Mr. Pryns Letter TO His Sacred Maiesty King Charles. AND His Majestes Gracious Declaration thereupon.
FOrasmuch, as there hath been many Objections, Excuses, and Pretences, purposely made to justifie, extenuate or excuse the drinking of Healths, notwithstanding the odious, sinful & unheal [...]hful drinking thereof; It was judged meet to publish Mr. Pryns Dedicatory Letter to his Majesty [Page 3] (annexed to his Compendious Discourse, called, Healths-Sickness) prefixed in these words;
To the most High and Mighty Prince, Charles By the Grace of God, King of Great Brittain, &c.
THe Reasons which swayed and imboldened me to Dedicate so small a Pamphlet unto so great a Patron as your Majesty were chiefly these.
First, Because your Highness in regard of these infinite and many Healths, which are daily caroused in your Royall Name throughout the Kingdom, and elsewhere, are more interested in the Theme and Subject of this compendious Discourse, then any other that I know.
In that your sacred Health, your Name, your Crown, and Dignity, by means of Healths, are made the daily Table-complement, Grace, and first salute of every jovial Courtier, and chief Allegiance of every petty Corporation, Court or Country-Officer; the phrase and valour of every deboist and roaring Souldier; the Livery and Table, Buttery and Cellar-talk of every good-fellow-serving-man; the first ingredient of every Drunkards cup; the first pot-service of every great or mean mans table; the onely Raign or Poll-axe to assault, to force, and overcome the Sobriety and temperance of all true-hearted, real, practical, and blessed Christians, who make a conscience of excesse (because the Scripture doth condemn it;) the chief alective Bait, or Stratagem, to draw men unto Drunkennesse; and the onely Protection and Patronage to justifie and bear out the intemperance and riot of all such who deemed Excesse and Drunkennesse, a Vertue, and no Sinne at all (at least but veniall) [Page 3] if your Majesties Health occasion it. And is not this a great affront, indignity, and Dishonour to your Majesty, that your Sacred health, your name, and Royal Crown shold be thus prophaned and banded up and down in every Drunkards mouth, in every Cup and Can; in every Tavern, Taphouse, Hall or Cellar; that every degenerous, infamous, and stigmatical Belialist, every deboist and bruitish Pot-companion, should so far debase and undervalue them; as to prostitute them to their swinish sins and lusts.
Secondly, as Healths do thus dishonour, so they do likewise prejudice and wrong your Sacred Majesty in two respects.
First, In merging and quenching the fervency of prayers, turning them into prophane, hellish Healths; the onely means to draw down Curses and Diseases, yea Woes and fatal Judgments on King and Kingdom deeming it a greater breach of Allegiance not to pledge your Majesties Health then not to pray for it.
Secondly, By interessing and engaging your Majesty in the excesse and Drunkennesse of many others; Your Name being made a partie to it; Four Health an occasion, Apologie or justification of it.
Thirdly, Because none is so able in respect of [...] and Power, none more obliged in regard of Duty, To purge these Hydropical noxious and superfluous humours, and unhealthy Healths, out of the Body of our State and Kingdom, now so distempered and over-charged by them.
[Page 4] At the beginning of his incomparable Book, He urgeth many solid Arguments against drinking of Healths; proving it to be a vain, Carnal, Heathenish, and Foolish Custome; and that which is against the Rules of Charity and Justice; so that it must needs be sinful and utterly unlawful, because it is a violation of the Law of God, of Man, and Nature, &c.
And whereas his Gracious Majesty having set forth a Proclamation, prohibiting the spending of time in Taverns, Tipling-houses, and Debauches, further Care is now taken to prevent all such Riotings, and infamous Actions.
And whereas several Gentlemen at such times, have entred upon private quarrels, by Duel & single Combat, upon slight, and, which ought not to be, upon any provocation, His Majesty out of his pious care to prevent unchristian and rash effusion of Blood, hath set forth a Proclamation, strictly charging and commanding all loving Subjects of what quality soever, That neither they, by themselves, nor by others either by Message, Word, Writing or other ways or means, challenge or cause to be challenged any person or persons to fight in Combate or single Duel; nor carry, accept or conceal any [Page 5] such challenge or appointment, nor actually fight such Duel with any of his Majesties Subjects, or others; or as a Second, or otherwise, accompany or become Assistant therein. And His Majesty hath further declared, That every person or persons who shall offend contrary to his Majesties expresse Command, shall nor onely incurre his highest displeasure, but thereby become incapable of holding or entertaining either Office or Employment in his Majesties Service, and never afterwards be permitted to come into his Court or Presence. And further, He or They to suffer such other paines and punishments, as the Law shall inflict, upon Offences of that horrid Nature.