Scots gape after this gude Land who with those of other Nations must be Satisfied out of the Purses of our own whilst those that are their Leaders will be gratified with this that and the other Mans Lands and possessions And that this Insinuation is no Fiction but well grounded upon Precedents out of our owne Histories in the Practices of our Kings may appear by the Proceedings of the Conquerer who being forced to extraordinary Courses to satisfie his forein Soldiery made bold so frequently with the Estates of his Subjects that the great Lords of the Kingdom fearing it would come to their Turns at last to part with their Possesions by way of prevention fled out of the Land some into Scotland some into Denmarke and other Parts to trie if by aide from abroad they might recover Themselves and their Fortunes again at home But by this means they hapned to lose all so much the sooner for miscarrying in the Designe their Estates were possess'd and their Offices supplied by the Norman Favorites Thus also King Stephen himself being a Foreiner and relying most upon forein Arms to preserve him in possession was constrained to take the same Course for the satisfaction of his forein Auxiliaries which consisted most of Flemings and Picards whom he especially trusted in his greatest Actions neglecting and oppressing the English Thus did Henry the third also in his wars with the Barons against whom bringing in Foreiners He for reward invested them with others Lands and Honors and laid heavy Impositions besides upon the whole Kingdom to make Them Satisfaction And in those variations of Fortune between the two Houses of Yorke and Lancaster as often as either of Them had occasion to make use of forein Arms to assert their Titles the Estates of the Adverse Party and the Purses of the People were sure to goe to wrack for the Pay of the Soldiery From hence then it appears that if the Prince put himselfe in possession by Arms we shall be so far that way from any ease of our burthens that they will be doubled and trebled yea and tenfolded upon us Lastly The Prince's Confederation with the Scots and our English Presbyters were there no other Reason might be enough to terrifie any ingeniously minded People from giving their assistance be they Royalists or not For if the Kirke be able to bind the Prince to hard Conditions and prove like the Sons of Zeruiah too strong for him so that his Interest bow to theirs then in stead of a Regall which is more tolerable we must all stoop to the intolerable yoke of a Presbyterian Tyranny that will prove a plague upon the Consciences Bodies and Purses of this free Nation The Scots by this means will effect their Designe upon us by stretching their Covenant-union to an equality of Interest with us in our owne Affairs And the English-Grandees of that Party will seat themselves again in the House and exclude all others or else a New Parliament shall be called of Persons of their owne Faction so that if they should carry the day all the Comfort we shall have by casting off the present Governers will be only that we shall have these furious Jockies for our Riders Things perhaps shall be in the old Statu quo as they were when the late King was at Holdenby whose Son must then lay his Scepter at the Foot-stole of the Kirke or else they will restore him by leisure as they did his Father into the exercise of Royalty By which means we should be brought again as far as ever we were from a condition of Settlement and the Common-wealth reduced to Ashes by endlesse Cumbustions On the other Side put case the Prince have the better end of the Staffe of the Presbyters they relying upon his Courtesie as well as the rest of the People then in case he carry the day They and All are at his mercy and no Bar will be in the way to hinder him from an Ascent unto an unlimited Power So that you plainly see this present Combination of Royallists and Presbyters which soever of them be most prevalent must of necessity put the Nation in hazard between Scylla and Charybdis that we cannot chuse but fall into one of the pernicious Gulphs either of Presbyterian or Monarchicall Tyranny All these Particulars being seriously considered how Improbable it is in the first place that the Prince should goe on with Successe in his Designe and then what miserable Inconveniences must needs follow such a Successe in case he prevaile not only to the Prejudice of any one Party but of All I may undeniably conclude that all mistaken Royallists as well as others who live now under the Protection of the present Government are concerned out of necessity and in respect to their owne well-being and benefit to wish well thereunto rather than prosecute the private Interest of a single Family and of a few Fugitives its Dependants to the hazard of their owne Families with the Peace and happinesse of their native Country CHAP. II. Concerning the Scots I Am sorry I must waste Paper upon this Nation but seeing They make Themselves Considerable by being troublesome it will not be amisse to sound the Depth of their present Design which that I may the better doe give me leave to trace them in their Encroachments from the first to the last upon the English Nation Not to mention those of elder date let us begin with King James who being a native Scot out of love to his Country-men or rather to himselfe that he might keep them quiet by stopping their mouths with the sweet morsels of England was pleased to admit many of them into his Court then into his Councell and to be partakers of Honours and Offices equall to the best of our English His Son the late King knowing danger might come of discontent out of the Northern Corner followed the same Course that his Father tooke to oblige Them holding them in Pension giving accesse to all Beggars with such faire Entertainment that most of Them staid here and none returned empty This heaping of Favors upon Some stirred up the Appetites and Emulation of others who seeing themselves neglected and not like to share in any of these Enjoyments by the Favor of the King bethought them of an other way to make Themselves as considerable as the rest of their Country-men and gain an Interest with the English Seeing they could not thrive with the Court They would trie what They could doe without it Hereupon being men of Power in their owne Country They became most Zealous Assertors of the Presbyterian Discipline against the Episcopall by which means they gained the Friendship of all the Religious Party in England then persecuted by the Bishops who were at Court the only Favourites Hereupon these Leaders of the Scotish Presbyterians beginning to grow active and forward in establishing their own Form at home and also to propagate it abroad by encouraging their Friends gave
such an Alarm to the Bishops that they to crosse the Designe fell foule upon all of the Opinion here in England and not onely so but pressed the King to establish an Episcopall Vniformity in both Kingdoms even in Scotland as well as England The forcing of this upon the Scots was a Cause of the Commotions in that Kingdom whereupon a war ensued betwixt the King and Them through the instigation of the Bishops which was soon ended to the Advantage of the Scots in Money and Credit and to the dishonor of the King and the Episcopall Party This happy Successe wrought a very reverend opinion of them in the hearts of the well-affected Party in England who stood for the purity of Religion and a liberty of Conscience against Episcopall power and Innovations as also for the Lawes and Liberties of the Nation invaded by the Prerogative And for redresse of these things the King was necessitated to call a Parliament who not obtaining such Reliefe of Grievances as they expected by reason of a Corrupt Councell of Bishops and others about the King which alienated him from his great Councell the Parliament and afterward caused Him to breake out into a warre against Them were constrained likewise to take Armes in defence of our Liberties Hereupon recourse was had to the Scots for their assistance who having the same Enemies at Court and being equally involved in the same common Danger it was supposed they were concerned in Reason to joyn with the Parliament without any Dispute or Scruple But They considering now was the Time to make their Markets if ever and their owne interest as much English as might be came not off so roundly as was hoped but fell to bartering like Hucksters and no Bargaine would be forsooth without a Covenant They would not joyn except They might be in a manner all one with us and this Vnion must be sealed with that solemn League and Covenant What their meaning was therein we shall know by and by by taking a view of their Actions ever since which are the most sure Interpreters Yet even at that time some men had their eyes in their heads and many Objections were made at divers Expressions in the Covenant and many Desires for explanation of some Articles more fully But the Scots standing stiffe upon their owne Terms and no Conjunction like to be obtained without the Covenant and the necessity of the Parliaments Affairs admitting no delay we were glad to take it as it was offered without further question or Demurrer It was no sooner taken here at London but immediately every one began to make his Advantage through the multitude and ambiguity of Expressions and by it to promote his severall Interest as if it had been made to engage unto a particular Party not to unite two Nations in a common Interest But above all the Scots having had the honor of this Invention conceived themselves much injured by any that denyed them the Prerogative of making an Interpretation and in matter of Religion urged their owne Discipline as the only Patern to Reform the Church by and their Plea had been fair enough out of the Covenant could they have proved it to be according to the word of God which Clause was most luckily inserted Notwithstanding all the Reasons to the Contrary the Scotish Module was still pressed The Scot was willing to ride and having as he thought the English-man fast bridled with a Covenant he began to switch and spur The Throne of the Kirke was the Stalking-horse to catch geese and if that could have been setled then there had been no denying Them whatsoever they would ask They would have seated themselves surely in this fat Soile There would have been no removing them out of our Councels whereof the necessity of our Affaires had made them Members and Partakers For had the Kirk-Interest been once confirmed among us then by vertue of that Authority which they use to controll the Civill power the Parliament must have been subservient to all their ends And since it would have concerned the English Clergy to make their Party strong and maintein Correspondencies for their owne preservation to have gratified their Scotish Founders in all their Desires the Scots might easily have translated the Covenant-union to as good as an absolute Nationall union by gaining a Joynt-Interest with us in our Affairs for ever and consequently in all the Profits great Offices Councels and Concernments of this Nation Now whether this were their Designe or not in the Covenant ab origine I shall not determine but let it be judged by their insolent behaviour here among us after they were admitted to our Counsells and therefore in the next place I shall examine their Proceedings which most evidently represent them in their Intentions It sufficed them not after they were come in that they had an equall Power with us in publique Affairs in the Committee of both Kingdoms at Derby-house which was willingly allowed them for a time so far as concerned the Common cause of both Nations in prosecuting the war but driving a Powerfull Party in both Houses They tooke upon them to meddle with matters relating to the future Peace and Settlement of this Nation distinct from their owne and to provide for an equall Interest with us therein The first most notable Evidence of this though there had been many before was discovered at the Vxbridge-Treaty where Propositions of both Houses for Peace being presented to the King it was found the Scots had so far Provided for Themselves by their Party in the Houses That in time to come the ordering of the English Militia the Power of making War and Peace and all other Prerogatives of Government were to be administred by a proportionable number of Scots as well as English A thing so ridiculous and an Encroachment so palpable that the King Himself in one of His Answers took notice of it and said He was not so much an Enemy to the English Nation as to signe those Propositions or somewhat I am sure to this Purpose A second evidence or discovery of their Encroachments was made upon their delivering in divers Papers to the Parliament at severall times wherein they disputed their Claim and ventured their Logick upon the Letter of the Covenant to prove an Interest in disposall of matters meerly relating to our welfare which they re-inforced afterwards with new Recruits of Argument when the King came into their Army But not knowing well how to maintaine their Arguments They were contented for that time to quit Them and their King too upon such Terms as are notorious to all the world who being at length reduced under the Power of the Parliament and Army Propositions of Peace were sent to him at Hampton-Court wherein no such Provision being made for the Scotish Interest as was in those at Vxbridge their Commissioners here protested against them accused the Parliament of Breach of Covenant and complained highly in one of their
Declarations that they should be so neglected This may serve as a third evidence of their Covenant-designe of Encroachment whereto may be added one more when the King was at Carisbrooke Castle whither the Commissioners of Parliament were no sooner arived with Propositions againe but the Scots Commissioners were at hand and for the same reason protested furiously against Them By which insolent demeanors and expressions from time to time and crying up the Covenant for their defence it is clear enough what their Intentions were when they urged it upon us and that notwithstanding all the specious Pretences of brotherly Love their Designe in it hitherto hath beene onely to scrue themselves into an equall Interest with us in this Nation Having smelt out their Project thus farre give me leave to trace them on to the end as briefly as may be The Royall Party being totally suppressed and so no further occasion to make use of the Scotish Army the Parliament with some difficulty made shift to send them home into their own Kingdome But being defeated of their Aims and expectations they could not so rest having failed of their ends by pretending for Parliament they resolved next to try what they could do upon the Kings Score and so the Grandees turn'd the Tables in hope of an After-game by closing with Hamilton upon the Royall Accompt not doubting but if they gained the day this way to recompence their Travels with much more Advantage The Covenant like a nose of wax apt to be turned any way served this enterprize every jot as well as the former though the Designe were different from what it was the great ones not caring much what became of the Kirk Interest since they had agreed for the security of their owne which must needs have been very considerable if they could have redeemed the King and restored him into the condition of an absolute Monarch Therefore the Kirk seeing themselves left thus in the Lurch thundered out their Curses amaine upon that Hypocriticall Engagement as destructive to the Covenant But the Grandees being at a losse in this likewise upon Hamilton's Defeat and followed home to their owne dores by the brave English Army were glad to cry Peccavi to the Kirk and also to our English Commanders whom they dismissed with many promises of fair Carriage for the future Within a while after a new dore of hope being opened to them by the supposed Succession of the late Kings Son They to ingratiate with him proclaime him their King and here the Grandees and the Kirk joyning hands againe become friends and offer their Service for his restitution upon Terms of the Covenant which is their Plea now at this very day So that the Covenant which was pretended to be framed at first for the preservation of this Parliament and the Liberties of the People against the usurpations of regall Power is now that the Scots can serve their designe no longer that way become the Ground of their present Combination with the Prince and their Presbyterian Brethren in England for the destruction of our Liberties being resolved this way since they have failed in all the rest to trie whether they can accomplish their profane Projects through the Covenant by insinuating themselves into places of Honour Profit and Power that they may domineere in the possessions as their Pharisaicall Priests would over the Consciences of the English Thus having made way in discovering what the designe of the Scots ever hath beene and is at this Instant under the faire Covert of the Covenant certainly no man that is master of an English spirit but will abhorre the Hypocriticall pretences and Encroachments of that perfideous Nation And therefore now that all men may beware how they be drawne into an Engagement with them I shall according to my way manifest first the Improbability of their Successe and then the Inconveniences which must necessarily follow in case their designe be successefully effected First As to the Improbability of Successe consider by way of Comparison the great difference between the English and Scotish Soldiery Ours are heightned with extraordinary Pay bravely accomplished strong Horse well disciplin'd veterane Soldiers better Spirited by reason of a more generous education and to all these add the advantage of being Englishmen and the Reputation of having been so long victorious let these considerations be laid in the balance against the Scots fresh men for the main newly raised a People of farre lesse generous Soules poor in Body Pay and other Accommodations save what they have purchased by proguing here in England Judge then in reason what these are able to doe against so brave an Army that contemns and scorns Them as having beaten them with a handfull in comparison of their numbers home to their owne dores an Army that to all worldly Advantages hath hitherto had a speciall Protection from Heaven God having Sealed them for his owne by many miraculous victories and Successes to the wonder of the whole world Secondly consider that our English Army are all of a Nation Natives and unanimous especially upon the appearance of any Invaders whereas the Scotish will be made up of divers Factions Royalists and Presbyterians that com in pursuance of different ends which for the time that they continue together must needs be a cause of many Confusions and partialities of Counsells to the prejudice of their Enterprises and Proceedings a spring of perpetuall Emulations that will soone untwist the Confederacy so that in short time they must fall asunder like a Rope of Sand and the private Soldiery be disposed to entertaine thoughts of some new Engagement to the ruine of the first Thirdly We shall not only be provided for them here if they dare be so unworthy as to invade us but 't is like this Common-wealth may find work for them at home and to cure their madnesse divert the humour with Phlebotomie by way of Revulsion Fourthly It is like they will be farre from running much hazard to gain Successe unto the Designe For if they provr a little unfortunate the humour will alter one good beating will make them understand there is another way of Interest and Thriving than under the wings of Royalty It may chance to make them remember because they cannot forget how long they have lived without a King in Scotland while the Grandees and the Kirk did all and that the English have dealt more ingenuously to have no King than a Presbyterian Mock-King One Rout with this consideration puts them presently into the humour of a Republique as well as England And then they will have no more work to doe but to raise the Market and get Chap men for their King to put him off handsomly that they may pay their Army and goe home again like Scots Lastly the Scots having no just Ground of a Warre against England can hardly be prosperous in the Attempt The Covenant can be none being extinct as I have proved in the former part of
should satisfie the Grandees and Leaders any other way than by promising large accessions of Interest with other mens Honours and Possessions even those men's perhaps that are the Moderate Sort of Transgressors For in such Cases it is usuall to stretch all Offences upon the Wrack to supply the necessities of the Conquerour and then if this happen 't is like a Scotch Covenanters stomack will allow no distinction betwixt Presbyter and Independent but may digest the estate of an English Covenanter without so much as a Scruple of Regret or Compassion Lastly it is a very great wonder since the present Stage-play of the Covenant and the Actors are brought on this side the Curtain and we know what they are through all their disguise and what they aime at That yet many of our English should be so stupid as to be led away with their Cheates and Pretences for a King and Reformation Also since it is evident that their chief Leaders and Sticklers gape onely after Profit and Preferment and according to the Custome of all Forreiners in Arms will make no difference between Friend and Foe so they may satisfie their covetous and ambitious Ends since the whole People likewise must of necessity be harased with innumerable Taxes to pay the rabble of their Souldiery certainly no true English heart can be so degenerous as to forward or countenance them in their invading this Nation Now for a Conclusion to the whole that these Particulars may appeare more solid then mere Insinuations give me leave to confirme them by many Authentick examples it being an ordinary Case in the world That * Commonwealths and Kingdomes have been oppressed often by those Foreiners that came or were invited in as Friends to give their assistance Here before I proceed let me call to minde a Story of the Hedghog in the Fable who being almost dead with Cold chanced to light upon a Foxes Kennel where asking for entertainment the Fox more compassionate than wise grants his Request But the Hedghog as soone as he recovered warmth began to bristle and prick the Fox who complaining of his unworthy carriage the Hedghog made Answer that if he found him troublesome he might leave him and seek a new Lodging I shall make no application but leave those that would entertaine the Scots as their Friends to consider whether they should finde more Courtesie from them if They had power here then the Fox did from the Hedghog or than other Nations have had from the friendly Pretences of Forain Auxiliaries Concerning this there are severall Precedents Tht Macâ—donians being invited by the Thebans to assist them against the Phocians made a shift not onely to seat themselves among the Thebans but under the conduct of King Philip made way to the Conquest of all Greece So the Persians comming as Friends to aid one party in a civill division in Caria suppressed both and deprived that Common-wealth of its liberty And the Carthaginians in the first Punick Warre received more prejudice from the Celâ—ae their Confederates and Brethren in Covenant than from the Romans their Enemies The Goths and Vandals being invited by the Emperour Theodosius for his assistance deprived him of Italy and Spain Afterward the Longbeards or Lombards being called in by Narses against the Goths seated themselves for above 200 years in that part of Italy which from them was called Lombardy A Quarrel hapning between the two Saracen Sultans of Persia and Babylon the Persian called in the Turks under the Conduct of their Captain Tangrolipix out of Scythia who seated Themselves first in a part of his Dominions In the Chronicles of Judah we read how King Ahaz invited Tilglath-pilneser King of Assyria to his Assistance against the Edomites who comming as a Friend did him exceeding prejudice and laid a Designe then for the Conquest of Hierusalem which was afterwaâ—d effected Josephus tels us likewise how that Pompey being called to assist Hircanus in the recovery of the Kingdome of Judaea out of the Hands of his yonger brother Aristobulus took occasion hereby to reduce it under the Roman obedience In the time of the Emperour Fredrick the 3. the Princes of Italy being in contention the Pope called in the Spaniard and severall other Princes to compose the Quarrel which being done a new one arose betwixt the Auxiliary Princes for the Lordship of Italy but the Spaniard drave away the rest and made bold to keep possession for himselfe Thus likewise the Spaniards being invited into Sicily and Naples to free them from the French did indeed expell the French but possessed both Kingdomes themselves On the other side a Controversie arising between Lewis and John Sforza for the Dutchie of Milain John called in the Spaniards to his Party and Lewis the French But the French driving out John and the Spaniards made themselves at that time Masters of the Duke-dome and carried their Friend Lewis away Prisoner into France Thus in old time our Ancestors the Saxons being called in by Vortigern the British King to assist him against the Invasions of the Picts and Scots turned their Arms against the Britans and driving them into Wales transmitted the possession of this Island to us their Posterity So the Scots likewise as Bodin saith being called in to the assistance of the Picts against the Britains possest themselves of the best part of that Kingdome which they hold at this day And now I would faine know of the Admirers of the Scotish Nation that if The Scots come in hither with their King upon their Shoulders and their fine Flourishes of pretended Friendship what assurance they can have that they shall not serve us the same sauce as their Ancestors did the Picts and as ours did the Britans or as others did other Nations whom they oppressed under as glorious Pretences in case They should get the power in their hands Especially since of late time They have made so many pelpable Discoveries of Encroachment upon the English Nation Seeing therefore that their Covenant-Cause appears a Cause for intrenchment upon our Nationall Interest rather than for Religion or Monarchy I may reasonably conclude that it concerns all Parties whatsoever if not for the Improbability of their Successe and the Miseries that would follow it yet out of a detestation of their Designe to abhor Them in their Invasion CHAP. III. Concerning the English Presbyterians WHence it was and for what ends Presbytery was first brought into this Nation is not here to be disputed But if we grant the Intentions of its first Fautors to be pure in the Fountain yet it appears polluted in the Streams by the Corruption of their Successors For as the primitive Pretences of it were high and glorious in the innocence of its Cradle so being grown up to a full Stature it hath after the manner of all other things that participate of worldly mixtures in time contracted so many adulterations of
this Treatise besides I shall adde one Reason more It cannot in common sense be supposed to have been intended as an eternall obligation binding both Nations for ever or to bind the English Nation with an implicite Faith to whatsoever the Scots should expound to be righteous and necessary to be done here for ever by way of Government But it appeares intended onely for a certain time for the prosecution of certaine Ends which were common to both Nations as Affaires then stood and therefore being of a transient nature because those Ends by the alteration of Time and other Circumstances are found either not possible or inconvenient the obligation expires of it self This being the state of the Covenant neither the Scots nor any other Party can found a Warre upon it in Reason or Justice If so then having no other Ground for a Warre but Covetuousnesse Emulation and Ambition which as I shewed in the Preamble of this Chapter have been cloaked under the Covenant in all their Ingagements the hand of Heaven will assuredly be against them for their unchristian Practices as may appeare by these examples following First The Athenians carried on with Covetousnesse Emulation and a desire to possesse themselves of the Riches of the Lacedemonians were the Author of the Peloponesian Warre the consequence whereof was that it ended with the subversion of their City walls and the miserable slavery of their People The same end likewise had the Carthaginians for moving an ambitious War against the Romans by the Instigation of Hannibal as also had the Thebans for their unjust invading the Macedonians It is observable likewise how that * Babilonian Queen and Virago as Diodorus Siculus tels us being greâ—dy after the Wealth of the Indians invaded them by an unjust Warre in hope to make a Conquest but the Issue was that she was forced to flie home again most shâ—mâ—fnlly for the safety of her life Thus Xerxes invading Greece with a world of Men and Ships was in the end glad of a poor Fishing-boat to get home out of Europe to a worse destiny in Asia being slaine immediately after his Return by his Uncle Aâ—taâ—anâ—s Upon the like occasion Cyrus lost his Army and his life and to quench his Bâ—oud-thirsty humour his Head was cut off and cast into a Hogs head fill'd with Bloud by the Scythian Queen Thus likewise Mark Anthony not content with half the Empire of the World invading his Partner Octavius for the whole lost all being taken alive at mercy laid violent hands on himself to prevent the Fury of the Conquerour Thus Crassus another Roman being of the Scotch Religion a sacred hunger after Gold invaded the Parthians without cause against the advice of the Senate in which expedition he lost his Army and Life and the Parthians considering what he came for poured Molten Gold into his Mouth in Triumph and Mockery To these Examples out of profane History let me adde a few out of the Sacred You may read 2 Kings 15. how Senacherib the King of Assyria mad an impious invasive War against Hezekiah King of Judah the consequence whereof was the Confusion of his Army and Revenge followed him to his own home so close at the heels that it was executed upon him by his owne Sons while he was at his superstitious devotion in the midst of his Idols Nor have wicked Princes onely beene punished for invading the good but you may read also that the good have had ill Successe in invading the bad Thus good Josiah a most religious Prince warring without cause against Pharaoh Nicho King of Aegypt received his deaths wound at Megiddo and after his death the same King Pharaoh to right himself of the Injury done him by Josiah waged Warre and by Gods permission subduing the Land made the whole Nation Tributary and took King Jehoahaz the Sonne of Josiah and carryed him Prisoner into Aegypt Also another good King of Judah by name Amaziah provoking Jehoash a wicked King of Israel without cause to Battel was utterly Routed the City of Hierusalem taken the Walls demolished the Temple spoiled and Amaziah himself carried away Prisoner to shew how much the Lord of Hosts and God of Battell it displeased with unjust Wars that he will not prosper them though made by his own People against the wicked that are his Enemies But there is one example more which me thinks is very pertinent to our purpose and that is of Ishbosheth the Son of King Saul who laying claim to the Kingdome after his Father by prerogative of Succession made War against David who was chosen King by Gods owne appointment But to shew that Hereditary Succession is no Plea to justifie a Warre against the Powers that are ordained by him he placed marks of displeasure against all that took part with Ishbosheth so that in the end Ishbosheth had his Head strook off by some Commanders of his own Party and brought to David Now I leave this unto those that list to make the Application And withall they may doe well to consider how the Spaniard prospered in 88. in his Invasion against England how ill he hath thrived ever in his Attempts against the Hollander And as for the Scots I suppose that as it concerns them to consider the sad example of the late Hamiltonian Invasion so they and their Adherents may learn from all these together That God will never prosper them if they proceed in their unrighteous Combination Having shewn the Improbability of the Scots successe I shall in the next place discover the great Inconveniences and hazards that our Nation must needs undergoe in case it should happen First It being evident that their designe in urging the Covenant upon us hath been to insinuate themselves into an equall Interest with us in our own Nation it is to be supposed that having hitherto been defeated of their long-expected Prey they come now to prosecute it with the greater appetite And it is to be presumed they will not serve the King with the Covenant at an easier rate than they intended it should have cost the Parliament Secondly It is to be feared this so much desired Interest of theirs may if opportunities fall out right for their Turns be driven on farther by the Sword than yet we are aware of A Nationall Vnion hath been whisper'd often among them heretofore and there 's no doubt but they will bid high for it if ever they have occasion And then it must needs be a very fine world when we are confounded with a Miscelany of Scotish and English when Scots shall be Competitors with us in point of Priviledge vie wealth with us in our own Possessions Honours and Dignities and either impose new Lawes upon us or alter the Old as may make most for their Advantage Thirdly That these things may be is probable enough since their King having no other rewards to give them it is impossible he
kept him languishing whereas his owne †Party say others were more courteous in sending him to an heavenly In short I affirm that the present Powers have done nothing now in altering the Government but what was done in effect before or must have been done by the Presbyterian Party Thirdly But suppose what in reason cannot be supposed that the Prince could forget old Injuries and that the necessities of the chiefe of his Party should bring down their Stomacks to a compliance with Presbyterie yet the main Body of that Party will never comply in a course so destructive to every mans Interest of Conscience and Liberty nor venture their Lives and Estates to establish a Faction which they beleeve to aspire toward an intolerable Tyranny over Magistrates and People Lastly the Presbyterians Themselves may doe well to consider what Successe they are like to have in their union with a Prince whose Interest is already declared to be Revenge for the ruine of his Father Though They laid him not down upon the Block yet They brought him to the Scaffold and when time serves the Philosopher's Maxime will prove good Logick at Court Qui vult media ad finem vult etiam ipsum finem He that wills the meanes conducing to the end wills also the end it selfe Ergo will the Courtiers say since the Presbyterians put such Courses in practise as tended to the Kings Ruine they certainly intended it and are as guilty as others But to illustrate this a little give me leave to close up this particular with a notable example It hapned that Clearchus the Tyrant of Heraclea was by a Conspiracy of the Grandees driven out of his Dominions they hoping when he was gone to have all power in their owne hands but there started up a Party of the People which prevented them and setled the State in a condition of Liberty and Freedome Hereupon the Grandees in disdain and revenge against this new Party conspired against the Common-wealth and brought back Clearchus into possession The Tyrant being thus restored instead of gratifying them that had a hand in his restitution consulted to satisfie both his owne Revenge upon them for having opposed him at first and also the discontents of the People against them for their having deprived them of their late Liberty and therefore all the reward they received for bringing him back was that he Sentenced them all to a most shamefull Execution This is the Story and now I leave those Presbyterians that dreame of high Successe in bringing back the Prince to make application As for the Inconveniences which the Presbyterian Designe would bring upon the whole Nation guesse at them by these Particulars following I shall passe by those Inconveniences which must ensue their Combination with the Scots having sufficiently mentioned them in the former Chapter and consider those only that would follow the establishment of their Presbyteriall Discipline First Besides the many mischiefs it would bring upon the Nation in generall the Royalist◠of all others can receive no content in it being absolutely destructive to Regall Dignity It never was embraced yet by any one Nation in a Nationall Form but by Scotland This as one * hath observed was done during the minority of King James when the Lords and Clergy ruling all as they listed at length parted Stakes though the Clergy then got and still hold the better that when he came to Age he found the Fable of Ixion's Juno moralised upon himself For as he imbraced a Cloud in stead of a Goddesse so the King when he thought to grasp his Scepter laid hold on a Manacle which kept his hands so fast during his abode there that he could never Act but what they pleased to let him according to their owne Directory of Kirk and State And in processe of time this heat of Presbytery proved such an Hectick in the body Politick of Scotland that the substance of Kingly Power was utterly consumed and nothing left as we see at this day but the bare Bones the very skeleto◠of a Monarchy witnesse the absolute Power now exercised by their Parliament and the Generall Assembly of the Kirk-men but especially of this latter which like to the Rod of Aaron is in such a budding thriving condition that it hath devoured the Rod of Moses as his did those of the Magicians of Aegypt and proves a Scourge to the Magistracy and People Secondly the difference betwixt the present Powers and Them is only this That they would not have a King so much as in Name the Presbyterians would have no more but the Name of King a Scar-crow of Royalty The State in down-right terms have declared themselves Free the other pretend to maintain the Monarchicall Form yet actually destroy the very Fundamentalls of Monarchy And now I would faine know of the deluded Royalist which of the two deals most ingenuously and if the Presbyters take place wherein he can conceive his Party will receive any Advance or Advantage For besides that this mad Discipline destroyes Bishops and clips the wings of Regality it will intrench also upon the Lawyers curb the Gentry in their own Lordships by a strange way of parochiall Tyranny and bring all People into the condition of mere Gally-slaves while the blind Priests sit at the Stern and their Hackney-dependants the Elders hold an Oar in every Boat For Thirdly were those Priests seated here as they are in Scotland in a sure Succession then as it hath been long since * observed in Print a Correspondence being cherished between a Clergy of the same garb and humour in both Countries They might finely losse Thunderbolts of excommunication on both sides to gratifie each other and so be able to terrifie all Persons that dare be averse in either Nation and promote such onely to places of Honour and Profit whose poorer Spirits will vassalize their Genius to serve the ends of their Kirk-domination In hope of this it is that we have so much bauling about the Covenant and rather than faile of it Oh how they pant after the Scots who cannot chuse but laugh in their sleeves at them to see them drive on the work at the perill of their Necks the new Scotish Combination being as I have shewn but a fresh On-set to the first Designe of encroaching upon English Interest and the mainteining of a Faction here to serve the Aims of Scotland and the Ambition of a few Scotified English some particular Grandees among the Laity and obscure Rabbies of the Clergy who are content to share dominion with the Scots and so they may do that care not though they betray the whole Common-wealth and State of the Nation Fourthly it being cleare that the Plot of Presbytery is carryed on meerly for these unworthy ends what madnesse is it for any men that pretend wisdome to hazard Themselves and their Fortunes to draw on the guilt of innocent bloud by embroyling their Countrimen only to
submit to them so far as not to presume to dispute how they came by their Power and this course is most agreeable to the sense of all Expositors the practice of all Times and the voice even of naturall reason since the opening of a gap to question Supreme Powers and touch the tender eye of their Authority would let out all into Confusion Tumult following Tumult like Billow upon Billow till the world were over-whelm'd with a Sea of Miseries and Distractions Object But some may object If there be such a necessity of submission to Supreme Powers without questioning them how then can this Parliament be justified in having questioned the King at their first sitting for divers of his Actions Answ I answer there is a difference betwixt Supreme Power and the Exercise of it The controversie was not at first concerning his Right of Government but the abuse of it by way of male-administration in defence of which abuses he took Arms and so by the Law of Arms losing his Right as is proved before the Power descended to those that are now in possession whose Right we ought no more to question than at first we did his their power deriving as naturall a pedegree from Heaven as his did and being as legally confirmed by the Law of Arms and Nations as ever that was which he held from his Predecessors Now in that the 13. to the Romans commands a submission and obedience in general Termes it is not meant to all Powers in the arbitrary exercise of their Power in time of Peace but to all Supreme Powers in point of Title be it setled upon them by * Right of War Inheritance or any other way And to support this exposition give me leave here to introduce two of the main Pillars of Reformation Bucer and Calvin men famous in their generations whose Testimonies may serve once for all touching that so much controverted Chapter to the Romans The Apostle saith Calvin upon the place seemes here to go about to take away the frivolous cuâ—iosity of men who use often to inquire by what Right those which have Command did get their Authority But it ought to suffice us that they are in preeminence For they did not get up to this height by their owne strength but are set over us by the hand of God And saith Bucer also on the same place When a Question is made whom we should obey it must not be regarded what he is that exerciseth the Power or by what Right or wrong he hath invaded the Power or in what Form he dispence it but onely if he have Power For if any man doth excell in power it is now out of doubt that he hath received that power from God wherefore without all exception thou must yeild thy self up to him and heartily obey him Seeing now all Supreme Powers are of God and that the Apostle commands subjection to them but damns Resistance it is clear then as to our case here in England that we owe Submission to the present Governors and that no private man hath any warrant out of the Word to satisfie his Conscience in the lawfulnesse of such Actions as tend to disturb or thrust them out of possession therefore according to this second Supposition of the Doctor no Oath being of Force to bind the Conscience further then a man may lawfully Act it followes evidently the case thus standing that the Old Allegiance is cancell'd and we bound to admit a New and that both it and the Covenant have now no influence at all over us but are utterly void and of none effect 3 The third tacit condition or Supposition implied in all Oaths is saith the Doctor Rebus sic Stantibus as long as things continue thus it being to be presumed that when I swear to performe any thing I do it with this tacit Reservation if I be not hindred by an alteration of Affairs But if such an alteration happen that neither the same persons nor things are in being which I swore to maintaine my Oath is at an end and the obligation ceaseth which now is our very Case here in England the Government being changed and new Governors set over us For this the learned Grotius hath one instance very pertinent to our purpose An Oath saith he binds a man no longer if the quality or condition of the person to whom he swore be altered As for example if he that was a Magistrate cease to be a Magistrate In evidence whereof the same Author alledgeth a saying of Caesar's to the Souldiers of Domitius when Domitius was a Prisoner They were unwilling to serve Caesar because of the military Oath they had taken for the other But to take away this scruple saith Caesar to them Sacramento quidem vos tenère quî potuit quum projectis fascibus deposito Imperio privatus captus ipse in alienam venisset potestatem How can he hold you bound by Oath any longer being outed of his Authority and Command remaining a private man and a prisoner under the power of another Alas * your Oath ended together with his Authority Thus also according to this third Supposition of the Doctor's it is plainly to be inferred that since Affairs of State stand not now in England as they were when we took the Oath of Allegiance or the Covenant but a new Government is erected therefore our obligation to the former is totally extinguished And if the obligation be extinct as I have proved in the several particulars before-mentioned then the consequence is as plain that neither of those Oaths can be a ground sufficient to justifie any Royalist or Presbyterian in denying a submission to the present Government or to raise a new war within the Nation Part II. HAving in the former Part as I think fully manifested the necessity and equity my designe in the next is to shew the utility and Benefit of a Submission This I shall doe by stating the nature of the Designes of the severall Parties claiming an Interest in this Nation Viz ROYALISTS SCOTS PRESBYTERIANS LEVELLERS as they stand in opposition to the present Government and would each of Them introduce a New Form of their owne And that you may the better understand Them and their Affaires I shall in plain Method for the more easie Conviction proceed upon these Particulars First The great Improbability of effecting their Designes Secondly The grand Inconveniences which must needs follow in case either of Them be effected to the prejudice of the whole Nation Thirdly The Excellency of a free State or Common-wealth as it is now established in England and what happinesse we may reap thereby After I have handled the 2 former as they hold relation to the severall Parties I shall bring up the Rear with the Third by way of Conclusion CHAP. I. Concerning the Royall Party THE Royallists are of two Sorts First such as adhere to the Prince out
of necessity Secondly such as adhere to him out of humor The former are Those who being hopelesse of a Return or of the recovery of their Fortunes by way of Reconcilement are constrained to run any hazard abroad with the head of their Party and turne every stone to over-turn the present Powers here in England that they may set up Themselves The latter Sort of Royallists are such as though they served heretofore under the Royall Standard yet through the Favour of the Parliament have re-gained possession of their Estates And therefore being re-invested with their Fortunes They are loth as yet to attend the Prince in person though they follow him with their wishes and would be glad to imbrace any Designe underhand or perhaps when time serves appear here again in the Field to make way for his Advancement These may not improperly be called humorous Royallists because they have only an obstinate and vain-glorious humor for the ground of their behaviour without any respect of Advantage to Themselves but are ridden by the other to carry on the highRoyall designe of Particular persons and run a new hazard of their own To restore the single Family of a Prince suppressed by the Almighty they seeme willing to Venture the destruction of all their own Families and to serve the ends of certain Persons about him men whose Fortunes are desperate they are apt to foole themselves into the losse of their owne as they must needs doe if the Prince mis-carry in his Enterprize whereas if he should carry it with Successe They will be then but where they were They can be but Masters of what they have already The high Ranters and Fugitives are they that will be look't on at Court Those Bell-weathers of Royalty will bear away the Bell of Preferment whilst the poore Countrey-Royallists both Gentry and Yeomen shall be glad to drudge and plow to pay those yet unknown Taxations which must needs be collected to satisfie the forlorn Brethren of the Sword the many yonger Brothers and Strangers which will come in with the Grandees in hope to purchase a Fortune by squeezing the Publique All which being considered it is awonder to see how They feed Themselves with Phant'sies who pretend in this Nation to the restitution of Royality how their eyes are dazled with that Sun which seems to rise upon their Party supposing the golden Agâ— must needs return again with him and that he will climb up to the Meridian in spight of all opposition But to give them a Cooler for these Conceits I shall more particularly according to the Method before propounded shew first the Improbability of Successe in the new Royall Designes and then the grand Inconveniences that would follow such a Successe that all mistaken Persons may see how far they wander to the hazard of themselves out of that way which leads to the future happinesse of this Nation As to the Improbability of the Prince's Successe in his Designe First he is like to have but a slender Supply of forein Aids For the Affairs of Christendom are at this time so disposed that some Princes want leisure others ability to assist Him And divers there are which refrain for particular Reasons of State The Spaniard hath other Fish to frie keeping a serious eie upon France and lying at Catch against Portugal Besides there are severall Reasons not fit here to mention which may dispose him rather to imbrace the Amity of this Common-wealth as it is now established and whereof there is some hope were there no other ground in that he hath given our Agent a friendly reception So likewise hath the King of Portugall too another Agent and how far he is from neglecting our Friendship may appear by his Demeanour toward our Fleet in the Port of Lisbon where he hath given them the like Freedom and entertainment as he doth to Rupert carrying himselfe indifferently between both though he seem a little to incline somewhat more toward Rupert not out of any good will but only in regard of his Pre-engagement to that Party The King of France hath his hands full enough at home so that he hath little list or leisure to mind Affairs abroad being jealous not only of the Spaniard but even of his owne Subjects by reason of their regret at the insupporrtable Taxes the Discontents and Bandyings of his Parliaments in the severall Provinces and the Partisans of the Imprisoned Princes all which seem to threaten if not the Monarchy it Self yet the Family of the Monarch Denmark hath hitherto given but a coole Acknowledgment of so neare an alliance having been at the best but a Retiringplace for Montrose seconding this with some other slight superficiall courtesies one of the best of which was to rid their hands of their Guest by lending him a few Bottoms first to seek his better Fortune in Swethland and then to waft him and his Forlorn hope toward their long homes into Scotland Some such triviall Supplies likewise may be expected from the Swede with a few Complements from the Emperour and German Princes their jealousies of each other not permitting them to spare their Forces For whosoever considers the Delayes and Shifts made by the Emperour and his party in performing the Articles of Peace and on the other side the resolution of the Swede and that Party to have them fully performed together with those heart-burnings among them which break out often into Flames in every Corner may easily imagine the peace of Germany is not long-liv'd and therefore that neither of those Princes will part with many of their Soldiery The Hollanders esteem it a safe way to conform themselves ever to the Prevailing Party in England having Reason above all others to prize the Friendship and Amity of the English Nation And though some common Courtesies are expressed there to the Prince by way of entertainment yet these are done rather to comply with the desires of the Prince of Orange than out of any inclination or affection to the Royall Party whereas the Sence of the States Provinciall and in them the meaning of the whole People is to preserve a strict Correspondence with the Common-wealth of England Nor do they relish those close Combinations between the Prince of Orange and his Brother fearing so great an Alliance may dispose Orange to aspire and establish a greater Interest of his own than is meet for a Member of a Republique if Monarchy come to its height again in England which they ought by no means to desire but rather that England should continue as it is not onely for the former Reason but also for that such a Neighbourhood would be concerned in Reason to admit Them into a nearer Friendship and Complication of Interests than ever they can hope from a Monarchy These things being considered the Prince hath small hope of Successe in regard of any considerable Supplies from Forein Princes Secondly Put case he can by the help of the many fugitive English the
Scots and Supplies drain'd out of the Dregs of severall Countries make shift to patch up an Army or two to trie his Fortune yet 't is ten to one but They ruine his Designe For first the introducing of Forrainers will soone alienate the Affections of the English as experience hath proved in all times Secondly Auxiliatores conducti ex diversis locis nec disciplinâ inter se nec affectione consentiunt †Mercenary Auxiliaries that are collected out of severall Nations seldome agree either in disciplin or Affection The reason of this is given by the same Author For saith he since the Customes of Nations are diverse therefore men of severall Countries differing both in habit and manners cannot long continue together without discovering an Antipathy or Contrariety in their natures even to the ruine of that Party with whom they are ingaged To passe by the Testimonies of many other States men we have two very pertinent ones afforded us out of our own Affaires witnes that emulation discovered between the Scots and English in the Hamiltonian Invasion and also of late between the English and Irish under Ormond in Ireland whereupon the English chose rather to joyn with the Parliament-Party than continue any longer ingaged with the Irish Lastly Those Forrain Mercenaries will upon the least misfortune of War desert the Prince and take up Arms under the Parliament For as saith Patritius The * Faith of Mercenaries depends upon Fortune and if she turn to the Adverse Party thither They follow and incline their hopes and affections Yea so little trust is to be given to these Mercenaries that notwithstanding their Condition be good yet saith another †They are easily corrupted with Money and with rewards and promises of better Pay bought over to any other Party respecting gaine much more than the Cause of their Engagement Judge then how the Prince is like to thrive with his Forrain Auxiliaries if he shall have any either in England or Scotland for the Reason of these Things holds good in one Nation as well as another Thirdly since it appeares how small Successe he is like to have by the Aides of other Princes let us see whether he have any better hopes by Forrain Aid out of Scotland or Ireland to make a Conquest of England As for Ireland he hath but poore expectations thence since the Lord Lieutenâ—nt hath swept away those Adversaries with the Besome of Vengeance and made way by a continued chain of miraculous Successes to Shackle that Rebellious Nation and doubts not ere long to bind their Princes with Chaines and their Nobles with links of Iron since every month brings in fresh Laurels of Victory to their Terror and amazement But Ireland being given for lost let us see next whether the Royallists are like to receive any more comfort from Scotland It s an old saying Nullum bonum ex Aquilone No good comes out of the North and of all others Royallists should be the least apt to beleeve any benefit to come out of that Nation from whence proceeded the Ruine and Destruction of the late King and all their Party nor can they hope much better of them in time to come For first They adhere to the Prince not out of any love to his Interest but onely in hope to settle their own upon his Shoulders and therefore if they can make a better Bargain elsewhere they wil cast him off or if he be in their power sell him off as they did his Father upon the first occasion What else can he expect from a Party whose Interest was first founded upon the ruine of his Great Grand-mother continued and augmented to the perpetuall vexation of his Grand father and at length prosecuted to the destruction of his Father Secondly it is impossible to reconcile the two Parties Royall and Presbyterian even as impossible King James was wont to say as to reconcile God and the Devill Thirdly if They cannot be reconciled or stand together then whatsoever Agreemens may be made it will be but from the Teeth outward nor can there be an union betwixt them upon any designe but in the prosecution thereof they will mind the advancement of their severall Interests which must make them jealous of each other divided and partiall in their Counsels and cause the inward rancor to break out to the prejudice and utter ruine of the whole Engagement Fourthly let the Scots invade us again upon the Royall or what score else they please They will never be endured especially in the Northern Parts having heretofore by their perfidious and Tyrannical behaviour fixed an odious Impression upon the Spirits of the People and quickned the old Antipathy betwixt the two Nations So that if the Prince come in with them or by them he will fare never the better but much worse for their Sakes or their Company Lastly they come if they dare come a most nasty lowzie beaten Generation against one of the most generous best accomplished and most Victorious Armies in Christendome an Army that must needs be dishonoured by such an Enemy from whom neither Credit nor Advantage is to be gotten yet it is meet they should be chastized since the Almighty out of love to the future Peace of our Nation seemes to decree that Belial and Dagon Montrose and the Kirk with her Worthies should be sent after Hamilton This indeed would be a fair step to Reformation by letting out the Corruption of that Country which sticks like a Scab upon the faire Body of this Fortunate Island Now in the last place to conclude this particular touching the Improbability of the Prince's Successe since he hath little ground to hope for any by the assistance of other Nations let us examine what hope he hath from our own Severall Reasons may be given to the contrary As first the People's hatred of Foreiners and their feare of that Plague universall Free-quarter with their aversnesse to War having tasted some time of the Sweets of Peace And though they are sensible of some necessary Burthens yet considering another War will increase new ones more exorbitant every man would be content with things as they are for the Common people as the Poet saith Duas tantùm res anxius optat Panem Circenses will be satisfied with Bread and Quietnesse rather than hazard their Ease and Security to serve the Ambition of others Secondly They will be the lesse apt to engage in any new Insurrections and Parties since the last thrived so ill to the Prejudice and shame of all the Undertakers Examples make Men wise and though many of them escaped without punishment in regard this * Government was not then declared yet now that it is established and Laws are made to defend it against all that offend in time to come men will beware I suppose how they meddle since they can expect nothing lesse after another War than the punishment of Traitors Thirdly Put case the Counties were
down securely under their own Vines under the glorious administration of Justice and Righteousnesse Odi profanum vulgus arceo Horat. CHAP. V. A discourse of the excellency of a Free-State above a Kingly Government HAving in the former Chapters Stated the Designes and given an Accompt of those grand Inconveniences which of necessity will ensue a Successe of the opposite Parties this next discourse must needs be very pertinent by way of conclusion to manifest the excellency of the present Government which They all endeavour to destroy And though there needed no other Argument to prove it and recommend it to the world than this That it is the only Bank which preserves us from the Inundations of * Tyranny on the one side and Confusion on the other yet it wants not of it selfe those many Advantages above all other Forms which render it most convenient to promote the Peace wealth and honour of the English Nation Yet it is a wonder to see how lightly men prize this invaluable Jewell of Liberty which hath cost the Common-wealth so much Blood and Treasure trampling the precious Pearl under their Feet like Swine so that the Parliament meet now with as many difficulties to preserve as ever they had to purchase it But for this there are two speciall Reasons which may be collected out of the †Florentine's subtile discourses upon Livy who compares such as have been educated under a Monarchy or Tyranny to those Beasts which have been caged or coop't up alll their lives in a Den where they seem to live in as much pleasure as other Beasts that are abroad and if they be let loose yet they will returne in againe because they know not how to value or use their Liberty So strong an Impression is made likewise by education and Custome from the Cradle even upon men that are endued with reasonable Souls that they chuse to live in those Places and Customes of government under which they have been bred rather than submit to better which might make more for their Content and Advantage Hence it is that those poore Slaves under the Turk Persian Tartar Muscovite Russian French and Spaniard with other Eastern Northern and Western Tyrants are so enamoured of their Chains that they admire their own condition above all others and like the Indians adore the Devill which torments them because they are ignorant of a better Deity to protect Them But besides education and custom under another Form there is a second Reason why men are so degenerous in Spirit as to vassalize Themselves and neglect the maintenance of their Liberty and that is a generall Corruption and Depravation of manners by luxurious Courses when a Nation is even swallowed up with Riot and Luxury so that being Slaves to their owne Lusts they become the more easily inslaved unto the Lusts of another The Truth of this may be observed in the variation of the Roman State which in its primitive innocence was so sensible of Liberty that when Brutus and Colatinus had once expell'd the Tarquins the People all most readily joyned with then as one man in defence of their Freedom yea they were so zealous of it for a long time that no Relations or Considerations whatsoever of former merits could availe with them to spare those that attempted ought against it For when the Sons of Brutus were found guilty of a conspiracy to bring back the Tarquinian Family They condemned them to death and their own Father was as forward as any to bring them to Execution So the famous Manlius likewise to whom Rome owed both her selfe and Liberty being by him preserved against the Galls in the greatest extremity was notwithstanding upon a discovery of his after-Intent to surprize their Liberty thrown headlong down the Tarpeian Rock within view of the Capitoll which he had so nobly defended By which Actions you may perceive that when Rome was in its pure estate vertue begat a desire of Liberty and this desire begat in them an extraordinary Courage and Resolution to defend it which three walked a long time hand in hand together and were the Causes that the first Foundders of their Freedome had so little difficulty in maintaining themselves against those Invasions which hapned afterward by the Tarquins and their Royall Confederates But in processe of Time when the Romans had lost that ancient vertue which purchased their Liberty and an Empire over the world being softned in their manners and conquered by their vices whose Dominions they had conquered they soon bowed under the yoke of Imperiall Tyranny And though there appeared afterward some sparks of ancient courage and love of liberty among Them when They took off Caesar himselfe Caligula Nero and in the end rid Themselves quite of that Tyrannicall Stock of the Caesars yet I say because those Sparks were kindled only in a few of the more noble Soules and the generallity corrupt and degenerate from their old vertue therefore such heroick minds as endevoured could by no means engage Them to assert their Liberty It is observable also in all times the Northern and more manly People that have no Acquaintance with luxurious Diets and Apparrell nor care much to obtain Them nor to taste of those melting Enchantments of more wanton Nations are endued with a greater courage and Sence of Liberty whereas those People that inhabit the delicate parts of the world as in Asia and other Countries where civility hath degenerated into effeminacy They ever have lived and do for the most part continue in miserable Slavery at the will of imperious Tyrants And if at any time there have happen'd worthy Resolutions in vertuous Spirits to recover their Freedom They have for the most part failed in the Enterprise by reason of the Corruption of their Party which causeth men at length to decline the common Cause through pusillanimity Faction Treachery or Apostacie being more superstitiously inclinable to adore the greatnesse of a Tyrant than really affectionate to the worth of Liberty For this Cause it was that in elder time the People of Naples Milain and Florence lost their Freedoms as soon as they had gotten it and of late also the Neapolitans failed in their Attempt being a soft effeminate people easily bribed and courted out of their Designe with Spanish Gold and Complement whereas the Swisses Hollanders and divers other hardy People stuck close to their Leaders and by their constancy Industry and Zeal of Liberty accomplished the work By which parcell of discourse we may collect whence it is that our present Governers meet with so many difficulties and oppositions from their owne Country men here in England viz by reason of our former education under a Monarchy with the generall debaucheries of all sorts of People which render them Admirers of the Pomp of Tyranny and Enemies to that Freedom which hath been so dearly purchased They are Lovers of Vanity more than of Themselves or their Country humorous and led