If there be roome in _England_ for

_Familists_ } { _Manes_

_Libertines_ } { _Lemures_

_Erastians_ } { _Dryades_

_Antitrinitarians_ } { _Homadryades_

_Anabaptists_ } { _Potamides_

_Antiscripturists_ } { _Naiades_

_Arminians_ } { _Hinnides_

_Manifestarians_ } { _Pierides_

_Millinaries_ } then room { _Nereides_

_Antinomians_ } for { _Pales_

_Socinians_ } { _Anonides_

_Arrians_ } { _Parcades_

_Perfectists_ } { _Castalides_

_Brownists[1]_ } { _Monides_

Religious _Mortalians_ } { _Charites_

Men but _Seekers_ } Good Spirits,{ _Heliconides_

pernicious _Enthusiasts_ } but very { _Pegasides_

Heretiques _&c._ } Devils. { _&c._

In a word room for Hell above ground.

[1] By Brownists I mean not Independents, but dew-clawd Seperatists:

farre be it from me to wrong godly Independents. I truely acknowledge

that I judge my self neither able nor worthy to honour some of them as

they deserve.

It is said, Though a man have light enough himselfe to see the Truth,

yet if he hath not enough to enlighten others, he is bound to tolerate

them, I will engage my self, that all the Devills in _Britanie_ shall

sell themselves to their shirts, to purchase a Lease of this Position

for three of their Lives, under the Seale of the Parliament.

It is said, That Men ought to have Liberty of their Conscience, and that

it is Persecution to debarre them of it: I can rather stand amazed then

reply to this: it is an astonishment to think that the braines of men

should be parboyl'd in such impious ignorance; Let all the wits under

the Heavens lay their heads together and finde an Assertion worse than

this (one excepted) I will Petition to be chosen the universal Ideot of

the world.

It is said, That Civill Magistrates ought not to meddle with

Ecclesiasticall matters.

I would answer to this so well as I could, did I not know that some

Papers lately brought out of _New-England_, are going to the Presse,

wherein the Opinions of the Elders there in a late Synod, concerning

this point are manifested, which I suppose will give clearer

satisfaction then I can.

The true English of all this their false Latine, is nothing but a

generall Toleration of all Opinions; which motion if it be like to take,

it were very requisite, that the City would repaire _Pauls_ with all the

speed they can, for an English _Pantheon_, and bestow it upon the

Sectaries, freely to assemble in, then there may be some hope that

_London_ will be quiet in time.

But why dwell I so intolerable long about Tolerations, I hope my feares

are but panick, against which I have a double cordiall. First, that the

Parliament will not though they could: Secondly, that they cannot though

they would grant such Tolerations. God who hath so honoured them with

eminent wisdome in all other things, will not suffer them to cast both

his, and their Honour in the dust of perpetuall Infamy, doe what they

can; nor shall those who have spent so great a part of their substance

in redeeming their Civill Liberties from Usurpation, lose all that

remaines in enthralling their spirituall Liberty by Toleration.

It is said Opinionists are many, and strong, that _de sunt Vires_, that

it is _turbata respublica_, I am very sorry for it, but more sorry, if

despondency of minde shall cause the least tergiversation in Gods

Worthies, who have receiv'd such pledges of his presence in their late

Counsels, and Conflicts. It is not thousands of Opinionists that can

pinion his Everlasting armes, I can hardly beleeve there is a greater

unbeleever then my Selfe, yet I can verily beleeve that the God of Truth

will in a short time scatter them all like smoake before the wind. I

confesse I am troubled to see Men so over-troubled about them; I am

rather glad to heare the Devill is breaking up house in _England_, and

removing somewhither else, give him leave to sell all his rags, and

odde-ends by the out-cry; and let his petty Chapmen make their Market

while they may, upon my poore credit it will not last long. Hee that

hath done so much for _England_ will go on to perfect his owne praise,

and his Peoples Peace: let good men stand still, and behold his further

Salvation. He that sitteth in the Heavens laughs at them, the most High

hath them in Derision, and their folly shall certainly be manifested to

all men.

Yet I dare not but adde, and in the Name of God will adde, that if any

Publique members of Church or State, have been either open fautors, or

private abetters of any blasphemous, contagious Opinions; It will be

their wisdome to proportion their repentance to their Sin, before God

makes them Publique monuments of Ignominie, and Apostasie.

Thirdly, That all Christian States, ought to disavow and decry all such

Errours, by some peremptory Statutary Act, and that in time, that

Subjects knowing fully the minde of the State, might not delude

themselves with vaine hopes of unsufferable Liberties. It is lesse to

say _Statuatur veritas, ruat Regnum_, than _Fiat justitia, ruat

C[oe]lum_; but there is no such danger in either of them. Feare nothing

Gentlemen, _Rubiconem transiistis, jacta est alea_, ye have turned the

Devill out of doores; fling all his old parrell after him out at the

windows, lest he makes an errand for it againe. _Quae relinquuntur in

morbis post indicationem, recidivas facere consuevere._ Christ would

have his Church without spot or wrinckle; They that help make it so,

shall lose neither honour nor labour: If yee be wise, suffer no more

thorns in his sides or your owne. When God kindles such fires as these,

hee doth not usually quench them, till the very scum on the pot sides be

boyled cleane away, _Ezek. 24. 10, 11_. Yee were better to doe it your

selves, then leave it to him: the Arme of the Lord is mighty, his hand

very heavy; who can dwell with his devouring fire, and long lasting

burnings?

Fourthly, to make speedy provision against Obstinates and disseminaries:

where under favour, two things will be found requisite. First, variety

of penaltyes, I meane certaine, not indefinite: I am a Crabbat against

Arbitrary Government. Experience hath taught us here, that politicall,

domesticall, and personall respects, will not admit one and the same

remedy for all, without sad inconveniences. Secondly, just severity:

persecution hath ever spread Truth, prosecution scattered Errour: Ten of

the most Christian Emperors, found that way best; Schollars know whom I

meane: Five of the ancient Fathers perswaded to it, of whom _Augustine_

was one, who for a time argued hard for indulgency: but upon conference

with other prudent Bishops, altered his judgement, as appears in three

of his Epistles, to _Marcellinus_, _Donatus_, and _Boniface_. I would be

understood, not onely an Allower, but an humble Petitioner, that

ignorant and tender conscienced Anabaptists may have due time and means

of conviction.

Fifthly, That every Prophet, to whom God hath given the tongue of the

learned, should teach, and every Angel who hath a pen and inkehorne by

his side write against these grieving extravagancies: writing of many

books, I grant is irkesome, reading endlesse. A reasonable man would

thinke Divines had declaimed sufficiently upon these Themes. I have ever

thought the Rule given, _Titus 3. 10._ which cuts the work short and

sharpe to be more properly prevalent, then wearisome waiting upon

unweariable Spirits. It is a most toylsome taske to run the wild-goose

chase after a well-breath'd Opinionist: they delight in vitilitigation:

it is an itch that loves a life to be scrub'd: they desire not

satisfaction, but satisdiction, whereof themselves must be judges: yet

in new eruptions of Error with new objections, silence is sinfull.

As for my selfe, I am none of the disputers of this world: all I can

doe, is to guesse when men speake true or false divinity: if I can but

finde the parentall roote, or formall reason of a Truth, I am quiet; if

I cannot, I shore up my slender judgement as long as I can, with two or

three the handsomest props I can get: I shall therefore leave Arguments

to acuter heads, and onely speak a word of Love, with all Christian

respect to our deare Brethren in _England_, which are against baptizing

of Infants: I intreate them to consider these few things seriously and

meekly. First, what a high pitch of boldnesse it is for man to cut a

principall Ordinance out of the Kingdome of God; if it be but to make a

dislocation, which so far disgoods the Ordinance, I feare it altogether

unhallows it, to transplace or transtime a stated Institution of Christ,

without his direction, I thinke, is to destroy it. Secondly, what a

Cruelty it is to devest children of that onely externall priviledge

which their heavenly Father hath bequeathed them, to interest them

visibly in Himselfe, His Son, His Spirit, His Covenant of Grace, and the

tender bosome of their carefull Mother the Church. Thirdly, what an

Inhumanity it is, to deprive Parents of that comfort they may take from

the baptisme of their Infants dying in their Childehood. Fourthly, How

unseasonable and unkindely it is, to interturbe the State and Church

with these Amalekitish onsets, when they are in their extreame pangs of

travell with their lives. Fifthly, to take a through view of those who

have preambled this by path. Being sometimes in the Crowds of foraigne

Wederdopers, that is, Anabaptists; and prying into their inward frames

with the best eyes I had; I could not but observe these disguised guises

in the generality of them.

First, a flat formality of Spirit without salt or savour in the

spiritualties of Christ, as if their Religion began and ended in their

Opinion. Secondly, a shallow slighting of such as dissent from them,

appearing too often in their faces, speeches and carriages. Thirdly, a

feeble, yet peremptory obstinacy; seldome are any of them reclaimed.

Fourthly, a shamefull sliding into other such tarpauling tenets, to keep

themselves dry from the showers of Justice, as a rationall minde would

never entertain, if it were not Errour-blasted from Heaven and Hell: I

should as shrewdly suspect that Opinion, that will cordially corrive

with two or three sottish errours, as that faith that can professedly

live with two or three sordid sins. I dare not feare our godly Brethren

in _England_ to be yet comming to this passe; how soon they may,

themselves know not, the times are slippery: They will undoubtedly finde

God as jealous of his Ordinances, as themselves are zealous of their

Opinions.

Sixthly, That Authority ought to see their Subjects children baptized,

though their Parents judgements be against it, if there be no other

Evangelicall barre in the way.

Seventhly, That prudent men, especially young, should doe well not to

ingage themselves in conference with Errorists, without a good calling

and great caution; their breath is contagious, their leprey spreading:

receive not him that is weak, saith the Apostle, to doubtfull

disputations; much lesse may they run themselves into dangerous

Sophistications. He usually hears best in their meetings, that stops his

eares closest; he opens his mouth to best purpose, that keeps it shut,

and he doeth best of all, that declines their company as wisely as he

may.

Brethren, have an extraordinary care also of the late Theosophers, that

teach men to climbe to Heaven upon a ladder of lying figments. Rather

than the Devill will lose his game, he will out-shoot Christ in his owne

bow; he will out-law the Law, quite out of the word and world:

over-Gospell the Gospell, and quidanye Christ, with Sugar and Rats-bane.

Hee was Professour not long since at _Schelstat_ in _Alsatia_, where he

learned that no poyson is so deadly as the poyson of Grace.

The wisest way, when all is said, is with all humility and feare, to

take Christ as himselfe hath revealed himselfe in his Gospel, and not as

the Devill presents him to prestigiated phansies. I have ever hated the

way of the Rosie-Crucians, who reject things as Gods wisedome hath

tempered them, and will have nothing but their Spirits. If I were to

give physick to Spryts, I would doe so too: but when I want physick for

my body, I would not have my soule tartared: nor my Animall Spirits

purged any way, but by my Naturall, and those by my bodily humours, and

those by such Ordinaries, as have the nearest vicinage to them, and not

by Metaphysicall Limbeckings. I cannot thinke that _materia prima_ or

_secunda_, should be good for me, that am at least, _Materia millessima

sexcentesima quadragesima quinta_.

Here I hold my selfe bound to set up a Beacon, to give warning of a

new-sprung Sect of Phrantasticks, which would perswade themselves and

others, that they have discovered the Nor-west passage to Heaven. These

wits of the game, cry up and downe in corners such bold ignotions of a

new Gospell, new Christ, new Faith, and new gay-nothings, as trouble

unsetled heads, querulous hearts, and not a little grieve the Spirit of

God. I desire all good men may be saved from their Lunatick Creed, by

Infidelity; and rather beleeve these torrid overtures will prove in

time, nothing but horrid raptures downe to the lowest hell, from which

he that would be delivered, let him avoid these blasphemers, a late fry

of croaking Frogs, not to be indured in a Religious State, no, if it

were possible, not an houre.

As some are playing young Spaniels, questing at every bird that rises;

so others, held very good men, are at a dead stand, not knowing what to

doe or say; and are therefore called Seekers, looking for new Nuntio's

from Christ, to assoile these benighted questions, and to give new

Orders for new Churches. I crave leave with all respect to tell them,

that if they looke into _Act. 20. 20. 25._ _Gal. 1. 8. 9._ _1. Tim. 6.

13. 16._ and find them not there; they may happily seeke as the young

Prophets did for Eliah's corps, where it never was, nor ever will be

found.

I cannot imagine why the Holy Ghost should give _Timothy_ the solemnest

charge, was ever given mortall man, to observe the Rules he had given,

till the comming of Christ, if new things must be expected.

Woe be to them, who ever they be, that so trouble the wayes of God that

they who have found the way to Heaven, cannot find the way to Church:

And woe be to them, that so gaze at the glorious light, they say, will

breake forth in the thousand yeares to come, that they make little of

the gracious Truth that hath been revealed these sixteen hundred years

past. And woe be to them that so under-value the first Master-Builders,

I mean the Apostles of Christ, that unlesse he sends wiser than they, He

must be accounted lesse faithfull in his house than _Moses_ was.

I have cause enough to be as charitable to others as any man living; yet

I cannot but feare, that those men never Moored their Anchors well in

the firme soile of Heaven, that are weather-waft up and down with every

eddy-wind of every new doctrine. The good Spirit of God doth not usually

tie up the Helme, and suffer passengers to Heaven to ride a drift,

hither and thither, as every wave and current carries them: that is a

fitter course for such as the Apostle calls wandring Starres and

Meteors, without any certaine motion, hurryed about with tempests, bred

of the Exhalations of their own pride and self-wittednesse: whose

damnation sleepeth not, and to whom the mist of darknesse is reserved

for ever, that they may suffer irreparable shipwrack upon the Sands and

Rocks of their owne Errours, being of old ordained to condemnation.

Eightly, let all considerate men beware of ungrounded opinions in

Religion: Since I knew what to feare, my timerous heart hath dreaded

three things: a blazing starre appearing in the aire: a State Comet, I

mean a favourite rising in a Kingdome, a new Opinion spreading in

Religion: these are Exorbitancies: which is a formidable word: a

_vacuum_ and an exorbitancy, are mundicidious evils. Concerning

Novelties of opinions; I shall expresse my thoughts in these briefe

passages. First, that Truth is the best boone God ever gave the world:

there is nothing in the world, any further then Truth makes it so; it is

better then any creat' _Ens_ or _Bonum_, which are but Truths twins.

Secondly, the least Truth of Gods Kingdome, doth in its place, uphold

the whole kingdome of his Truths; Take away the least _vericulum_ out of

the world, and it unworlds all, potentially, and may unravell the whole

texture actually, if it be not conserved by an Arme of superiordinary

power. Thirdly, the least Evangelicall Truth is more worth than all the

Civil Truths in the world, that are meerly so. Fourthly, that Truth is

the Parent of all Liberty whether politicall or personall; so much

untruth, so much thraldome, _John 8. 32_.

Hence it is, that God is so jealous of his Truths, that he hath taken

order in his due justice: First, that no practicall sin is so sinfull as

some errour in judgement; no men so accursed with indelible infamie and

dedolent impenitency, as Authours of Heresie. Secondly, that the least

Error, if grown sturdy and pressed, shall set open the Spittle-doore of

all the squint ey'd, wry-necked, and brazen-faced Errors that are or

ever were of that litter; if they be not enough to serve its turne, it

will beget more, though it hath not one crust of reason to maintain

them. Thirdly, that that State which will permit Errors in Religion,

shall admit Errors in policy unavoyably. Fourthly, that that Policy

which will suffer irreligious Errors, shall suffer the losse of so much

Liberty in one kind or other, I will not exempt _Venice_, _Rhaguse_, the

_Cantons_, the _Nether-lands_, or any.

An easie head may soon demonstrate, that the pre-mentioned Planters, by

Tolerating all Religions, had immazed themselves in the most intolerable

confusions and inextricable thraldomes the world ever heard of. I am

perswaded the Devill himselfe was never willing with their proceedings,

for feare it would breake his wind and wits to attend such a Province. I

speak it seriously according to my meaning. How all Religions should

enjoy their Liberty, Justice its due regularity, Civill cohabitation

morall honesty, in one and the same Jurisdiction, is beyond the Artique

of my comprehension. If the whole conclave of Hell can so compromise,

exadverse, and diametricall contradictions, as to compolitize such a

multimonstrous maufrey of heteroclytes and quicquidlibets quietly; I

trust I may say with all humble reverence, they can doe more then the

Senate of Heaven. My _modus loquendi_ pardoned: I intirely wish much

welfare and more wisdom to that Plantation.

It is greatly to be lamented, to observe the wanton fearlessnesse of

this Age, especially of younger professors, to greet new opinions and

Opinionists: as if former truths were grown superannuate, and saplesse,

if not altogether antiquate. _Non senescet veritas._ No man ever saw a

gray haire on the head or beard of any Truth, wrinckle, or morphew on

its face: The bed of Truth is green all the yeare long. Hee that cannot

solace himselfe with any saving truth, as affectionately as at the first

acquaintance with it, hath not only a fastidious, but an adulterous

heart.

If all be true we heare, Never was any People under the Sun, so sick of

new Opinions as _English-men_ nor of new fashions as _English-women_: If

God helpe not the one, and the devill leave not helping the other, a

blind man may easily foresee what will become of both. I have spoken

what I intend for the present to men; I shall speak a word to the women

anon: in the mean time I intreat them to prepare patience.

Ninthly, that godly humble Christians ought not to wonder impatiently at

the wonderfull workes of God in these times: it is full Season for him

to work Soveraign worke, to vindicate his Soveraignty, that men may

feare before him. States are unstated, Rulers growne Over-rulers,

Subjects worse then men, Churches decayed. Tofts, Professors, empty

casks filled with unholy humours; I speake not of all, but too many; I

condemne not the generation of the just: God hath his remnant, whom he

will carefully preserve. If it bee time for men to take up Defensive

Armes against such as are called Gods, upon the point of _Salus populi_,

it is high time for him that is God indeed, to draw his Sword against

wormes and no men, upon the point of _Majestas imperii_: The piercing of

his Sword shall discover the thoughts of many hearts.

Lastly, I dare averre, that it ill becomes Christians any thing

well-shod with the preparation of the Gospel, to meditate flight from

their deare Countrey upon these disturbances. Stand your ground ye

_Eleazars_ and _Shammahs_, stir not a foot so long as you have halfe a

foot of ground to stand upon: after one or two such Worthies, a great

Victory may be regained, and flying _Israel_ may returne to a rich

spoile. _Englishmen_, be advised to love _England_, with your hearts and

to preserve it by your Prayers. I am bold to say that since the pure

Primitive time, the Gospel never thrived so well in any soile on earth,

as in the _British_; nor is the like goodnesse of nature, or Cornucopian

plenty else-where to be found: if ye lose that Country, and finde a

better before ye come to Heaven, my Cosmography fades me. I am farre

from discouraging any, whom necessity of Conscience or condition thrusts

out by head and shoulders: if God calls any into a Wildernesse, Hee will

be no wildernesse to them, _Jer. 2. 31._ witnesse his large beneficence

to us here beyond expectation.

Ye say, why come not we over to help the Lord against the Mighty, in

these Sacred battailes?

I answer, many here are diligently observing the counsell of the same

Prophet, 22. 10. _Weepe not for him that is dead, neither bemoan him;

but weep for him that is gone away and shall returne no more to see his

Native Country._ Divers make it an Article of our _American_ Creed,

which a celebrate Divine of _England_ hath observed upon _Heb. 11. 9._

That no man ought to forsake his owne countrey, but upon extraordinary

cause, and when that cause ceaseth, he is bound in conscience to returne

if he can: We are looking to him who hath our hopes and seasons in his

onely wise hand.

In the mean time we desire to bow our knees before the Throne of Grace

day and night, that the Lord would be pleased in his tender mercy to

still the sad unquietnesse and per-peracute contentions, of that most

comfortable and renowned island, that at length He may have praise in

his Churches, and his Churches peace in him, through Jesus Christ.

* * * * *

Should I not keepe promise in speaking a little to Womens fashions, they

would take it unkindly: I was loath to pester better matter with such

stuffe; I rather thought it meet to let them stand by themselves, like

the _Quae Genus_ in the Grammar, being Deficients, or Redundants, not to

be brought under any Rule: I shall therefore make bold for this once, to

borrow a little of their loose tongued Liberty, and mispend a word or

two upon their long-wasted, but short-skirted patience: a little use of

my stirrup will doe no harme.

_Ridentem dicere verum, quid prohibet?_

_Gray Gravity it selfe can well beteam,

That Language be adapted to the Theme.

He that to Parrots speaks, must parrotize:

He that instructs a foole, may act th' unwise._

It is known more then enough, that I am neither Nigard, nor Cinick, to

the due bravery of the true Gentry: if any man mislikes a bully mong

drossock more then I, let him take her for his labour: I honour the

woman that can honour her selfe with her attire: a good Text alwayes

deserves a fair Margent: I am not much offended if I see a trimme, far

trimmer than she that wears it: in a word, whatever Christianity or

Civility will allow, I can afford with _London_ measure: but when I

heare a nugiperous Gentledame inquire what dresse the Queen is in this

week: what the nudiustertian fashion of the Court; I meane the very

newest: with egge to be in it in all haste, what ever it be; I look at

her as the very gizzard of a trifle, the product of a quarter of a

cypher, the epitome of nothing, fitter to be kickt, if shee were of a

kickable substance, than either honour'd or humour'd.

To speak moderately, I truly confesse, it is beyond the ken of my

understanding to conceive, how those women should have any true grace,

or valuable vertue, that have so little wit, as to disfigure themselves

with such exotick garbes, as not only dismantles their native lovely

lustre, but transclouts them into gant bar-geese,

ill-shapen-shotten-shell-fish, Egyptian Hyeroglyphicks, or at the best

into French flurts of the pastery, which a proper English woman should

scorne with her heels: it is no marvell they weare drailes on the hinder

part of their heads, having nothing as it seems in the fore-part, but a

few Squirrils brains to help them frisk from ill-favor'd fashion to

another.

_These whimm' Crown'd shees, these fashion-fansying wits,

Are empty thin brain'd shells, and fiddling Kits._

The very troublers and impoverishers of mankind, I can hardly forbear to

commend to the world a saying of a Lady living sometime with the Queen

of _Bohemia_, I know not where shee found it, but it is pitty it should

be lost.

_The World is full of care, much like unto a bubble;

Women and care, and care and women, and women and care and trouble._

The Verses are even enough for such odde pegma's. I can make my selfe

sicke at any time, with comparing the dazling splender wherewith our

Gentlewomen were embellished in some former habits, with the

gut-foundred goosdom, wherewith they are now surcingled and debauched.

Wee have about five or six of them in our Colony: if I see any of them

accidentally, I cannot cleanse my phansie of them for a moneth after. I

have been a solitary widdower almost twelve yeares, purposed lately to

make a step over to my Native Country for a yoke-fellow: but when I

consider how women there have tripe-wifed themselves with their

cladments, I have no heart to the voyage, least their nauseous shapes

and the Sea, should work too sorely upon my stomach. I speak sadly; me

thinkes it should breake the hearts of English-men to see so many goodly

English-women imprisoned in French Cages, peering out of their

hood-holes for some men of mercy to help them with a little wit, and no

body relieves them.

It is a more common then convenient saying, that nine Taylors make a

man: it were well if nineteene could make a woman to her minde: if

Taylors were men indeed, well furnished but with meer morall principles,

they would disdain to be led about like Apes, by such mymick Marmosets.

It is a most unworthy thing, for men that have bones in them, to spend

their lives in making fidle-cases for futilous womens phansies; which

are the very pettitoes of infirmity, the gyblets of perquisquilian

toyes. I am so charitable to think, that most of that mystery would

worke the cheerfuller while they live, if they might bee well discharged

of the tyring slavery of mis-tyring women: it is no little labour to be

continually putting up English-women into Out-landish caskes: who if

they be not shifted anew, once in a few moneths, grow too sowre for

their Husbands. What this Trade will answer for themselves when God

shall take measure of Taylors consciences is beyond my skill to imagine.

There was a time when

_The joyning of the Red-Rose with the White,

Did set our State into a Damask plight._

But now our Roses are turned to _Flore de lices_, our Carnations to

Tulips, our Gilliflowers to Dayzes, our City-Dames, to an indenominable

Quaemalry of overturcas'd things. Hee that makes Coates for the Moone,

had need take measure every noone; and he that makes for women, as

often, to keepe them from Lunacy.

I have often heard divers Ladies vent loud feminine complaints of the

wearisome varieties and chargable changes of fashions: I marvell

themselves preferre not a Bill of redresse. I would[2] _Essex_ Ladies

would lead the _Chore_, for the honour of their County and persons; or

rather the thrice honourable Ladies of the Court, whom it best beseemes:

who may wel presume of a _Le Roy le veult_ from our sober King, a _Les

Seigneurs ont Assentus_ from our prudent Peers, and the like _Assentus_

from our considerate, I dare not say wife-worne Commons: who I beleeve

had much rather passe one such Bill, than pay so many Taylors Bills as

they are forced to doe.

[2] All the Counties and shires of England have had wars in them since

the Conquest, but Essex, which is onely free, and should be thankfull.

Most deare and unparallel'd Ladies, be pleased to attempt it: as you

have the precellency of the women of the world for beauty and feature;

so assume the honour to give, and not take Law from any, in matter of

attire: if ye can transact so faire a motion among yourselves

unanimously, I dare say, they that most renite, will least repent. What

greater honour can your Honors desire, then to build a Promontory

president to all foraigne Ladies, to deserve so eminently at the hands

of all the English Gentry present and to come: and to confute the

opinion of all the wise men in the world; who never thought it possible

for women to doe so good a work?

If any man think I have spoken rather merrily than seriously he is much

mistaken, I have written what I write with all the indignation I can,

and no more then I ought. I confesse I veer'd my tongue to this kinde of

Language _de industria_ though unwillingly, supposing those I speak to

are uncapable of grave and rationall arguments.

I desire all Ladies and Gentlewomen to understand that all this while I

intend not such as through necessary modesty to avoyd morose

singularity, follow fashions slowly, a flight shot or two off, shewing

by their moderation, that they rather draw countermont with their

hearts, then put on by their examples.

I point my pen only against the light-heel'd beagles that lead the chase

so fast, that they run all civility out of breath, against these

Ape-headed pullets, which invent Antique foole-fangles, meerly for

fashion and novelty sake.

In a word, if I begin once to declaime against fashions, let men and

women look well about them, there is somewhat in the businesse; I

confesse to the world, I never had grace enough to be strict in that

kinde; and of late years, I have found syrrope of pride very wholesome

in a due _Dos_, which makes mee keep such store of that drugge by me,

that if any body comes to me for a question-full or two about fashions,

they never complain of me for giving them hard measure, or under-weight.

But I addresse my self to those who can both hear and mend all if they

please: I seriously feare, if the pious Parliament doe not finde a time

to state fashions, as ancient Parliaments have done in some part, God

will hardly finde a time to state Religion or Peace: They are the

surquedryes of pride, the wantonnesse of idlenesse, provoking sins, the

certain prodromies of assured judgement, _Zeph. 1. 7, 8_.

It is beyond all account, how many Gentlemens and Citizens estates are

deplumed by their feather-headed wives, what usefull supplies the

pannage of _England_ would afford other Countries, what rich returnes to

it selfe, if it were not slic'd out into male and female fripperies: and

what a multitude of misimploy'd hands, might be better improv'd in some

more manly Manufactures for the publique weale: it is not easily

credible, what may be said of the preterpluralities of Taylors in

_London_: I have heard an honest man say, that not long since there were

numbered between _Temple-barre_ and _Charing-Crosse_, eight thousand of

that Trade: let it be conjectured by that proportion how many there are

in and about _London_, and in all _England_, they will appeare to be

very numerous. If the Parliament would please to mend women, which their

Husbands dare not doe, there need not so many men to make and mend as

there are. I hope the present dolefull estate of the Realme, will

perswade more strongly to some considerate course herein, than I now

can.

Knew I how to bring it in, I would speak a word to long haire, whereof I

will say no more but this: if God proves not such a Barbor to it as he

threatens, unlesse it be amended, _Esa. 7. 20._ before the Peace of the

State and Church be well setled, then let my prophesie be scorned, as a

sound minde scornes the ryot of that sin, and more it needs not. If

those who are tearmed Rattle-heads and Impuritans, would take up a

Resolution to begin in moderation of haire, to the just reproach of

those that are called Puritans and Round-heads, I would honour their

manlinesse, as much as the others godlinesse, so long as I knew what man

or honour meant: if neither can find a Barbours shop, let them turne in,

to _Psal. 68. 21._ _Jer. 7. 29._ _1 Cor. 11. 14._ if it be thought no

wisdome in men to distinguish themselves in the field by the Scissers,

let it bee thought no injustice in God, not to distinguish them by the

Sword. I had rather God should know me by my sobriety, than mine enemy

not know me by my vanity. He is ill kept, that is kept by his owne sin.

A short promise is a farre safer guard than a long lock: it is an ill

distinction which God is loth to looke at, and his Angels cannot know

his Saints by. Though it be not the mark of the Beast, yet it may be the

mark of a beast prepared to slaughter. I am sure men use not to weare

such manes; I am also sure Souldiers use to weare other marklets or

notadoes in time of battell.

* * * * *

Having done with the upper part of my work, I would now with all humble

willingnesse set on the best peece of Soule-leather I have, did I not

feare I should break my All, which though it may be a right old English

blade, yet it is but little and weake. I should esteeme it the best

piece of workmanship my Cobling hand every wrought, if it would please

Him whose worke it is, to direct me to speake such a word over the sea,

as the good old woman of _Abel_ did over the wall, in the like exigent:

but alas, I am but simple. What if I be?

_When States dishelv'd are, and Lawes untwist,

Wise men keep their tongues, fools speak what they list._

I would not be so unwise as to grieve the wise, if I were wise enough to

foresee it: I would speake nothing to the Cause or Continuance of these

wearisome Warres hitherto; the one is enough debated, the other more

than enough peracted. Nor would I declaime of the uncomlinesse,

unbrotherlinesse, unseasonablenesse and unreasonablenesse of these

direfull digladiations: every stroak strucke sounds too loud upon this

harsh string. I would much rather speake perswasives to a comely

brotherly seasonable and reasonable cessation of Armes on both sides, by

a drawn battaile: Wherein if I shall adventure a few over-bold words, I

intreat my ignorance, impartiality, and Loyalty may plead pardon for me.

Foure meanes there are, and no more, within the compasse of my

consideration, conducing to what is desired. Either to get the Standard

fixed in heaven by the Lord of Hosts taken downe, I meane by

Reformation: Or to set up white colours instead of red, on one side or

other, I meane by Composition: Or by furling up all the Ensignes on both

sides, I meane by mutuall and generall Cessation: Or by still displaying

all the Colours and Cornets of every batallion, I mean by prosecution:

without Reformation there will hardly be any Composition; without

Composition little hope of Cessation; without Cessation there must and

will be Prosecution; which God forbid.

_Reformation._

When the Roman Standard was defixed with such difficulty at the battell

between _Hanniball_ and _Flaminius_ at _Thrasimene_, it proved an ill

Omen. _When God gives quietnesse, who can make trouble; when he hideth

his face, who can behold him?_ _Whether it be against a nation or a man

onely._ _That the Hypocrite reigne not, lest the people be insnared_,

_Job 34. 29, 30_. How can the sword of the Lord put it selfe up into its

scabbard and be quiet, when himself hath given it a charge to the

contrary? _Jer. 47. 6, 7_. It was a Cardinall Truth which Cardinall

_Poole_ spake to H. 8. _Penes Reges est inferre bellum, penes autem Deum

terminare._ If Kings will make their beginnings, God will make his ends:

much more when himselfe begins: _When I begin I will also make an end_,

_1 Sam. 3. 12_. Farre better were it, for men to make an end with him in

time, than put him to make such an end with them as he there intends.

Politicall Reformation he seemes to call for now _indigitanter_. When he

beholds Christian Kingdomes and States unsound in their foundations,

illineall in their superstructures, unjust in their administrations; he

kicks them in peeces with the foot of his Indignation: But when

Religious Statesmen frame and build by the levell and plummet of his

wisdome, then people may say as his servants of old, _Looke upon Zion

the City of our Solemnities; Your eyes shall see it a quiet habitation,

a Tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof

shall be removed, neither shall any of the coards thereof bee broken_;

_Isa. 33. 20._ neither by civill Commotions nor foraign Invasions. When

the coards of a State are exquisitely tight, and the stakes firmely

pitched; such a Tent though but a Tent shall not easily flutter or fall:

But _if the Tacklings be so loose, that the maine Mast cannot stand

steady, nor the Saile be well spread; then may the lame take and divide

a great prey_, ver. 23. If Religion, Laws, Liberties, Affections,

Conversations, and foraigne Federacies be slight; the strength of strong

men shall be weaknesse, and the weaknesse of the weak victorious.

_Pura politeja ne unum admittit solaecismulum, neque valet, praescriptio

in politicis aut moralibus._ It may maintain a bright conjecture,

against a rusty Truth: a legible possession, against an obliterate

Claime: an inconvenience, against a convenience; where no cleare remedy

may be had: but never any thing that is formally sinfull, or materially

mischievous. When rotten States are soundly mended from head to foot,

proportions duly admeasured, Justice justly dispenced; then shall Rulers

and Subjects have peace with God and themselves: but till then, the

gayest Kingdomes shall be but ruffling scuffling, removing and commoving

hovells. For _England_, however the upper Stories are shroadly

shattered; yet the foundations and frame being good or mendable by the

Architectors now at worke, there is good hope, when peace is setled,

people shall dwell more wind-tight and water-tight than formerly. I

earnestly wish our Mr. Builders to remember, that punctuality in

Divinity and Politie, is but regularity; that what is amisse in the

mould, will misfashion the prosult: and that if this market be slipt,

things may grow as deare as ever they were. Most expert Gentlemen, bee

intreated at length to set our Head right on our shoulders, that we may

once look upwards and goe forwards like proper Englishmen.

* * * * *

God will also have Ecclesiasticall Reformation now, or nothing: And here

he stands not upon Kings, Parliaments or Assemblies, but upon his own

Termes. I feare hee will have all drosse and base metalls throughly

melted away by these combustions, before Hee quenches them; all his

Ordinances and vessells cast into his owne fashion, in his own mould, to

his own _amussim_, before he restores peace. There was not a stone left

upon a stone of the old Temple, before the new was erected. If this

first worke bee throughly and throughoutly dispatched as I hope it is,

the great _Remora_ is removed. If the Parliament and Assembly be pleased

to be as curious and industrious as I have seen a great Popish Bishop in

execcrating a Protestant Parish Church one day, and consecrating it the

next; they may adjourn awhile with leave enough.

Some ten or twelve years before these Wars there came to my view these

two Predictions.

1. _When God shall purge this Land with soap and nitre,

Woe be to the Crowne, woe be to the Mitre._

The accent of the blow shall fall there.

He that pities not the Crowne, pities not his owne soule. Hee that

pities not those that wore the Mitre, more than they pitied themselves,

or the Churches over which they insulted, or the State then corrupted

and now Corruined by their pride and negligence, is to blame.

2. _There is a set of Bishops comming next behind,

Will ride the devill off his legs, and break his wind._

Poore men! they might have kept his backe till this time for ought I

know, had they not put him beyond his pace: but Schollers must gallop,

though they tumble for it. Yet I commend them for this, they gave him

such straynes as made him blow short ever since. I doubt the Assembly

troubles him; and I doubt he troubles them. Well, the Bishops are gone:

If they have carried away with them all that was in the pockets of their

Holliday hose, fare them well; let them come againe when I give them a

new _Conge d' slier_, or send a Pursuivant for them; which if I doe, I

shall never trust myselfe more, though they have often done it for me,

who never deserved that honour. Some of them I confesse were very honest

men, and would have been honester if they dared for their fellows.

The sad worke now, is to institute better things in their Roome, and to

induct better men in their roome; rather where, and how to finde those

things, they having cunningy laid them so farre out of the way; I doubt

some good men cannot see them, when they look full upon them: it is

like, the Bishops carryed away their eyes with them, but I feare they

left their Spectacles behind them. I use no spectacles, yet my eyes are

not fine enough, nor my hand steady enough to cut by such fine threads

as are now spun. I am I know not what; I cannot tell what to make of my

selfe, nor I think no body else: My Trade is to finde more faults than

others will mend; and I am very diligent at it; yet it scarce findes me

a living, though the Country findes me more worke than I can turne my

hand to.

For Church work, I am neither Presbyterian, nor plebsbyterian, but an

Interpendent: My task is to sit and study how shapeable the Independent

way will be to the body of _England_, then my head akes on one side; and

how suitable the Presbyterian way, as we heare it propounded, will bee

to the minde of Christ, then my head akes on the other side: but when I

consider how the Parliament will commoderate a way out of both, then my

head leaves aking: I am not, without some contrivalls in my patching

braines; but I had rather suppose them to powder, than expose them to

preregular, much lesse to preter-regular Judgements: I shall therefore

rejoyce that the work is faln into so good hands, heads, and hearts, who

will weigh Rules by Troyweight, and not by the old Haber-du-pois: and

rather then meddle where I have so little skill, I will sit by and tell

my feares to them that have the patience to heare them, and leave the

red-hot question to them that dare handle it.

I fear many holy men have not so deeply humbled themselves for their

former mis-worshippings of God as he will have them before he reveales

his secrets to them: as they accounted things indifferent, so they

account indifferent repentance will serve turne. _Son of man, if my

people be ashamed of all that they have done, then shew them the forme

of the house, and the fashion thereof_, else not, _Ezek. 43. 11_. A sin

in Gods worship, that seemes small in the common beame of the world, may

be very great in the scales of his Sanctuary. Where God is very jealous,

his servants should be very cautelous.

I feare, the furnace wherein our new formes are casting, is over-heat,

and casts smoake in the eyes of our founders, that they cannot well see

what they doe, or ought to doe; _Omne perit judicium cum res transit in

affectum._ Truth and peace are the _Castor_ and _Pollux_ of the Gospell:

they that seek the one without the other, are like to finde neither:

Anger will hinder domestick Prayers, much more Ecclesiastique Councels.

What is produced by tumult, is either deficient or redundant. When the

judgements of good men concurre with a harmonious Diapason, the result

is melodious and commodious. Warring and jarring men are no builders of

houses for God, though otherwise very good. Instruments may be well made

and well strung, but if they be not well fretted, the Musique is marred.

The great Turke hearing Musitians so long a tuning, he thought it stood

not with his state to wait for what would follow. When Christ whips

Market-makers out of his Temple, he raises dust: but when he enters in

with Truth and Holinesse, he calls for deep silence, _Hab. 2. 20_. There

must not a toole be heard when the Tabernacle is reared: Nor is that

amiable or serviceable to men that passeth through so many ill

animadversions of Auditors and Spectators. If the Assembly can hardly

agree what to determine, people will not easily agree what to accept.

I fear, these differences and delayes have occasioned men to make more

new discoveries then otherwise they would. If publique Assemblies of

Divines cannot agree upon a right way, private Conventicles of

illiterate men, will soon find a wrong. Bivious demurres breed devious

resolutions. Passengers to heaven are in haste, and will walk one way or

other. He that doubts of his way, thinkes hee loses his day: and when

men are gone awhile, they will be loth to turn back. If God hide his

path, Satan is at hand to turn Convoy: If any have a minde to ride

poste, he will helpe them with a fresh spavin'd Opinion at every Stage.

_Where clocks will stand, and Dials have no light,

There men must goe by guesse, be't wrong or right._

I feare, if the Assembly of all Divines, doe not consent, and concenter

the sooner, God will breath a spirit of wisedome and meeknesse, into the

Parliament of no Divines, to whom the Imperative and Coactive power

supremely belongs, to consult such a contemperate way, as shall best

please him, and profit his Churches, so that it shall be written upon

the doore of the Assembly; _The Lord was not there._

I feare, the importunity of some impatient, and subtlety of some

malevolent mindes, will put both Parliament and Assembly upon some

preproperations, that will not be safe in Ecclesiasticall Constitutions.

To procrastinate in matters clear, as I said even now, may be dangerous;

so, not to deliberate in dubious cases, will be as perilous. We here,

though I think under favour, wee have some as able Steersmen as

_England_ affords, have been driven to tack about again to some other

points of Christs Compasse, and to make better observations before we

hoyse up sayles. It will be found great wisdome in disputable cases, not

to walk on by twylight, but very cautelously; rather by probationers for

a time, then peremptory positives: Reelings and wheelings in Church

acts, are both difficult and disadvantageous. It is rather Christian

modesty than shame, in the dawning of Reformation, to be very

perpensive. Christs mind is, that Evangelicall policies, should be

framed by Angelicall measures; not by a line of flaxe, but by a golden

Reed, _Rev. 21. 15_.

I feare, he that sayes, the Presbyterian and Independent way, if rightly

carryed, doe not meet in one, he doth not handle his Compasses so

considerately as he should.

I feare, if Authority doth not establish a sutable and peaceable

Government of Churches the sooner, the bells in all the steeples will

ring awke so long, that they will hardly be brought into tune any more.

My last, but not least feare, is, That God will hardly replant his

Gospel in any part of Christendome, in so faire an Edition as is

expected, till the whole field hath been so ploughed and harrowed, that

the soile be throughly cleansed and fitted for new seed: Or whether he

will not transplant it into some other Regions, I know not: This feare I

have feared these 20 years, but upon what grounds I had rather bury than

broach.

I dare not but adde to what preceded about Church-Reformation, a most

humble petition, that the Authority of the Ministry be kept in its due

altitude: if it be dropp'd in the dust, it will soon bee stifled:

Encroachments on both sides, have bred detriments enough to the whole.

The Separatists are content their teaching Elders should sit highest on

the Bench, so they may sit in the Chaire over-against them; and that

their ruling Elders shall ride on the saddle, so they may hold the

bridle. That they may likewise have seasonable and honorable

maintenance, and that certainly stated: which generally we find and

practise here as the best way. When Elders live upon peoples good wills,

people care little for their ill wills, be they never so just: Voluntary

contributions or non-tributions of Members, put Ministers upon many

temptations in administrations of their Offices: two houres care does

more dis-spirit an ingenuous man than two dayes study: nor can an Elder

be given to hospitality, when he knowes not what will be given him to

defray it: it is pity men of gifts should live upon men's gifts. I have

seen most of the Reformed Churches in Europ, and seene more misery in

these two respects, then it is meet others should hear: the complaints

of painfull _Pareus_, _David Pareus_, to my selfe, with tears, concerning

the Germane Churches, are not to be related.

There is yet a personall Reformation, as requisite as the Politicall.

When States are so reformed, that they conforme such as are profligate,

into good civility: civill men, into religious morality: When Churches

are so constituted, that Faith is ordained Pastor, Truth Teacher,

Holinesse and Righteousnesse ruling Elders: Wisedome and Charity

Deacons: Knowledge, love, hope, zeale, heavenly-mindednesse, meeknesse,

patience, watchfulnesse, humility, diligence, sobriety, modesty,

chastity, constancy, prudence, contentation, innocency, sincerity, &c.

admitted members and all their opposites excluded: then there will bee

peace of Country and Conscience.

Did the servants of Christ know what it is to live in Reformed Churches

with unreformed spirits, under strict order with loose hearts, how

formes of Religion breed but formes of Godlinesse, how men by

Church-discipline, learne their Church-postures, and there rest; they

would pray as hard for purity of heart, as purity of Ordinances. If we

mocke God in these, He will mocke us; either with defeat of our hopes;

or which is worse: when we have what we so much desire, we shall be so

much the worse for it. It was a well salted speech, uttered by an

English Christian of a Reformed Church in the Netherlands, Wee have the

good Orders here, but you have the good Christians in _England_. Hee

that prizes not Old _England_ Graces, as much as New _England_

Ordinances, had need goe to some other market before hee comes hither.

In a word, hee that is not Pastor, Teacher, Ruler, Deacon and Brother to

himselfe, and lookes not at Christ above all, it matters not a farthing

whether he be Presbyterian or Independent: he may be a zealot in bearing

witnesse to which he likes best, and yet an Iscariot to both, in the

witnesse of his owne Conscience.

I have upon strict observation, seen so much power of godlinesse, and

spirituall mindednesse in English Christians, living meerly upon Sermons

and private duties, hardly come by, when the Gospell was little more

than symptomaticall to the State; such Epidemicall and lethall formality

in other disciplinated Churches, that I professe in the hearing of God,

my heart hath mourned, and mine eyes wept in secret, to consider what

will become of multitudes of my deare Country-men, when they shall enjoy

what they now covet: Not that good Ordinances breed ill Consciences, but

ill Consciences grow stark nought under good Ordinances; insomuch that

might I wish an hypocrite the most perilous place but Hell, I should

wish him a Membership in a strict Reformed Church: and might I wish a

sincere Servant of God, the greatest griefe earth can afford, I should

wish him to live with a pure heart, in a Church impurely Reformed; yet

through the improvement of Gods Spirit, that griefe may sanctifie him

for Gods service and presence, as much as the meanes he would have, but

cannot.

I speak this the rather to prevent, what in me lyes, the imprudent

romaging that is like to be in _England_, from Villages to Townes, from

Townes to Cities, for Churches sake, to the undoing of Societies,

Friendships, Kindreds, Families, Heritages, Callings, yea, the wise

Providence of God in disposing mens habitations, now in the very Infancy

of Reformation: by forgetting that a little leaven may season a large

lump: and it is much better to doe good than receive. It were a most

uncharitable and unserviceable part, for good men to desert their own

Congregations, where many may glorifie God in the day of his Visitation,

for their presence and assistance. If a Christian would picke out a way

to thrive in grace, let him study to administer grace to them that want:

or to make sure a blessing upon his Family; let him labour to multiply

the family of Christ, and beleeve, that he which soweth liberally, shall

reap abundantly; and hee that spareth more than is need, from them that

have more need, shall surely come to poverty: yea, let me say, that he

who forsakes the meanes of grace for Christ and his Churches sake, shall

meet with a better bargaine, namely, grace it selfe. It is a time now,

when full flocks should rather scatter to leane Churches, than gather

from other places, to make themselves fat; when able Christians should

rather turne Jesuites and Seminaries, than run into Covents and

Frieries: had this beene the course in the Primitive time, the Gospel

had been pinfolded up in a few Cities, and not spread as it is.

What more ungodly sacriledge or manstealing can there be, then to

purloin from godly Ministers the first born of their fervent prayers and

faithfull preachings, the leven of their flocks, the incouragement of

their soules, the Crowne of their labours, their Epistle to Heaven? I am

glad to heare our _New-England_ Elders generally detest it _despuenter_,

and looke at it as a killing _Cordolium_: If men will needs gather

Churches out of the world (as they say) let them first plough the world,

sow it, and reap it with their own hands, and the Lord give them a

liberall Harvest. He is a very hard man that will reap where he hath not

sowed, and gather where he hath not strowed, _Mat. 25. 24_.

He that saith, it is or was our case, doth not rightly understand

himself or us, and he that takes his warrant out of _Joh. 4. 37. 38._ is

little acquainted with Expositors. Wise men are amazed to hear that

conscientious Ministers dare spoile many Congregations to make one for

themselves.

In matter of Reformation, this would be remembred, that in premonitory

judgements, God will take good words, and sincere intents; but in

peremptory, nothing but reall performances.

_Composition._

If Reformation were come thus neer, I should hope Composition were not

farre off: When hearts meet in God, they will soon meet in Gods wayes,

and upon Gods termes. But to avoid prolixity, which steales upon me; For

Composition, I shall compose halfe a dozen distichs concerning these

kind of Wars; wishing I could sing asleep these odious stirres at least

on some part, with a dull Ode. He is no Cobler that cannot sing, nor no

good Cobler that can sing well:

_Si natura negat, facit indignatio versum_ } They are

_Qualemcunque potest_ ---- Juvenal } these.

1.

_They seldome lose the field, but often win,

That end their wars, before their wars begin._

2.

_Their Cause is oft the worst, that first begin,

And they may lose the field, the field that win:_[3]

3.

_In Civill warrs, 'twixt Subjects and their King,

There is no conquest got, by conquering._

4.

_Warre ill begun, the onely way to mend,

Is t' end the warre before the warre doe end._

5.

_They that will end ill warrs, must have the skill,

To make an end by Rule, and not by Will._

6.

_In ending warrs 'tween Subjects and their Kings,

Great things are sav'd, by losing little things._

[3] _Victrix causa Diis placuit, sed victa_ Catoni. Lucan.

Wee heare that _Majestas Imperii_ hath challenged _Salus Populi_ into

the field; the one fighting for Prerogatives, the other defending

Liberties: Were I a Constable bigge enough, I would set one of them by

the heeles to keep both their hands quiet; I meane onely in a paire of

stocks, made of sound reason, handsomely fitted for the legges of their

Understanding.

If _Salus Populi_ began, surely it was not that _Salus Populi_ which I

left in _England_: That _Salus Populi_ was as mannerly a _Salus Populi_

as need bee: if I bee not much deceived, that _Salus Populi_ suffer'd

its nose to be held to the Grindstone, till it was almost ground to the

grisles; and yet grew never the sharper for ought I could discerne; What

was, before the world was made, I leave to better Antiquaries then

myselfe; but I thinke, since the world began, it was never storied that

_Salus Populi_ began with _Majestas Imperii_, unlesse _Majestas Imperii_

first unharbour'd it, and hunted it to a stand, and then it must either

turne head and live, or turn taile and die: but more have been storyed

on the other hand than _Majestas Imperii_ is willing to heare: I doubt

not but _Majestas Imperii_ knows, that Common-wealths cost as much the

making as Crownes; and if they bee well made, would yet outsell an

ill-fashioned Crown, in any Market overt, even in _Smithfield_, if they

could be well vouched.

But _Preces & Lachrymae_, are the people's weapons: so are Swords and

Pistols, when God and Parliaments bid them Arme. Prayers and Teares are

good weapons for them that have nothing but knees and eyes; but most men

are made with teeth and nailes; onely they must neither scratch for

Liberties, nor bite Prerogatives, till they have wept and prayed as God

would have them. If Subjects must fight for their Kings against other

Kingdomes, when their Kings will; I know no reason, but they may fight

against their Kings for their own Kingdomes, when Parliaments say they

may and must: but Parliaments must not say they must, till God sayes

they may.

I can never beleeve that _Majestas Imperii_, was ever so simple as to

think, that if it extends it self beyond its due Artique at one end, but

_Salus Populi_ must Antartique it as farre at the other end, or else the

world will be Excentrick, and then it will whirle; and if it once fall a

whirling, ten to one, it will whirle them off first, that sit in highest

chaires on cushions fill'd with Peacocks feathers; and they are like to

stand their ground fastest, that owne not one foot of ground to stand

upon. When Kings rise higher than they should, they exhale Subjects

higher than they would: if the _Primum Mobile_ should ascend one foot

higher than it is, it would hurry all the nether wheeles, and the whole

world on fire in 24 houres. No Prince exceeds in Soveraignty, but his

Subjects will exceed as farre in some vitious Liberty, to abate their

griefe; or some pernicious mutiny, to abate their Prince.

_The crazy world will crack, in all the middle joynts.

If all the ends it hath, have not their parapoynts._

Nor can I beleeve that Crownes trouble Kings Heads, so much as Kings

heads trouble Crownes: nor that they are flowers of Crowns that trouble

Crowns, but rather some Nettles or Thistles mistaken for flowers.

To speake plainer English, I have wondred these thirty yeares what Kings

aile: I have seen in my time, the best part of twenty Christian Kings

and Princes; Yet as Christian as they were, some or other were still

scuffling for Prerogatives. It must be granted at all hands, that

_Praerogativae Regis_ are necessary Supporters of State: and stately

things to stately Kings: but if withall, they be _Derogativae Regno_,

they are but little things to wise Kings. Equity is as due to People, as

Eminency to Princes: Liberty to Subjects, as Royalty to Kings: If they

cannot walk together lovingly hand in hand, _pari passu_, they must cut

girdles and part as good friends as they may: Nor must it be taken

offensively, that when Kings are haling up their top-gallants, Subjects

lay hold on their slablines; the head and body must move alike: it is

nothing meet for me to say with _Horace_,

_Ut tu fortunam, sic nos te Car'le feremus._

But I hope I may safely say,

_The body beares the head, the head the Crown;

If both beare not alike, then one will down._

Distracting Nature, calls for distracting Remedies; perturbing policies

for disturbing cures: If one Extreame should not constitute its

Anti-Extreame, all things would soon be in _extremo_: if ambitious

windes get into Rulers Crownes, rebellious vapours will into Subjects

Caps, bee they stopt never so close: Yet the tongues of Times tell us of

ten Preter-royall Usurpations, to one contra-civill Rebellion.

Civill Liberties and Proprieties admeasured, to every man to his true

_suum_, are the _prima pura principia, propria quarto modo_, the _sine

quibus_ of humane States, without which, men are but women. Peoples

prostrations of these things when they may lawfully helpe it, are

prophane prostitutions; ignorant Ideottismes, under naturall noddaries;

and just it is that such as undersell them, should not re-inherit them

in haste, though they seeke it carefully with teares. And such

usurpations by Rulers, are the unnaturalizings of nature,

disfranchisements of Freedome, the Neronian nullifyings of Kingdomes:

yea, I beleeve the Devill himselfe would turne Round-head, rather then

suffer these Columnes of Common-wealths to be slighted: as he is a

creature, he feares decreation; as an Angell, dehominations; as a

Prince, dis-common-wealthings; as finite, these pen-infinite

insolencies, which are the most finite Infinites of misery to men on

this side the worlds dissolution: therefore it is, that with Gods leave,

he hath sounded an alarm to all the _susque deques_, pell-mels, one and

alls, now harrassing sundry parts of Christendome. It is enough for God

to be Infinite, too much for man to bee Indefinite. He that will flye

too high a quarry for Absolutenesse, shall stoope as much too low before

he remounts his proper pitch: If _Jacob_ will over top his brother out

of Gods time and way, he will so hamstring him, that hee shall make legs

whether he will or no, at his brothers approach: and such as over-run

all humane measure, shall seldome returne to humane mercy: There are

sins besides the sin against the Holy Ghost, which shall not be expiated

by sacrifice for temporall revenge: I mean when they are boyled up to a

full consistence of contumacy and impenitency. Let absolute Demands or

Commands be put into one scale, and indefinite refusalls into the other:

all the Goldsmiths in _Cheapeside_, cannot tell which weighs heaviest.

Intolerable griefes to Subjects, breed the _Iliaca passio_ in a body

politick, which inforces that upwards which should not. I speak these

things to excuse, what I may, my Countrymen in the hearts of all that

look upon their proceedings.

There is a quadrobulary saying which passes current in the Westerne

World, That the Emperour is King of Kings, the _Spaniard_, King of Men,

the _French_, King of Asses, the _King_ of _England_, _King_ of Devills.

By his leave that first brayed the speech, they are pretty wise Devills

and pretty honest; the worse they doe, is to keep their Kings from

devillizing, and themselves from Assing: Were I a King (a simple

supposall) I would not part with one good English Devill, for some two

of the Emperours Kings, nor three of the _Spaniards_ Men, nor foure

_French_ Asses; If I did I should thinke my selfe an Asse for my labour.

I know nothing that _Englishmen_ want, but true Grace, and honest pride;

let them be well furnisht with those two, I feare they would make more

Asses, then _Spaine_ can make men, or the Emperour Kings. You will say I

am now beyond my latchet; but you would not say so, if you knew how high

my latchet will stretch; when I heare a lye with a latchet, that reaches

up to his throat that first forged it.

He is a good King that undoes not his Subjects by any one of his

unlimited Prerogatives: and they are a good People, that undoe not their

Prince, by any one of their unbounded Liberties, be they the very least.

I am sure either may, and I am sure neither would be trusted, how good

soever. Stories tell us in effect, though not in termes, that over-risen

Kings, have been the next evills to the world, unto fallen Angels; and

that over-franchised people, are devills with smooth snaffles in their

mouthes. A King that lives by Law, lives by love; and he that lives

above Law, shall live under hatred doe what he can. Slavery and knavery

goe as seldome asunder, as Tyranny and Cruelty.

I have a long while thought it very possible, in a time of Peace, and in

some Kings Reigne, for disert Statesmen, to cut an exquisite thred

between Kings Prerogatives, and Subjects Liberties of all sorts, so as

_Caesar_ might have his due, and People their share, without such sharpe

disputes. Good Casuists would case it, and case it, part it, and part

it; now it, and then it, punctually. _Aquinas_, _Suarez_, or _Valentia_,

would have done it long ere this, had they not beene Popish, I might

have said knavish; for, if they be so any where, it is in their

Tractates of Priviledges. Our Common Law doth well, but it must doe

better before things doe as they should. There are some _Maximes_ in

Law, that would be taught to speake a little more mannerly, or else well

_Anti-Maxim'd_: we say, the King can doe a Subject no wrong; why may wee

not say, the Parliament can doe the King no wrong? We say, _Nullum

tempus occurrit Regi_ in taking wrong; why may wee not say, _Nullum

tempus succurrit Regi_ in doing wrong? which I doubt will prove as good

a Canon if well examined.

Authority must have power to make and keep people honest; People,

honesty to obey Authority; both, a joynt-Councell to keep both safe.

Morall Lawes, Royall Prerogatives, Popular Liberties, are not of Mans

making or giving, but Gods: Man is but to measure them out by Gods Rule:

which if mans wisdome cannot reach, Mans experience must mend: And these

Essentialls, must not be Ephorized or Tribuned by one or a few Mens

discretion, but lineally sanctioned by Supreame Councels. In

_pro-re-nascent_ occurrences, which cannot be foreseen; Diets,

Parliaments, Senates, or accountable Commissions, must have power to

consult and execute against intersilient dangers and flagitious crimes

prohibited by the light of Nature: Yet it were good if States would let

People know so much beforehand, by some safe woven _manifesto_, that

grosse Delinquents may tell no tales of Anchors and Buoyes, nor palliate

their presumptions with pretence of ignorance. I know no difference in

these Essentialls, between Monarchies, Aristocracies, or Democracies;

the rule will be found par-rationall, say Schoolmen and Pretorians what

they will. And in all, the best Standard to measure Prerogatives, is the

Ploughstaffe; to measure Liberties, the Scepter: if the tearms were a

little altered into Loyall Prerogatives and Royall Liberties, then we

should be sure to have Royall Kings and Loyall Subjects.

_Subjects their King, the King his Subjects greets,

Whilome the Scepter and the Plough-staffe meets._

But Progenitors have had them for four and twenty predecessions: that

would be spoken in the Norman tongue or Cimbrian, not in the English or

Scottish: When a Conquerour turnes Christian, Christianity turns

Conquerour: if they had had them time out of minde of man, before _Adam_

was made, it is not a pin to the point in _foro rectae rationis_: Justice

and Equity were before time, and will be after it: Time hath neither

Politicks nor Ethicks, good nor evill in it; it is an empty thing, as

empty as a _New-English_ purse, and emptier it cannot bee: a man may

break his neck in time, and in a lesse time then he can heale it.

But here is the deadly pang, it must now be taken by force and dint of

sword: I confesse it is a deadly pang to a Spirit made all of flesh, but

not to a mortified heart: it is good to let God have his will as hee

please, when we have not reason to let him have it as we should;

remembring, that hitherto he hath taken order, that ill Prerogatives

gotten by the Sword, should in time be fetcht home by the Dagger, if

nothing else will doe it: Yet I trust there is both day and means to

intervent this bargaine. But if they should; if God will make both King

and Kingdome the better by it, what should either lose? I am sure there

is no great cause for either to make great brags.

_Pax quo carior, eo charior._

_A peace well made, is likeliest then to hold,

When 'tis both dearly bought and dearly sold._

I confesse, he that parts with such pearles to be paid in old iron, had

need to be pityed more by his faithfull friends, than he is like to be

by his false flatterers. My heart is surcharged, I can no longer

forbear.

* * * * *

_My Dearest Lord_, and my more than _dearest King_, I most humbly

beseech you upon mine aged knees, that you would please to arme your

minde with patience of proofe, and to intrench your selfe as deep as you

can, in your wonted Royall meeknesse; for I am resolved to display my

unfurled soule in your very face, and to storme you with volyes of Love

and Loyalty. You owe the meanest true Subject you have, a close account

of these open Warres: they are no _Arcana imperii_. Then give mee leave

to inquire of your Majesty, what you make in fields of blood, when you

should be amidst your Parliament of peace: What you doe sculking in the

suburbs of Hell, when your Royall Pallaces stand desolate, through your

absence? What moves you to take up Armes against your faithfull

Subjects, when your Armes should bee embracing your mournfull Queen?

What incenses your heart to make so many widdowes and Orphans, and among

the rest your owne? Doth it become you, the King of the stateliest

Island the world hath, to forsake your Throne, and take up the

Manufacture of cutting your Subjects throats, for no other sin, but for

Deifying you so over-much, that you cannot be quiet in your Spirit, till

they have pluckt you downe as over-low? Doe your three Kingdomes so

trouble you, that they must all three be set on fire at once, that when

you have done, you may probably runne away by their light into utter

darknesse? Doe your three Crownes sit so heavy on your head, that you

will break the backs of the three bodies that set them on, and helpt you

beare them so honourably? Have your three Lamb-like flocks so molested

you, that you must deliver them up to the ravening teeth of evening

Wolves? Are you so angry with those that never gave you just cause to be

angry, but by their too much feare to anger you at all, when you gave

them cause enough? Are you so weary of Peace, that you will never be

weary of Warre? Are you so willing to warre at home, who were so

unwilling to warre abroad, where and when you should? Are you so weary

of being a good King, that you will leave your selfe never a good

Subject? Have you peace of Conscience, in inforcing many of your

Subjects to fight for you against their Conscience? Are you provided

with Answers at the great Tribunall, for the destruction of so many

thousands, whereof every man was as good a man as your Self, _qua_ man?

Is it not a most unworthy part for you to bee running away from your

Subjects in a day of battel, upon whose Pikes you may come safe with

your naked breast and welcome? Is it honourable for you to be flying on

horses, from those that would esteeme it their greatest honour, to beare

you on their humble shoulders to your Chaire of Estate, and set you down

upon a Cushion stuffed with their hearts? Is it your prudence to be

inraged with your best friends, for adventuring their lives to rescue

you from your worst enemies? Were I a King, pardon the supposall, I

would hang that Subject by the head, that would not take me by the

heels, and dragge me to my Court, when he sees me shifting for life in

the ruined Countrey, if nothing else would doe it; And I would honour

their very heels, that would take me by the very head, and teach me, by

all just meanes, to King it better, when they saw me un-Kinging my selfe

and Kingdome: Doe you not know Sir, that, as when your people are sicke

of the Kings-evill, God hath given you a gift to heale them? so when

your selfe are sicke of it, God hath given the Parliament a gift to

heale you: Hath your Subjects love been so great to you, that you will

spend it all, and leave your children little or none? Are you so

exasperated against wise _Scotland_, that you will make _England_ your

foole or foot-stoole? Is your fathers Sonne growne more Orthodox, then

his most Orthodox father, when he told his Sonne, that a King was for a

kingdome, and not a kingdome for a King? parallell to that of the

Apostle; the husband is but by the wife, but the wife of the husband.

Is _Majestas Imperii_ growne so kickish, that it cannot stand quiet with

_Salus Populi_, unlesse it be fettered? Are you well advised, in

trampling your Subjects so under your feet, that they can finde no place

to be safe in, but over your head: Are you so inexorably offended with

your Parliament, for suffering you to returne as you did, when you came

into their house as you did, that you will be avenged on all whom they

represent? Will you follow your very worst Councell so far, as to

provoke your very best, to take better counsell than ever they did? If

your Majesty be not Popish, as you professe, and I am very willing to

beleeve, why doe you put the Parliament to resume the Sacrament of the

Altar, or Consubstantions in saying, the King and Parliament, the King

and Parliament? breaking your simple Subjects braines to understand such

mysticall Parleenment? I question much, whether they were not better

speake plainer English, then such Latine as the Angels can hardly

construe, and God happily loves not to perse; I can as well admit an

ubiquitary King as another, if a King be abroad in any good affaire; but

if a King be at home and will circumscribe himselfe at _Oxford_, and

proscribe or discribe his Parliament at _Westminster_, if that

_Parliament_ will prescribe what they ought, without such paradoxing, I

should think God would subscribe a _Le Dieu le veult_ readily enough.

Is your _Advisera_ such a _Suavamen_ to you, that hath been such a

_Gravamen_ to Religion and Peace? Shall the chiefe bearing wombe of your

Kingdome, be ever so constituted, that it cannot be delivered of its

owne deliverance, in what pangs soever it be, without the will of one

man-midwife, and such a man as will come and not come, but as he list:

nor bring a Parliament to bed of a well-begotten Liberty without an

entire Subsidy? Doe not your Majesty being a Schollar, know, that it was

a truth long before it was spoken, that _Mundus est unus aut nullus_,

that there is _Principum purum unum_, which unites the world and all

that is in it; where that is broken, things fall asunder, that

whatsoever is duable or triable, is fryable.

Is the _Militia_ of your Kingdome, such an orient flower of your Crowne,

which all good Herbalists judge but a meere nettle, while it is in any

one mans hand living? May not you as well challenge the absolute

disposall of all the wealth of the Kingdome as of all the strength of

your Kingdome? Can you put any difference? unlesse it bee this, that

mens hearts and bones are within their skins, more proper and

intrinsecall, their lands and cattell more externall: dare you not

_concredit_ the _Militia_, with those to whom you may betrust your

heart, better then your owne breast? Will they ever harme you with the

_Militia_, that have no manner of _malitia_ against you, but for

mis-imploying the _Militia_ against them by the _malitia_ of your ill

Counsellours? What good will the _Militia_ doe you when you have wasted

the Realme of all the best _Milites_ it hath? May not your Majesty see

through a paire of Spectacles, glazed with inch-board; that while you

have your _Advisera_ in one hand, and the _Militia_ in the other, you

have the neckes of your Subjects under your feet, but not your heart in

your owne hand? doe you not know that _malum est, posse malum_?

Hath Episcopacy beene such a religious Jewell in your State, that you

will sell all or most of your Coronets, Caps of honour, and blue

Garters, for six and twenty cloth Caps? and your Barons Cloakes, for so

many Rockets, whereof usually twenty have had scarce good manners enough

to keepe the other six sweet? Is no Bishop no King, such an oraculous

Truth, that you will pawne your Crowne and life upon it? if you will,

God may make it true indeed on your part: Had you rather part with all,

then lose a few superfluous tumours, to pare off your monstrousnesse?

Will you be so covetous, as to get more then you ought, by losing more

then you need? Have you not driven good Subjects enough abroad, but you

will also slaughter them that stay at home? Will you take such an ill

course, that no prayers can fasten that good upon you we desier? Is

there not some worse root than all these growing in your Spirit,

bringing forth all this bitter fruit? against which you should take up

Arms, rather then against your harmlesse Subjects? Doe you not foresee,

into what importable head-tearings and heart-searchings you will be

ingulfed, when the Parliament shall give you a mate, though but a Stale?

Methinkes it should breake your heart, to see such a one as I, presume

so much upon your clemency and too much upon your Majesty, which your

Selfe have so eclipsed by the interposall of your Selfe between your

Selfe and your Selfe, that it hath not ray's enough left to dazle downe

the height of my affections to the awe of my Judgement.

Tres-Royall Sir, I once againe beseech you, with teares dropping from my

hoary head, to cover your Selfe as close as you may, with the best

shield of goodnesse you have: I have somewhat more to say, which may

happily trouble not your Selfe, but your followers, more than what is

already said. There lived in your Realme and Reigne two whom I may well

tearme Prophets, both now in a better Kingdome; whereof one foretold two

things concerning your Majesty, of these very proceedings, long before

they began; which being done and past shall bee buried in silence: the

other made this prediction about the same time.

_King =Charles= will joyne Himselfe to bitter Griefe,

Then joyne to God, and prove a Godly Chiefe._

His words were in prose these, King _Charles_ will come into fetters,

meaning strong afflictions, and then prove as good a King, as such a

good King of _Israel_, whom he then named, but I need not: he was as

inwardly acquainted with the minde of God, as fervent and frequent a

Beadsman for your welfare, and had as religious Opticks of State, as any

man I know: foure other Predictions he made, full as improbable as this,

whereof three are punctually performed. A good Christian being sometime

in conflicts of Conscience, hurried with long tentations, used this

speech to my selfe, I am now resolved to be quiet, for I plainly see,

God will save me whether I will or no: If your Majesty would be pleased

to thinke so in your heart, and say so with your mouth, all the good

Subjects you have, would say, _Amen_, till the heavens rang, and I hope

you have few so bad, but would say, _So be it_.

Much lamented Sir, If you will please to retire your Selfe to your

Closet, whither you may most safely come, and make your peace with God,

for the vast heritage of sinne your Intombed father left upon your

score, the dreadful Imprecation he poured upon the heads of his tender

posterity in _Summersets_ and _Overburyes_ Case, published in

Starchamber by his Royall command; your owne sinful marriage, the

sophistocation of Religion and Policie in your time, the luxury your

Court and Country, your connivance with the Irish butcheries, your

forgetfull breaches upon the Parliament, your compliance with Popish

Doegs, with what else your Conscience shall suggest: and give us, your

guilty Subjects example to doe the like, who have held pace and

proportion with you in our evill wayes: we will helpe you by Gods

assistance, to poure out rivers of tears, to wash away the streams of

blood, which have beene shed for these heavy accounts; we will also

helpe you, God helping us, to beleeve, that there is hope in _Israel_

for these things; and Balme enough in his _Gilead_ to heale all the

broken bones of your three kingdomes, and to redouble your honour and

our peace: His Arme is infinite; to an infinite power all things are

equally faisable, to an infinite mercy, all sinnes equally pardonable.

The Lord worke these things in us and for us, for his compassions sake

in Jesus Christ.

Sir, you may now please to discover your Selfe where you think meet; I

trust I have not indangered you: I presume your Ear-guard will keep

farre enough from you, what ever I have said: be it so, I have

discharged my duty, let them look to theirs. If my tongue should reach

your eares, which I little hope for; Let it be once said; the great King

of great _Britaine_, tooke advise of a simple Cobler, yet such a Cobler,

as will not exchange either his blood or his pride, with any Shoo-maker

or Tanner in your Realme, nor with any of your late Bishops which have

flattered you thus in peeces: I would not speake thus in the eares of

the world, through the month of the Presse for all the plunder your

plunderers have pillaged; were it not somewhat to abate your Royall

indignation toward a loyall Subject; a Subject whose heart hath been

long carbonadoed, _des veniam verbo_, in flames of affection towards

you. Your Majesty knowes or may know, time was, when I did, or would

have done you a better peece of service, than all your Troopes and

Regiments are now doing. Should I heare any Gentleman that follows you,

of my yeares, say hee loves you better than I, if it were lawfull, I

would sweare by my Sword, he said more than his sword would make good.

Gracious Sir, Vouchsafe to pardon me my no other sins, but my long

Idolatry towards you, and my loving you too hard in this speech, and I

will pardon you your Treason against me, even me, by committing Treason

against your Selfe my Lord and King;[4] and your murther, in murthering

me, even me, by murthering my deare fellow Subjects, bone of my bone,

and flesh of my flesh, and of yours also. If you will not pardon me, I

will pardon my selfe, dwell in my own clothes as long as I can, and

happily make as good a shift for my proportion, as he that hath a

lighter paire of heeles: And when you have done what you please and what

you can, I am resolved to be

_As loyall a Subject to your Majesty when I

have never a head on my shoulders, as

you a Royall King to me, when you have

your three Crownes on your head,_

Theod: de la Guard.

[4] I speake in termes of Divinity not of Law and am deepely grieved

that I am forced to such necessary over boldnesse.

_Sir_,

I Cannot give you over thus; I most earnestly implore you, that you

would not deferre to consider yourselfe throughly, you are now returned

to the brinke of your Honour and our Peace, stand not too long there,

your State is full of distractions, your people of expectations, the

importune Affaires of your Kingdome perplexedly suspended, your good

Subjects are now rising into a resolution to pray you on to your throne,

or into your Tombe, into Grace with your Parliament and People, or into

Glory with the Saints in Heaven; but how you will get into the one,

without passing first through th' other, is the riddle they cannot

untye. If they shall ply the Throne of Grace hard, God will certainely

heare, and in a short time mould you to his minde, and convince you,

that it had and will bee farre easier to sit downe meekely upon the

_Rectum_, than to wander resolutely in obliquities, which with Kings,

seldome faile to dissembogue into bottomlesse Seas of sorrows.

Dearest Sir, be intreated to doe what you doe sincerely; the King of

Heaven and Earth can search and discover the hiddenest corner of your

heart, your Parliament understands you farre better then you may

conceive, they have many eares and eyes, and good ones, I beleeve they

are Religiously determined to re-cement you to your Body so exquisitely,

that the Errors of State and Church, routed by these late stirs, may not

re-allee hereafter, nor Themselves be made a curse to the issue of their

own bodies, nor a Scoffe, to all Politique Bodies in Europe. The Lord

give your Majesty and all your Royall Branches _the spirit of wisedome

and understanding_, _the Spirit of knowledge and his feare_, for His

mercy and Christ his sake.

* * * * *

I Would my skill would serve me also, as well as my heart, to translate

Prince _Rupert_, for his Queen-mothers sake, _Eliz._ a second. Mismeane

me not. I have had him in my armes when he was younger, I wish I had him

there now: if I mistake not, he promised then to be a good Prince, but I

doubt he hath forgot it: if I thought he would not be angry with me, I

would pray hard to his Maker, to make him a right Roundhead, a wise

hearted Palatine, a thankfull man to the English; to forgive all his

sinnes, and at length to save his soule, notwithstanding all his

God-damne mee's: yet I may doe him wrong; I am not certaine hee useth

that oath; I wish no man else would. I dare say the Devills dare not. I

thank God I have lived in a Colony of many thousand English almost these

twelve yeares, am held a very sociable man; yet I may considerately say,

I never heard but one Oath sworne, nor never saw one man drunk, nor ever

heard of three women Adulteresses, in all this time, that I can call to

minde: If these sinnes bee amongst us privily, the Lord heale us. I

would not bee understood to boast of our innocency; there is no cause I

should, our hearts may be bad enough, and our lives much better. But to

follow my businesse.

Prosecutions of Warres betweene a King and his Parliament, are the

direfull dilacerations of the world, the cruell Catastrophes of States,

dreadfull to speake of; they are _nefanda & n' agenda_: I know no

grounds can be given of them but two: Either upon Reason founded upon

some surmisall of Treason, which my reason cannot reach: I could never

conceive why a rationall King should commit Treason against a reasonable

Parliament; or how a faithfull Parliament against their lawfull King:

the most I can imagine, is a misprision of Treason, upon a misprision of

Reason. Hee that knows not the Spirit of his King, is an Atheist. Our

King is not _Charles le simple_ sometime of _France_: he understands not

our King that understands him not to bee understanding. The Parliament

is supposed Omniscient, because under God they are Omnipotent: if a

Parliament have not as much knowledge and all other vertues, as all the

Kingdome beside, they are no good Abridgement of the Common-wealth. I

beleeve Remonstrances have demonstrated enough concerning this point of

Reason, to give satisfaction to such as satisfaction will satisfie.

Or upon Will.

The Will of a King is very numinous; it hath a kinde of vast

universality in it, it is many times greater than the will of his whole

kingdome, stiffened with ill Counsell and ill Presidents: if it be not a

foot and half lesser than the Will of his Councell, and three foot

lesser than the Will of his Parliament, it is too big. I think it were

well for a King if hee had no will at all, but were all Reason. What if

he committed his morall will to Divines, that were no Bishops? his

Politicall, to his Parliament, and a Councell chosen by Parliament? that

if ever it miscarry, they may blame themselves most, and him least. I

scarce know any King that hath such advantage as ours; his three

kingdomes lye so distinct and entire, that if he please, he might keep

them like three gardens without a weed, if he would let God keep his

will, without wilfulnesse and rashnesse.

I have observed men to have two kindes of Wills, a Free-hold will, such

as men hold in _Capite_ of themselves; or a Copy-hold will, held at the

will of other Lords or Ladies. I have read almost all the Common Law of

_England_, and some Statutes; yet I never read, that the Parliament held

their will in such a _Capite_: their Tenure is _Knight-service_, and

good _Knight-service_ too, or else they are to blame. And I am sure, a

King cannot hold by Copy, at the will of other Lords; the Law calls that

_base tenure_, inconsistent with Royalty; much more base is it, to hold

at the will of Ladies: Apron-string _tenure_ is very weak, tyed but of a

slipping knot, which a childe may undoe, much more a King. It stands not

with our Queens honour to weare an Apron, much lesse her Husband, in the

strings; that were to insnare both him and her self in many unsafeties.

I never heard our King was Effeminate: to be a little Uxorious

personally, is a vertuous vice in Oeconomicks; but Royally, a vitious

vertue in Politicks. To speak English, Books and tongues tell us, I wish

they tell us true, that the Error of these Wars on our Kings part

proceeds only from ill Counsellours.

Ill Counsellours are very ill Gamesters; if they see their own stake a

losing, they will play away King, Queen, Bishops, Knights, Rooks,

Pawnes, and all, before they will turne up the board: they that play for

lusts, will play away themselves, and not leave themselves so much as a

heart to repent; and then there is no Market left but Hell; if the case

be thus, it is to no end to look for any end, till one side make an end

of the other.

_They that at stake their Crownes and Honours set,

Play lasting games, if Lust or Guilt doe bet._

_Cessation._

If God would vouchsafe to give his Majesties Religion and Reason, power

to fling his Wills head over the Wall, in matter of Composition, and his

Subjects strength to throw their lusts after it, Arms would be soon laid

down, and Peace soon taken up. They that are not at peace with God, are

not at peace with themselves, whatever they think; and they that are not

at peace with themselves, cannot be at peace with others, if occasion

provokes, be their natures never so good.

So farre as I can conjecture, the chiefe impediment to a generall and

mutuall Cessation of Armes, is, a despaire of mutuall and generall

forgivenesse. If ever _England_ had need of a generall Jubile in Heaven

and Earth, it is now. Our King and Parliament have been at great strife,

who should obtaine most Justice: if they would now strive, who should

shew most Mercy, it would heare well throughout the world. Here also my

speech must be twofold and blind-fold. It is now nine Moneths and more

since the last credible News was acted: it is possible by this, the

Parliament may be at the Kings mercy: Did I say a Kings mercy? what can

I say more? no man on earth, can shew more mercy then a King, nor shall

need more, when he comes to give an Account of his Kingdome: Nor did

ever any Parliament merit more mercy than this, for they never sinned,

that I know, I meane against the Common and Statute Law of _England_: it

is pity they who have given so many general pardons, should want one

now. If our King hath lost his way, and thereby learned to looke to his

path better hereafter, and taught many Successors to King it right for

many Ages; Me thinks it should impetrate a Royall Redintegration, upon a

Royall acknowledgement and ingagement. But how should an erring King

trust a provoked Parliament? Surely he may trust God safe enough; who

will never trust that State more with a good King, that will doe ill to

a King that is turned so good. Me thinks those passages of Scripture,

_Esa. 43. 24, 25._ _chap. 57. 17, 18_. The strange illation, _Hos. 2. 13,

14._ should melt a heart of steele into floods of mercy.

For others, were my head, one of the heads which first gave the King

Counsell to take up these Armes, or to persist in them, when at any time

he would have disbanded, I would give that head to the Kingdome, whether

they would or no; if they would not cut it off, I would cut it off

myselfe, and tender it at the Parliament doore, upon condition that all

other heads might stand, which stand upon penitent hearts, and will doe

better on than off; then I would carry it to _London-Bridge_, and charge

my tongue to teach all tongues, to pronounce Parliament right hereafter.

When a kingdom is broken just in the neck joynt, in my poore policy,

ropes and hatchets are not the kindliest instruments to set it: Next to

the spilling of the blood of Christ for sin, the sparing of the blood of

sinners, where it may be as well spared as spilt, is the best way of

expiation. It is no rare thing for Subjects to follow a leading King; if

he will take his truncheon in his hand, it is to be expected many will

put their swords in their Belts. Sins that rise out of mistake of

judgement, are not so sinfull as those of malice ordinarily: and when

multitudes sin, multitudes of mercy are the best Anodines.

--_gratia gratis data, gratissima._

_Grace will dissolve, but rigour hardens guilt:

Break not with Steely blowes, what oyle should melt._

_In Breaches integrant, 'tween Principalls of States,

Due Justice may suppresse, but Love redintegrates._

Whosoever be pardoned, I pray not let _Britanicus_ scape, I mean a

pardon. I take him to be a very serviceable Gentleman; Out of my entire

respect to him, I shall presume to give him half a dozen stitches of

advice:

I intreat him to consider that our King is not onely a man, but a King

in affliction; Kings afflictions are beyond Subjects apprehensions; a

Crown may happily ake as much as a whole Common-wealth.

I desire him also to conceale himself as deeply as he can, if he cannot

get a speciall pardon, to weare a Latitat about his neck, or let him lie

close under the Philosophers stone, and I'le warrant him for ever being

found.

If he be discovered, I counsell him to get his head set on faster than

our _New-England_ Taylors use to set on Buttons; Kings, and Kings

Childrens memories are as keen as their Subjects wits.

If he fears any such thing, that he would come over to us, to helpe

recruite our bewildred brains: we will promise to maintain him so long

as he lives, if he will promise to live no longer then we maintain him.

If he should bee discovered and his head chance to be cut off against

his will, I earnestly beseech him to bequeath his wits to me and mine in

Fee-simple, for we want them, and cannot live by our hands in this

Country.

Lastly, I intreat him to keep his purse, I give him my counsell

_gratis_, confessing him to be more then my match, and that I am very

loath to fall into his hands.

_Prosecution._

If Reformation, Composition, Cessation, can finde no admittance, there

must and will be Prosecution: to which I would also speak briefly and

indifferently still to both sides; and first to that, which I had rather

call Royalists then Cavaliers; who if I mistake not, fight against the

Truth.

Foolish Cowardly man (I pray patience, for I speak nothing but the pulse

of my owne heart) dreads and hates, nothing in Heaven or Earth, so much

as Truth: it is not God, nor Law, nor sinne, nor death, nor hell, that

he feares, but onely because he feares there is Truth in them: Could he

de-truth them all, he would defie them all: Let Perdition it self come

upon him with deadly threats, fiery swords, displayed vengeance, he

cares not: Let Salvation come cap in hand, with naked Reason, harmelesse

Religion, lawny embracements, he will rather flye or dye, than

entertaine it: come Truth in what shape it will, hee will reject it:

and when hee can beat it off with most steely prowesse, he thinkes

himselfe the bravest man; when in truth it is nothing but exsanguine

feeble exility of Spirit. Thy heart, saith the Prophet _Ezek. 16. 30._

is weake, like the heart of an imperious whorish woman: a man would

thinke, the heart of an imperious whore, were the very pummell of

_Scanderbergs_ sword; alas, she is hen-hearted, shee dares not looke

Truth in the face; if she dared, shee would neither be whorish, nor

imperious, nor weake. He shews more true fortitude, that prayes quarter

of the least Truth, at a miles distance, than hee that breakes through

and hewes downe the most Theban Phalanx that ever field bore. _Paul_

exprest more true valour, in saying, I can doe nothing against the

Truth, than _Goliah_, in defying the whole hoste of _Israel_.

Couragious Gentlemen, Yee that will stab him that gives you the lye;

take heed yee spend not your bloods, limbes and soules, in fighting for

some untruth: and yee that will fling out the gantlet to him that calls

you Coward, dishonour not your selves with such Cowardise, as to fight

against Truth, meerly for feare of it. A thousand pities it is, such

gallant Spirits should spend their lives, honours, heritages, and sweet

relations in any Warres, where, for ought many of them know, some false

mistake commands in Chiefe.

Honoured Country-men, bee intreated to love Truth: if it loves not you

againe, and repaires not all your losses, then install some Untruth in

its roome for your Generall. If you will needs warre, be perswaded to

contend lawfully, wisely and stedfastly, against all errours in Divinity

and Policy: they are the cursed Counter-mures, dropt Portcullises,

scouring Angiports, sulphurious Granado's, laden murtherers, peevish

Galthropes, and rascall desperadoes, which the Prince of lyes imployes

with all his skill and malice, to maintaine the walls and gates of his

kingdome, when Truth would enter in with grace and peace to save

forlorne sinners, and distressed Commonwealthes: witnesse the present

deplorable estate of sundry States in Europe.

Give me leave to speake a word more: it is but this; Yee will finde it a

farre easier field, to wage warre against all the Armies that ever were

or will be on Earth, and all the Angels of Heaven, than to take up Armes

against any truth of God: It hath more Counsell and strength than all

the world besides; and will certainely either gaine or ruine, convert or

subvert every man that opposes it. I hope ingenuous men will rather take

advice, then offence at what I have said: I had rather please ten, than

grieve one intelligent man.

* * * * *

If this side be resolute, I turne me to the other.

* * * * *

Goe on brave Englishmen, in the name of God, go on prosperously, because

of Truth and Righteousnes: Yee that have the Cause of Religion, the life

of your Kingdome and of all the good that is in it in your hands: Goe on

undauntedly: As you are Called and Chosen, so be faithfull: Yee fight

the battells of the Lord, bee neither desidious nor perfidious: You

serve the King of Kings, who stiles you his heavenly Regiments:

Consider well, what impregnable fighting it is in heaven, where the Lord

of Hosts is your Generall, his Angells your Colonels, the Stars your

fellow-souldiers, his Saints your Oratours, his Promises your

victuallers, his Truth your Trenches; where Drums are Harps, Trumpets

joyfull sounds; your Ensignes Christs Banners; where your weapons and

armour are spirituall, therefore irresistable, therefore impierceable;

where Sun and wind cannot disadvantage you, you are above them; where

hell it selfe cannot hurt you, where your swords are furbushed and

sharpened by him that made their metall, where your wounds are bound up

with the oyle of a good Cause, where your blood runs into the veynes of

Christ, where sudden death is present martyrdome and life; your

funeralls resurrections, your honour glory; where your widows and babes

are received into perpetuall pensions; your names listed among _Davids_

Worthies; where your greatest losses are greatest gaines; and where you

leave the troubles of war, to lye down in downy beds of eternall rest.

What good will it doe you, deare Countrymen, to live without lives, to

enjoy _England_ without the God of _England_, your Kingdome without a

Parliament, your Parliament without power, your Liberties without

stability, your Lawes without Justice, your honours without vertue, your

beings without wel-being, your wives without honesty, your children

without morality, your servants without civility, your lands without

propriety, your goods without immunity, the Gospel without salvation,

your churches without Ministery, your Ministers without piety, and all

you have or can have, with more teares and bitternesse of heart, than

all you have and shall have will sweeten or wipe away?

Goe on therefore Renowned Gentlemen, fall on resolvedly, till your hands

cleave to your swords, your swords to your enemies hearts, your hearts

to victory, your victories to triumph, your triumphs to the everlasting

praise of him that hath given you Spirits to offer your selves

willingly, and to jeopard your lives in high perils, for his Name and

service sake.

And Wee your Brethren, though we necessarily abide beyond _Jordan_, and

remaine on the American Sea-coasts, will send up Armies of prayers to

the Throne of Grace, that the God of power and goodnesse, would

incourage your hearts, cover your heads, strengthen your arms, pardon

your sinnes, save your soules, and blesse your families, in the day of

Battell. Wee will also pray, that the same Lord of Hosts, would discover

the Counsels, defeat the Enterprizes, deride the hopes, disdaine the

insolencies, and wound the hairy scalpes of your obstinate Enemies, and

yet pardon all that are unwillingly misled. Wee will likewise helpe you

beleeve that God will be seen on the Mount, that it is all one with him,

to save by many or few, and that he doth but humble and try you for the

present, that he may doe you good at the latter end. All which hee bring

to passe who is able to doe exceeding abundantly, above all we can aske

or thinke, for his Truth and mercy sake in Jesus Christ.

_Amen. Amen._

A Word of _IRELAND_:

_Not of the Nation universally, nor of any man in

it, that hath so much as one haire of Christianity

or Humanity growing on his head or beard,

but onely of the truculent Cut-throats,

and such as shall take up Armes

in their Defence._

These _Irish_ anciently called _Antropophagi_, man-eaters: Have a

Tradition among them, That when the Devill shewed our Saviour all the

kingdomes of the Earth and their glory, that he would not shew him

_Ireland_, but reserved it for himselfe: it is probably true, for he

hath kept it ever since for his own peculiar; the old Fox foresaw it

would eclipse the glory of all the rest: he thought it wisdome to keep

the land for a Boggards for his unclean spirits imployed in this

Hemisphere, and the people, to doe his Son and Heire, I mean the Pope,

that service for which _Lewis_ the eleventh kept his Barbor _Oliver_,

which makes them so blood-thirsty. They are the very Offall of men,

Dregges of Mankind, Reproach of Christendome, the Bots that crawle on

the Beast taile, I wonder _Rome_ it self is not ashamed of them.

I begge upon my hands and knees, that the Expedition against them may be

undertaken while the hearts and hands of our Souldiery are hot, to

whom I will be bold to say briefly: Happy is he that shall reward them

as they have served us, and Cursed be he that shall do that work of the

Lord negligently, Cursed be he that holdeth back his Sword from blood;

yea, Cursed be he that maketh not his Sword starke drunk with _Irish_

blood, that doth not recompense them double for their hellish treachery

to the _English_, that maketh them not heaps upon heaps, and their

Country a dwelling place for Dragons, an Astonishment to Nations: Let

not that eye look for pity, nor that hand to be spared, that pities or

spares them, and let him be accursed, that curseth not them bitterly.

A Word of Love to the Common People of _England_.

It is, your, now or never, to muster up puissant Armies of Prayers to

the Mercy Seate; your Body Representative, is now to take in hand, as

intricate a piece of worke, as ever fell into the hands of any

Parliament in the world, to tye an indissoluble knot upon that webb

which hath been woven with so much cost and bloud, wherein if they

happen to make one false maske, it may re-imbarque themselves and you

all into a deadly relapse of scorne and calamity. It is the worke of God

not of man, pray speedily therefore, and speedingly, give him no rest

till your rest be throughly re-established, Your God is a God whose Name

is All-sufficient, abundant in Goodnesse and Truth, on whom the Sonnes

of _Iacob_ never did, nor shall call in vaine, you have a Throne of

Grace wherto you may goe boldly; a Christ to give you a leading by the

hand and liberty of speech, an Intercessor in Heaven to offer up your

Prayers wrapp'd in his own; a large Charter _aske and have_, a Spirit to

helpe all your infirmities in that duty, a sure Covenant that you shall

be heard, and such late incouragement as may strengthen your feeble

hands for ever. If you who _may command God concerning the work of his

hand_, shall faile to demand the workemanship of his hand in this

worke, your children will proclaime you un-thrifts with bitter teares to

the worlds end.