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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A62103	A vindication of King Charles: or, A loyal subjects duty Manifested in vindicating his soveraigne from those aspersions cast upon him by certaine persons, in a scandalous libel, entituled, The Kings cabinet opened: and published (as they say) by authority of Parliament. Whereunto is added, a true parallel betwixt the sufferings of our Saviour and our soveraign, in divers particulars, &c. By Edw: Symmons, a minister, not of the late confused new, but of the ancient, orderly, and true Church of England.	Symmons, Edward.; Symmons, Edward. True parallel betwixt the sufferings of our Saviour and our Soveraign, in divers particulars.	1648 (1648)	Wing S6350A; ESTC R204509	281,464	363

not likely to be quickned by such endeavours yet our duty is to have respect to after Ages to prevent that the spirits of Posterity be not stained with a false opinion of our King as doubtlesse they also are like to be by those Bookes and Libels of the enemy conveyed unto them unlesse as much or more of ours be left too to present him in his true character to their knowledge Without question we that are now alive shal never scape the censure of succeding Generations viz. to have been too basely sluggish and faint-heared if such transcendent villanies should be acted in our dayes against our King our Religion and so many of us and many of us should not be found to have layed open the enemies basenesse to their faces nay when they that come after us shall apply themselves to write the History of these our times how will they be able truly to depaint these superlative Hypocrites in their due colours if plenty of our Books be not extant to this purpose to hint the notice of their true conditions Let no man therefore plead that writing will do no good as if silence could doe more or had done any I know indeed that much hath been writ already more a great deal then hath or may be read for the enemie hath set forth many threats and orders against such as shall sell or buy the same and hereupon many are discouraged from writing more And perhaps too many have feared to Publish what they have further written lest they prove obstructers to a desired Peace and so doe dammage to the Publike in regard of the enemies height and greatnesse but sure these men know not the spirits of this kinde of enemies with whom we have to doe who are such as will neither know nor own the way of peace but having made themselves crooked wayes to walk in as the Prophet speaks have no judgement in their goings their condition is Satan-like to triumph most where least opposed and to be most vexatious where they have least occasion resist the Divell and he will flie so hold these at open defiance let them know you scorn and contemn them for all their greatnesse as vile persons set the glasse of Gods word before their eyes make them know themselves and let the World know them 't is the only way to make them calmer and to bring them into order whereas say nothing against them and they 'le proclaime that 't is because we have nothing to say and that our consciences tell us they are in the right and so we are silent against our wills Surely the best and most Christian charity that can be shewn them is to reach unto them the proper fruit of their own wayes to feed upon for could they be but fild with shame they might be brought to seeke God And suppose they turn again and rend us for our love and use us the worse for our endeavouring to make them better what new thing shall they doe did not the Pharisees even the same in their dealings with our Saviour and shall not they by doing so confirm more fully to the world that to be true which we have written of them should they chase us up and down the Kingdome with their bloud-hounds to destroy us would it not become them better to hunt fleas then to hunt Kings nor could it be to the advantage of them at all or of their cause but of the truth rather and of us if they should prevaile against us even to kill us upon this occasion that which we maintaine is not the first of Gods truths that hath been sealed with bloud some think that every of his commands at one time or other must be so confirmed and why may not the fifth Commandement at this time as well as the second was in the dayes of Queen Mary to every thing there is an appointed season Whosoever is in the streight and narrow way must look for oppositions and discouragements but faith which over-commeth the world is able to carry through all them Christ was opposed in all he did as much as possible he could be by man he met with contradictments in all his intendments and undertakings even from friends sometimes as well as enemies Master spare thy selfe sayes Peter to him the like must we expect if we follow him but should not this rather evidence the divinity and justice of our way unto our own consciences then be any case of damping to our spirits Non nobis nati sumus we are not our owne nor must we be men of private spirits specially in these times Nay we must take paines and be content not to see the fruit of our labours but that others should reape the benefit of our sowings when we are gone After the death of Christ and his Apostles their Doctrine and Writings did most good in the world and so perhaps may ours when we have ceased to be are no more seen God hath promised his blessing first or last to honest endeavours but we must tarry Gods time Wherefore you in the first place to whom God hath given inward abilities up and be doing with the same and be confident the Lord will be with you Remember how they that imployed their gifts had more comfort at the reckoning day then he had who had hid his talent in a napkin You secondly that have outward strength be not backward to assist the weak in bringing to light unable births give none occasion to think or say those that had or look to have the greatest share in the Kings happinesse when the sun shines upon him are least regardfull of his Honour when the times are dark and cloudy You thirdly that refuse to further or countenance works of this nature I beseech you also doe but disdaine to hinder And you lastly who ere you be that look for salvation from the Lord rest your selves in him wait patiently for him fret not because of evill doers nor be you envious against the workers of iniquity for their present prosperity in their way they shall erelong be cut down like the grasse and wither as the green hearb be you in the fear of the Lord all the day long and be certain your expectation shall not be cut off He that testifieth these things saith surely I come I come quickly Amen even so come Lord Jesus The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen The End The Contents of the chief particulars discoursed of in this Booke PREFACE The Reasons 1. Of the Authors undertaking this worke and at this time 2. Of his speciall zeale against the sins of this faction which he opposeth 3. Of his prayers for their persons 4. Of his former intentions to conceale his name Sect. I. OF the supposed Authors of the Libell Of the Authorizers thereof and their speciall Order How fit the same should be recalled A president propounded

A VINDICATION OF KING CHARLES OR A LOYAL SUBJECTS DUTY MANIFESTED In Vindicating his Soveraigne from those Aspersions cast upon Him by certaine persons In a scandalous Libel Entituled The Kings Cabinet Opened And published as they say by Authority of Parliament Whereunto is added A true Parallel betwixt the sufferings of our Saviour and our Soveraign in divers particulars c. By EDW SYMMONS A Minister not of the late confused New but of the Ancient Orderly and True Church of England Remember Lord the reproach of thy servant how he beareth in his bosome the reproach of all the mighty wicked people Wherewith thine enemies have rep2roached O Lord wherewith they have reproached the foot-steps of thine Anointed PSAL. 89. 50 51. His Enemies will I clothe with shame but upon Himselfe shall his Crown flourish PSAL. 132. 18. Even so Amen REV. 22. 20. But thou O Lord how long PSAL. 6. 3. Printed in the Yeere 1648. To all that truely feare God into whose hands this Booke shall come Christian Friends THis Book here tendred to your view was for the most part of it made in Cornwal in the year 1645. I was quickned in my undertaking by a noble Gentleman of great faithfulnesse and Loyalty that County hath many such Before it was quite concluded the Enemy like a flood brake in thither Whereupon to preserve and finish it I went to France but by so doing I had almost lost it for my Cloak-bag which contained it and all I had beside passed by accident in one Ship and my self went in another and we landed an hundred miles asunder that was Plundred and nothing therein returned unto me but onely these Papers they by meer fortune some six weeks after Which speciall Providence in their particular preservation spake them to my heart Gods will to have them published to my hopes his purpose to grant a blessing Hereupon I fitted them for the Presse with all speed and they were ready in May 1646. nor was the fault in my will that they were not then committed to the same But perhaps God had a speciall Providence in this also peoples hearts were not then so capable to receive a Vindication of their Soveraign from a fellow-Subject as now they are even forced to be by that illustrious eminency of his graces which hath beamed forth in his dark condition even to the conviction and admiration of all reasonable creatures Since the finishing hereof I had occasion to see and observe the manners and conditions of the French Nation both those of the Romish and of the Reformed Religion and my speciall care was to understand what sense they had of the present differences in our Church and Nation which truly to remember is but to renew that griefe I had in observing In briefe they both conjoyntly rejoyced at our follies and as appeared to me desired our ruine And this did chiefly occasion the writing my Post-script which was done the last Spring at my returne into the hither parts of that Kingdome where I understood also of His Majesties restrained condition at Holdenby About the time of his deliverance from that place by Gods direction and merciful protection I came back safe into England but fancying the season to be then past for publication of my Book in regard of those great alterations which had happened since its first composall and withall some hopefull reasons offering themselves to my thoughts at my first arrivall made me conceive it would not be so needfull Therefore I resolved to lay it aside But after some moneths expectance those new hopes being likely to prove tympanous I was solicited by some friends from the farthest part of the Kingdome to put it to the Presse now I was in a place where the same might be done who also informed me that in their apprehensions vulgar hearts wanted satisfaction in nothing concerning the Kings integrity but only in the matter of those Letters which did still scruple many of them Wherefore they conjured me if I rendred His Majesties Honour indeed that I should give the world a speedy view of what I had writ to that particular These Arguments easily prevailed with a willing mind which was encouraged farther by that free liberty which I saw daily used by others in writing speaking against those sins and sinners which this Book reproveth though to my griefe withall I saw in many Papers wickednesse rather scoffed at then pursued with such grave and home rebukes as the case requireth and sin thereby I perceived was rather made a matter of laughter then of sorrow even to the most guilty through that impudence which is in them and yet I doubt not too but ingenious lashes are sufficiently distastfull to galled spirits because there is truth as well as wit in them they haply may be as rods to rotten hearts but Gods Word if closely applyed as I hope in some measure t is in this Book done will prove unto them as a very Scorpion if those make them hisse and spit this will make them even rage and roare for the more Divinity a proofe carryes with it or in it the more tormentfull it is alwayes unto the wicked Sic scriptum est may haply silence Satan but t is not alwayes so powerfull upon the spirits of proud men The Pharisees were so far from being quieted by Christs doctrine that they grew more inraged and were incensed thereby to seek his ruine and had no rest till they had procured it though they got none by it And let any one practice Christ or follow him in his way as close as he can he shall doubtlesse meet with those that will practice the Pharisees and follow them a great deale closer It was in my thoughts I confesse to have concealed my name as you may see in the following Preface and for what reasons but I have altered my resolution concerning that particular from these considerations First if I had not owned my work I had done that which I dislike and incurr'd the blame which I object to others I had hazarded my Book to be entitled a Libel and exposed my selfe to be reckoned in the number of night-birds that love darknesse yea I had receded from my former self for when the King was in a condition visibly Potent I prefixt my name to all I writ and if I should forbeare to do so now I should appeare as faln in my zeal and abated in my dutifull affections by the increases of his Afflictions I read of Nicodemus who affecting secresie while Jesus was at liberty came to him by night but when he was in restraint he thought it his duty to discover himself in his behalf and so he did more then ever All Scripture is written for our learning Secondly I held my self bound to attest my Keeping as I had done my Taking the Protestation and that was by writing my name For this my Book is nothing else but the discharge of my Conscience and Duty in that

Let themselves call to minde whether there was not an Act which is more then a bare Order both made and nulled in the same Session since the Beginning of this Parliament though perhaps not dashed by that full Authority which did establish it yet was it not set aside as needlesse and vain or at least as not sufficiently advised upon beforehand The Act which I mean was that which concerned the Fleet or Navy against the Turkish Pirats to redeem our Christian Country-men from Bondage For their better remembrance of which I shall beg leave of the Readers to make a little digression in the relation of some few circumstances and if I rightly apprehend it the matter in brief was thus Our good King in his piety and pity to those poor Captives had formerly with that Ship-money so grudgingly paid built and sent out diverse Ships to the same purpose and God assisting a work so Religious and becoming a Christian Prince he provailed therewith against the Pyrats of Sally and freed many of his Subjects from barbarous slavery in that place whereupon he made preparation also against those of Argyer intending the like mercy for the Christians there but was prevented in his designe by the Scottish insurrection which forced him Northward And before his intentions could return to motion for that Southern Expedition this unhappy Parliament by his authority met at Westminster where that it might be conceived some others had Bowels as well as He a Bill was preferred and disputed upon concerning a Fleet to the fore-mentioned end for the maintenance of which though it might easily have been concluded by settling of Ship-money in a Parliamentary way with an Order for the manner of levying the same to the Subjects liking which had been a more safe and sensible kinde of payment then many disbursments extorted since and might have been a mean to continue Gods nationall blessing upon the whole Kingdome by interessing in that sort all mens hearts and hands in so charitable and Christian a work yet because it was a path wherein the King had trod and they had no purpose to deal either with or for him in any such friendly or Loyall way as might shadow his apprehended haltings from his peoples eyes by making that cleerly Legall which had formerly appeared somewhat warping Besides there wanted matter or stuff to fill up the belly of that monstrum horrendrum or ungospel-like Remonstrance which was purposed to be made against his Government by which the people were to be taught to beleeve that the King did never doe any thing well therefore by all meanes Ship-money must be damned and cryed down for ever in perpetuam Regis ignominiam if mouth can doe it And for the intended Navy another course was concluded upon to advance monies to maintaine that viz. from the importation and transportation of commodities But by the way while these things were in agitation amongst the wise the King having had more sincere and serious thoughts about that businesse then other men desiring and hoping to further and speed the designe with his advice and Councell sent them his judgement concerning some particulars about the matter only to consider upon and to follow if they so pleased or otherwise to proceed according to their own discretions which advise of his had they taken in good part from their Prince and Master they had shewn no more respect unto him then Job was wont to shew to his meanest servant but they lest they might seem to need his help by a civill acceptance of his Councel were so far from relishing of it that they presently voted the same to be an obstruction cast in on purpose to stop the businesse nay a plain refusall of the King to confirme the Bill Whereupon his Sacred Majesty being armed with meeknesse against affronts leaving them wholy to their own devises did presently signe their Bill and in that fashion as they would have him so discovering to all his people if they would see that a Vote of Parliament may be fallible And now behold to return to the matter when this Act was thus finished according to their desires and all Religious hearts raised to an high expectation of seeing their poor brethren quickly redeemed from Turkish thraldome whether from their dislike of the Kings readinesse unto so Christian a work or because they had some other imployment intended for the Merchants money here at home I cannot tell but that Act was never as I heard put in execution to this day but even quite set aside and as we may say so much as in them lay quite nullified cancelled and repealed and free leave given to the Turks thereby not onely to take our Country-men at sea but also to come into the very havens of our Kingdome and to carry away our Children to the ruine of Christian souls for ever insomuch that whereas there was but the number of some 2000. English in slavery when this so adored Parliament did begin there is now November 1645. above 5000. in most lamentable bondage our King being robbed and despoyled by his loving Subjects Who consult as they say to advance Christs Kingdome of his Shippes and Navy wherewith he was wont to defend his Realme from such Pyracies This is that Act which I spake of and the reason of my remembring it at this time is to helpe the Authorizers of this venemous Pamphlet with a president for the recalling their speciall Order whereby 't is published And now before I return to my work in hand let me assume the boldnesse to expostulate a little with these men I am one of Gods Ambassadours Jesus Christ who shall be their Judge is my Master and in his Name let me reason with them about this matter for I hope I may presume to speak unto them at a distance as they are like my self but Dust and Ashes Let me ask you a question in the first place O you superlative men Suppose some of your Novices and under-hand workers as alas you have too many such I feare even about the King should by this Pamphlet which you whom they think infallible have by speciall Order authorized or by any other of like nature published under your Protection be moved to act Jaques Clements part or Raviliacks part upon the Sacred person of their Soveraigne can you imagine that the same will not be set on your score as well as that of those Regicides was laid to the charge of the Jesuites whose custome it was as your selves well know while the doctrine of King-killing was appropriate to their order to inspire men to the perpretation of that supream villany by sending forth such conditioned books as this is which you have authorized wherein with most reproachfull language they would paint out the Prince designed for slaughter as if he were the greatest Tyrant promise-breaker and oppressor of his people in the world and a person in no sort fit to live that so it might be apprehended

promised us the new Religion you will set up amongst us Is this the way to Heaven which you will trace out to your Country-men that adore you Doth your Discipline purchased with the effusion of so much Christian bloud allow of such expressions and persons without correction Indeed this is the way to work an Alteration from what was before the Devil had formerly but his Chappell where God had his Church but from henceforth if you prevail he is likely to have his Church where God shal scarce have a Chapell Wel as an Holy Martyr said to others so say I to you I thank God I am none of you and my prayer is Never let my soul O Lord partake in their Counsells nor my feet tread in their paths but give me I beseech thee thy grace to pray daily against their wickednesse And let it not O let it not good Lord be told in Gath or believed in Askelon that these bitter fruits do spring from the tree of Protestant Religion Let it rather be acknowledged and apprehended that these things are favoured and done by the men of this Nation as they are at this present by Satans working in a deadly enmity and opposition against their Soveraigne and not as they are either his sworn Subjects or Children of the English Church And thus O my God as thy messenger Liberavi animam meam I have dicharged my Conscience towards them SECT II. 1. Of the pretended end of publishing the Libell the true end thereof hinted 2. Their blasphemy against God noted 3. How these Letters of the King might have been made use of as Evidences of Truth and Loyaltie 4. Of what stock and linage the Authours of the Libell discover themselves to be 5. Of their subtilty and of that spirit of meeknesse which they boast of 6. How aptly for themselves they alleadge the Example mentioned by S. Jude I Now come to the Book it selfe whose publication they have Authorized and I observe that the persons for whose sake 't is pretended to be put forth are some whom the Authors call their Seduced Brethren to reclaime them I conceive they are so accounted because they will not concur in breaking their Protestation and opposing their Soveraigne I apprehend my selfe to be reckoned in the number and therefore in the behalfe of my self and the rest I desire these men who are so careful to Reclaim us that they would deal plainly with us and tell us in downe right English whether it be any thing else but our Loyalty our love and obedience to our Soveraigne which they would Reclaim us from let them in the first place declare unto us our transgression and prove out of Gods Word that we are such as they call us and account of us let them shew who hath Seduced us we are of the Prophet Jeremies minde If we be deceived it is the Lord that hath deceived us 't is his Word that hath taught us to Honour the King and to adhere unto our Soveraigne that is the foundation we stand upon and so strong and stable it is that we beleeve and hope these new Teachers shall never be able either to shake it or us from it Nay we have an apprehension that these men are in a Seduced condition themselves because they are gone out from us whereas they were once of us they took the Oath of Allegeance and afterward the Protestation as well as we to defend the Kings Person Honour and Estate against all opposers And now being themselves out of the right way we fear they would draw us into the same danger they tell us we are Seduced onely that we might yeeld so to be We remember that Satan Seduced our first Parents from their duty towards God by proceeding in the direct way and mothod of these men he pretended pity and respect unto them as to his Seduced Brethren and to the same purpose as these do He standred defamed and reproached his Soveraigne wherefore these men must pardon us if but for this reason we are somewhat suspicious of them Beside the Scripture tells us of some men who call Light Darknesse and Darknesse Light Good Evill and Evill Good and what know we to the contrary but these men may be of that number Our Saviour informes us that in the last dayes many wolves should come in sheeps cloathing who by fair pretences should deceive many and should carry their designes so cunningly that if possible they should deceive the very Elect themselves Now as these are the last dayes so these men have fair pretences are crafty in their carriages do deceive many and therefore may peradventure be those very wolves forespoken of Saint John adviseth us not to beleeve every one but bids us try their spirits whether they be of God or no wherefore having this warning if we trust these men before we have tryed them we shall shew our selves as they entitle us Seduced indeed they must give us leave therefore to examine of what spirit they are who thus take upon them to reclaim us whether their doctrine be of God or no we will go by Christs own rule let them except against it if they can or dare By their fruits saith he you shall know them and this their Book is their fruit we will consider whether their speech and language therein doth not bewray them They begin thus It were a great sinne against the mercies of God to conceale those Evidences of truth which He so graciously and almost miraculously by surprisall of these papers hath put into our hands I confesse they promise faire like those Galathians whom Saint Paul writes unto they begin in the Spirit with the mention of Sin and Mercy they have like those Locusts Rev. 9. the faces of men but observe them well we shall finde they have the teeth of Lyons and the tayles of Scorpions my endeavours shall be on purpose to discover them that men may avoid them and not be hurt by them which that I may do I beg of thee O most mighty Jesus who art the Light of lights and doest enlighten every man that commeth into the world to lighten the understanding of thy poore Minister that he may be able by thy light to enlighten thy people so as they may cleerely discerne this work of darknesse which is cast forth by an Hidden Crew to blemish and disgrace the Doctrine of thy Gospel professed in this Church to obscure those beames of Majesty wherewith thou hast decked thine owne Anointed and to seduce those Soules for which thou sheddest thy precious bould into wayes of perdition and destruction that by these my endeavours thy true Religion may be illustrated thy Servant the King Vindicated and thy people preserved to the Glory of thy great Name and to the inward comfort of me thy weak instrument and that for thine owne Merit and Mercies sake Amen Amen It is evident that the ends why these papers were divulged after

they should not Effect to vex him to death or some way or other to bring him to his grave all their labour would be in vain and to little purpose and how can they consider of this without great grief and sorrow of heart But these good men our subtile Brethren doe here pretend that their sorrow is because their Prince is Seduced out of his proper spheare yet verily we on the other side do consider of this with more true Sorrow I dare say then they do for we confess never was Prince so far seduced out of his proper sphear as he was when He took them who now call themselves his great Counsell to be Honest men when He gave so much credit to their promises and protestations as to be perswaded by them to signe the Bill for the Continuation of that unhappy Parliament then O then be was seduced indeed from his proper spheare wherein his Father set and left him with this caution Alwaies to be suspicious of the Puritanicall faction and never to trust them above all people in the world as being for ingratitude lyes and perjuries surpassing the High-land theeves and Borderers His Seduction from this Paternal advise was the root and cause of all our Miseries and therefore with sorrow of heart we his Loyall Subjects cannot but thinke upon it But to do these men right they mention their sorrow here for the Kings Seduction to another purpose namely as a Preface to that which follows M. Dike in his book of the deceitfulness of mans heart sets down not for imitation as these take it but for discovery the method of a cunning Hypocrite in his venting a slander First saies he to gain Credit with the hearers he pretends great affection to the party against whom he is minded to speak professing that with great grief and sorrow of heart he doth think of him hoping yet that he is onely missed and seduced and so makes a long Preamble to this purpose as if the fault he intends to mention were as grievous to him as a blow with a Cudgell and then at last out comes the slander which his viperous tongue layes on with as much spight as malice is able these I remember are M. Dikes words Now after this very manner and in the same Method do these our subtile Brethren speake to us concerning their Soveraigne whom they are about to slander and defame First they tell us in some obscure and generall terms of strange Titles which the King bestowes upon his great Councell which say they we return not again but consider with sorrow that it comes from a Prince not so Naturally inclined as we hope for we would fain think better of him but Seduced from his proper spheare misled by ill Councell And so much for the Preface Now to the main businesse and let all Christian people observe it well how these good Sorrowfull men that promised even now to give no opprobrious Language will describe their Soveraigne He is say they One that hath left that seat in which he ought and hath bound himself to fit to sit as the Psalmist saies in the Chaire of the scornfull and to the ruine almost of three Kingdomes hath walked in the Councells of the ungodly Now 't is out and it conteines in our apprehensions these 6 Articles against the King 1. That the King hath not only neglected to perform his Office but voluntarily and upon no occasion moving hath left and forsaken his proper place and duty 2. That in the roome thereof he hath made choice of the Scorners Chaire which is the highest seat or throne of wickedness 3. That he hath even bound himself Prentice as it were by oath and Covenant to that trade of scorning 4. That he hath resolved to follow that profession so long as he lives for he hath bound himself to sit yea to sit scil for ever in the Chaire of the scornfull 5. That his aymes and endeavours only are and have been to ruine three whole Kingdomes which even almost he had effected 6. That to this very end and for no other reason as must be supposed he hath abandoned the Society of most Holy and good men and linked himself by a indissolvable tye to the Society of the wicked whose ungodly counsell he alwaies walketh in These are the particulars in this their first charge against the King but my purpose being to uncase these Hypocritical and blasphemous men I shall first lay open to the world the full meaning of their hearts in a true Paraphrase upon their words and then I shall shew how false and scandalous they be in every respect against his Majesty unto whom they naturally owe and solemnely have sworne obedience But first let me beg pardon of my Lord and Soveraigne and crave of all Loyall hearts that it be not imputed for an indecorum or want of Reverence in me to Kingly Honour if some of my words concerning His Sacred person do sound unseemly and unbecomming Let it be considered that I speak not my self but other men whose Hellish intentions toward their Prince are so black that 't is impossible to expresse them in a language meetly Reverend He that openeth rotten sepulchers may though unwillingly be offensive Secondly I desire of all men that I may not be thought by my manner of speaking to intend the working of any contempt in peoples hearts against the High Court of Parliament which being called in the Kings name by his Writ and acting under the obedience of just and regall power are with all Honour and Reverence to be thought upon and spoken of Yea and God knowes my heart abhors to be an instrument of working disesteem against any persons of this present Assembly who have pious and loyall affections in them as I beleeve there be divers even in this very Body that do truly detest the present proceedings of some of their fellow-members I do here profess to all the world though I use the name of Parliament and Great Councell in answer to these Libellers yet I meane onely the present swaying and prevailing faction in the two Houses who are and have been the Countenancers of all these abuses against their Soveraigne and the causers of all our sorrowes and who they in particular are I doubt not but in due time God the Supreame Judge will Evidence to this whole Kingdome This with all Humility premised and implored I proceed as followeth SECT IV. 1. The Nature of their Charge opened 2. Their vilanous and bloudy Scope therein clearely Evidenced and proved 3. How perfectly in their Tenents they hold with the Jesuites in the points of King-killing and King-deposing fully declared THe Charge or Bill of Attainder against the King together with the Reason why 't is thus published to us and to the people by these His most dutifull and loving Subjects who take upon them to be His Accusers according to their own full and clear meaning may be rendred more at

highest injustice for as to detract from the Standard which is the rule of measures is the greatest sinne so is it to detract from the King who is the Standard of righteousnesse in his Kingdome 4. Consider whether the demand of having the Militia out of the Kings hand wherein his Authority and Power consists which your Leaders and you insist upon be not against piety and a plaine urging the King to act Esau's part in resigning up his birth-right and whether you think in earnest as some of your Preachers have suggested that you have a sufficient ground to expect Gods blessing upon your undertaking though it be unlawfull because Jacob was blessed afterward though the means which he used to accomplish his design were not approvable nay seeing the King is not like Esau so easily drawn to part with his birth-right but rather like Naboth will keep his inheritance for feare of Gods displeasure consider I pray whether you in going about to force him thereto by violence are not all the while acting the parts of Ahab and Jezabel who were persons that had sold themselves to work wickednesse nay whether you are not more deep in the evill then they were in regard the King is not to you as Naboth was to Ahab a subject nor have you as he did tendred an answerable exchange or rather a better for what you demand from him consider I beseech you and thinke well in your owne hearts of this particular 5. Consider and call to mind whether those Teachers who have been most active and busie in drawing you into this your way have not hereby contradicted their own former Doctrines It was said of Stephen Gardiner that no man in the daies of Hen. 8 had spoken better for the Kings Authority then he had done in his Book de vera obedientia and yet no man more violent then he was in Queen Maries time in persecuting those that held fast to the same truth and Doctrine may not the like be said and affirmed of many of your Preachers that no man taught the duty of Obedience better or inveighed more against Rebellion and shedding of bloud then they heretofore have done but now none more violent then themselves in opposing those that practice according to the same Doctrine if it be lawfull to resist defame and oppresse the King now why did they then speak against such doings or if good language of him as their Soveraign and humble obedience to him was true Doctrine then how comes it to passe that 't is not preached still now there is such need of it truth is unalterable They tell you of a certaine New Light received which it seems was an attendant upon the Militia for till this was seized on by their Faction that was not seen and had not this been first obtained probably that had been still concealed may not this New Light therefore be suspected and the rather because 't is so contrary to that which Gods Word holds out unto us which as a sure and certaine guide we are commanded to take heed unto Esay affirmes that whoever speaks not according to the written Testimony bath no light in him And Saint Paul is resolute that if an Angell from Heaven shall teach contrary to that Gospell himselfe had preached which was the Doctrine of obedience to Princes and of love to his Brethren he ought to be held accursed wherefore consider seriously in your own hearts whether you have done well in suffering your selves to be thus led by your new lighted Teachers 6. Consider whether they doe not onely oppo●e their owne former Doctrines but also their own former doings and perswade you to goe with them in those wayes which heretofore they exclaimed much upon others for going in did not they complaine much against forcing tender Consciences and against urging subscription to things of an indifferent nature though allowed by Law because scrupled at affirming the same to be against Christian Liberty and yet do not they now countenance farre greater violence in pressing of things more directly unlawfull As for example would not they have the King forced against his Conscience to consent to the altering of that Church-Government which he in his soule is perswaded to be most Orthodox and agreeable to Gods Word and to the State of this Kingdome and which this Church and Nation hath so thrived under yea and which himselfe at his Coro●ation took a solemn Oath to maintain And have not their very selves been the chief Instruments of urging their Brethren to the taking of new and unlawfull Covenants and when unto tender and scrupulous Consciences the offensive Oath hath been tendred in one hand and an Halter in another with a furious Commination that they should have the one if they did not presently accept of the other a course which the Bishops never used have not some of these Ministers approved of this rigorous dealing yea and when some of the members of Christ have been at the place of Execution to be murthered and Martyred by their Faction for their Loyalty to their Prince or for falling off through trouble of Conscience from their ungodly Covenant and way have not some of their Preachers stood barking at them on purpose to disturb their spirits and to hinder their quiet passage out of this miserable World even as that bawling Fryer did doe unto Archbishop Cranmer when some have seen or heard them acting their parts in this manner they have thought of that Fryers Picture as it standeth there in the Book of Martyrs And here by the way let me exhort all men to read that Book often in these times and they shall find a very great resemblance between the bloudy Persecutors of those dayes and these now and a great similitude in their courses it was not doubtlesse without a speciall providence that the said Book was of late twice reprinted that so there being a greater plenty of them we in these times might being many of us be more enlightned supported and comforted in our sufferings And I would have you observe among many other things that Note of Mr. Fox How Henry the Fourth that deposed Richard the Second was the first of all English Kings that began the mercifull burning of Gods Saints for their standing against the Papists so that we may thence learn that 't is no new thing for them to be given up to the acting of cruelties against Gods Church and people who have first given up themselves to practise Rebellion against their Soveraign these two sinnes as it seemes before now have gone together But I return Did not many of those your Ministers complain most fearefully in times past for the meer change and alteration of some few phrases and expressions in the Common-Prayer-Book holding it then as it seemed so perfect a platform of Church-Service as that no word or sillable ought to be altered in the same and yet now upon the suddain have not