The good old cause rightly stated, and the false un-cased Prynne, William, 1600-1669. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A56169 of text R219597 in the English Short Title Catalog (Wing P3970). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 28 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A56169 Wing P3970 ESTC R219597 99831058 99831058 35520 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A56169) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 35520) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 2038:28) The good old cause rightly stated, and the false un-cased Prynne, William, 1600-1669. 6, [2] p. s.n., [London : 1659] By William Prynne. Caption title. Imprint from Wing. Reproduction of the original in the British Library. eng Catholics -- England -- Controversial literature -- Early works to 1800. Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1649-1660 -- Early works to 1800. Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1642-1649 -- Early works to 1800. A56169 R219597 (Wing P3970). civilwar no The good old cause rightly stated, and the false un-cased. Prynne, William 1659 4810 29 0 0 0 0 0 60 D The rate of 60 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the D category of texts with between 35 and 100 defects per 10,000 words. 2002-04 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2002-05 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2002-06 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2002-06 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-07 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion The Good Old Cause rightly stated , and the False un-cased . By William Prynne Esq a Bencher of Lincolns-Inne . WHen the a wilely Gibeonites attempted to circumvent Iosuah and the Israelites , and draw them into a League with them , against b Gods express inhibition , they accomplished their design with this Stratageme , c by carrying along with them , old Sacks , old rent Wine-bottles , old Shoes and Garments , and old dry mouldy bread and provisions to the Israelites Camp at Gilgal ; which they alleged were all new on the day they came forth from their Country , but were all becom old by reason of their very far journy , which they believing , without examination , were insnared by them . This policy hath for many years past been pursued by Iesuites and other Gibeonites of Rome , to circumvent over credulous Protestants to enter into a holy League with them to the shipwrack of their Faith and Souls , by crying up their d new Superstitions , Relique , Errors , for the only old Religion , and decrying the antient Protestant Religion as a late Novelty first broached by Luther and Calvin . Whether this be not the present stratageme of some of their Instruments , or Fraternity , to engage the Souldiers to joyn in a new confederacy with them , to bring our old Religion , Government , Parliaments , Laws , Liberties , to speedy desolation , & irrecoverable destruction , under the disguise of maintaining the good * old Cause , is not unworthy their strictest inquisition , & most serious consideration , which will be evidently demonstrated to them by discovering the only true original Good Old Cause , Grounds , Ends , drawing the Houses of Parliament to raise and continue the Armies under their successive Generals ; most clearly , fully , and truly expressed in their own Votes , Orders , Ordinances , Declarations year after year , printed at large in two distinct Volums for Edward Husbands 1643. and 1646. by order of the Commons assembled in Parliament ; which being almost quite forgotten , it will be both seasonable , and necessary to refresh the memories , and awaken the stupid , if not seared Consciences of the Nation , with a recital of the chiefest of them , to countermine the new plots of all seducing Gibeonites . The first Original of the unhappy breach between the late King and our long Parliament , was (e) his comming personally into the Commons House to demand the five Members , 4 Ianuary 1641. whom the day before he had impeached of High Treason , and sent a Sergeant at Arms to apprehend : This breach of Privilege induced the Houses to require the power of the Militia to be at their disposal , for the safeguard of their Persons and Privileges : which being denyed by the King , who condescended to it very far , but not in that latitude as demanded ; soon after the King departing from the Parliament , and setting on foot the Commission of Array for his defence against the Parliament , and the Parliament raising the Militia for their safeguard against the King , this first engaged them by degrees into a civil bloody war against each other , ending in their mutual destruction by the very new Militia they contested for , as their only security against each other . The sole Cause , Grounds , Ends of the Parliaments raysing the Militia , and after that an Army , are thus fully declared by the Lords and Commons , in their Prepositions for bringing in Plate and Mony , Horse , Horse-men , and Arms for the defence of the King and both Houses of Parliament , printed and published by order of the Lords and Commons , 10 Junii 1642. Whereas it appears the King ( seduced by wicked Counsel ) intends to make war against his Parl. and in pursuance thereof , (f) under pretence of raysing a Guard for his person , hath actually begun to levy forces both horse and foot , &c. so as the orders of Parliament , which is the highest Court of Iustice in this Realm , are not obeyed , and the authority thereof is altogether scorned and vilified , and such persons as stand well-affected to it , and declare themselves sensible of these publike calamities , and of the violations of the privileges of Parliament , and common liberty of the Subjects , are baffled and injured by several sorts of malignant men who are about the King ; some whereof , under the name of * Cavaliers , without having respect to the Laws of the Land , or any fear either of God , or man , are ready to commit all manner of outrage and violence , which must needs tend to the dissolution of this Government , the destroying of our Religion , Laws , Liberty , and property ; all which must be exposed to the malice and violence of such desperate persons as must be employed in so horrid and unnatural an act , as the overthrowing of a Parliament by force , which is the support and preservation of them . All which being duly considered by the Lords and Commons , & how great an obligation lies upon them , in honor , conscience , and duty , according to the high trust reposed in them , to use all possible means in such case , for the timely prevention of so great and irrecoverable evils ; they have thought fit to publish their sense and apprehension of this imminent danger , thereby to excite all well-affected persons to distribute their best assistance , according to their Solemn Vow and Protestation , to the preparations necessary for the opposing and suppressing of the trayterous Attempts of those wicked and malignant Counsellors who seek to engage the King in so wicked and destructive an Enterprise , and to destroy the Privileges and Being of Parliaments . 1. They the said Lords and Commons do declare , That whosoever shall bring in any proportion of Money or Plate , or shall underwrite to furnish or maintain any number of Horse , Horsemen , or Arms , for the preservation of the publick peace , and for the defence of the King , and both Houses of Parliament from force and Uiolence , and to uphold the Power and Privileges of Parliament , according to his Protestation : it shall be held a good and acceptable Service to the Common-wealth , and Testimony of his good affection to the Protestant Religion , the Laws , Liberties and Peace of this kingdom , and to the Parliament and privileges thereof . And lastly it is declared , That whatsoever is brought in shall not at all be imployed upon any other occasion , than to the purposes aforesaid , which are ; To maintain the Protestan● Religion , the Kings authority , and his person in his Royal Dignity , the free course of Justice , the Laws of the Land , the Peace of the Kingdom , and the Privileges of Parliament , against any force that shall oppose them : And this by direction of Both Houses of Parliament . Here you have the Good Old Cause truly , clearly and fully stated by both Houses of Parliament in every particular branch thereof , when they first ingaged themselves , all the well-affected people of the Kingdom , and Army in it , as they published to all the world in these their Propositions . Which how diametrically contrary it is in every branch to the misstaken Good Old Cause , now cried up and prosecuted with an high hand , & to the late practises , proceedings , counsels , papers , designs of those , who were first raised , commissioned by the Parliament for its just defence , yet are at last degenerated into the greatest Apostates from , and violentest enemies against it ; their own consciences can best resolve , and the blindest eyes most clearly discern , These Propositions were seconded with a g Declar●tion of the Lords and Commons to the same effect , printed and published by their Order , 5 Iulii 164● . in pursuance whereof Iuly 12. the Commons House pass●d and published these Votes : * Resolved upon the Question , That an Army shall be forthwith raised , for the safety of the Kings Person , the Defence of Both Houses of Parliament , and of those who have obeyed their Orders and commands , and preserving of the true Religion , the Laws , Liberty and Peace of the Kingdom : That the Earl of Essex shall be the General : That in this Cause , for the Safety of the Kings person , defence of both Houses of Parliament , and of those who have obeyed their Orders and commands , and preserving of true Religion , the Laws , Liberty and Peace of the Kingdom , they will live and die with the Earl of Essex , whom they have nominated General in this Cause . That a Petition should be framed , to move his Majesty to a good accord with his Parliament , to prevent a civil War . Which Petition and Votes were presented to the Lords ; who returned Answer ; They did concur with the House of Commons , in omnibus . After this the Lords and Commons in their h Ordinances of 14 Martii 1642. and 3 August 1643. for the speedy raising and levying money for the maintenance of the Army raised by the Parliament , and sundry other Ordinances , whiles the Earl of Essex was General , did declare ; That the only Causes for which they have raised and do continue an Army and forces , are the necessary defence of the true Protestant Religion , of themselves and the Parliament from violence and destruction , of this Kingdom from forein Invasion , and bringing notorious offendors to condign punishment , the preservation of the Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom , and the Kings person . And the i Earl of Essex himself , in his Proclamation to prevent plundering , the 24. of April 1643. as he stiles himself , Captain General of the Army , raised and imployed for the defence of the Protestant Religion , King , Parliament and Kingdom ; So he declares , That this Army is raised for the defence of the King , Parliament , and Kingdom , the preservation of Gods true Religion , and the just rights and liberties of the Subjects from violence and oppression . The year next following , when the Scotish forces were called and brought in for our assistance to joyn with the English Army and Forces ; the self same Good Old Cause in every branch thereof was avowed and espoused by them , and no other , as both Houses of Parliament and the Scots themselves declared to all the world in (k) several printed Ordinances , Declarations , Remonstrances , and in the Solemn league and Covenant , which the Officers and Souldiers of both Armies , as well as Members of the Parliaments of both Kingdoms , and all well-affected persons in England , Scotland , and Ireland , generally subcribed in a most chearfull , publick , and sacred manner : yea * Oliver Cromwell himself ( both as a Member and Lieutenant General ) being the 40th . Member who subscribed it . The command of the Parliaments forces and Army , being afterwards translated from the Earl of Ess●x to Sir Thomas Fairfax , by an (l) Ordinance of the Lords and ●ommons in Parliament , 15 Febr. 1644. for raysing and maintaining the sorces under his command : both Houses ordained , That there be forthwith raysed and armed for the d●fence of the King and Parliament , the true Protestant Religion , and the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom , an Army consisting of 6600 Horse , 4000 Dragooners , and 14400 Foot , under the immediate command of Sir Thomas Fairfax Knight , who is hereby constituted Commander in chief of all the forces raysed by this Ordinance , and shall from time to time be subject to such Orders and Directions as be shall receive from time to time from both Houses of Parliament , or from the Committee of both Kingdoms . And it is fu●ther provided by this Ordinance , that all Commanders and Officers that shall be imployed in this Army , and to be approved by both Houses of Parliament , and all the common Souldiers of this A●my shall ●ake the National League and Covenant of both Kingdoms , within 20 dayes after they be listed in the said Army ; and that all such who shall refuse the said Solemn League and Covenant , shall upon such their refusal be displaced , and shall not be admitted into any Office or command in the said Army , untill they shall have taken the said Solemn League and Covenant , in such form as is there prescribed , and such their conformity approved of by both Houses of Parliament . In the (m) Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament , for the speedy raysing and impressing of men for the recruiting the forces under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax , 27 Febr. 1644. They declared , Forasmuch as the true Protestant Religion , the Laws and Liberties of the Subject were in danger to be subverted Idolatry , and tyranny , like to be introdu●ed by the force & power of several armies raysed by pretence of the Kings authority , &c. Be it therefore ordained by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament , That the Committees of the Militia for the City of London , the Deputy Lieutenants and Committees of Parliament in every County , City , or place within the Realm , shall from time to time , raise , leavy , and imprest such number of Soldiers , Gunners , and Chyrurgions , for the defence of the King , Parliament , and Kingdom as shall be appointed by both Houses of Parliament , the Committee of both Kingdoms , or by Sir Thomas Fairfax . The like recitals of this Good Old Cause , and ends for which this Army under him and others was raised , are used in n other Ordinances . If this be not sufficient evidence , that Sir Thomas Fai●fax , and the General Counsel of the Officers and Army under him took up Arms , and engaged only for this Good Old Cause and ends , and none else , thus declared by both Houses of Parliament , the very title of their several Remonstrances , and Declarations penned by themselves , printed by their own order in one Collection , London 1647. will resolve the world , themselves , and all other Souldiers since incorporated into the A●my past all contradiction , being thus intituled , A Declara●ion of the Engagements , Remonstrances , Representations , Proposals , Desires , and Resolutions from his Excellency Sir Tho. Fai●fax and the General Councel of the Army for setling his Majesty in his ●ust Rights , the Parliament in their just Privileges , & the Subjects in their liberties and freedoms Also Representations of the Grievances of the Kingdom , and remedies propounded for removing the present pressures ( by Taxes and Excises ) : And the resolution of the Army , for the establishing of a firm and lasting peace , in Church and Kingdom . This being the Title , sum of all their Engagements , Remonstrances , Representations , Proposals , R●solutions , it is superfluous to recite all the particular passages in them tending to these ends : only it will not be unseasonable to remind them of this one passage in their Declaration of September 9. 1647. concerning the fundamental authority and government of the Kingdom , p. 250. Whereas a Member of the General Councel of this Army hath publickly declared and expressed himself , That there is no visible authority in the Kingdom but the power & force of the Sword , ( the only Good Old Cause now cryed up by some in deeds if not in words ) we therefore the said General Counsel , to testifie how far our hearts and minds are from any design of setting up the power of the sword above or against the authority & government of the Kingdom , and our readiness to maintain & uphold the said Authority , have by a free Vote in the said Counsel ( 〈◊〉 man contradicting ) judged the said Member to be expelled the said Councel which we hereby thought fit to publish as a clear manifestation of our dislike and disavowing such Principles or practises ( yet now revived , practised . ) This being the right State of the true Good Old Cause & only ends for which all the Forces , Armies , under the forenamed or any other Generals since , were first raised , Commissioned , and hitherto maintained , continued , at the peoples vast expence , as both Houses of Parliament ; the Kingdoms , Parliaments of England , Scotland , the Generals , Officers , and General Councils of the Army themselves , have thus from time to time remonstrated in print to all the world , yea ratified by the Protestation , o the sacred Vow and covenant , the National League and Covenant , with other sacred Oaths and Obligations , obliging them faithfully , constantly , & sincerely to defend , maintain & persevere therein all the dayes of their lives ; and to promote the same to their power against all Oppositions , Lets & Impediments whatsoever according to their power , without suffering themselves directly or indirectly by whatsoever combination , perswasion or terror , to be divided , withdrawn or make defecti●n from the same . Which Covenants , Vows , Protestations , they professed they all made in the presence of Almighty God , the Searcher of all hearts , with a true intention to perform the same . If there be any other Cause now or lately espoused by any Members of Parliament , Officers , Soldiers , English , Scots , Irish , of what ever condition , sect , or party , inconsistent with , or repugnant , destructive to this good old Cause , or any branch thereof ; it cannot without an apparent contraction , absurdity , & falshood , be stiled ; either A Good or Old , much lesse , The Good Old Cause , for which the Parliament , Army , Soldiers kingdom , or any others adhering to them first took up arms , and so long engaged in ; but rather a Bad , a New unrighteous Cause , or Gunpowder-plot , originally contrived & secretly fomented by Popish Emissaries , I●suits , & their seduced Disciples : or a good cause only as War is styled good , p Bellum quasi Belluinum , or minime Ponum : And Old only in these respects , ( if conscientiously examined by any who shall either promote or engage in it ) Because it proceeds orig●nally from the q Old Serpent , and Dragon , the Devil , ( a seducer , lyar , murderer from the beginning ; the spirit who r now rules in the Children of Disobedience , to engage them in this cause : ) Because it suits with , and proceeds , issues from the s Old man , which is corrupt according to the deceitfull lusts , which they have not yet crucified , nor put off with his deeds , after all their Fastings , Humiliations , Prayers ; Because it strongly relisheth of the t Old seven of malice and wickedness , which they have not yet purged out , that they might be anew sump , and is carried on with a despitefull and revengefull heart , ( to destroy , whatever they formerly engaged to preserve as the true good old cause ) because of the u Old Hatred : Because they perceive , that this new pretended good Cause they had set up and pursued , now decayeth and waxeth x Old , and is ready to vanish away ; unless they put all their might , and the strength of the whole Army to support it Because , it is the y old Way which wicked men , ( the old Gunpowder Traitors ) have formerly trudden ; which were cut down out of time ; whose foundation was overflown with a floud . Or finally , because it was first set on foot and promoted , z by certain men crept in unawares ( into the Army and Nation from Jesuitical Seminaries & I. Leydons ) who were before of Old ordained to this condemnatiō ; ungodly men , turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness , and denying the only Lord God , and our Lord Iesus Christ at lestwise in their works , ( as Iude and Paul inform us by an unerring divine Spirit ) a being abominable , Disobedient ( to all their lawfull Superiors and Parliaments themselves ) and to every good work reprobate ; Yea , b lovers of their own selves , covetous , proud , boasters , blasphemers , disobedient to parents , unthankfull , unholy , without natural affection , Truce-breakers , fa●se accusers , incontinent , fierce , despisers of those that are good , Traytors , heady , high-minded , lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God : Having a form of godliness , but denying the power thereof , who have made these last dayes of ours perillous times , as St. Paul of old predicted . If then the false good OLD CAUSE lately and now cried up and prosecuted , upon serious Inquisition of any already engaged , or sollicited to ingage therein , shall upon c St. Bernards threefold inquiry , An liceat , an deceat , an expediat ( which every Christian ought to make into every Action , before he undertake it ) clearly appear to be the old , and The good Old Cause , only in these respects ; which render it most desperately Wicked , Ill , and New , ●otally inconsistent with , p●ofessedly repugnant to , subversive of that real good Old Cause , wherein they first ingag●d ; here truly stated : Let all Officers , Soldiers of the Army , and others who have any remainders of Conscience , Ingenuity , Honesty , or indeared affections lest in them to the Peace , Welfa●e , Safety , Settlement , fundamental Laws , Government , Parliaments , Liberties , Weal , Prosperity of our endangered , shaken subverted Church , State Parliaments ; eternally renounce this Spurious Imposture , and Gibeonìtish stratagem inevitably to destroy them all : And remember the genuine , true , Good Old Cause here ●ightly stated , d from whence they have fallen ; and repent , and do their first works lest Christ come upon them quickly , and remove both them , their and our Candlestick out of its place , except they and we repent . And let all such Commanders , Officers of the Ar●y , and their Confederates , who against their Commissions , Trusts , Duties , Covenants , Declarations , and Solemn Engagements , first mutinied the Army against the Houses , & Members of Parliament , for the defence of whose Persons , Privileges , & Session they were principally raised ; and secluded , secured the Members , dissolved both Houses , and the Parliament it self , one after another : and have since bin kept and thrust out of the Parliament House , secured , dissolved themselves by their Fellow . Officers , and Soldiers directly or indirectly , several times ; now seriously consider , How God hath scourged them with their own black rod , and president of Disobedience , and taken them in their own snare : That ( e Adonibezeck like ) as they have done to others , so God hath required them , & f recompenced unto them the deed they did to us . That g with the same measure they meeted to others , it hath been , and shall be measured to them again . If any of them , or their Confederates , have an ear to hear , let them hear this further irreversible Decree of the immutable God , and Soveraign Judge of all the Earth Rev. 13 10. He that leadeth into Captivity , shall go into Captivity . He that killeth with the sword shall be killed with the sword . He●e is the patience and faith of the Saints . And if any engaged in the new fictitious , against the real true good old Cause , believe & tremble not at the consideration thereof , he hath neither the faith nor patience of the Saints , though he usurp and engross the name of a Saint to himself : & shall find it experimentally verified in conclusion ; as many others have already done , who now like Fools repent too late , of what is past their skill and power to redress . FINIS , Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A56169e-30 a Iosh. 9.3 , &c. b Exod. 23.31 , 32. c. 34.12 . Deut. 7.2 , 3. c Peter Mouhis Nouveaute du Papisme oppose à antiquitè de Uray Christianisme . Sed●n 1627. Bishop Ushers answer to the Iesuites challenge . d The Author of the Protestant Religion . London . 1621. Kellisons survey of the New Religion . Doway 1603. * If they mean by this Good Old Cause , their New-Commonwealth , it was begotten but in March , 1648. had presently unknown Guardians and Governors set over it till 1653 then a new Protector , under whose wardship it still continues as an Infant , but of ten years birth , and if he be removed , it must be in ward to the Army Officers till its full age . How then can they call it Old , or the Good Old Man or Cause , without a contradiction and absurdity ? (e) Exact Collect . p. 34 , 35 , 36 , &c. 59 , 60 , 61 , 66 , 67 , &c. (f) Exact Collection ; p. 339 , 340 , 342. * The true description of a Cavalier : which some who most condemned them , have now actually drawn upon themselves in overthrowing the parliament by force . g Exact Collection , p. 456 , 457. * And by an Ordinance of both Houses , 14 Martii 1642. A Collection of Ordinances , p. 8. h Exact Col. p. 932. An Appendix , p. 4. i A Collect. p. 43 , 44. (k) A Collect of Ordinances p. 305 , 308 , 313 , 327 , 363 , 371 , 416 , 418 , 420 , &c. 424 , 425 &c. * A Collection . p. 426. (l) Collection p. 598.606 . (m) A Collection p. 623. n A Collection , p. 666 , 667 , 668 , 669. Nota. o A Collection p 203 , 204 , 205 , 425 , 426 , 427. p Cicero , Calepine , Holioke , Tit. Bellum . q Rev. 12.9 . c. 20. 2. Iohn 8.44 . r Eph 2 1 , 2 , 3. s Ephes. 4.22.22 . Rom. 6.6 . Col. 3.9 . t 1 Cor. 5.7 , 8. u Ezek. 25.15 . x Heb. 8 , 13. y Iob 22.15 , 16. z Iude 4. a Titus 1.16 . b 2 Tim. 4.1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. c De Consideratione , lib. 1. d Rev. 2.5 . e Judges 1.6.7 . f Ps. 137.8 . g Luke 6.38 .