Relation to God or Godlynesse they would never have attempted to have donne as they have donne Therefore it seemes to mee their Religeon must bee either dogg like or divelish my Reason is because the Conspirators or many of their ad-herance doe vse or exercise them selves to speake Lies in hypocrisie having their consciences seared as it were with a hot Iron 1 Tim. 4.2 As for pure Religeon which is vndefiled before God even the Father James 1.27 is this To visit the fatherlesse and the widows in their affliction and to keepe our selves vnspotted from the world But the constant course of Crumwell and his followers have been to make Fatherlesse and Widdows by pressing banishing and murdering their best friends and taking their meanes and turning them a begging whereby they have caused great affliction where there was none but Godly men constantly indeavor to walke circumspectly who strive to Redeeme the time Ephes 5.15 1â— 16 and to vnderstand what the will of the Lord is But OLIVER with his two faces and the Rest of his proud busy-bodyes neyther know the Lord nor any of his wayes vnlesse it bee to despise him and scorne his Word or it may bee the sweetnesse of the pray hath caused them wholy to forget him But all that know and feare the Lord will bee constantly diligent in that which is good That they may bee found of him in peace 2. Pet. 3.14 without spot and blamlesse As for Crumwell those that Protect him I leave them vnto the Judgement of those who are not gilty of the like crimes that they are But as for such whose wayes are vpright in the sight of God and all good men though they may somthing differ in judgement about Religeon yet my beleefe and confidence in God is that such who serve God with honest and good hartes and consider his Word Luke 8.15 and examine their wayes with an inward intent to doe the will of God shall by his gratious assistance bee able to resist the wicked one and all such Traitors and others who follow his evill example or at least their Prayers Matt. 6.4.5.6.7 Almes and other Godly deeds shall so come in remembrance before the Lord as that they shall finde favor with him in the world to come what ever they doe in this Neither dare I so condemne Catholicks nor Protestants but that if they truly feare God and worke Righteousnesse Act. 10.3.4.34 they shall bee accepted with him But if any shall seeme to bee contentious I delight in no such custome neither doe the Churches of God 1. Cor. 11.16 because they gender strifes And the servants of the Lord must not strive but bee gentle vnto all As for Crumwell and his Disputants 2. Tim. 2.23 let them contend with whom they will and serve whome they will if it shall still seeme evill vnto them to serve the Lord and shall delay breaking of their sinns by Repentance as for my selfe and such as I can prevaile with all Dan. 4.27 wee will serve the Lord. Jos 24.15 I doe vnderstand with Salomon that it is a lamantable thing that when the poore by intrusion and craft coms to beare Rule over the poore their opression is like a sweeping raine which leaneth no food yet such as forsake the Law and the oath of God they doe praise the wicked and therefore it is that I contend with them and so will all men that feare God and keepe his Law Woe vnto the bloody Citie it is full of Lies and Robbery their wound is grievous Nah. 3.1.19 vpon whom hath not thy wickednesse passed continually Neyther have they spared to slay the Nations Wicked men vnderstand not judgement Hab. 1.17 but such as vnfainedly seeke the Lord vnderstandeth all things Hee that turneth away his eare from hearing the law even his prayers shall bee an abomination Prov. 28. v. 3.4.5.9.6.7.9.10 Who so causeth the Righteous to goe astray in an evill way at last him selfe shall fall into his owne pit It is not the bare knowing or talking of these things that can doe much good but it is Requisite that honest men stirre vp them selves 2. Tim. 1.6 by a constant and a warye indeavor to discover Spies Traitors Job 17.8 and false Brethren who hinder much good by their secret proceedings besides the evill that they doe Happie are those Princes and people who have such friends and servants in their houses and places of trust who can vnmaske the hypocrites and who can plucke the Sheeps skin from of the Woolfs backe Into which they doe sometimes transforme them selves for to serve Conspirators By discovering the secrets by deceaving and by betraying of others and who can vnderstand these things and with patience longe conseale them seeing the calamety is exceeding great which such men by continuall vigelence and by their vngodly artes and practises have brought vpon many others who were better by farre then them selves and God that seeth in secret doth take notice of what is in men Revel 2.2 saying I know thy workes and thy Labour and thy patience and that thou canst not beare them which are evill and thou hast tried them that say they are Apostles and are not and thou hast found them to bee Liers It concerneth all Princes and Righteous people narrowly to prye into these things for the prevention of evill for though Crumwell and his Consorts doe presumptuously take vpon them by fraud and violence to strive for Masteries for the Crownes of Righteous Princes and the Estates of those which neyther doe 2. Tim. 2.5 not thinke any evill but the Apostell St. Paull saith that no man ought to bee crowned exept hee strive lawfully And therefore Crumwell and his Consorts must bee likened vnto great doggs that are mad who are a terror to the persons and Lives of such as are neare them but the boulde temptations 2. Thesa 2.11 Lies and strong delusions of Rebbells by their instangling and ingaging many others in their evills and Rebbellion whereby they doe extreamly indaunger the soules as well as the boyes of many other men besides them selves so that as it is greatly to bee feared they shall hardly escape the damnation off hell I am afrayd to specifie the words and doe almost tremble to thinke of that passage in the 23. of Matt. 33. which are Christs owne words which the Reador may be pleased to Read If it weare suffiscient to beare out Crumwell and his consorts to be counted Souldiers of fortune as they have beene termed by them selves and many of their owne Creatures who pretend that to be a sufficient lustification for the said Traitors not withstanding all the Spoile Villany and the Blood and Treasure by them vsurped and destroyed If the tittle of a Souldier of Fortune can bee aproved of in the Iudgements of honest men to Iustifie such Conspirators in the spoiling and Robbing of their owne severall
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
dangerous thing for good women and good mens daughtors to be Married unto Rebbells or into any Rebbellious famely Because oft times besides Bedding with those who are defilled with Theft Lying and many other crying sinnes likewise their being knowne to be gilty of shedding of innocent bloud to wit those that are of such famelye come by that means oft times to be destroyed Iosuah 7.20.24 and theyr Wives and Children with them Ioshua as it apears by Akan and his Children who were stoned with stones and burned with fire So likewise Dathan and Abiram perished with their wives their sons and their little children When the earth swallowed them up and their houses and all that pertained unto Kor◠went downe alive into the pitt Numb 16.27.30.31.32.33.34 and the earth cloased upon them and they perished from among the congregation So that all Israëll round about fled at the cry of them And there came out a fire from the Lord which consumed the two hundred and fifty men Vers. 35. that offered Incence Partly because they set them selves against Moyses and Aron whome it had pleased the Lord to set over them Take notice of this O as the Rebbells have done against the King the Bishops and others of the Clargy of England Therefore it is needfull that all good men seperate them selves from such wicked men King of France and beware in time as the said Rebbells bee According to the advise of God and Moyses his servant And the rather because the basor sort of their owne adhearance doe take upon them the places of Ministers and those that are the true servants of God are despysed and rejected And some slandered imprisoned Isa 53.3 and some of them murdered with the cruell hands of Rebbellious Tyrants And therefore they can indure nothing but what is contrary to sound Doctrine neyther will they indevor to know sound Doctrine but after their owne lusts 2. Tim. 4.3 they heaped to them selves Teachers who dispise just Dominion speaking evill of Dignities and of all others who are better then themselves and of other things which they neyther know nor vnderstand Woe vnto them for they have gon in the way of Cane Iude. 7.8.9.10.11 and ranne greedely after the error of Balaam for reward Who also will one day perish in the like gainsaying of Core without timely repentance and amendment It is not the meannesse of the persons of the Rebbels that I meane but the basenesse of their behaviour towards God their King and Contry nor yet of the mean quallety of Groomes Coachmen Coblers Souldiors and the like that I disdaine at But because they presume vpon that which belongs not vnto them neyther are they in any measure fit for it By reason whereof the word and the trueth of God is despised and slighted which is preached by his owne Servants who were thereunto lawfully called who like the faithfull and holy Prophets of the Lord desiers to keepe a good conscience towards God in the discharge of their duty which is contrary to the procedings of the Rebbells Therfore it is that these conseated and busie fellows are not onely allowed but colleaged with all by the Conspirators who had rather be flattered to hell in their wickednesse then to be justly reproved by the true Messingers of God Hence it is that so many are persecuted and droveout of their livings and out of their native country and which is worsse divers for a lively-hood doth suffer them selus to be perswaded to preach contrary to their owne Consciences without which they cannot subsist nor be quiet in the Land as the case now standes Besids all this I have great reason to conceave that some of the chieffe of the Rebbells of England also some of Schorland and some others else where in which three partys was signefied comprehended the body and foundation of Rebbellion before the Rebellion was knowne in the shape or likenesse of a most huge mighty Cockatrice having it seemes some relation vnto the Prince of darkenesse To wit Mark 9.25 some foule spirit powerfull in strength wonderfully garded for his owne defence full of subtilty Revel 18.2 and evill intention and it seems had some relation to one of those great Dragons whereunto Haman was likened Hest 11.6 which you shall finde mention made of in the History of Heaster or vnto the great Redde dragon that fought against Michaell ad his Angells Who for defeat rage mallice Revell 12.7.8.9 and horrible mischiefe is in a great measure immetated by the Rebbells of England which to the wonder of a great part of the world shall by Gods gratious assistance more fully apeare here after yet notwithstanding the trueth of these Comparisons whereunto I liken the Rebbells of England yet these fellowes like vnto proud Senecharab who is termed the great King of Assiria doe boaste in an impudent manner of their wicked and curssed councell and vsurped strength for warre Isa 36.4 can finde also a Rabshakeh full of bouldnesse against their Souveraine Lord and King and many others of their betters Who pretend they doe not all this violence without the Lord Vers 10. that is to say they pretend that they Rebbell against their King and destroy their Nation in the behalfe of the Lord. See their Serpentlike subtilty resembling exactly that of Rabshakeh when as hee said Let not Hezekiah deceave you for hac shall not be able to deliver you Neither are they lesse blasphemous then Rabshakeh Isa 36. in their severall expressions against God v. 14.15 as well as presumptious and slanderers against their rightious King Neyther doe they come short of Rabshakehs rule and bouldnesse in stirring vp the people to Rebbell against their King but they exceed him in this that they compell by force and violence the people to Rebbell against their lauwfull and righteous King Nay the Traitors of England doe not only abhorre and scorne all those who doe offer to mention that by the helpe of God Almighty the King of England and a righteous government shall be againe restored but they pretend it high treason for any man to say so and vpon this account they murder many of the Kings subjects who are more Noble and Righteous then themselves Neyther in theyr best discourses will they bee ashamed to say Beware least the King deceave you or any body for him saying the Lord is able and will restore vs to our native country and with our neyghbour nations All whome hath beene wonderfully cheated and abused by the hypocriticall shifts and fraud of a generation of Jugglers Neyther will they want brason and whorelike faces to say to other honest men who are not vnder theyr power or Jurisdiction Bee not yee deceaved to thinke that the Lord shall restore againe Charles Stuard to the Crowne and Kingdom of England seing wee have conquered it and wee have forced the Portugall and the Hollanders to doe
France who hath bewitched you that you should Love and joyne NOTA. with the enemyes of God and your Majesty who trouble those that gladly would live in peace and deceave all such as vnderstand not their evill Intentions nor their divellish wiles Who like cunning Juggelors secretly worke out theyr owne ends by slijte of hand and will doe by you as the Phillistens did by Sampson Judg. 14 17.18 when they plowed with his heyffer That is the Rebbells of England will bee exceeding vigelent for to stir vp or procuer such as shall advise your Majesty and your Honorable and faithfull Councell by such means as none but them selves and such as are like them selves doe vse to practise vnto such things as shall be contrary to equity godlynesse and honesty because their practise is to bring those that are blamlesse to bee so wicked as them selves 1. Tim. 2.2.3.4 and by that meanes they will worke out their owne ends or that which shall tend to their owne advantage namely that which shall bee contrary to the futor safty and peace of you and your people vnlesse you and your honorable Councell bee very carefull to prevent the said Conspirators in time And this I mention from long experience of their evill example towards our owne and other nations the trueth whereof the world can witnesse with me Therefor the advise of Ecclesiasticus is very proper namely Chap. 6. vers 6. to have many friends and but one Councellor of a thousand T is needefull that one bee wary of his secrets as the apple of his eye A faithfull friend in time of need is a stronge defence and he that hath found such a one hath found a treasure The whole chapter is worth the consideration of those that desier to bee Rightly informed Vers 14. which the Rebbells of England doe strive to hinder all persons High and Low from being rightly Informed by what soever means lyeth in them therfore they have caused many thousands of Bibles to bee printed in Holland and else where within these thirty and odde yeares leaving out all the bookes of the Apocripha and saying London printed whenas they were printed in other places before the beginning of the Rebbellion But the Lord who frustrateth the tokens of the lyars who have beene imployed or incouraged by the Rebbels of England Isai 44.25 Hee will also direct all Righteous Princes aright in their procedings if they constantly cleave vnto the Lord their God and his Servants And take the advise onely of those who seeke not great things for them selves Amazia Jerem. 45. vers 5. being forbidden by a Man of God to let Israëll goe with him to battell chose rather to loose an hundred Tallents of Silver which he had payd vnto them because the Lord was not with them So hee separated them 2. Chron. 35 7.9 because the Lord is able to give much more From whence I infer Vers 10. that God seldom or never will have any good worke done by evill men neyther will God himselfe imploy evill men about his worke which quiet overthrows the doctrine of the Rebbells of England who say and would have all men beleeve that all their Rebbellious wickednesse which they have don was and is the worke of the Lord as Theft Murther Slander and violence so that there neede no Assirian Rabshakehs So long as there is so many in England Another Reason why it is dangerous for any Righteous Prince or State to have to doe with any such fellows Is because it is questionable whether they have any soules of theyr owne or none to loose Muchlesse have they any Crowne or Crownes to loose or any thinge else but what they possesse by fraud false-hood perjury deceat violence murder and the like Wherefore it is of great necessity that Righteous Princes take heed in time how they meddle with such Sophesters who have their Spyes and Spirits in all places where any mischieffe is possible to bee done who doe subsist and stand and still injoy what they have formerly stolen by breeding and making Contention with and betweene all others who are better then themselves both of our owne and other Nations Wherefore my most harty desier and prayer vnto God is that not onely your Majesty but all other Righteous Princes and States with all other people of what degree soever they may bee that they may beware of following such an vngodly multitude of evill doers or their evill example in any case but rather remember to keepe them selves farre from every false matter and the innocent and righteous slay thou not Exod. 23.2.7.8 for I will not justefie the wicked and thou shalt take no gift for the gift blindeth the wise and perverteth the words of the Righteous being the Lords owne words SIR therefore bee pleased to Consider whether such Servants as was Eliezer who served Abraham or Joseph vnto Pharow or Daniell vnto Darias or Samuell vnto God him selfe and vnto the Israëlits It is worth observation to take notice of Abrahams Servant what care hee tooke in the absence of his master and how he craved the Blessing and Assistance of the God of his master Abraham that he might the better performe his oath vnto Abraham and his duty vnto Isaack and before hee had done praying Gen. 24.13.14.15 the damsell came which God had apoynted for his masters Son namely Rebeckah see Josephs integrety faithfulnesse and honesty towards Pottepher his Master who intrusted him with all that he had and how God blessed the Egyptians house for Josephs sake Gen. 39.4.5.6 7.8.9.10.11.12.13 Yet as godly as vpright and as innocent as Joseph was that did not excuse him from being wrongfully Imprisoned and as good a servant as hee was yet his Masters wrath was kindled against him Vers 13. to the 19. by misinformation It pleased Darius to preferre Daniell above the Precedents and Princes because an excellent Spirit was found in him for which they sought occasion against Daniell but they could finde no occasion for as much as hee was faithfull Dan. 6.3.4 neyther was there any errour or falsehood found in him It were wel if every one could make his Integrity and his vprightnesse appear as Samuell did his in the presence of the Lord and his Annoynted Hee called the people to witnesse saying Whome have I defrauded Whome have I oppressed 1. Sam. 12.3 or of whose hand have I receaved any Brybe to blinde myne eyes therewith Happy were it for all Righteous Princes States and good People that all their Subjects and Servants could say so it would shortly hereupon follow that the Raigne of the Conspirators of England would be of no long continuance Now for to know who are most Faithfull vnto God their Righteous or Lawfull Prince or at least these are most likely Who walke constantly Act. 24.16 vprightly and indevour to keep a good Conscience towards God and towards Men. Secondly such
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
beware of Intangling your selves with such Rebbells So shall you by the blessing of the Lord preserve your lives and Estates long in peace O you that may doe good against the Oppressors doe it quickly and with your Might For there is no worke nor devise nor knowledge nor Wisdome Eccles 9.10 in the grave whether you goe Now consider what I say and the Lord give you vnderstanding to doe that which is good For what can it profit a man 2. Tim. 2.7 though he should devide the spoyle with them or bee inriched by brybes or gaine the whole world Mark 8.36 and loose his owne soule Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soule Let not him that is or may bee deceaved trust in vanity for vanity shall bee his recompence and the congregation of hypocrits shall bee dissolate and fier shall consume the Tabernacles of bribery They conceave mischiefe Job 15.32.34.35 and bring forth vanity and theyr belly prepareth deceat Wherfore I say againe beware of doggs beware of evill workers beware of the Conspirators of England and so I humly take my leave for this time SIR and SIRS It is not for any thing that I have lost of my owne in England though I have suffered enough elsewhere but it is chiefly to disburden my Conscience of what I have yet to say By this the world may observe that the Vsurpers of England have by violence removed such as were in power so that no Justice can bee done by them though they were lawfully called to the Government neyther will the Conspirators them selves relieve the Oppressed by Justice though they bee earnestly sought vnto To doe any thing that is good they have neyther will nor courage But theyr study is onely for evill and mischiefe wronge and opression and that continually as may apeare out of what is before mentioned namely the complaint which I made to the Protector of the Army and some others in England in March last Therefore it is of great necessity that all men take speciall heed of these slye secret and cunning deceavors because they by misleading and seducing the people of England within it selfe so by forms and showes of hollynesse as by plausable and faire pretences of indeavoring that Justice and Judgment may take place just like Absolom 2. Sam. 15.2.3.4.5.6 Who seemed to bee Religious as they doe vers 7. But it was to Conspire against the King and the Kingdome as the Rebbels of England have done Then of a sudden they set them selves against such as by the providence of God and the favour of the King and the Law of the Land were set over them First by notorious slaunders in private against such as were farre more honest and Emenent then any of them selves Secondly in a more open and Impudent maner they stird vp many of the meanor sort of people to bee contentious and envious like vnto them selves To wit the Absoloms and the Achithophells against those who it had pleased God to set over them so that theyr very name and savour stanke in the nostrills of all that first discovered theyr cursed plottings Thirdly they have most grosly sedused and beguyld all other Protestants abroad in other Nations yet to my owne knowledge many whereof namely of severall other nations are neyther Cheats Theeves Juggelors nor busy bodies as the Rebbells of England and some of Schotland are as they for many years together have been Yet like Rabshekahs with bould whorelike faces they adresse or assotiate themselves with all Protestants who are Godly harmles at home abroad as if there were no difference betweene the good Protestants of other Contryes that Generation of Tyrants Theeff Murderors in England yet by their fauning colloging together with theyr Lies they have mis-informed and corrupted the mindes of such as would tremble to thinke of doing such things as the Rebbells of England have done yet the mallice of them have caused the other that is to say some Protestants abroad for to Judge amisse of those who are fare more Righteous and harmlesse then any of those who are full of all subtilty by whom to the great greefe of my hart many Protestants of other countryes have beene mis-informed and deceaved I dovnfainedly acknowledge my selfe to bee a Protestant but my faith is not strong enough to beleeve that the name of a Protestant can Justify mee before God if I conspire eyther against Catholickes or Protestants for to murder them or to take away theyr Good Names or Estates all which the Rebbells of England have by fraude and violence done to both and which is worsse to my sorow I finde my selfe to be past hope ever to see any remorce or amendement in the sayd conspirators who accustome them selves to contrive and delight in mischiefs Who cause strife and debate between frind and frind Isai 58.4 betwixt Parents and Children and betwixt Man and Wife Who fast for strife and debate and to smite with the fist of wickednesse Vers 6. The fast that I have chosen saith the Lord is to loose the bands of wickednesse to vndoe the heavy burden and to let the opressed goe free and to breake every yoake But the Rebbells of England by fraud and strong delusions have Murdered their betters with their tounges and wicked hands and taken away the Estates from the fatherlesse and the Widdows vnlesse some small matter they leave to some yet hardly so much as will keepe them alive in regard of the quallety in which they have formerly lived and by the helpe of their hypocritecall Army who have beene instructed and bred by seditious Parents and by some other factious famelyes as by some scismaticall Ministers who for their bellys and filthy lucers sake Rom. 16.18 and by creeping or sneaking into houses have by faire speeches or fanning words deceaved the harts of the simple Where they were not able to seduce men they would cast in theyr poyson where they found silly women who by them were leade away captive 2. Tim. 3.6 such as were laden with divers lusts and by their meanes become contentious against their husbands And these sedusors and their followers are they who have constantly and wickedly incouraged and aplauded the sayd Army who like Doeg the Edomite serve the Conspirators even as Spyes and Informors against the peaceable and tender harted men of England 1. Sam. 22.9.18 whose consciences serve them not to bee Rebbells against their lawfull King and Nation because their soules abhorre it and so doth mine And by the help of the said Armye have Crumwell and his consorts murdered the Fathers and the Pillers of our country vpon whom vnder God the peace and prosperity of England rested And by whose Industrons care the lives liberties and Estates of our Nation of all degrees were in safety 1. Pet. 2.13 14.15 so long as God and the King and those who were sent by him were obayed according
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
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
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
vnder the hand of Mr. Hengh Pieters Minister dated the 17. day of Iune 1634. For the clearing mee of a false Accusation then layd to my charge an other was the Copy of an Act vnder the hands of the Lords of Rotterdam to show that I was a free Broker and the third was a Copy of an Act that I had from the Company my Masters to the intent that Crumwell might vnderstand that I desired nothing but what was as Just as the Cloathes on my back and rather farre shorter then one or two over I signefyed also vnto the said Crumwell that whether the mony were payed or not that I expected nothing neyther would accept of any thing from him or any of his party but from my Masters aforesayd vnder whom I had sufferd and to this purpose I wrote vnto him SIR I hope your Highnesse will grant that though Power and Impudence by violence There is a longer explication of this in Folio 58. drive honest and harmlesse men from their Right and quiet being yet you will not deny but that it is lawfull for men who are opprest and spoyld for to vse the best meanes they can towards the obtaining of Reparation or Restitution as it shall please the Lord to give power or opportunety And I doe comfort my selfe in the Lord my God as some times David did who I hope will gratiously favour my Righteous cause 1. Sam 30.6 neyther hath hee left mee wholy without hope Though I must confesse it sometimes pleaseth God for to suffer lyes craft tyranny and falshoode to prosper and to continew longe Daâ— 8.25 SIR If I should make such a greevous complait without Just and very extreame cause how should I then expect the God of equity to bee on my side or who can I expect shall helpe mee in time of need I hope the Lord will not suffer vayne thoughts for to lodge with in mee nor any evill thing which I blame in others To my sorrow I know that by violence framed and shamelesse Arguments as by other vnlawfull proceedings oft-times a bad cause is kept too long on foote yet that doth not make a bad cause good because it is contrary vnto equity and because the God of Just men is of purer Eyes then to behould evill and who can not looke vpon iniquity vnlesse it bee in his good time to punish such as deale treacherously Habak 1.13 and such as holde their tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more Righteous then hee SIR seeing that my last hope I have left of ever Recovering the sayd somme of Mony is only by the helpe of your Highnesse my sufferinge namely in my person and good name as in matter of my subsistance have beene very great of three twenty yeares continuance Wherefore blame mee not though I earnestly seeke Reparation by such meanes or possibillities as God is pleased to aforde mee I doe most humbly Confesse that I am very large and tedious and you shall doe well to Consider the extremety of my being necessetated herevnto I further signefied vnto the sayd Crumwell besides my greevances at large comprehended in divers Articles as is a foresayd that in case hee did not cause mee to have Iustice as aforesayd seeing that power is in his hand that hee might perceave that I did intend to doe that which would bee very vnwelcom to him and vnto many of his Party and I also added parte of my grounds or Reasons wherfore I would doe it as followeth SIR I doe most humbly show vnto your Highnesse Verbatum that for these many yeares together I have been very much greeved at the proceedings of your Highnesse the Army and others of your Party against the Worde of God the King the Church the Lawes Nation of our Land And that ever since the troubles of England by the Conspiracy of you your Partye as heereafter more at large first began in which time many thousands of the best and most peaceablest famelyes are ruened also by the slight of men and that long in secret my most beloved Nation hath beene in a most wonderfull manner stirred vp and set one against another by such as were the enemies troublers of our Nation so at home as from abroad by which Cursed meanes aboundance of blood have beene spilt for which my soule hath constantly mourned in secreat Jer. 13.12 For which Cause and for other Reasons that I must as yet conceale I have spoken much against the Person and Proceedings of your Highnesse and some others of your Party which by the helpe of the most high God shall be knowen shortly in publicke or in private which I have intended this many yeares but hetherto I have kept it still private vnlesse vpon occasion some wordes darkely have past from mee because I have greatly and alwayes longed to see or heare of a Righteous settlement in England without discovering my selfe and as yet onely my prayers to God Almighty have been my best Indeavours to that purpose And SIR much at convenient time and place I have to say without any wrong or prejudice vnto any others also it will concerne you and many of your Party to know the same in private before it comes in publicke to the world because thereby your evill savour will yet be much more knowne then ever it was or hath been as yet This is the Copye of a Letter from mee to Crumwell the Arch-Rebbell being word for word The Copye of another Letter inclosed to the sayde MR. Streckland for the sayd Crumwell Dated the 28. of March 1657. in Bridges and sent by the ordinary Post by way of Dunkirke For your Highnesse to wit the most vallient Oliver Crumwell Lord Protector of the Army and some others in great Brittaine and Jerland This is also verbatum SIR I doe humbly agayne give you notice that I did write vnto you from Middlebourgh and Flushing in Zeland by one Iohn Simmons a Shippe-Carpentor dwelling neare Noahs Arke not farre from the Millstayres in Horsydowne London Certaine papers of Consequence bearing date the 20. of Feb last But for want of a speedior passage I dated other papers the third and the fourth of March old stile Also I wrote vnto Mr. Hugh Pieters Mr. Walter Streckland to Sir Henry Vaine all whom doe know mee or some times have knowne mee but MR. Pieters Minister best of any of them SIR The Contents of the sayd papers are as followeth I having served the Company of Marchants Adventurors of England some times Residing in Delfe and Rotterdam since the yeare 1634. and though I humbly doe and shall ever Acknowledge many of my sayd Masters both of the first of the last of their Worships some were as good Masters vnto mee as I could wish or desier them to bee yet others of their sayd Worships who were towards me disaffected from the begining of 1634. have from time to time caused my Life
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