what soever wee pleased Isa 36.18.14 and where is the Lord that shall hinder vs And who are the Gods of all these Nations that have delivered their Lands theyr Goods 1. Sam. 22.23 and theyr Shipps from being taken and spoiled by vs Or theyr men from the edge of our sword Wherefore consider this O King and Nation of France and all other good people both hygh and low at home and abroad in whome is eyther courage councell for warrer or the feare of the Lord least that curse come vpon you which came vpon Meroz by the Angell of the Lord Judg. 5.23 not for any act that Meroz had donne but because the inhahitants of that city did not come forth to the helpe of the Lord against the mighty This was a double a bitter curse because the Righteous God doe count him selfe to be slited when men doe forbeare or withould their helpe from the distressed in time of neede when Oppressors are powerfully bent to mischiefe who make no difference betweene Right and wrong Remember what is sayd of such as steale or joyne with theefs Where God saith vnto the wicked what hast thou to doe Psal 50. vers 16.17 18.19 to take my name in thy mouth seeing thou hatest Instructions and casteth my words behind thee when thou sawest a theef thou consentest with him thou givest thy mouth to evill and thy tongue frameth deceite From hence we may see God will not owne those who consent or joyne with theefes And a worse forte of theefes cannot bee then the Rebbells of England because no honest man is ever the better by joyning with such but allways the worse Remember the Inhabitants of Seachem And because God is silent and seemes to take no notice Judges 9.4.5.6.44.45 therefore they thinke that all is well Supposing God to bee like them selves who sayth Now consider this yethat forget God Least I teare you in peeces Vers 21.22 and there bee none to deliver So that you may see that it is more dangerous in regard of the Judgements of God vpon such or as doth hange over the heads or attend vpon such as this evill generation is then the Infamy of the world can bee by farre in regarde of men SIR That which may the more and the rather stirre vp the spirit of your Majesty and your good people against the sayd Rebbells in England Is this First Because in former time in the like case the Kings of England have divers times beene helped or Releeved with Shipping Men 2. Chron. 36 z 2. and Mony from France when the Relation betweene the Kings of France and of England was not so neare as now it is Ezra 1.1 Secondly they that destroy with persecution and murder your best friends will also take occasion to doe the like by your Majesty as soone as they have prepared them helpers like vnto them selves in your Kingdom Thirdly because it is sayd that the Innocent shall stirre vp him selfe against the hypocrite What credite can it bee for your Majesty Job 17.8 or any other that loves Equity to have correspondence in the least with the throne of iniquity that frameth mischiefe by a Law Psal 94.10 Who gather them selves togeather against the soules of the Righteous Psal 94.20.21 and condemne the Innocent bloud Fourthly that which makes my hart even tremble within mee is that these Sonnes of Lucefer have so contrived theyr villonous plots as to cause your Majesty the King of England to fight one against the other as I greatly feare they will bring to passe or that some one or other of his Fathers house at the feare thereof I am greatly troubled I have just cause likewise to thinke that they are also the cause of the continuation of the difference so long betweene your Majesty and your owne Vnkle the King of Spaine by which meanes the Godly and Just indeavours of the Pope and others towards that needefull worke are from time to time blasted and frustrated even of the sayd Pope and many others who are more Just in theyr Demands and more Innocent in theyr Actions then the best of them to wit the Rebbels of England because the feare of God is with them but the sayd Rebbells have fully and longe since many ways approved them selves to be at the least some of those who God is sayd to abhore and to hate which cannot cleare them selves of the gilt of none of these six things which God is said to hate in the 6. of the Proverbs of Salomon Neyther can they ever cleare them selves of the seaventh which is an abomination to the Lord. To wit proud Lookes Lying tonges hands that shed Innocent bloud an hart that deviseth wicked Imaginations feet that bee swift in running to mischiefe a false witnesse that spaketh Lyes And him that soweth discord amongst brethren or emnety betwixt deare friends And who so neare like to the divell as the Robbels of England who hasten them selves to doe all such things Psal 5.6 The Lord will abhirre the bloudy and deceatfull man David is against them that flatter with their tounges neyther is it easy to prove that such are better then Traittors Psal 35. vers 19.20 That same Holy King spake and prayed against such as hated him selfe without a cause who spake not for peace but devised deceatfull matters against them that weare quiet in the Land Two very good Kings were blamed 2. Sam. 19. vers 5.6 the one by the chiefest Generall of his owne Army that he hated his friends and loved his enemies Now it is most certaine that such as doe so doe shame the faces and weaken the hands and sorely greeve the harts of all theyr best friends and most faithfull servants as appeares by Naball 1. Sam. 25.10 the Carmollite Naball rayled at them which had showne kindenesse to him and his And marke how his honest servants behaved them selves in this case Vers 14. who by their relation of David and his Mens behaviour towards them in the field who weare a wall vnto them night and day together with the haste and wisdome of Abygaile theyr Mistres prevented the destruction of all the houshould of Naball Vers 16.17.18 and of all that belonged vnto him For the prevention there of David praysed and blessed the Lord God of Israell and blessed the advise of shee that appeased his Anger which kept him from shedding of bloud and from avenging himselfe with his owne hand Had not Abygaill wisely hasted to meet David who with terms of humillity apeased his anger Vers 31.33.34 there had not one beene left alive that pissed against the wall The second vnto whom the Seer Jehuw the son of Hannania said vnto that good King Jehosophat shouldest thou helpe the vngodly and love or joyne with them that hate the Lord 2. Chron. 19 vers 2. Therefore is wrath vpon thee from before the Lord. O King of
Robe and as a Diademe hee was eyes to the blinde and feet to the Lame Iob. 29.13.14.15 But wickednesse proceedeth onely from the wicked Why then will the King of France any longer bee prevailed withall to hunt and to hinder his best friends 1. Sam. 24.13.14 The Lord will one day bee Judge betwixt you and your friends whom I have so often mentioned SIR Follow the Example of Daniell and examine causes that bee difficult with warinesse as it is in the History of Susanna Vers 51.52 that the sworde may bee speedily called backe and not destroy any longer and remember that it will bee bitternesse in the latter end as Ioab did at the motion of Abnar though hee was both valliant and victorious 2. Sam. 2.26.27 It were good to bee knowne what the Pope the Kings of England Denmarke the State of Venice and the like of them what they have don against the King or Kingdome of France that their Assistance nor their Advice may neyther bee desiered nor accepted in the composing and ending of all the differences betweene the Crowns of Spaine and France I dare not thinke but that there is vnderstanding and conscinable men to be found in all these some other States who by Learning and godly Wisedom may be able to decide such waighty matters without consuming of any more Bloud or Treasure the continuance wherof is the ruing of your best friends the endagering of your Crown and your Person And remember that your Majesty hath a Crowne many good Subjects a life your owne soule to take care of in time against that time to come feare search I doe most humbly show that the reason wherefore I presse this so farre so high is of great necessety for how can I enduer to see the evill that is come vpon other Nations as well as England How shall I bee able to see or to heare the mischief that is like to come vpon your Majesty your owne people as well as vpon some of your best friends already neither is it any light affliction or terror vnto my heart that the contrivers of mischiefe Esther 8.6 doth cause the King of England or some of his Fathers house to bee like to come in Arms against your Majesty in the defence of those vnder whome they are compeld to shelter them selvs for protection and Subsistance By reason of the wickednesse of the Conspirators in their owne Land the like whereof was never heard before I hope that what I intend for good shall not bee vnderstood nor Imputed vnto me as evill Because I feare or fore-see daungers by way of warning which are not so much discovered nor feared as they ought to bee for timely prevention That makes mee more earnest and plaine then otherwise I should dare to bee Therfore First one extremity forceth another Secondly how ever some may interpreate that so meane a Man takes so much vpon him it is not in the behalfe of my selfe but in regard of the evill that is already come vpon thousands of my betters both of my owne and other Nations Thirdly For the prevention of the like in time to come from your Majesty your people and the like of you and other Nations who know not the crafty proceedings of the conspirators of England so well as my selfe who in deceat subtilty and Cruelty exceede all others that I know in the world Fourthly though a meane man should bee vnderstood to rebuke or to seem to bee too bould Proverb 23.24 yet it is sayd That such an one shall afterward with goodmen finde more favour then hee that flattereth with his tongue especially when affaires and times requier it Holy King David Psal 141.5 was content the Righteous should smite him and conceaved it a kindnesse to bee reproved and called it an exellent oyle that would not breake his head and he would pray for such in their Calamnityes A Fifth Reason is Because I have yet greater Reasons for all that I have sayd then any I have yet given without which I should never have adventured to have vndertaken the like of this seeing I have neyther the Head the Tonge nor the Penn of the Learned or Elloquent man onely the discarge of my owne conscience betwixt God and my selfe is the cause I dare conseale it no longer Sixtly This is by way of Introduction or alluding to some thing else which by the providence of God Almighty I have conceaved or vnderstood such things concerning the Conspirators and some of theyr helpers about these seaventeene yeares Which out of a timerous and fearefull disposition I have hytherto forborne to publish this to the world In all which time I have vnfainedly and constantly longed and hoped for a Righteous settlement by other meanes without my declaring my selfe As by Gods Grace I hope in time to come for to doe If the Lord please for to give me Life and health and where withall to subsist by Seaventhly because what I have to make knowne to the world is not easely entertraind nor vnderstood by all men espesially by those vnto whose shame it alueds Neyther can I possibly Imagine nor dare I give any other Reason why such things as I have yet to show 1. Cor. 3.19 by the wonderfull works of the Lord who in his owne time revealeth secrets and taketh such as are worldly wise in theyr owne Craftinesse But why I should come to conceave or vnderstand such things so longe since more then any other meane man I am able to give no other Reason for it but that it seemes to mee that God Almighty was pleased to looke vpon my tribulation which I was in at that time To wit Gen. 31.42 Anno 1636. which great anguish of soule had laine vpon mee two yeares before and ever since But I vnderstood not that it concerned the Rebbells of England vntill the yeare 1639. And so at severall times since The particulars wherof and the Reasons for it I shall by Gods Gratious Assistance more fully and clearly show in time to come if it shall please God to deale with mee as afore sayd But for some Reasons knowne to my selfe I shall omitt them at present I hope that all such as have been deceaved or drawen on by the wiles of the Rebbells the cunning craftynesse of them likewise those that are free from having any hand with them will beware in time to come how they give any heed to them or to any thing they say further then to secure or set them selves against them For these have beene no light things which have moved mee to take more then ordinary notice of theyr vngodly proceedings as well against men of low as of high degree of our owne and other Nations Therfore it will bee your Wisdome to consider that it is not a vainething but it is your life and safety to cleave vnto those who feare the Lord Deut. 32.29.47 and
A DISCOVERY OR CERTAINE OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING The crafty and cursed Proceedings of the Conspirators or Rebbells of ENGLAND against their owne King Queene Church Government then established To wit 1639. And the Liberty Peace Fafety Quiet-Beeing of that our Nation and other Kingdomes thereunto belonging By whom the People of other Nations have beene also Cheated and Troubled Observed by J. M. Whose Hart hath for many yeares together mourned in secret for the Calamity by the sayd Rebbels brought vpon his owne and other Nations 1. Samuel Chap. 15. vers 23. Rebellion is as the sinne of witchcraft They are inclosed in their owne Fat with their mouth they speake proudly Psal 17.10 They are waxen Fat they shine yea they over-passe the deeds of the wicked they judge not the cause the cause of the Fatherlesse yet they prosper and the right of the needy doe they not judge Shall I not visit for these things saith the Lord Shall not my soule bee avenged of such a nation as this Ierem. 5.28.29 Printed in the yeare 1657. To the Beloved Discreet and understanding Reader SIR and SIRS MAY it please you with patience to Read and consider according to wisdome and bee not rash to judge condemne nor censure as sometimes the humor and custome of some is to doe euen by my betters As it shall please God to permit give your selves convenient time with deliberation to scanne and marke what you read not only for what followes in this small pamphlet but for what it signifies or further aluds unto which doth consist of matter beyond the expression of any mortall man as of himselfe And though I doe most humbly confesse that I have neither the head nor the mouth of the Learned much lesse the Tongue of the Eloquent neither hath my breeding beene such as to make mee so capable for such a businesse as some other men And however my infirme and weake disposition is knowne and seene to the world or to many as wel as to my selfe yet it is possible by the gratious assistance of God Almighty that though this little Booke comes to bee produced vnto the veuw of the world by so weake an Instrument from whom it is not expected yet I haue some reason to conceave a possibility and that by the providence and power of God that not onely the wary Reader but also the Learned may finde some thing in it worth their notice Though it doth not follow that I shall bee fully understood at the first reading of it And this I doe mention from mine owne experience when I haue read the workes of other men SIR and SIRS This may bee intended for some such as doe holde or have held little or much with Theefes and Murtherers who by disguising them selves have not beene rightly knowne to bee what they are and it would be labor in vaine for to perswade those who are resolved to cleave vnto them though the said Conspirators have cast away the feare of the Lord as may bee well seene by their continuall presumption flattering reveylings purgery blasphemy witchcraft and what so ever possible can be worse For their disposition is to delight in mischief as well as to flatter themselves with the ruine of others 2. The desperate condition the Rebbels of England have brought upon them selves doth require them to persist or continew in mischiefe because it is contrary both to their nature custome and safety and all the like of them for to sease from doeing of evill nor will they sease from seducing of al others that they can possible provaile withall for to make them even like them selves so long as they know of any righteous nation who doth feare the Lord and abhorre such guilt unlesse they bee subdued without which not any Nation in all Europe shall long have rest unlesse any should bee found to bee like them selves of whom there is litle likely hood of escaping ous of the snares of the divell or as litle hope as for a Woolfe to become a Lambe 1. Tim. 1.26 As I have had more then ordmary Reasons to thinke almost twenty yeares together and that to my exceeding great sorrow and griefe of heart And though some times I have hoped by the helpe of the Lord and from the Confidence of other men that the Rebbels should have beene forced unto obedience or unto some thing like unto equity But in all this time I never expected that the Rebbels would ever willingly yeeld vnto any thing that was righteous just or reasonable because I constantly have had strong Reasons to the contrary vnlesse they were thereunto forced These things are Remarkable First That they have hypocritically contrary to their owne protestations Vsurped not onely the Crowne and Revenues of the King but the precious Lafe of the King himselfe and many other worthy Persons before and since and that by secret formes of Petitions framed by them selves in private and cunningly set the people a worke by some of their owne Busi-bodies to come vnto Westmunster from and about London Ipswich Buckingam-Schire and the like factious people who in a clamerous manner came crying Iustice Iustice For those very things that the Conspirators before were resolved to doe namely for the taking away of the Laves and Estats of such as were more blamelesse and honourable then themselves by a thousand degrees And they have Pressed Imprisonned Baâ—â—sâ—ed and Murthered many thousands of their Equals at home and abroad and they have made Warre with severall forrame Nations without and against the consent of the King and that by the helpe of that cursed Army of theirs with which they compelled the Country to maintaine against them selves and how-ever they falsely pretend to represent the Body of the Nation as may appeare in all their Proceedings Seeing all their Actions have beene contrary and against the will and minde of the Body of the Nations as may appeare by their unlawfull choyse of members like themselves contrary to the Countrys choyse A DISCOVERY OR Certaine Observations concerning the crafty and cursed proceedings of the Conspirators or Rebbels of England against their owne King Queene Church and Government c. SIR and SIRS MY Reasons why I for almost these twenty yeares together haue beene exceedingly desirous to see a firme and a Righteous Peace betweene the Kings of Spaine and France which to my comefort the King of Spaine hath often and ernestly desiered And so hath his Helynesse this present Pope who vnder God is unto both Kingdoms a Righteous Judge A faithfull Stuard A Loving and A tender-harted Father Who vnder God and in the behalfe of God his Heauenly Father doth very much desire the comfort Peace and Saffety of therâ— both they being two of the most honorablest Kingdoms of all the world and the ancientests for Christianety My Second Reason is that seeing both Kings doe as Justly possesse each King his owne Crowne as any in all the world and therfore it is needffull and high time
vnto your Majesty and your best friends and Subjects then ever eyther the Canaanites or the Perizzites where vnto Abraham in his dayes I meane such as are sent or employed by Crumwell or the like of him and for him for to corrupt the mindes of your people or otherwise to worke out theyr owne ends who will cause trouble in your Kingdome at the last and disturbe your Majesty and such as desire to live in peace And Thirdly because they were brethern that is to say neare of Kinn yet not nearer of Kinn then your Majesty is vnto the King of Spaine Wherfore consider whether it will not bee the honour wisdome and saffety of your Majesty and your people and the comfort of all good Christians vpon the face of the earth for to Imitate so good and so holy a man as Abraham was by adhearing to peace with your nearest and best friends and with all Righteous Princes States and Cityes that desiers to be at peace with you SIR It will not bee hard to prove those to bee the most eminent Kings and Princes 2. Chron. Chap. 20. vers 7. who are most in favor with the King of Kings neyther was any in those dayes in higher esteeme with the Lord then Abraham who was and unto this day is called The friend of God because in all things hee did that which was pleased to God Gen. 12.7 As I. By helping the oppressed against Vsurpers II. By praying for the sinfull Cities of Sedom and Gemorrâ—… Gen. 13.4 III. By obaying the Commands of the Lord Gen. 18.17.19.23.24.25.26.27 To the end of the 32. vers â—â—â— 4. â— 9 in being ready to offer his only Sonne Isaac IV. By buylding of Altars for the worship of God V. By calling upon the name of the Lord. VI. In that hee beleeved the worde and the promise of God which was counted vnto Abraham for righteousnesse and therefore his earnest intreating of Leth for the preservation and the continuation of peace betweene them and their servaunts was First because the God of Peace doe delight in peace Secondly it seemes Abram conceaved it to bee both disgrace and danger both to himselfe and to Loth for to bee at strife in the eyes of the Heathen amongst whome they then lived Thirdly because they were Brethren who served one God after one and the same manner and so doth the King of Spaine and your Majesty Fourthly they were neere neighbours and very neer of Bloude and yet not neerer then your Majesty and the King of Spaine SIR a serious consideration heerof is most needfull because the Lord our God is worthy to bee regarded and honoured in these our dayes as wel as he was by Abraham in his time SIR it hath been yeare after yeare great admiration and griefe vnto me that the Kingdoms of France and Spaine who are of one Religion one Faith one Hope of one minde and of one Judgment in matters concerning Salvation and the God of both Kingdoms is the Lord of Heaven and not the God of Rebbells And yet notwithstanding all this such lamentable Ruings of the people of both Kingdoms to the destroying of so much bloude and Treasure one of an other And that to the extreame weakening and disabeling one of an other Seeing it is not vnknowne to the Lords Cleargie and many other honourable Persons in your Kingdom that all are not friends to the King and people of France who speake them faire Revel 2. vers 2.9 It is as well of some which pretend to bee Christians and are not but by their proceedings they rather seeme to bee of the Synagogue of Sathan And it were to bee wished that this sorte were not worse then some of those which doe not professe them selves to bee Christians at all and that in matter of fraud deceat and violence which the nations of Portugall and of the Vnited Provences can wittnesse as wel as the King of Spaine Philip. 3. vers 2. and his people wherefore I say Beware of dogs beware of evill workers For First those who hath donne so much mischieffe vnto their owne and severall other Nations by pollicie and stite of hand besides open violence will in the short or in the longe sinde a tricke to trouble you and your people First eyther by stirring vp some of your owne people against your best friends And Secondly against your owne Person and so cause Noble and other Innocent bloud to be shed in France like as them selues by the helpe of their wicked Army haue done in England And I am of the minde of the Prophet Jeremiah who sayd Jerem. 13.23 If a blacke More can change his skinn or a Leopert his spots then may they doe good who are accustomed to doe evill It seemes that it was falsely sayd of the Apostell St. Paull and some others that they sayd Let vs doe good that euill may come of it Rom. 3.8 I wish that this may not bee truly sayd to bee the practise of Oliuer Crumwell and some of his adherences SIR It was the folly of Nahash to bee so vnreasonable as to require the Right eye of every man in Jabesh Gillead as a Reproch insufferable vnto Israell which stird vp in them such a spirit that the wholle Army of Nahash was so overthrowne and scattered that two of his men 1. Sam. 11.2.11 could not bee seene to gether And therefore it will bee honourable for your Majesty and your most faithfull Counsell before God and the world to incline vnto peace vpon resonable Conditions such as may with honour bee granted that it may not bee sayd that the King the Kingdome of France is the cause of trouble terror vnto all good Christians who gladly would liue at peace Wherefore your Majesty your Honourable Councell and reverent Cleargy may bee pleased Numb 16.24.25.26.27.30 speedily to separate your selues from such an evill generation in whom is neither feare of God love of Equity nor of Christianity And Saul sayd vnto the Kenites Goe depart get you downe from amongst the Malakites least I destroy you with them 1. Sam. 15.6 for you showed kindnesse to all the Children of Israëll when they came vp out of Egypt So the Kenites departed from amongst the Malakites Saul destroyed the Malakites Vers 7. for the cruelty which they had done long before according to Gods owne commaund From whence your Majesty and all the good People may bee gratiously pleased for to observe that it is very dishonourable and dangerous for a Righteous Prince King or Nation to bee in Company or Combination or Alliance with euill doers who are so desperately wicked as the Rebells of Engeland Jer. 17.9 who by theft murther perjury and falsehood doe over-passe the deeds of the wicked Jer. 5.28 They are waxen fat they shine yea they over passe the deeds of the wicked They judge not the cause of the Fatherlesse yet they prosper Vers 29.
And the Right of the needy doe they not judge Shall I not visit for these things saith the Lord Shall not my soule bee avenged of such a nation a this A wonderfull and horrible things Vers 30. is committed in the Land the Prophets profesy falsely Izra 10.3 and the Priests be are rule by their meanes my people loue to have it so To wit Crumwel and his Army who lives vpon the ruyne of others Izra tooke speciall notise of the Counsell of those that trembled at Gods Commandement And the Propet Isaiah bid them Heare the word of the Lord Isai 66.5 that trembled at his word And in the 2. verse of the 60. of Isaiah God saith But to this man will I looke euen to him that is poore and of a contrite Spirit and trembleth at my word Which I hope your Majesty and all your good People of France will doe and not like Crumwell and his Company who haue seduced and deluded many of the people of England and caused them to forsake the Lord God of their Fathers 2. Chron 28.6 As for himselfe and the rest of his Leadors who are Arch-Rebells it seemes they are the sons of Beliall 1. Sam. 2.12 or like the sons of Ely who know not the Lord. Wherefore I counsell your Majesty to take heed in time least they lay stumbling blocks in your way Numb 31.16 as Balaam the Sorceror was vnto Israëll Balaam taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the Children of Israëll to doe that which offended God Revel 2.14 for which they were punished Therefore Remember O King and people of France and all others high and low at home and abroad whose hope is in the God of trueth and that doe tremble at his word Remember what Balack King of Moab consulted and what Balaam answeared Micah 6.5 that you may Remember the Righteousnesse of the Lord. Consider seriously the mallitious councell of Ahiâ—â—phell to Abselom to an vngratious Son against so good and so Godly a Father as King David was who contrived a difference so foule even past hope of reconcilement purposed to make the King out of measure odious vnto all his people 2 Sam. 16.21 by defiling his Fathers Concubines in the sight of the Son that all might see it with an intent to make David to abhorre Abselom and that all Israëll might deride David beyond all possibillity or hope of any agreement So have the Rebbells of England sought by all meanes possible to make the people abhorre their Gratious King and Queene and such others as were faithfull in the Land and more Noble and Righteous then any of the sayd Rebbells How that they devised wicked devises not only to smite with the tongue the King and the Queen but also the Lords of Canterberry Strafford Caple and many others who had done no wrong to King nor people Jerem. 18.18 but their duty onely to which they were inioyned by the Law of the Land Then sayd they Com let vssmite him with the tongue and let vs not give heed to any of his words I had almost forgot the behaviour of that Generation of Separats towards the Duke of Buckingham and his mother with Doctor Lambe I am loath to foule so much paper and trouble the Reador with so many Lyes as they devised and devoulged for many yeares together both within and without the Kingdom of England purposly to make all people to abhore them because it pleased God to give the Duke favour in the eyes of both the late Kings of England In so much that I my selfe hearing daily the extreame slaunders which was contrived and broached against them by these foule-mouthed and shamlesse people was almost perswaded that It was true that was reported of them and I I was so farre deluded that I thought that whosoever should destroy them would doe God and the Country good servis But afterwards I came to vnderstand that it was nothing else but the mallice of such who had seduced many young and other people vnto divers sects or newe and strange Religeons by the helpe of whom Crumwell and his Consorts hath murthered many who were blamelesse and harmlesse of severall degrees of people both by Sea and Land who were without rebuke Phil. 2.15 in the middest of a perverst generation who did shine as lights in the Land and after that the Duke and Lambe were tyrannically murdered by lude fellows with wicked hands without any forme of Judgement Act. 2.23 Next they fell vpon the Bishop of Canterberry with intollerable back-bitings and Revileings saying First That he did intend to make the Land Popish Secondly That he could not preach himhelse Thirdly That he persecuted Godly Ministers because it was his office to punish such as stird vp the people to rebellion Fourthly That the Pope had sent him a Miter from Roome which the Conspirators it seems had made them selves pretended they found it in a shippe at the Custom-house at London so reporting it that there was an agreement betweene the Pope and him that he should Raine as Pope in England Fiftly when they caused him without any Law or Justice to be apprehended in the time of the second Parlement as they called it that they might collor theyr owne mallicious designes against him they pretended that he did indeavour to make his eskape vnto that end hee had a suit of Freez brought him that thereby hee might the better eskape without any notice being taken of him Sixtly that the sayd Lord Bishop of Canterberry did accuse the Lord of Strafford who was also a prisonner and whom also they did intend to murder that the sayd Earle of Strafford Lord Liftenant of Ireland was the cause of drawing the sayd Bishoppe into his troubles And that the sayd Earle should say That the Bishop was the cause of his troubles And that one or both of them should curse the day that ever they knew one another and that in reveyling tearms they should accuse one the other as it was reported by the Conspirators or their Adhearence These notorious slanders they have not bene a shamed for to bring or to let come in print for to make those innocent persons exceeding odious to all people to the end that few or none should question the cause or the Reason of theyr taking away theyr lives But theyr designe was onely to murder them because they were faithfull to God the King and the Country each in his severall places whereunto they were lawfully called Being both men of exellent Learning Levit. 19.15 and Wisedom courageous not fearing the persons of the mighty They were men fearing God and scorning Bribes I observed that one of the greatest causes of the inveterate mallice of his enemies against him Exed 18.21.22 next vnto his being an enemy vnto rebellion was that hee would not suffer the meanor soâ—e of people to bee opprest by the mighty and which were vnder his
good men as well as others by mis-informations Thirdly By reasonable Reparation given me such as have abused mee by mis-information not wilfully much lesse so Mallissiously as others then they would have vnderstood that I was much wronged Fourthly That those which are Impudent will then see to their shame that they have often wronged mee without any cause at all in mee Fiftly That I may thereby live quietly and in peace with all men in time to come Sixthly that such and the like might see and consider the evill of theyr doings and doe no more so wickedly nor any others against mee nor any others hereafter by the evill example of the former so evill shall bee put away from amongst you and others shall heare and feare and commit no more any such evill amongst you see Deut. 19. from the 16. verse to the end Seaventhly Because my selfe others have found by longe and woefull experince that because sentence or Iustice against the evill workers hath neither in the short nor long been executed much lesse speedyly therefore the harts of the Children of men hath been fully set in them to doe evill Eccles 8.11 12. Is it not a wonderfull thing that men should so despise the Word and cast of the feare of the Lord like men who are so desperately wicked as to tyrannise so much over others as to make them halfe or wholy distracted as them selves say by exstreme violence and greefe donne by themselves and then Insult the more over them by taunting termes Imputing such to be mad for the great troubles and vngodly dealings brought vpon the opressed by them selves These doe aprove themselves to bee Lovers of wrong more then of Right neyther are they ashamed to condemne the Innocent nor to Iustefye the vngodly Eccles 7.7 These men seeme to scorne Gods owne Word seeing it is sayd that oppression maketh a wise man mad Jeren 17.9 A gift destroyeth the harte and so doth feasting too when it is done to a mischievous end Now because the evill smell of theyr detestable projects is come abroad into a great part of the world which in the short or long will make Crumwell and his Helpers for to spuw vp or leave the pray againe by them vnjustly taken from theyr betters both of our owne and other Nations And this is the Reason that the Traytors of England first made vse of Strangers against theyr owne King and Country I meane such as were mis-informed and deceaved by the falshood of the sayd Traytors Secondly the strenght of theyr delusion and the necessity of the sayd Rebbells for it Proverb 6.19 they yeare after yeare have made vse of one Catholike to destroy another Catholike so that it seemes theyr Trade and Profession is to sowe and to make discord strife and devisions amongst Brethren Rom. 16. vers 17.18.19.20 from whence commeth desolation ruying and bloodshed and they warme themselves by the coales of other mens Houses whom the sayd Rebbels set on fyer Thirdly they have not onely severall times stirred vp Protestants against Catholikes but also Catholikes against Protestants Witnesse the Hents of theyr owne Creators saying They had helpe of the Subjects of the King of Spayne or some of them against the Lords the States Generall of the Vnited Provences or against the peaceable Inhabitants I confesse if they speake trueth it is to themselves mis-fortune Judges 9. vers 2.3.4.5.6 because their custome is constantly for lyes but if it bee true it is but like as Abimolochs boldnesse So that if any of the King of Spaynes Subjects were drawne thereunto Nota 15. it was by the shamelesse importunety and strong delusions of the sayde Rebbells Vpon which account they would have broken the Peace betweene the King of spayne if the sayd States before mentioned had proved so wicked as themselves So that the Read or may vnderstand that by smooth words fayre pretences and other vngodly shifres there is no end of the hurtfull ploddings of mischiefe by the sayde Rebbels For first they will procure others to doe what is vnjust and then will be the first to stirre vp yet others against them for it It were greatly to bee desired that all people especially Protestants who have beene most deluded by the sayd Rebbells did perfectly vnderstand how much the Conspirators have beene beholden to slaunder fraude and falsehood and thereby have prevayled with severall other Nations for to condemne and judge wrongly of such eminent and innocent Persons at home and abroad as were more righteous then themselves And sometimes they joyned with Spayne against Portingall and severall times secretly as openly they jugled with Portingall against Spayne and after that the like againe with Spayne against Fraunce and now with Fraunce against Spayne Neyther is it possible to mention halff the mischiefes that the deceavors of England hath practised in theyr wicked proceedings But the Indifferent Reador may bee pleased to remember that when I mention the Make-bates or Conspirators of England I doe not meane the Oppressed nor the deluded people of England but I meane the present Traytor Crumwell the Officors of his Army and such others of his Right-hand Mates as fell first from that Religion they first had and since have changed theyr Religion from Presbiterians vnto Independants then to Annabaptists but what Religion now they have I know not But this I am sure that so by Antionomismi Adamites and Quakers Relligion and others which I can not remember but I am sure they are all countenanced if not first invented or devised by Crumwell and his chiefe Helpers and by this means they keepe the people of England elssewhere in continuall contention stryffe and envye one against another least by Love and Vnity they should set themselves against the Rebbells who have brought dishonour infamy and distresse vpon the Nation And this is the Reason that the mindes of many people abroad are corrupted by the false Reportes of those who have donne so much mischiefe and doe cause good people to doe much evill by theyr bitter censurings and condemning not only the King and Queene the Bishops and many a thousand others who are peaceable quyet and faithfull in the Land that for some small punishment inflicted vpon 3. or 4 presumptious Persons who after severall warnings continued to trouble the State and disturbed the Church the Common-wealth also by Rebellious and false Doctrine they declared their impudence like Rabsaketh in their Books or Pamphlets Sermons Lybels seditious Feasts c. against the Government then Established Which by Act of Parlament to wit the Lawes of the Land besides the Proclamations of the King the Bishops were enjoynd and expresly charged and commanded to maintaine and to punish Offendors and such disturbers as by Lyes new Doctrines of theyr owne-framing stirred vp part of the People to Rebellion against the King the Church and the State to the losse of many a thousand good mens Lives
2.4 who as they say apposeth and Exalted himselfe above all that is called God and that the Pope showeth himselfe that Hee is God Also Crumwell and his Army and others of his Creatures are alwayes ready for to pawne all the Fayth and Throth they have that the Pope is Antichrist Revel 11.7 and the Beast that ascended out of the bottomlesse Pit But the Scripture sayth That hee is Antichrist that denyeth the Father and the Sonne But the Pope confesseth both the Father and the Sonne so that by te Rule of Scripture 1. Iohn 2. vers 22. hee can not be Antichrist Neyther doe I know who should bee Antichrist vnlesse the Devill or Crumwell or some such cursed Creature I confesse it can not yet bee sayd that the Seaven Hills of Rome are in the possession of this our Crumwell Revel 18.2.3 But I have some Reasons with confidence to thinke that Crumwell the Sycofant hath seaven soule Spirits about him or that are his Associates who are yet more wicked then any can bee about the Pope or in Rome it selfe Neyther doe I suppose it will bee harde for to disprove but that the Rebbells are Lyers like those false Apostels who pretend to be Christians and are not but are rather of the Synagogue of Sathan witnesse theyr troubling of all Nations Zepha 2.9.13 who are good Christians besides theyr owne Nations so many yeares together And marke their many alterations and changes against Christianity in England and contrary vnto all Christians of all other Nations And yet the future and evill intent of the Iugglers in England doth apeare against Christians in that they will neyther assist the State of venice in theyr distresse at all themselves nor will they cease from hindring nor from troubling of those that gladly would helpe that State in theyr need who are an Honourable Ancient and Peaceable State to wit The Republike of Venice who are like to bee forced unto a very dishonourable Peace which can not but prove very prejudiciall vnto France vnto other several Christian Nations or else the sayd State may come to be greatly distressed by reason of the Rebbells of England which will bee yet worse for other Christians yet the sayde Rebbells continue to presse on theyr owne ends though they should bring all Christendom in subjection vnto those who are no Christians and therefore they will make no Peace but breake and hinder what Peace they can vnlesse it bee with such as are like themselves who will shortly bee found worse then Turkes who by theyr dissimulations pretend to bee what they are not and it is theyr chiefe joy to trouble the Christians because they know it to be pleasing to such as are no Christians And this is the Reason they continue to renew and stirre vp strife contention mischiefe and bloodshedde betweene Christians and Christians as aforesayd Wherefore they seeme almost to burst with envy against the Iesuwyts who endevour to keep the people in peace and vnity and from insurrections tumults and Rebellion against theyr severall Princes or Magistrates vnder whom they doe reside Also theyr endeavour is to save theyr people from being spoyled schattered or deceaved by the Woofes or Rebbells of England by whose meanes vnder God the Lives as well as the Estates of those people are preserved because they expell and frustrate the poyson which ingenders or breeds in the hearts of Rebbelles And I would to God all good Protestants and godly Ministers had taken heed in time and had not bitten of the secreat baytes where withall the Traytors of England have catched and drawne many into Treason and evill designes as well as themselves But such Protestants and Catholikes shall doe well to free and cleanse themselves in time to come and to see that they bee not defiled with the cages of these vncleane Birds 2. Cor. 7.1 and from being companions with a Denne of Theefes James 4.8 And take heed of the sayd seducing Spirits Revel 18.2 and of the habitations of the doctrine of Devills who speakes Lyes in hypocrisie having their consciences seared with a hot yron I say Mat. 21.13 if the Lord please to cleanse your hearts and your hands from the evill fruyt and the poyson of the sayd Rebbells which the Lord will doe if you 1. Tim. 4.1.2 with your whole harte desier it so shall you bee able to remove the stumbling blockes out of the wayes of the Lords people and to prepare for them a good way Ier 6.16 which shall be pleasing vnto God good Men. Because Rebbells are resolved to holde and practise the doctrine of Balaam Esa 37.14 who advised Balack to cast a stumbling blocke before the people of Israëll Soo the Gardians of England makes use of such doctrines as is hatefull to God Revel 2.14 15.16 and hurtful to all good men And hee that shall advise them to repent and amende theyr lives theyr advise doth seeme odious or as ydle tales vnto them Gen. 1◠14 at the best Who like Sea-hounds that doe very much spoyle by destroying much fisch so long as they live which is the cause that large monye is given for theyr heads though they bee good for nothing But they that can obtayne the heads of such Rebbells deserve much more mony and favour both from God and all good men because the Rebbells neyther doe nor will cease from destroying abundance of good and honest men of theyr owne and other Nations so by Sea as by Lande and had Knepperdolling and Jan van Leyden and theyr followers by whom it seems the Relligion and practise of Crumwell and his Associates was first composed and acted severall whereof had for rewarde each an Yron Basket and were naked noynted with honny exalted to the toppe of the Steeple at Munster in Westphalen stung to death with flyes without eyther meat or drinke but onely halfe a penny Loafe once for all And I partly perceave that Crumwell the Traytor some of his fellows are afrayd of some such like rewarde for what they have donne vnto the King and the Nation of England as well as to our friends and Neighbour-Nations who knowes very well what became of Wat Teyller and his Companions and this is the Reason that they keepe a great Army of Souldiors in Armes like vnto themselves which are payed out of other mens Estates by force against the King and the Country Neyther can they devise any better shifts for to collour hyde theyr owne Theft Treason then by Lyes forged pretences against the King and such others as were faithfull in the Land more righteous then themselves And by the continuation of theyr fashood and hypocrisy by which they prevayle with some selfe-Ended-men and some others who are deceaved by the same Rebbells or caused to beleeve that they had just cause and reason for to rebbell against the King and the government then established