with some there, they, for the better prosecution of
the same, did assume unto themselves the Royal Power, kept and held
Parliaments at their pleasure; by the pretended Authoritie of which,
they laid new exactions upon the people (which in one month did far
exceed what ever by the Kings Authoritie had been raised in a whole
year) levied Armes, sent out Edicts, requiring obedience unto their
unlawful demands; and with all manner of violence pursued such as out of
duty to His Majesties Authoritie opposed them by fines, confinements,
imprisonment, banishment, death, and forfeiture of their property; and
with their Armie thus raised, invaded His Majesties Kingdom of England,
and joyned with such as were in Arms against His Majestie there. And
thus maintaining their usurped power, and violently executing the same
against all Law, Conscience, Honour and Humanity, have made themselves
instruments of much loss, shame and dishonour to their native Countrey,
and have justly forfeited anie favour they might have pretended to, from
His Majesties former concessions. And forasmuch as now it hath pleased
Almighty God, by the power of His own right hand, so miraculously to
restore the Kings Majestie to the Government of his Kingdoms, and to the
exercise of His Royal Power, and Soveraigntie over the same, The Estates
of Parliament do conceive themselves obliged, in discharge of their
dutie and conscience to GOD and the Kings Majestie, to imploy all their
Power and interest, for vindicating His Majesties Authoritie from all
these violent invasions that have been made upon it, and so far as
possible to remove out of the way everything that may retain anie
remembrance of these things, which have been so injurious to His
Majestie and His Authoritie, so predjudicial and dishonourable to the
Kingdom, and destructive to all just and true interests within the same.
And considering that, besides the unlawfulness of the Publick Actings
during the troubles, most of the Acts in all and every of the Meetings
of these pretended Parliaments, do highly encroach upon, and are
destructive of that Sovereign Power, Authority, Prerogative, and Right
of Government, which by the law of GOD, and the ancient Laws and
Constitutions of this Kingdom, doth reside in, and belong unto, the
Kings Majestie, and do reflect upon the honour, loyaltie, and reputation
of this Kingdom; or are expired, and serve only as testimonies of
disloyaltie and reproach upon the Kingdom,