Disolving of Parliaments, and making of
Laws; the power of entering into Bonds, Covenants, Leagues and Treaties;
the power of raising Armes, keeping of Strengths and Forts are Essential
parts, and inseparable privileges of the Royal Authoritie and
Prerogative of the Kings of this Kingdom: Yet, such hath been the
madness and delusion of these times, that even Religion itself, which
holds the Right of Kings to be Sacred and Inviolable, hath been
pretended unto, for warrand of these injurious Violations and
Incroachments, so publickly done and owned, upon and against His
Majesties just Power, Authority and Government; By making and keeping of
unlawful Meetings and Convocations of the People; By entering into
Covenants, Treaties and Leagues; By seizing upon, and possessing
themselves of His Majesties Castles, Forts and Strengths of the Kingdom:
and by Holding of Pretended Parliaments, making of Laws, and raising of
Armes for the maintaining of the same; and that not only without
warrand, but contrary to His Majesties express Commands. And although
the late King's Majesty, out of His meer grace and respects to this His
native Kingdom, and the peace and quiet of His people, and for
preventing the consequences which such bad example and practice might
occasion, to the disturbance of the peace of his other Kingdoms, was
pleased in the year, one thousand six hundred and forty one, to come
into this Countrey, and by his own presence, at their pretended
Parliaments and other wayes, to comply with, and give way to, many
things neerly concerning the undoubted Interest and Prerogative of the
Crown, expecting that such unparalleled Condescentions should have made
His Subjects ashamed of their former miscariages, and the very thoughts
thereof, to be hatefull to them and their posteritie for ever. Yet, such
was the prevalencie of the spirit of Rebelion that raged in manie for
the time, that not content with that peace and happiness which, even
above their desires, was secured to them: nor of these manie Grants of
honour and profit, by which His Majestie endeavoured to endear the most
desperat of them to their duty and obedience, they then, when His
Majesty had not left unto them anie pretence or shaddow of anie new
desire to be proposed, either concerning themselves or the Kingdom, did
most unworthilie engage to subvert His Majesties Government, and the
publick peace of the Kingdom of England: For which purpose, having
joined in a League