A brief necessary vindication of the old and new secluded Members, from the false malicious calumnies; and of the fundamental rights, liberties, privileges, government, interest of the freemen, parliaments, people of England, from the late avowed subversions 1. Of John Rogers, in his un-christian concertation with Mr. Prynne, and others. 2. Of M: Nedham, in his Interest will not lie. Wherein the true good old cause is asserted, the false routed;...and the only way to peace, safety, settlement..
[London].
[Printed, and are to be sold by Edward Thomas], [1659].
First edition.
Quarto.
[2], 62pp. Foot of title page shaved, with loss to imprint. Later blind-ruled half-calf, pebbled purple buckrum boards, lettered in gilt to spine. Rubbed, loss to head and foot of spine, and wear to extremities. Leaves browned, scattered spotting.
The first edition of a pamphlet defending the 'secluded members' of the House of Commons by English lawyer, polemicist, and notable Puritan William Prynne (1600-1669), one of several M.P.s prevented from entering Parliament by the New Model Army for opposing the trial of Charles I. Following Pride's Purge of 1648, and despite threats of violence, Prynne successfully entered the house on the 9th of May, 1659, forcing Parliament to adjourn to evict him from the building. Despite ridicule from anonymous libellers, Prynne continued to write in defence of the secluded M.P.s until they were re-admitted into parliament in 1660, upon which he marched in bearing a basket-hilted sword for dramatic effect.
ESTC R203220. Wing P3913.
£ 325.00
Antiquates Ref: 29097
