove∣raign Lord the People, the Original and Fountain of all just power? are they not all here proclamed Ear-bored slaves for ever? But I had thought that an Army of Mercenary Saints raised, payed and commissioned by the Parliament to defend the Religion, Laws, Liberties and Properties of the people, and the Kings Crown and Dignity, according to the Protestation and Covenant, and the Parliaments Declarations, would not have made such carnal and hypocritical use of their Victo∣ries gotten by Gods providence and the peoples mo∣ney, as to destroy our known Laws, Liberties and Pro∣perties, and claim by Conquest, and impose their own lusts for Laws vpon us, thereby rendring themselves Rebels against their God, their King and Countrey. Nor was it ever the State of the Quarrel between the King and Parliament whose slaves the people should be? Or whether we should have one King, Governing by the known established Laws? or 40 Tyrants Go∣verning by their own lusts and arbitrary votes, against our written Laws? Nor can the success make n Con∣quest just, unless the cause of the war were originally just, and rhe prosecution thereof justly managed. As 1. To vindicate a Just Claim and Title. 2. Ad res re∣petendas. To recover Damages wrongfully sustained. 3. To repel an injury done to your self, or to your Ally in league with you.

The ultimate end of these wicked endeavors is, To

establish and cement with the blood of their adver∣saries, the Kingdom of the Brambles or Saints, al∣ready founded in blood, by cutting of all such by their said New Acts of Treason and High Court of Justice, as will not bow their Necks to their Iron yoke. Which appears more clearly in an Additio∣nal Act giving farther power to the said High Court, (dated 27. Aug. 1650.) To hear and determine all Misprisions or Concealments of Treasons mentioned or contained in any of the said Articles or Acts of Par∣liaments: And to inflict such punishments, and award such execution, as by the Laws and Statutes have been, or may be inflicted. This Law (if I miscal it not) con∣sidering how they have multiplied Treasons by their said 3 New Statutes, 14. May, 17 July 1649. and 26. March 1650. Whereby bare words without Act are made High Treason, contrary to those well approved Statutes, 25 Edw. 3. chap. 2. 1 Hen. 4. chap. 10. 1 Edw. 6. chap. 12. 1 Mariae, chap. 1. Cook 3 Instit. saith, That words may make an Heretick not a Traitor, Chap. High Treason. And the Scripture denounceth a woe to him; That maketh a man an Offender for a word, is one of the cruelst, and most generally dangerous and entrapping that ever was made. For hereby all relations, Husband and Wife, Parents and Children, Brothers and Sisters, Masters and Servants, are all injoyned to be informers against, and accusers of one another (which is to take upon them the Devils office (and be Accusatores Fratrum) for light and vain words spoken only in passion or ignorantly: or else they fall into the jaws of this all-devouring Court, from whence, no more then from hell, there is no redem∣ption) for Misprision of Treason: the Penalty whereof is loss of liberty and lands for life, and of goods for ever,

Who can imagine lesse hereby, but that our Statists in∣tend to raise a yearly revenue by this Court, by Forfeitures and Confiscations: and to erect an Office of Master of the States Forfeitures: like Empsons and Dudleys in Hen. VII. time aforesaid. And so continue this Court, to weede out the Ancient Inhabitants Canaanites and Amalekites. The said Additional Act, 27. Aug. 1650. concludes, That the said High Court shall not Examine, Try or proceed against any person other then such as shall be first by name appoin••ed by the Parliament or Councel of State. It should seem the Parliament and Councel of State supply the want of a Grand Inquest; and their Ap∣pointment is in stead of a Bill of Enditement found and presented. As Assuredly as the High Inquisition was erected in Spain by Ferdinando and Isabella to extirpate the Maho∣metan Moors: And the said Councel of Blood in the Lowe Countreys, by the Duke D' Alva to weed out the Lutherans, Calvinists and Anabaptists. So is this High Court set up in England, to root out the Royallists, Presbyterians and Le∣vellers; and generally all that will not wholly concur with our Independents in Practice and Opinions. As will mani∣festly appear when their work is done in Scotland, which will soon be effected: the more zealous Scots being now as ready to sell their Kingdom; as they were formerly to sell their King.

I. Conclude therefore upon the Reasons aforesaid; That because the Commissioners or Judges are not sworn to do Justice according to the Laws: and are par∣ties pre ingaged (as well as their Masters, and pay Ma∣sters, that named them) ignorant men, and of vild & base professions, uncapable of places of Judicature, Neces∣sitous Persons, and some of them Scandalous, and the High Court it self hath neither Law, President, nor any

just Authority for constituting thereof or the Judges therein. And all proceedings before them are directly Contrary to Magna Charta, the Statute 25. Edw. III. chap. 2. The Petition of Right and all other known and Established Laws, and the continual Practice of our Nations; and (in many points) contrary to the Law of God and the Dictates of Right Reason. That these Commissioners are Incompetent Judges; Their Court an Extrajudicial Conventicle, tending to disinherit, disfran∣chise and enslave all the Freemen of the Nation; and all Proceedings before them are void, and coram non Judice. See Col. Andrews 3. Answers, The said High Court of Iustice to be a meer bloody Theater of Murder and Oppression. It being against Common Reason, and all Laws divine and humane, That any man should be Iudge in his own Cause. Neminem posse in sua causa Iudicem esse. Is the Rule in Law. But this Parliament and Councel of State know they cannot establish and confirm their usurped Tyranny, (The Kingdom of the Saints,) eate up the People with Taxes, and share publike Lands, Offices, and Mony amongst themselves, enslave the Nation to their Lawless wills and pleasures, but by cutting off the most able and active men of all opposite parties by some such expedient as this Arbitrary Lawless High Court is. The old Legal way by Iuries (being found by Iohn Lilbourns Trial) to be neither sure enough nor speedy enough to do their work. A Butcher-Rowe of Iudges being easier packed, then a Jury who may be challenged. So that it fareth with the People of England, as with a Traveller fallen into the hands of Thieves. First, they take away his Purse. And then, to se∣cure themselves, they take away his life. So they Robbe him by Providence, And then Murder him by Necessity. And (to bring in their third insisting Principle) they may

alleage; They did all this upon Honest intentions; to enrich the Saints, and rob the Egyptians. With these 3. Princi∣ples they Iustifie all their Villanies. Which is an Inven∣tion so meerly their own, That the Devil must acknow∣ledge: They have propagated his Kingdom of Sinne and Death more by their impudent Iustifications, then by their Turbulent Actions.

Notes

• In their Tax Rolls they u∣sually set in the Margent to every name private notes of di∣stinction, an M. an N. or P. The letter M. stands for Malignant; he that is so branded, is highly taxed, and his com∣plaints for redress slighted. N stands for a Neuter, he is more indifferently rated, and upon cause shewn, may chance to be relieved. The letter P. signifies a perfect Parliamentarian. He is so favourably taxed, as he bears an inconsiderable part of the burden, and that they may the better consume with Taxes and want, all such as do not concur with them in the height of their villanies. The pretended Parliament, are now debating to raise the Monethly Tax to 240000 lib. or to deprive every man of the third part of his Estate; both Real and Personal, for maintenance of their immortal Wars, and short lived Commonwealth. Besides Excise, Cu∣stomes, Tonnage and Poundage, Freequarter, finding Arms and Horses, and the sale of Corpo∣ration Lands now in agitation. Whilest our Grandees enrich all the Banks of Christendome with vast summes raised by publick Theft and Rapines.
• See Stat. Re∣cognition 1 Jac. The Oaths of Al∣giance, Obe∣dience and Supremacy, and all our Law-books.
• This Stat. 25 Ed. 3. c. 2. S. Johns against Strafford, cals the security of the people. And the Stat. 1 Hen. 4. cap. 10. Ed. 6. cap. 12. 1. Mariae 1. ra∣tifie and high∣ly commend.
• They have converted our ancient Mo∣narchy into a Free-state; and tell us they are the State. They tell us they have bestow∣ed Liberty upon the peo∣ple: but they and their fa∣ction onely are the peo∣ple. All the rest of the English Nati∣on are anni∣hilated, and reduced to nothing, that these fellows may become all things: Meer ciphers, serving onely to make them of more ac∣count. And this gross fal∣lacy must not be disputed against, lest their New Acts of Par∣liament call it Treason.
• 1. A Collusive Accommoda∣tion.
• 2. An intended Massacre.
• 3. The Engage∣ment.
• 4. The High Court of Justice.
• See Stat. 5 Ed. 6. chap. 11. & Cooks 2. Inst. pag. 26.
• Witness about 3000. Scottish Prisoners of War starved to death at Durham: where they eate one ano∣ther for hun∣ger. These were taken at the battle of Dunbar on. 1650. 3. Sept. and many hundred Pri∣soners have been murde∣red in Gaoles, with hunger, cold, nastiness and contagi∣on, after they have been robbed of their Estates and no Crime laid to their Charge: this is become a daily practise.
• See the Trial of King Char. I. in the Hi∣story of Inde∣pendency 2. Part. pag. 91. &c.
• See the Addi∣tionall P••st∣script at the Latter end of this Book.
• See Col. Andrews three An∣swers.
• Where there is but one witness, it shall be tried by combate before the Earl Martial Cooke, ibidem
• 10. Decemb. 1650. A New Act passed, for establish ng an High Court Justice in N••••folk, Suf∣folk, Hunting∣ton, Camb idge, Lincoln, and the Isl•• of Ely, &c. And so by degrees this gangrene shall enlarge it self all the King∣dom over.