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
that all stryffe difference and contention that is betweene them may happyly cease and that godly Loue and a blessed and continuall Vnion might bee obtained betweene the two Kingdoms afore sayd And so much the rather because the enemies of them both and of all vnfained Christians doe strive with all their might and pollecy to hinder it Thirdly Because it would bee matter of gladnesse and great joy of harte vnto all the people of God to Liue peaceably and quietly in all Godlynesse and honesty which is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior 1. Tim. 2.2 Forthly Because it is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour Who will haue all men to bee saved and to come vnto the knowlâ—g of the truth Neither can the Spirit of God 1. Tim. 2. nor the hart of the Pope vers 3.4 bee more greeved then when their Children Associate them selues with evill Contentious men Therefore greeve not the holy Spirit of God Ephe. 4.30 by which you are sealed vnto the day of Redemption For God is not the God of confusion 1. Cor. 14.33 but of peace Wherefore SIR my hart doth humbly pray your Majesty to propound Reasonable Conditions of peace to your owne Vncle the King of Spaine and to all other Christian and Righteous Princes who desier to liue at peace with you And that for to prevent the shedding of Christian and Innocent blood in time to com Thereby you shall exedingly obleage al Christian and Righteous Princes and People that liue in the feare of God but especially your owne Cousin the King and his subjects of great Brittain and Ierland who are greatly opressed by the Impudence of a generation of Rebbells and hyppocrits And also the Duke and the State of Venice whose indeavour hath allwayes beene to liue in amity and frendshippe with the Kings and Nation of France who is in great danger of an enemie that is much too mighty for them Wherefore SIR if it may please your Majesty by a speedy cessation from all hostillity of both sides by which means you will bee the better able upon occasion to withstand your secret enemys as also to helpe your best Friends in time of neede namely your Cuzon the King afore sayd and his subjects whose distressed Estate and Condition hath beene greevous to mee and to divers others these many yeares Likewise the Duke and the State of Venice shall the better obtaine helpe in their great distresse from your Majesty or some other Christian Princes or else by Reason of the peace a foresaid the said State shall obtaine the more honourable and speedy peace with that enemy who otherwise will bee too mighty for them Neither can that at all bee good or safe for your Majesty nor your subjects nor any Christian Prince Neither can I possible thinke of any other persons who under God are more Indifferent Just and Impartiall Mediators Composors of all manner of differences or any greevances betweene such Christian Princes as your Majesty and the King of Spaine or the like of you then the Popes Holynesse who is vnder God undoubtedly for all such Princes and people as both You and your Subjects are And for oft I know for all other who are unfained Christians even as a carefull and a naturall Father for his owne Children And therfore an able emenant and righteous Judge fit for so waighty and necessary Imployment as that is Because he is one that feareth God and hateth covetousnesse who in Gods behalfe and in the place of Meyses will provide reasonable and able men as in Exodus chap. 18. vers 21.22 And for the removing of all suspition and scrupell the said Pope being of late yeares Nuntius for the late Pope at Munster and by his great abillities and his Loue vnto Equity through Gods assistance made and occasioned such an agreement betweene the King of Spaine and the Lords the States Generall of the Vnited Provences as that neither parties doth complaine but rather thanke him And that because hee knows that hee doth not Judge only for man but for the Lord who is whith him in Iudgement 2. Chron. 19.6 With whome there is no respect of persons nor iniquity with the Lord our God nor taking of gifts for the gift doth blinde the eyes of the Wise Deutro 16.19 And though I humbly show my weake Judgement in that I conceave the King of Denmarks and the State of Venice to bee emenent and indifferent Judges which are needfull for such waighty affaires neither of them having any more Relation to your Majesty of France then to the King of Spaine or to bee sure his Majesty of Denemarcke hath no more Relation vnto the King of Spaine then hee hath vnto your Majesty but rather lesse of the twoo yet I remember that when the late difference was betweene the Lords the States Generall of the vnited Provences and the Vsurpers of Engeland they chose for theyr Arbitrators the Lords of Switscherland the Lords of Geneva and of the Kingdom of Sweaden and therfore I humbly present unto your Consideration and the Advise of your most honourable Privy Counsell together with the Advice of your most Graue Learned and Reverent Cleargy whether the three Spirituall Electors of Germany bee not nutrall and indifferent Judges for to giue theyr Advise and Assistance in a buisenesse which concerns all Catholicks in so high a nature the King of Spaine and your Majesty being both Catholicke Kings neare neighbours and neare of Kinne he being bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh Iudges 9.2 Why then will your Majestye bee the Last 2. Sam. 19. vers 12. that shall Resolve vpon a happy Peace with the King of Spains who is one of your best and your nearest Frends Peace being a thing pleasing vnto God and vnto all that feare him in trueth It is no disparidgment to any King or Prince in the world to follow the Example of Abraham who was very Rich in Cattell Silver and Gould yet for peace-sake gave choyse to Loth Genes 13. vers 2.7 his brothers Son who was the meanist and the joungest man Either to goe to the Right hand or to the Left which he pleased in the 8. and 9. verses of the same Chapter you haue it SIR Abraham being the Eldest man and the mightyest might so much the better haue clamed some kinde of prehemenence yet the cleane contrary appeares in Abraham who was the first that prayed Loth that there might be no striffe betweene them and that for these three Reasons First his Loue vnto peace Secondly because the Canaanites and the Perizzite were in the land which was a people whom Abraham did not much Confide in and who he was not willing that they should see striffe betwene them two who weare so neare friends And yet I doe hartely wish that you had not in you Lande for the most part if not continually those who are farre worsse
evill for good this will bee next vnto a deaths-wound vnto the King and will make the hartes of all his most faithfull Friends and Subjects farre and neare to faint mourne and greeve when they heare of such things And the Rebbells doc knowe that there is no such way to disharten and dis-ingage the Kings friends and cause them to leave him and all his Fathers house in his greatest need neither is there any such way for to stirre vp God and Man to bee the Kings enemies then for to render evill for good vnto them who have vnfainedly served him and made them selves odious in the eyes of all the Kings profest and secraet enemies for God Conscience and his Majesties sake and the good of the Nation This caused King David to cry out in the eares of Saule his Master in these words 1. Sam. 24.12 the Lord Judge betweene mee and thee and the Lord avenge mee of thee No man need to thinke that the Rebbells will bee so foolish as to send any knowne or profest Rogue for to worke out their businesse in this kinde but they will make vse of some selfe-ended fellows who one time or other have pretended to serve the King and such who hath the arte to cut a mans purse at the same time when hee laffeth in his face or like Judas when they seeme to bee most zelous and have the bouldnesse and the Impudence to associate them selves with such as they certainly know to bee the Kings friends and by that meanes get what seacrets they can not onely to betray the Kings businesse but also their owne friend and brother to the presumptuous enemies And like vnto the ould proverbe this wickednesse proceedeth from the wicked 1. Sam. 24 15. and hacht by the Conspirators in England Though some-times acted abroad as well as at home The Lord therefore bee Judge 1. Chro. 12.33 and plead the cause betweene all those who are not of a dubble harte against those who are proud scornfull and false-harted towards those The Tribe of Zebalon whose harts and Indeavors have ever been for the glory of God the honour of the King and for the prosperity peace and safety of all obedient subjects in whose eyes a vile person is contemned espesially Traytors and notoroius Rebbells But honoureth them with his whole harte Psal 15.4 that feare the Lord. Wherefore bee pleased to consider how needfull a thing it is for all such as enjoy the Kings favour who subsist or get benefite by him that they carefully take heed to resist and avoyd the stratagems of those who secreatly endeavour to provoke them to bee a terror and a burden vnto those who ever-more have indeavored the honour of the King by whom they subsist as also longed for their happy and prosperous returne into their Native country 2. Sam. 22.28 And remember that the eyes of the Lord are vpon the hauftie to bring them downe and who will save the afflicted people My hart is not haufty nor mine eyes lauftie saith David in the Psal 131. vers 1. Bee sure that all who are bent vpon mischiefe will seeke to crosse others in any thing that is good scornefull men bring a Citie into a snare but wise men turne away wrath The blood-thirsty hate the vpright but the Just seekes his soule Forget not this master-peece of the Rebbells pollicy that they will vse all meanes possible to get the Rulor Proverb 29.8.10.12 and such as are in favour and trust to harken to Lies then they will declare and publish that all his servants are wicked Such are they who to day will seeme to power out their soules before you and hugge you as their bosom-friend and to morow will deride you and lauffe you to scorne Thinke it not strange that I mention such things vnto you seeing to my sorow I have met with such my selfe Now let the wisdome of the Reador be this to avoyde and advise his friend to stand cleare in time and shunne such as cause divisions offences Rom. 16.17 contrary to the doctrine that good men teach bee sure that you follow not the evill example of those that revyle the Gods Exod. 22.28 and who scorne and curse the Rulor of the people But such as know or vnderstand the wickednesse of Rebbells and yet faune and conceale it that is almost as bad as the former Act. 23.4 for if notorious Tyrants who are knowne to the world to be but Vsurpors at the best shall dare to take vpon them to murder men for what they pretend have been concealed as intended against them though it bee every mans duty for to bend his minde and indeavor to discover what hee can of the Intentions proceedings of such Opressors as the Traitors which now beare Rule in England are who are nothing a shamed all this while of being Gods and their Countries enemies A wise man scaleth the Citie of the mighty and casteth downe the strength of the confidence therof Proud and haufty scornor Prov. 21.22.24 is his name who dealeth in proud wrath Therefore blessed is the man that walketh not in the Councel of the vngodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornfull but his delight is in the Law of the Lord. The lauftie and proud lookes of men shall bee humbled and the hauftinesse of men shall be bowed downe Jsa 2.11.12 And every one that is lifted vp shall be brought low One would thinke that this were sufficient for every one that remembers his latter end or considers that he hath a soule to save Deut. 32.29 that it is now high time to shunne and abhorre those who have defiled them selves by treason and the blood of Innocence and yet bouldly stands out in defiance of all those whome they have most offended to wit the Lord of Heaven the King and Country of England and other Nations belonging there-vnto besides Neighbour Nations who also were our friends even as now they are And that the Conspirators have aproved them selves to be past shame doth apeare by the odatious bouldnesse of John Milton in his answer vnto the booke of the Learned Salmasius which doth consist of presumptions scornings Lies and revilings and doth as it were declare that hee had forgotten that there is a Righteous God in Heaven For the sayd Milton doth show in that booke that there is no more feare of God left in him in that he hath despised and controdicted the Worde of the Lord for it is sayd I Councell thee to keepe the Kings Commandement and that in Regard of the oath of God Bee not hasty to goe out of his sight stand not in an evill thing for hee doth what soever pleaseth him Where the worde of a King is there is Power Eccles 8.2.3 and who may say vnto him what doest thou vnlesse it bee such gracelesse Rebbells Pro. 20.2 who will neither obay God
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.
will doe wrong to no man neither are they proud nor contentious nor envious against any man without a cause especially they will bee sure not to abuse or scorne any one whome they know to bee Loving and Faithfull vnto theyr Prince or Master But on the contrary they vvill surely Honour Love and bee very glad of the welfare of all such Thirdly they will Courteously Wisely and Kindly behave them selves at all times towards all men of vvhom they know no hurt not only for good example but theyr continuall indeavour vvill bee to get theyr Prince and Master more and more Friends to the vtmost of theyr povver and more especyally vvhen they know theyr Prince or Master to bee in distresse or stands in need of helpe Much lesse vvill they disoblige any honest man vvhereby they may bring a scandall or reproach vpon his Prince Master or Friend or any of theyr Followers Fourthly They which are so qualefied will have a continuall care to cary them selves Soberly Righteously and Godly and so vvithout offence that all enemyes who are given to Callumniate others Tit. 2.12 may be ashamed vvhen they speake unvvorthyly as of evill doers For it is better 1. Pet. 3.15 16. if the vvill of God be so that ye suffer for vvel-doeing then for evill-doeing It doth exceedingly concerne all Righteous Princes to follow the Example of David King of Israël both in respect of theyr ovvne vvalking vvith God before vvhom they stand as is specefied in the 101. Psalme 1. Kings 18.15 the three first verses It vvould bee exceeding pleasing vnto the King of Kings Gen. 14.19.20 vvho is the most High God Therefore it is convenient for Kings to bee circumspect in all theyr thoughts vvords and actions Ephes 5.15 See then that you walke circumspectly Redeeming the time because the dayes are evill Vers 16. By this meanes God will make you able to quensh and resist all the fiery darts of the wicked Fphes 6.6 to the end It is needfull that all Righteous Princes doe often consider the Example and Resolution of one of the best Kings that ever was in the worlde not onely to Read but vvarily and seriously consider how exactly David resolved concerning those who should serve him or not come in his sight Psal 101. included in the five last verses The carefull practise of this will cause you and all Righteous Princes to finde favour with God and all good men vvhich vvill bee a meanes to make Spyes or men vvho have evill Intentions of them selves or sent by others shortly more and more to absent them selves from the presents of all such Princes Otherwise it vvill bee hard to vvithstand theyr odarious bouldnesse vvho are now adayes growne more shamelesse then those were in the time of Ahashueros the King For though Hamons Wife and all his Friends were so wicked as to advise him at his Complaint tolet a Gallows be set up to hang Mordicai fifty Cubits high yet vvith all they wished himselfe to speak vnto the King for his consent by which it seems they were not so Impudent as to send swarms of Rascallity of theyr owne adherence 1. To the House of Commons 2. vnto the House of Peares as the Rebbels of England did by threatnings to force them to passe a Bill against the Life of the Lord Liftenant of Yreland 3. who presently after pressed into the Kings owne House by force against his will by shamelesse importunity got his Majesty to Signe the same against Lavv Custome or Equity for the taking away of the Life of so Noble a Person to wit the Earle of Strafford to the great griefe of the King himselfe and against his vvill This vvas in the yeare 1641. to the sorrow of many of the Nation Much-lesse did Hamon Esther 5.14 or any of his Party presume or intende to take away the Life of Mordica 2. Kings 2.32 or any of the Iewes vvithout the consent of that King as the fayd Rebbels did after that by the Lord Arch-Bishoppe of Canterberry the Lord Caple the Earle of Darby SIR Charles Lucas and many others of our Nation 2. Sam. 3.39 who were more Righteous and better then themselves Wherefore I pray as sometimes King David did the Lord reward the doers of such evill according to their wickednesse because thereby our present King is weake though a Righteous annoynted King because the Vsurpers of England are as yet too mighty for him meerely by Reason of the differences between other Princes procured or continued by the Contention sowen or occasioned by Crumwell and some of his party As may partly apeare by that innocent bloud which was shed in Portingall who were the occasion that nation Revolted from the King of Spaine as was mentioned by the Portingall Ambassador vnto them selves in England not many yeares since whereof I have beene credeably informed For though the Rebbellion in England was not then in its full strength and Rigour yet there was a resolution thereof in many of the Conspirators longe before as by the helpe and the providence of the Lord shall more fully hereafter appeare Therefore in the behalfe of God Allmighty who some times taketh the wicked in their craftynesse 1. Cor. 3.19 For the Wisedom of this world is foolishnesse with God For it is written he taketh the wise in their owne craftinesse I doe humbly Intreat your Majesty the Nobillety and Godly Cleargy and all the good people of France as all other Righteous Princes Republicks States and Citys at home and abroad That they would bee pleased seariously to consider the sad condition of our present King and of all his Fathers house Psal 11.3 For if the foundations bee destroyed what can the Righteous doe And therfore I vse parte of the words of Mordica vnto Esther the Queene Namely 2. Pet. 2.2 If you doe the will of the Vsinpers afore said and let them goe on in these their pernisious wayes Thinke not with your selves that you or your good people Esther 4.14 shall scape free or speede better then those of our owne and so many other Nations hath done already to wit England Scotland Ierland Portingall the Vnited Provinces of the Netherlands and Spaine All these can witnesse by experience what kinde of Apostels or Saints these Conspirators of England are Neither doth it stand with their condition or safty to leave off this theyr trade as longe as they live for feare least theyr owne doggs or Adherance should plucke the pray out of their teeth and breake theyr jaws in peeces It will bee the wisedome of all them which are not satisfied to search out the trueth of all this like as Jobe in the like case Job 29.17 vers 16.17 saith of himselfe Because I delivered the poore that cryed and the Fatherlesse and him that had none to helpe him the cause that I knew not I scarced out therfore the blessing of him that was
ready to perish came vpon jobe Such helpers doth the King the oppressed subjects of England now stand need of See the Example of Daniell and those that were with him that brought the wickednesse of the wicked which they malliciously intended to their neighbour vpon theyr owne head put them to death Thus the Innocent bloud was saved the same day in the 62. verse of the History of Susanna And I have with deliberation observed that it hath all wayes been the custome of the Righteous to set them selves against oppressors as may appeare by the example of Abraham who as soone as he heard that Loth and the people amongst whom hee lyved was taken Gen. 14.14 15.16.17 hee presently Armed his Servants and rescud them without any Prophet to himselfe Secondly Not the Souldiers of Crumwells Army which take vpon them to preach but the Priests shall make an atonement for the sinnes of Ignorance for the soule of the Ignorant before the Lord. But the soul that doth ought presumtuously the same reproacheth the Lord. And that soule shall bee cut off from among his people and it follews Numb 15.28.30.31 because hee hath dispysed the word of the Lord and hath broken his Commandement that soule shall bee vtterly cut off The Ephraëmyts destroyed Oreb and Zob who were vsurpers in Israëll Judges 7.25 Gideon with his three hundred men who desiered bread to refresh his faint and hungery men were obrayded by the men of Sucooth and Penuell Jud. 8. vers 5.6.7.21 yet persued and slew Zebah and Zalmanna And Samuell sayd vnto Agag the Amallakite 1. Sam. 15.33 As thy sword hath made women Childlesse so shall thy Mother bee Childlesse amongst women and Samuell hewed Agag in peeces before the Lord in Gilgall Davids servants whom hee sent to comfort Hannan in kindnesse 2. Sam. 10. vers 6. being reproched and villenously intreated For which David made them to stinke And David slew the men of seaven hundred Charrets of the Assirians and forty thousand horsmen who helped the Amonits Vers 13.14 18.19 By which you may see that wicked men and those that helpe them are oft times distroyed to gether Beware of false Prophets Zachar. 13.4 which come to you in sheeps Clothing or weare a ruffe garment to deceave I meane such who oy crafty and suttle Arguments seeke to make difference betwixt you and your best friends whose friendship you neede and they neede yours Therefore they seeke to worke out their owne ends by the ruying of you and your friends who therefore by Christ are called Ravening wolves And Right well may you know them if by the advise of your vnfained Councell you please to looke backe vpon the fruits of them Matth. 7.15.16 who vnto England and many other Nations hath proved the worst shepheards that ever the world bred Neither are they lesse slacke or negligent in following theyr hurtfull designes then the Pharisees were who compast Sea and Land to make Procelites for their owne vse which Procelites being prevailed withall and instructed by such Conspirators they become two-fould more the Children of hell then themselves Matth. 23.15 These are they who smitte with their tongues partly murdered the King Queen others of the best of the Nation of England as well of Low Jer. 18.18 as of High degrees of men by their mallitious slanders with their tongues 1. Kings 21.9.10 These are those sons of Beliall like those who boare false witnesse against Naboth the Ieserellite for the taking away his Life and his Inheritance Such were they who by the Conspirators of England and the false Prophets together were incouraged against the Duke of Buckingam and his Mother and it seems were imployed to murder Doctor Lambe by day in the streets of London Acts 7.52.57.58.59.60 with stones like Stephen the Marter And the fore said Lords Canterberry and Strafford these and many others of the most emenent and faithfullest of all the Kings Subjects were murdered by the false Accusors First in their Honour And Secondly their Lives by wicked hands by the contrivance of their Leadors which caused them to erre Iesa 3.12 who distroy the way of theyr path Neither will theyr conscience sticke to make Marchandise of you 2. Tim. 3.3 and your people if you take not heede in time and make such a peace as you can with your owne Vnckle the King of Spaine these are the Men that sell the Subjects of theyr owne gratious King for handfuls of Barly and peeces of bread to slay the soules that should not dye for feare least they should gather together to call the Traitors in question for their Theft Treason Murder against the King the Nation of England they save alive the soules that should not live because in matter of trust Ezek. 13.19 they dare not confide in any other but who are Children of wickednesse like themselves and have made shipwracke of a good conscience in some measure like the Conspirators them selves Consider this all ye who are Lovers of Equity doe expect to find mercy in time of need who reverence the God of trueth who would not bee as them that mocked the Messengers of God and dispised his Word vntill the wrath of God did arise so that there was no Remedy lest 2. Chron. 36.16 For there shall bee judgement mercylesse to them that have showne no mercy Remember the dubble and the bitter cursses of Meras and the Inhabitantes thereof 2. Iames 3.13 Cursse ye Meras saith the Angell of the Lord Cursse ye bitterly the Inhabitants thereof Because they came not to the helpe of the Lord Iudg. 5.23 against the mighty And that the King and the Kingdome of France and all other Princes States and Cities may prevent them selves and their good Subjects from the like cursse it were an exceellent thing 2. Chron. 20.3 that your Majesty your Nobillity and your Reverent Archbishops and the rest of your Learned Cleargy of France would set them selves first to seeke the Lord as Jehosophat set him selfe And without delay advise with others of your Subjects Friends and Brethrem whom God hath been pleased to blesse with Courage Wisedom and Learning the feare of the Lord and with harts that are content with what they Justly possesse and that such men may bee forthwith appointed by the King Nobillity and Cleargy as afore sayd diligently to inquier and search out the matter how why and by whome some of the Kingdome of France have joyned with the Oppressors and Troublors of all good Christians and who are aproved enemies vnto the King and the best of his people and vnto all his most vnfained friends and that they would make it their businesse to finde our where this cursed Serpent lyes hid who hath procured all this mischiefe against those that gladly would live in peace The Righteousnesse of Jobe cloathed him and his judgement was as a
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
to the Laws of God our Land But these dog-like Edomites have murdered the Kings subjects by sea and land at home and abroad by selling them vnto Turks or the like And had Saull now 85. Priests of the Lord that hee would have betrayed and murdered though some refused it when time was yet hee should not want such as would doe it so long as Crumwells Army is in armes in England neither did Innocence deliver those in whom it was found neither persons of High or Low degree who perished by the hands of a company of villans and Tyrants though Innocent faithfull and blamelesse 1. Sam. 22. from the 13. to the 20. vers These troubellors of Christendom hath sent away many a thousand of our finest jong men as well of sea-men as others and jounge Children of honest parents as it is reported both of late and long agoe by spirits of the Rebbells Adherance and by the meanes and consent of the Conspirators some were slayne and others never returned againe And some were hanged because they refused to beare armes against their King and against their owne Consciences Not onely by the power of the Rebbells at home but vnder the command of foraine Princes abroad who by the Rebbells were sent away as captives even as carried away by the Turkes in time of warre And now their Army which consists of home-bred vermon by whose meanes all this and much more evill hath beene donne vnto out King and Nation who are shamlesse busi-bodyes 1. Tim. 14.1 as well as seducing spirits and doe harden their faces as it were with steele as apeares by their bould Intrusion and their dogg-like Lurking not only in Germany and all the Neatherlands and many other places where Godly Protestants doe reside But even in Catholicke Contries and they have the Impudence to come into the Court of their owne King though they have murdered his Father and forced his Majesty out of his owne Dominions And they pretend to bee Prophets and say they are sent and I beleeve they are sent by Crumwell or some of his prime Creaturs they say as Prophets but I suppose as Spies Wherefore I humbly and earnestly intreat your Majesty the King of France Zach. 13.4 and all good Christians high and low to beware of these false Prophets of Crumwells Army or others of his creatures though they should come vnto you in a ruffe garment 4. Cor. 11.14.15 or in sheeps clothing or how ever they may hyde their teeth disguise or transforme them selves yet I am sure it will not be easy for them to remove their ravening and wolfe-like harte Therefore it is Requisite that you bee very circumspect how you have to doe with Crumwell or any of his Impes I say remember their former fruits and take heed in time least when it is too late you wish that you had taken the advise of him who desiers the continuation of your honour peace and safty These fellows doe find them selves to bee counted as dung or as so many stinking karings and therefore are abhored by their owne and other nations which makes them continually vigelent day and night to aply them selves vnto the arte of subtilty for to make parties for them selves amongst your people and others by corrupting their minds by Lyes and other deceavings which will prove litle to the comfort of you and your friends at the last It is not for any profit or reward that I have receaved from your Cuson the King of England neither doth hee take any more notice of mee then of the meanest person in all the world neither doth hee know this day the least of my Intentions for his Majesty and his Fathers house Yet I cleave vnto the Lord our God and vnto all such who are opressed by vsurpers But I abhorre the pollicy and the procedings of those who are in combination with the devill But of this by Gods assistance more at large hereafter In the meane time trust not in lying words which cannot profit abhorre those that steale murder sweare falsely and yet stand in the house that is called by the name of the Lord. As if it were possible for serpents to become saints whereas they are vndoubtedly farre worse then a denne of Robbers Jer. 7.8.9.10.11 But remember you to looke to your selfe and your people in time because the eyes of the Lord doth runn to and fro through the whole Earth to show him selfe strong in the behalfe of them 2. Chron. 16.9 whose harts are perfect towards him Joab vsed strong and as loving arguments as any friende or Subject could possible doe vnto his Prince for to perswade the King from what hee had conceaved amisse or from what hee was resolved to doe contrary to the will of God but the King rejected the advyse of his Servant Joab and shortly after confest it to bee his folly and cryed out That hee was in a great straight God graunt your Majesty doe not so See 2. Sam 24. verses 3.10 and likewise the 14. SIR and SIRS It doth highly behove you to stirre up your selves warely and diligently to resist and prevent the power and the hellish intentions of the Conspirators of England who are Sons of Beliall 1. Kings 24.9.10.12 13. verses 1. Sam. 2.12 who know not the Lord as were the Sons of Ely Or like those false witnesses which accused Naboth the Iezreelite of Blasphemy as in other kinds the Sons of Beliall did by the King and others in England neither doe they seeme lesse nor more holy then Iesabell for shee proclaimed a Fast as they vse to doe vvhen they intend mischiefe By vvhich you may see it to bee needfull for you to looke to theyr Water in time otherwise know for certaine they vvill be unto your people and to all others vvho are not like them selves as snares and traps as scurges in your sides and thornes in your eyes Neither vvill the Lord subdue them under you If you give them longer opportunety to inveagle and defile the minds of your people with their poysonous leaven because hardly a word passeth from them but it is infectious Bee pleased to marke the 23. of Joshua 13. Give no heed vnto any thing they say or pretend but make Peace vvith your Unkle the King of Spain Consider vvith your faithfull Councell and Cleargy vvho loves Iustice Equity and Iudgement and so thinke of a vvay to comfort and releeve your Cuzon the King of England and his Fathers House This vvill prove vnto your Majesty such a degree of Wisedome as vvill bring Honour and Praise vnto all your good People and get you Favor vvith God and all good Men. By this the eare that heareth you vvill blesse you and the eye that seeth you will give witnesse vnto you because you will thereby cause the Widdow to sing for joy Neither can any better imploy his Monics and his Endevours Job 29.11.12.13 then by exercising and doeing those things
peace without any order or consent of the King or any Minister of State Which makes mee greatly feare 2. Kings 2.5 that for that and many other great evils contrived by the sayd Conspirators against our owne and severall other Nations that yet a great judgement hangeth over the Nation of England besides what they have already brought vpon it And how-ever the evill doers may flatter them selves in their carnall security vainly presuming vpon their Policy the strength of theyr Army which God is able to strike with terror and madnesse as hee hath done the like of them before Agag supposed that the bitternesse of death was past but hee proved to bee mistaken and as the sword of the Conspirators hath made many women childlesse of our owne and other Nations so I have Reason to thinke that the Mothers of the Conspirators shall be called Childlesse among Women as it is in the first of Samuel Chap. 15. vers 32.33 And which is worse the little Pigges are in danger to be beaton for the faults committed by the Boars and the Sowes of these times in England For which they know them selves to bee abhorred at home and abroad And that they may still enjoy the Estates of other men and keepe such of our Nation out as wel High as Low who gladly would bee in their native Contry therefore they take the course of Richard the Third and follow his evill Example who was the bloodyest Tyrant that ever was in England before them selves namely in this That such as joyne not with them in theyr Treason have beene at severall times by wicked men of theyr owne ad-herance who fained them selves to bee for the King and the Country drawne into plots of the Rebbells owne devising and then charged with Treason and therevpon tooke away theyr Lives and theyr Estates And others who have onely beene tolde of it by notorious Rogues sent out and employed by some of the Rebbells and vpon that they were taken and hanged although they never medled at all in the businesse As Captaine Thomas Collupp who lived in Wisbich and many more in the County of Norfolke and thereabouts who were taken and hanged And hee who did pretend to know of a Commission from the King tolde them of it who flatly Refused to have any thing to doe with the businesse yet they were Murdered and the Rogue himselfe escaped to wit Gregre Gamblin who also lived in Wisbich and many other such bloudy plots have beene acted by these Rebbels and theyr Ad-herance by theyr Lucefer-like Arte in and about London and elsewhere An in this and the like Courses doth the sayd Bebbells intend to continue vntill they have brought destruction as well as great dishonor vpon our Nation Who stay alwayes at home to invent mischief against our friends abroad and at home to doe what evill they can and to hinder what good they can And to Cologue with the sea-men they take away other mens Estates which connot spare it but need it for their Wyves and Children them selves and by this meanes they get the sea-men to bee more willing to goe abroad where they know they must be massacred for feare least they should gather together and more wisely set them selves against the Conspirators at home then here to fore and how-ever they may Craftily pretend to doe some thing which shall seeme pleasing vnto the severall Countries whose neybours and frinds they have ruined destroyed and murdered all England through Now for their owne endes they will insinuate with them as the Devill did with Eue. Gen. 3.1.4.5 But when the Contry shall come to be Invaided by foraine nations who by these Conspirators have beene abused then will they doe a great-deale worse then Absoloms Mule did for though the Beast left his master 2. Sam. 18.9 when he had most need of him yet hee tooke away none of his mony nor Iewells with him But these Rebbells will not only not leave them in their greatest distresse but they will take all their Monys and chiefest Treasure of the whole Kingdom with them In the meane time their Continuall indeavor will be to prepare and instruct others abroad in their evill devises as neare as they can to bee like them selves that they may the more willingly receave the sayd Rebbells and their stolen Treasure and protect them when they dare stay in England no longer And for the present many of the people of England are by constraint forced to cologe with the Rebbells and giue them good words but it is as them poore people in some parte of the West-Indeans doth by the divill namely because they should not bee so mischevous to the Contry as they are afraid of And whereas the said Rebbells and their Adherance by false Information haue caused many good people of our owne other nations to thinke that all who follow and adheare vnto the King are vngodly sweators proud envious and Contentious persons as well his Majesties servants as others whereof my selfe haue beene obrayded that those were such as I justified and that by such and the like of evill Conversation the Kingdom should bee governed if ever the King came to be Restored againe to the Kingdom Vnto which I answere that if any thing of it be true I beleeue they are such as may be secretly Imployed by the Rebbells them selves or at least some to make the rest worse then they would be For my part if there be any such I justifie them not but if I knew them I should therefore abhorre them because such can doe the Rebbels farre more service then they can doe the King and I vnderstand them to be worsse then the Plague in the Kings Court and for oft I know the cause of so much swearing and other evill behaviour in the Kings Armie pretended by the Rebbells hath beene by Reason of such that hath beene sent to that purpose by the Rebbells themselves First to commit that which may offend God and so to make our best friends our enemies Numb 25.1.2.3.4.6.7 verses Secondly to vex trouble and oppresse the Country more then needes that by that meanes they might cause more Rebbells against the King like them selves Thirdly because the Rebbells might thereby take advantage to Revile and Raile at the Kings Armie as they constantly vsed to doe by their slanderous reportes in their printed pamphlets throughout all the Kingdom and else where abroad which caused many good people to conceave worse of the Officers and others of the Kings Armie then was trueth Though possibly they did somthing more then either the King or the Armie were willing to doe By Reason of stubornnesse and Rebbellious rysings of some against the King and the Country Because the Rebbells by deceat forged pretences by violence vsurped and made themselves Masters of the Kings Customs and such other monys as should have payed his Majestyes Armie Neither did the King ever offer to Raise any Armie vntill
nor King because it can not consist with hypocresie nor with violence by the helpe whereof they killed the Iust and have taken their Estates the Army who must protect them are their Gods and their Confidence because they give them Large paye out of other mens Estates by whome so many of our Nation must be murdered at home and abroad as the Officors of the Armye the like Conspirators please Wherefore the Lord God furnish and supply the harts of the King and of all his Fathers House the Lords of his most Honourable Privy Councell his Reverent and Learned Cleargye and all his most faithfull friends and helpers with the spirit of Vnderstanding Wisdome and Courage and especially with the knowledge and feare of the Lord and with the Love of Equity Iustice and Iudgement where with the God of Iust men is well pleased And I pray God vnite the hartes of all the Kings vnfained well-wishing Subjects and all his Majesties true-harted and faithfull Attendance vnto him selfe and to the King whom they seeme to honour and in a Loving and Friendly behaviour one vnto another that neyther the secret nor profest enemies who every day seekes the Ruying of both the one and the other that they may hence-forth bee able to make no more breaches nor prevaile any longer nor bee able to stand before the King nor before such as are faithfull vnder him The Lord give the King favour in the eyes of God and man that his Majesty may delight him-felfe in the Workes and the Will of the Lord and that hee may obtaine a deserving spirit to discover and finde our those who hence-forth have any Intent to betray the trust imposed in them and all those who any wayed abuseth his Majesties favours by proud Lookes or taunting Termes or other scornfull Cariadge towards those who desires the safety prosperity of his Majesty and of all his Fathers House as well as any of those who have long subsisted by the Kings bounty and favour and if such men bee discouraged who in singlenesse of harte and for love and good will to both King and Country who without any benefit one way or other none can doe the enemye better service then to cause such men to bee abused because it seemes the Conspirators doe conceave them selves to bee in agreement with death and hell Who doe not consider that the hayle shall sweepe away the Refuge of lies Therefore they promise them selves that the over-flowing scorge shall passe through Jsa 28.15.17.18 and not touch them who have made lies their reffuge and have hidde themselves vnder falsehood As I have often mentioned so I still hope resolve by the providence and gratious assistance of God Allmighty to declare a farre greater Reason for what I have sayd and what I have yet to say against the Conspirators of England If the Lord please to continue vnto mee health and subsistance to the further satisfaction of your Majesty the King of France all your good people and many others at home and abroad and for the discharge of my owne Conscience Psal 66.18 betweene God and my selfe For if I Regard iniquity in my harte the Lord will not heare my prayers the Lord direct mee in that which is according to his will and hinder mee what soeuer is contrary to his will Psa 1. last verse For the Lord knoweth the way of the Righteous but the way of the vngodly shall perish And thus I humbly take my leave at Present and Rest till the Lord shall give mee a further opportunity DISCREET READOR BEE pleased to take notice that some things more I have to say concerning my owne sufferings for the space of Three and twenty yeares together which doth consist of divers Artikles which I presented vnto the sayd Crumwell and vnto Mr. Walter Streckland for him to both whom and vnto others of theyr party I made my greevances knowne at large in Papers bearing date the 20. of February and others of the third and fourth of March in the yeare 1656. Stilo veteri from Middelborgh and Flishing Which Papers were delivered to Mr. Strecklands hand the 12. of that instant March for the sayd Crumwell by one John Symons a shippe-Carpenter who as apeares by his owne Letter dated vnto mee from London the 13. of March last wherin is signefied vnto me the delivery of those papers aforesayd to the said Mr. Streckland the day before dwelleth neare Noahs Arke close by St. Saveries Docke not farre from the Mill stairres over against the Armetage at Horset-downe in the Parish of St. Madlen London I having vsed all meanes possibly for the space of one yeare and a halfe together for the obtaining of Reparation towards my great troubles charges disgraces and much other prejudices but in Feb. and March last to wit 1656. Stilo veteri that seeing the power of the Kingdome of England being in the hand of the said Crumwell and his Army my desire from him and Mr. Streckland was that by his or their meanes the some of two hundred pounds starling might bee payd mee in Bridges within thirty dayes after the date of my sayde papers or otherwise I would publish or make knowne vnto the world such things as the sayd Crumwell and his party would by no meanes bee willing to heare of And that if the sayd 200. pounds were not payd mee within the time aforesayd I would cause the evill savor of Crumwell and some of his party for to come abroad into the world more then ever it was yet It being according vnto equity and rather shorte then over Also the sayd Crumwell having done many things of greater consequence but never any thing with more equity in this world And that if by his meanes the sayd somme were payd me I would bee allwayes ready to give an account of any thing that I had mentioned vnto any one whom hee would appoynt in such a place where wee might bee both free to speake our mindes and that I would make knowne vnto him whom the sayd Crumwell should appoynt what I had further to say against Crumwell and his Army and some others of his party And though it stands mee much in hand for to take care for my subsistance I being in yeares without which this Pamphlet had been published more then tenne yeares since yet vpon condition the sayd mony had beene payd mee I would have communicated the businesse vnto some of his apointment First in private that they might the better have made theyr peace with God the King and his Subjects But least any one or more should thinke that I vpon any condition at all did thinke or ever intend to bee wholy silent in what I mean by this the cleane contrary may appeare as follows This is parte of what I signefyed vnto him in the same papers wherin I exprest or specefied my greevances I inclosed also to the sayd Crumwell three Copyes one of an Attestation
the presumption of the Rebbells was so extreame against his Majesties Person and his Subjects that it could no longer bee induered for them selves doe know that his Majesty was bound in conscience by his Oath and by the Law of the Land to defend the Ministers of Church and State and all other peaceable and obedient subjects so longe as possibly hee could And for somuch as concernes the Kings Councell his Servants and all others that pretend to adheare vnto his Majesty my prayers vnto God Allmighty the desires of my hart and the cryings of my spirit not vnto the God of Rebbells but vnto the Lord of Heaven is more then any man vpon the face of the earth doe know as in Exod. 14.15 That every man high and low may aprove himselfe before God who knowes the hartes of men who sees and takes notice of the actions to bee men that feare and serve God such as love and indeavor with all theyr might to execute Justice and Judgement for all maner of persons as well for the small as the great as it is in the Word of the Lord. Deut. 1.17 And the Lord graunt that every one may bee such as to scorne and abhorre Flattering Bribes and Treason Thou shalt not wrest Judgement Deut. 16.19 thou shall not Respect persons neyther take a gift for a gift doth blinde the eyes of the Wise and pervert the words of the Righteous That which is al-together Just Vers 20. shalt thou follow that thou mayest live and inherit the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee The Lord make all the Kings Subjects milde kinde and curteous one towards another that the Rebbells may not bee able to say any thing that is evill against them And the Lord give vs all grace and wisdome from the highest to the lowest that wee may bee wary that neither Rebbels nor no man deceave vs with vayne words for because of these things cometh the wrath of God vpon the Children of disobedience Bee not therefore partakers with such for the fruit of the spirit is in all Goodnesse Righteousnesse and Trueth See then that you walke circumspectly Redeeming the time because the dayes are evill Eph. 5.6.7.9 â—0 15.16 and never worse then now and that by reason of Crumwell and his Adherents who make the best men weary of their lives whom the oppressed most stand need of By this shall all men know that ye who pretend to bee for the King and the Country of England doe come out of an honest and good Intention if you constantly love all men who are of Godly conversation For the King needs no Desemblors Cheats Proude Scornfull nor Contentious persons neither can his present condition despence with such because if any such should bee in or about his Courte or in his Majesties Armies Ezec. 3 20. as in the 2. Revel vers 13.14 they will prove worsse then the plague or the canket in any mans body And if men prove constantly faithfull to God and their King and delight to bee continually in Peace Love and good will one towards another and withall bee vigelent and continually wachtfull and beware of Lurcking or Sneaking Curres which the Rebbells have or will send amongst you Therefore you that by expeperience know the fidelety one of a nother associate your selves often together and take notice of such busie-bodies as indeavor to make differences strife and envie among men and marke such who falsly accuse any person whether hee bee of High or Low degree and those who indeavor to discharge others from cleaving vnto the King and serving his Majesty in this his extremety Neither will you finde any better way to bring the Rebbells vnto dispaire then by the meanes aforesayd and by causing them to spend their Labors and Monies in vaine Finally My Brethren fare-well bee Perfect and Courageous bee of good comforte bee of one minde live in peace and the God of Love and Peace shall bee with you For if you should in the least give way or any regard vnto such Spies 2. Cor. 13.11 as are imployed by the Rebbells whose custome have allwayes beene to sowe mischeefe contention and discord amongst such as hate Rebbellion And if you by their meanes suffer your selves to bee stired vp to unquiet or disturbe one another take heed that you bee not consumed one of another For this would make the seducing spirits in England who cleave vnto the Rebbells for Reward or for a share of the pray to blaspheame the Lord of Heaven to his face in their Pulpits and they will presumptuously pretend the God of the oppressed to bee the God of Rebbells And First by the way remember this That if by any of the Kings Servants who have receaved Promotion great benefit Subsistance and the Kings favour such Commanders and Souldiers as have willingly vpon their owne charge ventured their Lives and lost their Estates or any such as otherwayes have constantly and with their whole harte and might and that by their great expence and over-throw of their fortunes and subsistance and ever since the begining of the Rebbellion by trueth and experimentall arguments have allwayes stroven to defend maintaine and Justefie the King and all who were faythfull in Authority vnder him to the vndeceaving and Rightly informing of such as were by the Rebbells and their Adherance Malliciously stirred vp against the King and such as were faithfull in Authority who in duty and for conscience sake indeavored to doe God and the Kingdome service As also many good men of Forraine Nations have beene from time to time grosly and wonderfully deluded and bitterly stirred vp by the Lies of the Conspirators against the King and his best Subjects whose slanderous reports have beene constantly discovered and resisted by such as feared God and vtterly abhorred Rebbellion and falsehood to the great satisfaction of many strangers who have been mis-informed by the Conspirators and their Adherants concerning or against the Justnesse of the Kings cause And if the Conspirators can by any means prevaile with such of the Kings Officors or Servants which are in place for to bring such Commandors Souldiors and such others as is before mentioned wrongfully into disgrace by falsehoode and Lies first devised and forged by the Rebbells or their Adherance or if they can cause any such to bee scorned slighted or otherwayes troubled by such as are in favour with the King this will cause the Rebbells to Insult and glory the more though it bee their owne shame and a great mischiefe of their owne contriving this will prove the fainting of all honest harts and the weakening of the hands of such as have yet hope and courage if they can by Brybes secreat wickednes or other devellish artes cause the Kings best Friends and subjects to bee loftily or scornfully looked vpon And if such who never receaved any subsistance reward or benefit shall for their good will continuall paines and expences bee Rewarded with