was to meet with my Wife telling him also that I feared she was not well in regard I did not hear of her according to the intent direction of my last letter sent unto her surely quoth he there iâ— some obstacle in the way that hinders much but if you please to be content Sir you shall soon know what the matter is for my Brother hath a good Horse and I will send him over to your house and he shall bring you notice how things are there at the present and what is the reason that Mrs. Wâ—nlock doth not come as yet I was much glad of his kind offer so not long after the Messenger was sent accordingly returning the next day he did certifie me that my Wife and Children were in good health and that the Cause that she came not was for that she could not procure Horses as yet to bring her thither and alas she was not then so much as worth one her self being very loth also to trouble her Friends in Cambridgeshire so much as to send so far for Horses to convey her thither but she hoped that ere it were long she should find a means to come and see me and the residue of her good Friends there and accordingly within a week or two after she did come and there by the large and loving respect of that noble Gentlewoman her mother-in-law and another good Lady the relict of my wives brother before mentioned we did enjoy a free and cordial entertainment with much solace and comâ—ort but this our glimpse of happinesse if it please your Majesty did admit but of a very short continuance and must soon suffer an eclipse for we had not been thus together much above a week but some that I fear resolved to work us mischief were as evidently envious that any other should do us any good for there was a Letter conveyed unto me which came from my wives own Nephew her deceased elder brothers Son who was then a Deputy Lieutenant of the Shire a Justice of the Peace and one of the Grandees of the Committee or English Inquisition intimating unto me That he well understood in what place my abiding was at that time and also how violent my ordinary and constant discourse was against their proceedings and therefore I must not be suffered by any means to rest any longer in that Country But an Order should presently be taken to apprehend and secure me or to this effect with some other passages therein very abusive and scandalâ— us to my credit a notable Nephew and sincere Saint in the interim thus to offer me such a reforming curteâ—â—e in this case of my calamity and so Iudas-like to go about to betray and affâ—ight his loving harmlesse Aunt after so many bitter pills of affliction as she had formerly swallowed and only upon this occasion because she had a Husband that durst speak the truth a coarse complement from a true Christian or a generous Gentleman and yet we were in doubt that he might prove a man of his word and therefore to avoid our own danger and the detriment that might arise to the house thereby the next day with sorrowfull hearts we went away from thence to shift about as well as we could But so soon as I was gotten out of his purlieu I saluted his worship with a thundring Epistle enough to startlâ— and rowse his conscience if he had any and I do hope that my reproof and good Counsell did work something upon him for after this I ventured divers times to come into that Country again and yet I never heard of him any more in this kind And the truth is as I have been credibly informed that upon the most barbarous assassnation and more then hideous and horrible Murdering of his late Sacred Majestie this grosly seduced young Gentleman was strucken with such terrour and amazement in his soul that he presently deserted and gave over all his Offices and places of trust and command and was never after that any agent or instrument in that devillish Rebellion and hereupon within a while following he was in great danger himself and had surely been sequestred had it not pleased God in his mercy to take him away from his Wordly Estate here that was fair and great and to give him I hope upon his true Repentance a farr more Blessed and Glorious habitation iâ— the Heavens to all Eternity And so I trust that for our Eternal good the Lord was pleased to lay out for us the bitter portion to be such pitifull pilgrims but my Wifes condition could not long endure this manner of misery for she of necessity must go home again to her poor Children where alass there was little left but the bare walls and their own weak labours and endeavours to sustain themselves withall and I must still travell about I knew not well whither and my successe and fortune was very various sometimes fair and pleasant and soon again stormy and troublesome and yet I confesse and praise the goodnesse of God I did meet with many good Friends whose names and charitable deeds towards me and mine were too tedious here to be related but I hope they shall not be forgotten in Heaveâ— and yet I should think my self guilty of ingratitude if I should not make mention of the many good respects and great kindnesse which I received at the hands of a Noble hearted Gentlewoman then dwelling at Hitâ—â—am in Suffolk who was a deep sufferer her own self namely Mris. Bing the Wife of Henry Bing Esq then a Captain in his Majesties Armie and the Grandchild unto that honourable and famous Father of the Law Sir Edw. Coke Knight late Lord Chief Justice c. and also from the hands of another worthy Gentlewoman in the same parish who was likewise a great sufferer namely Mistris Breton the wife of Mr. Lawrence Breton Batchelour in Divinitie a learned orthodox and worshipfull Divine Neither must I omit the remembrance of the good love and favour of my noble and old acquaintance Sir William Denny of Norfolk Baronett nor the great kindnesse of Thomas Jermy of Meâ—â—field in Sussex Esq Son and Heir of Sir Thomas Jermy Knight of the Bâ—â—h and of John Risby of Thoâ—p Esq Nor the kind love of my Reverend and worthy Friends Doctor Pierse of Wangford Mr. Thomas Greek Rector of Carlâ—on whose Grandfather I take it was one of the Barons of the Exchequer Mâ— Sendall Râ—ctor of Brinâ—kley and Mr. Vnderwood Rector of Chevingâ—on and although they bee lâ—st here mentioned yet meriting of me as much respect as any two friends that I found in all my travels viz. my loving Kinsman Mr. James Floid then of Weston in Cambridgeshire and Mr. Tho. Ward of Abington Thus after a long and tedious perigrination I came at length by the mercie of God to the Mansion-house again of the two good Ladies before mentioned and having heard that his late Majestie had deserted Oxford and rendred
that worthy and religious Esquire of the body to that mighty Monarch Darius when he contended with his fellowes which of them should write the wisest sentence It was the desire of his soul to be instrumental towards the re-edifying of the decayed Temple and City of Jerusalem and in respect of those good desires it pleased the good spirit of God to inspire so much Wisdome and Understanding into his heart aâ— when the Conclusive part of his sentence which was That above all things truth beareth away the Victory came into consideration before the wise and mighty Princes he then who had undertaken the patronage and desence of truth was without contradiction applauded to be the wisest man by that generall shout of the People great is truth and mighty above all things and we need not doubt since by the alonâ— mercy of God those dark and prodigious Clouds of Ignorance perversity and sedition that have so long obnubâ—lated the understanding of this Nation do in some measure begin to be now dispelled by the Glorious splendor and sun-shine of your Majesties most gracious and long-desired presence but that such of your true and loving Subjects as with loyal hearts and sincere and just expressions though with seeble hands and weak abilities do now cordially endeavour to imploy their talents and lend their aid by the casting of a mite into the Kingdoms treasurie towards the rebuilding of that Sacred Temple of truth and peace amongst us shall never want the happy influence of your Majesties good countenance and protection nor the favourable censure of any that have but ventured to keep themselves immaculate or but lately learned to be unspotted lovers and mainteiners of the truth For whosoever he be that hath attained any sound notion of truth must of necessity love the same in his inward parts neither dares he at any time forsake or deny the defence thereof For indeed God himself and his Word is the truth that every true Christian to his power ought to justifie and defend and if any person be so Sacrilegious as to deny this he may too soon find it to be true that he which denies the truth doth deny God who is truth it self and our Saviour saith That if they deny him before men he will deny them before his Father which is in Heaven Most Royal Sir I humbly crave your Gratious pardon for my presumption in thus boldly vindicating the truth for the sincere maintaining whereof both my self and all mine all circumstances duly considered have as deerly and deeply suffered as any other that have escaped with their lives And I doubt not but that I may with a safe Conscience and without Ostentation speak it that I have alwayes endeavoured to the uttermost of my Abilities and upon all occasions to do and perform both unto your Majesties blessed Father and also to your Royal self far more cordiall and constant services then many others that now participate of the bright Beames of your glory but I do envy no mans happinesse nay let them take all since my Lord the King is now returned home in peace And as your Majesties happy accessâ— to your just and indubitable rights of the Crown of England will I trust adde some repose and tranquillity to my poor aged body and mean Estate so above that I desire if it please God to be at peace and quiet in my mind at which Haven of happinesse and content I should scareely ever have arrived if I had not made the Adventure of thus rendring these intiinsecal thoughts and conceptions of my mind to the publike view Neither could I devise otherwise how I might make your Majestie and other Worthies of the Nation acquainted with the truth of my demeanour and sufferings which I much desired to publish to the intent also that some who are deeply drowned in the oblivion of their sins may hereby if they please be put in mind of the ugly deformed shape and the base and absurd malitiousnesse of Rebellion and truly to repent of their former Follies and do no more so and that my Posterity and others by mine Example may be encouraged to the imitation of my Loyalty and faithfullnesse in succeeding ages But I confesse that formerly I had good Friends which might and would if they were now extant have commended the truth of my Condition to your Majesties Royall and Religious consideration but the change of times and death hath deprived me of such comfortable Assistance and being I was made to reprove others I am now in a manner lest Friendlesse alone and am as a by-word and wonder unto many and yet no wonder it is Libere enim sine adulatione veritatem praedicantes gesta pravae vitae arguentes gratiam non habent apud homines And yet why should I tremble to make this my addresse to your Sacred Majestie that is so lively a representation of my Creator for to his allmighty mercy in the merrits of Jesus Christ who is for ever truth it self I may at all times with a pure heart and humble Spirit be confidently bold to make my approach and I beseech your Majesty to be pleased to assure your self that it is the truth and vigour of my Conscience that hath compelled me to adventure upon this declarative discourse a conscientious feare of the worst is a strong motive to an honest heart Nam a recta conscientia non oportet quenquam in omni vita sua transversum unguem discedere And forasmuch as in this whole Treatise I have sincerely endeavoured to make truth my Center and Loyaltie and Faithfullnesse my circumference I am strenuously induced to believe that in your Majesties judicious and exquisite eye and in the secret Cabinet of your rare and choycest Intellectualls my Errors will be accounted more venial than those of others that have so long been instrumental to obstruct the course of Truth and Justice and yet in the conjectural opinion or judgement of many of your loyal and learned Subjects do still endeavour or seem to hinder the progresse thereof Aliena peccata approbare peccatum est negligentia tacere in qâ—â— parte possit homo proficere si innocentiam probatus fuerit amisisse and it is the saying of Solomon he that justifieth the wicked and he that condemneth the just â—ven they both are an abomination to the Lord for it iâ— not good to accept the Person of the wicked to overthrow the righteous in judgement and if srail men forgetting their Duty shall attempt to act any such injustice it will not be long available to them or their Adherents but their Purpoâ—â—â— and Projects will fall in the Dust for the Psalmist tells us that the Lord executeth Righteousnesse and Judgement for all them that are oppressed with wrong and the Lord helpeth them to right that sâ—ffer wrong and who then are they that dare to contest against their Creatour for the Prayer of the humble pierceth the clouds and till it come
their black Imperial Prince is descended from a Childe that Solomon begot upon the Queen of Sheba and this they stand upon as a great and honourable Antiquitie for that Nation but withall I did still inform these people that your Majesties Title to England was full as antient far more authentical And the chief scope and end of all these my Speeches and Relations was to inlighten their blind Eyeâ— to inform their Judgements to make them know and understand the Truth of your Majesties indubitable just and religious Rights and Authorities over this Nation that therby they might be induced to have a more reverend regard and opinion of the same and so in time become inclinable to yield their due obedience thereunto On a time being at a Court Baron in a great and populous Town divers of the Tenants there in open discourse did ask me many Questions in Law which I gave them my Opinion in to their satisfaction at the length a jolly fellow there who was a Presbyters lay elder did say that the tenants were much beholding to me for I had told them a great deal of Law but quoth he I have heard but little Gospel come from you Friend said I thanks be given to God for it I can speak Gospel too as well as Law but Gospel now is not fit for your hearing because you have cast off the practise of it No sure said he I do make more account of the Gospel than of your Law You ought indeed to do so said I but you have forgot your Dutie then for the Gospel enjoynes you to give Caesar his due and that you have quite forgotten and where are you now Then I desired him to tell me Whether he thought that St. Peters Epistles were Canonical Scripture or not Yes quoth he they are Then said I there you fail again for there is in them a good Document that you and others have slighted most shamefully What is that said he It is this said I Fear God and honour the King and that I am sure you have quite forgotten or little regarded these two seven years Hereat the whole Auditorie fell into a loud laughter and the Elder knew not what to say for himself There was a rich Town not far from me which at the first beginning of the late Rebellion were liberal and very free to part with their Monies and Armes to that purpose but their Purses being prettily well exhausted and some of them not well willing or able to spare any more Monie out of their Stocks for the present yet for a further ostentation and to make their Zeal and Devotion though blinde in it self yet perspicuous and clear enough unto others They consulted therefore and agreed together to borrow 1000 pound upon interest of a rich Usurer and presently they lent the same to the Parliament upon the Publick Faith though alass they knew not where that Utopian or imaginarie Creature did then dwell neither from that day to this could they ever find out the residence thereof nor yet so happily meet with it as to get their Monies again It was my chance a few years after to enter discourse with one of the most solid Heads in that Parish and I said unto him that I had seldom or never read or heard of such a stupified and blockish kind of people as most of them were Why quoth he are we worse then all others Truly said I there be none that I know of that have manifested more ignorance and perverseness than you have done for when you had parted with all and lent to the Rebels so much Monie of your own as you listed to spare then must you forsooth take up Monie at interest to send the same way and so purchase to your selves a stronger Title to the Triple-tree for that will be your portion in the end if you meet not with the more mercy and was there ever known any people so sottish as to borrow Monie upon use to drive such a dangerous Trade certainly a man that is not worse then mad would have had so much Monie as he knew not what to do withall before that ever he durst have ventured to lay it out upon so poor an advantage as to buy himself a Bargain of such dead and desperate Ware Indeed I believe that amongst all the Wrongs and Indignities that were put upon me and too tedious here to be related there was nothing so much perplexive and vexatious unto me as to see my native Country-men so readily run on to their own ruine and to be so secure and confident in the wayes of Error and Destruction but still I told them that Security was the Mother of Danger that they walked upon deceitfull grounds for so soon as the Winde turned their false Teachers would all forsake them clap their tailes between their legs and run away like a chidden Curre and that those they most trusted in would soonest forsake them to serve their own turns And yet allwayes when I took an occasion to declare my strong hopes of your Majesties Restauration many would seem to laugh at it and wish me to set my heart at rest for I should never live to see that day to which I ever replied with a constant courage that I trusted in God to live and see that happy day which I had so much prayed for and so long expected and continually hoped for so many years together and that their security was a sign and strong Argument to me of the more sudden approach thereof for it would certainly come to passe when the most of men did least dream of it and a time of the weakest probability in the eye of the world is the fittest season for the Divine succour and the most glorious opportunity for God Almighty to bring his own purposes and blessed decrees to the best effect for it was impossible for a real and true Christian to beleeve that the divine justice could any longer suffer such usurping wretchednesse to have continuance which had so basely and injuriously subverted the whole frame of Government both in Church and Commonwealth setting up such pandarising Magistrates as were content to submit themselves to be agents in the most heathenish and Mahometan absurdities and such idolatrizing Ministers as for Balaams wages were content to idolize every usurping rebell and perfidiously and perjuriously to defame and cast off the Hierarchie of the Church which they had formerly sworn to maintain and yeeld their obedience unto and stubborâ—ly also to deprave and disclaim the holy Liturgie thereof the Book of Common-prayer and administration of the Sacraments and other rites and ceremonies of the Church of England being in truth so holy and sacred in it self and so consonant to Gods word and the primitive institution of the true Catholick Church founded upon the faith of the holy Apostles and Prophets as the most critical Phanatick can never be able to find the least just occasion of offence therein unlesse
high Treasurer of England and in the Reignes of King Henry the 6th and King Edward the 4th there was another of my name that was a Knight of the Garter and of the Rhodes and also a Noble and warrlike Baron of Wenlock in the County of Salop from which place my Ancestors were first derived and had their Extraction as appears by Antient evidence Records I shall be heartily glad if I can but make your Matie to smile at these my Relations but I entreat your Majestie to beleeve that it is not fondly a vain glorious humour that prompts me to relate these things but my desire is to give a gentle caution to some gilded Mushromes or pursie supercillious Upstarts of the new edition that esteem themselves to be the only brave men dâ—spising others that are brought low by their sufferings and contemning all learning and loyalty that is destitute of a golden key which they corruptly conceive to be the only means to open the doorlock that leads to preferrment but your Majestie well knows how and when to conferr your Favours and though some of your Majesties suffering Friends are not looked upon so soon as they expected yet their hopes are still firm enough and we know that Desideâ—â—ta diu dulcius obtinentur and we can wait with patience but must not be too negligent peâ—entis negligentia reprehendâ—tur ubi de dantis miserecordia non duâ—itatur and of your Majesties mercie there is sound experience and it is a prime policie for your Grace in convenient time to reward Loyaltie for in so doing it will give Occasion to others to have the better esteem thereof Regis ad exemplar totus componitur orbis but if vertue be now neglected let pass without regard how few hereafter will ever endeavour to be good in so bad times and one saith that both pitie and sin it were that such whose light the late Aegyptian Darkness could never extinguish should now be suffered to sit in obscuritie Somâ— perhaps that shall read this book will take my expressions to be rash and violent savouring more of animosity then prudence but when Croesus his life was in danger it made his dumb son to speak and cry out and when the King the Father of our Countrie the Church our Mother and the peace of the whole Kingdom were so treacherouslie exposed to the danger of utter ruine what true hearted Son or Subject could be so supinely silent as not bitterlie to reprove such horrid actions Quitacet consentire videâ—ur but such as have tasted any true rellish of Religion do well know they must not be mutes in matters of such moment Dissimulation may serve the turn for a time and in the view of a carnal eye it may seem to procure some good but we ought not to do evill that good may come thereof Hypocrisie is a sin so odious in the sight of God and so contrarie to his divine nature who is truth it self as those that practise the same can never expect to be matriculated members of the celestial Societie but such as wait for their souls comfort must be content to forsake all rather then to part with a good conscience and so endanger the soul But I fear that too many of late have stifled their Consciences to keep their estates and maintain their reputation amongst the Vulgar but such policie will not allways go away with the Garland it was well said of a Noble Spaniard once in England that he would never forfeit his Soul and his Honour to save his Life and indeed some brave Spirits but meer Moralists have thought it a more Noble Exploit to preserve Honour then Life and could never buckle to any dishonourable thing but in despite of Ambition and desire of gain or the pressures of Necessitie they have still resolved to tread in the pathâ—s of Virtue And how many Heathens as Codrus a King of Athens Curâ—ius a Noble Knight of Rome and allmost infinite others recorded in Historie have freely exposed themselves to unavoidable danger and death for the good and safety of their Country whose memory ever since hath been immortall and can Christians adventure upon any design too dangerous when the glorie of God the Honour and Power of his sacred Deputie and the â—eligion and Peace of their native Nation lay all in the dust involved in blood Pardon my presumption I beseech your Majestie in what I have here inserted amiss or unworthy the view of so roial and exquisite an â—iâ— and then I cannot but be confident that your Grace will take some pitiâ— upon me being now grown into years and disabled by my great sufferings and losses to put on and preferre my self as some others â—â— for I finde the Poet to be a true Prophet that long 〈◊〉 said Haud facile emergunt quorum virtutibus obstat Res angusti domi but this defect may soon be supplied by the least glimpse of your Majesties favour and I am sure your Majestie well knowes that it is the Masters honour to take notice of a faithfull sâ—rvant and that such as dare declare and stand to the truth in bad times of danger are none of the worst subjects And I doubt not but that your Majesty in due time will most roially perform whatsoever your loial and loving subjects may in truth of modestie and justice expect from your gracious bands and that your Grace shall attain unto and accomplish all those happie and blessed intents and ends for the which your Omnipotent Creator hath so justly and mercifully restored and advanced your Grace to the glorious throne of your so eminent Ancestours Where God grant that your Majestie and your Roial posteritie may safely sit and triumphantly reigne to Gods glorie the Churches peace and these Kingdoms happinesse even so long as the Sun and Moon shall shine upon the face of the earth So will ever Pray Your Majesties Loyal Humble and Officious Subject Iohn Wenlock To the Kings Most Excellent Majestie Most Royal and Magnificent Monarch and my Soveraign Lord IT is a Proverb of the Wisest amongst Earthly Princes that righteous lips are the delight of Kings and they love him that speaketh right for he that speaks the truth sheweth forth righteousnesse and all such aâ— be true in heart shall follow the same and there is good reason for their Encouragement to proceed on in such a Virtuous way as tendeth to eternall felicity for certainly the time will come when that saying of the Psalmist will be verified and made manifest to the World There is sprung up a light for the righteous and joyfull gladnesse for such as be true hearted and the Lord God likewise layeth up sound Wisdome for the righteous and is a sure Buckler for them that walk uprightly for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdome and a good understanding or successe have all they that do his Commandments the praise of it endureth for ever And this was truly experimented in
it pleased God to form your Subject of such a temperature as he could see to suffer from the beginning and is like to continue still in a suffering Condition to his latter end if your Majestie prove not a very good Lord and Master to me and my Posterity but my Loyalty did never live without hope either for this present life or my future interest in the World to come and I have thought sometimes that my constellation and Genius did argue something more then ordinary because from my very Childhood ever since that I could well read I have taken an especiall regard and notice of this Proverb My Son fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are seditious or given to change and it had taken so deep an Impression upon my heart as all the Rebells in England were never able to wipe out unlesse they had pulled out heart and all Quo semel est imbuta recenâ— servaâ—iâ—â—dorem testa diu and I blesse my God that it was so with me Nam quod â—â—venture non discitur in matura aeâ—ate saepiùs nescitur and this hath been lately too much verified by sad Experience And when I first began to bend my mind to the studie of the Laws of this Kingdom I did soon perceive in my self a greater proclicity and delight in the apprehension and learning of such passages therein as had referrence to the true and right maintaining of the Royall Majestie of the head thereof rather then to those that meerly concerned the body and inferiour members of the same Many have much marvelled that in the late so terrible times I durst so freely utter my mind upon every occasion and have often advised me to be more wary but my answer was ever to this effect That I did no more then my duty required and I ought not to suffer sin upon my Neighbour but to reprove him for it and if it were not the will of God to protect me in mine innocency and integrity I was sure thaâ— he would quite cast me off if I turned an Hypocrite for there is an woe to the sinner that goeth two wayes and the triumphing of the Wicked is short and the joy of the Hypocrite but for a momenâ— they are exalted for a little while but are gone and brought low the light of the Wicked shall be put out and the spark of his Fire shall not shine but who shall abide in Gods Tabernacle He that speaketh the Truth in his heart and in whose spirit and lips there is no guile and to them that rebuke the Wicked shall be delight and a good blessing shall come upon them and since that propter timâ—rem mortis tacere veritatem impietas est how solicitous every soul of us ought to be in the declaring and justifying of the truth and in the performance of our best duties and endeavours towards the fostering and furtherance of the same Et bâ—â—arum rerum etsi successus non fuerit conatus tamen ipse honestus est and a wise man sayth refrain not to speak when there is occasion to do good and hide not thy Wisedom in her beauty for by Speech Wisedom shall be known and Learning by the word of the Tongue in no wise speak against the Truth but he abashed of the error of thine own ignorance Strive for the Truth unto death and the Lord shall fight for thee Et non solum proditor est veritatis qui mendacium pro veritate lâ—quitur sed qui non libere pronuntiat veritatem quam pronunciare oportet aut non libere defendit veritatem quam defendere oportet Nam qui veritatem occultat qui prodit mendâ—cium uterque rous est ille quia prodesse non vult iâ—â—e quia nocere deâ—iderat May it please your Sacred Majesty I have almost learned Divinity and Philosophy enough to contemn the World and am but very little ambitious of Preferment and yet I confesse that I would willingly imply my poor Talent and the small remainder of my dayes to Gods glory your Majesties honour and service and the good of my native Country and most gladly would I find out a way how to refresh my poor Family that for so many years together by the malice of the Times and in the very despite of my Loyaltie have been exposed to so much hardship and danger of utter ruine and destruction yet I am ashamed to beg so mean a Place as my weak deserts do seem to require It is not for Kings to give Trifles said a Noble Prince but to give royally like themselves In which respect I think it is the best policy for such Suitors to submit wholly to their Soveraigns goodnesse Your Grace in my conceit may well challenge a double Title to be called the most Christian King and in that regard also your Majesty may very fitly be esteemed to be the prime Deputy of God Almighty upon the face of the earth and we know that in the pure eyes of his heavenly Majesty then a true and faithfull heart there can nothing in the world be more acceptable and therefore your poor Subject having no other gratitude at the present doth most humbly presume to present and offer to your Sacred Majesty the true sacrifice of a loyal and loving Heart not fearing to find the fruitfull successe thereof knowing that your royal and religious Majesty will adhere unto and stickle to be of the same mercifull minde with your Almighty Creator Et ille apud Deum plus haâ—et loci qui plus attulit non argenti sed fidei and if your Majesty will vouchsafe and please to look upon me I dare promise that by Gods grace my works and actions in the time of prosperity shall be as full of Faithfullness and Loyaltie as ever my works were in the time of my adversitie Tune enim veraciter fideles sumus si quod verbis promittimus operibus complemus and let the World think or say what it please I do protest that I propound these things not so much for mine own interest and advantage as for your Majesties sake and for the deep imprinting and high advancement of Truth and Loyaltie and the memorie thereof in the hearts of the People for although I do freely acknowledge mine own defection comming far short of my duty towards his late Majesty and your Royal Self yet my Conscience doth urge me to tell your Majestie plainly that my Loyaltie and Sufferings are so remarkable as if I should chance unhappily to be neglected and quite forgotten the consequence thereof would be so bad that Truth and Loyaltie would be esteemed but at a very low rate in our Country be made a meer Ludibrium amongst many in that factious seditious schismatical corner where it hath pleased God to lay out my residence I most humbly beg your Majesties gracious pardon for these my bold expressions and I hope I shall have it for I desired never to rest
pleasant than a treacherous heart in Prosperity little regarding their Judgements but resolved if the will of God were so to suffer rather for well doing than for evil doing And though your subject thinks himself unworthy to take in hand the legal defence of your Majesties Right yet when he heard their irreligious and undutifull Discourse tending to the slighting and undervaluing of your Majesties Proclamation and the applauding only of the Parliaments Designs your Subject was so jealous of your Majesties Just Royalties Prerogatives and Reputation that he freely reprehended their folly and told them they were too confident in their conceits That the Parliament were many of them but weak men and might fall into grosse errors That it was not to be imagined that all the wisedome in the Kingdome was now ingrossed to the House of Commons for it was able to afford many thousand Assemblies as wise as they That Truth onely must be the square of Christian mens actions and not the fantastical and factious opinions of men and among other Passages also said unto them That they professed themselves to be haters of Idolatry and yet it appeared they were much infected with Superstition a grand limme thereof for they had as Reverend a conceit of their Parliament as the Papists have of the Pope which is that he cannot possibly erre in his Function Within a few dayes after came Warrants to Town to command all our Armes compleat to beat Colchester the next morning The Constable came presently to warn me to send my Armes accordingly I asked him to see his Warrant which he shewed me and when I had read it I told him That he knew my mind already for I had declared it sufficiently at the last Town meeting He confessed that I had so done yet he must come to do his Office Then I asked him If his Authority concerning this matter were derived from under your Majesties Great Seal He answered No it was from the Parliament Then I asked him whose â—oâ—stable he was He replyed That I was a merry Gentleman to ask him such a Question and that I my self knew better than he whose Constable he was and what belonged to his Office I answered him That indeed I have thought I had known something but now the Lawes are so strangely refin'd that my Learning is almost out of date But I prethee said I tell me in good earnest whose Constable thou art He answered The Kings Then quoth I to him Thou art a very Foole for the word of God sayth His Servants ye are to whom ye obey and therefore you having no Authority from the King but doing the contrary to his Royal command are surely the Parliaments Constable and none of the Kings Whereat his Constableship was at a Nonplus Then I told him that I intended to certifie to the Captain the Reasons under my hand why I refused to send my Armes That if I offended the Law therein they should then have my own hand-writing for a Witness against me The next morning I wrote to the Captain to this effect That such a Warrant had been shewen unto me but withall that I had formerly seen your Majesties Proclamation and further intimated that I should be heartily sorâ—y to infringe the Allegiance I owed to my Soveraign or to give a just occasion of offence to others that were in subordinate power but I remembred that long since I had taken the Oath of Allegeance and therefore were it but in that regard how I could dispence with my self in Disobeying His Majesties Royal Proclamation I did not yet well understand but my Armes and Bodie were ever ready to defend his Majesties Royal Person and Honour This Letter was delivered him in the open Field amongst the Trained bands where were present divers Parliament men which I dare say had a sight of it but I heard little thereof only the next week I going to London Newes was brought home that so soon as I came at my Chamber I was apprehended by Order from the Parliament and laid in Prison and should be fined as much as my Estate was worth onely because I refused to send my Armes at the last Traineing But it was but a false Fire to terrifie my Wife and Children and to affright others from their duty and allegeance Then at my return home the Parson of the Parish told me That he heard I was like to fall into trouble and that he was sorry I had not done as my Neighbours did I answered him That I was not sorry at all for I had done as my Conscience and the Law directed me But quoth he there will come danger of it Gods will be done said I for I am resolved to be constant and never to turn Rebell for I shall ever account it an honour to suffer in my Princes Quarrell and would fain see the face of that man that durst call me in Question for shewing my true allegeance to my Soveraign Afterwards I was threatned to have my house pulled down and all my goods taken away by Riflers who said they had an Order so to do because I would lend no money to the Parliament Soon after I went upon occasion to the house of a Parliament man none of the meanest St. Roberâ— Crane Knight and Baconet â—ank and he asked me What was the reason that I was threatned to be rifled I told him Because I would lend no money to the Parliament Then belike quoth he you lent none No said I for I have no moneys to lend but had I never so much yet I think I am able to make it appear to you or any man that is of an impartial Judgement why I ought not to lend money to such a design but now a dayes said I men must not speak the truth what they think whereat he clapped his hand upon his breast and said thus Before God I dare not speak what I think my self After he asked What means was used to procure money in our Country I told him The Ministers perswaded much but said I every thing that Parsons now speak in the Pulpit doth not work upon honest mens Consciences that smell of Loyalty and Discretion After this I was too often troubled with their Warrants either about lending of moneys sending of Armes or their nugatory politick Association still roaring in my ears with an Ordinance of Parliament and still I told them That these doings at length would make the Ordinance roar in the Field And I thank God I was so far from obeying any of their Warrants that I still gave them this answer That by Gods grace I would never do my self or posterity that wrong to live or dye a Rebell and that all their projects would surely come to nought and tend to nothing but mischief in the end ever Harping upon this string That it was without all question High Treason to levy Armes against the King c. and sundry times I have laboured to convince them by
infallible sign of my sincere love best affection and faithfull friendship towards them in the reproving of their grosse errors and I may truly say that as mine innocencie was bold so was mine affliction bitter and yet all the sufferings that ever I tasted of had they been far greater could never so much vex and torment my soul as it grieved me to see my 〈◊〉 seduced Countrimen and neighbours so madly to run on heaâ—long to their own ruinâ— destruction and damnation But I still prayed to the God of Heaven desiring their truâ— conversion and that my self and mine might obtain the grace with faith and patience to consider and say with holy Job Naked came I out of my mothers womb and naked shall I return again the Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken away and blessed be the name of the Lord and shall we receive good from the hands of God and not evill remembring also that it hath been the portion of my betters and superiours in all successions of ages to be vilified and persecuted for speaking of the truth and yet God grant that I and all mine may evermore be mindfull of this Adage Strive for the truth unto the death and the Lord shall give thee life Now if it please your Majestie having formerly sent a Letter to my wife intreating her to use the best means that she was able to give me a meeting in Cambridgeshire at the house of a nobly bred Gentlewoman that was her mother-in-law and a widdow where I was confident we could not fail of a free cordial and kind welcome it was therefore at that present my chiefest care and task how to conveigh my self thither and to be oâ— the place appointed within the time limited according to my promise I was then divers miles beyond Norwich and the journey I had to take in hand I beleeve extended to threescore miles at the least I had no horse and my whole stock of money which I then had was but only a pair of single two-pences yet the heighth of my courage and confidence would not permit me to make manifest my necessities at that time which if I had done I well know that there were some in the house from whence I was then to begin my journey that would willingly to their power have furnished me with monie although they were like enough afterwards to want it themselves as the world went for some of them long before had afforded me friendship in that kind upon their own accord without any request of mine but now providence would not permit them to offer me any such curtesie perhaps because the Lord was intended to let me see how abundantly he was able to make provision for me some other wayes beyond my expectation well when I was about to depart there being a young Scholar in the house which in the Doctors absence was Curate of the Parrish he most kindly proffered his service to go with me 2 or 3. miles onwards of my Journey and Sir quoth he if it please you to ride so far as the Ferry you shall have my nagg it will ease you a little and I will walk thither on foot and see you ferried over and so return I thankfully accepted of his love and thus we went away together and anon we passed the ferry the Schollar generously paid the ferriman or else the moiety of my small stock had been in hazard and past recovery and then also he spent a groat more upon me at the house near the ferâ—y and â—o we lovingly parted Away I marched to a Gentlemans house of good quality which had been mine acquaintance from my youth who had seen me lately in that Country and invited me to his houâ—e but now when I came there the hardnesse of my happ was such as the Gentleman and his wife were both from home and I being unknown to the seâ—vants must be content to passe away with a cup of beer and a few good words and yet before night I did well arrive at an honest Vicars house near Norwich where I found good quarter for as long time as I pleased to tarry and then he lent me a horse and conducted me himself to a Gentlemans house about 8. miles further and there we parted from thence I marched on foot a while after and there was a Gentleman then living there that was so kinde as to walk a mile or two with me and as we went together he asked me if I were well monified to passe thorough my journey I answered him that I had but very little money and yet a good courage still for to tell you the truth quoth I there is but one groat about me alas he replyed that he was sorry that my want was not knowen before I came from the house for if it had there would have been a supply made but he told me that he had but little money about him at that time but Sir quoth he here is a shâ—lling if you please to accept of it this will give you a bait as you travel I had put up worse wrongs before but seldom so small a fee yet for the augmentation of my little stock I was well contented to take it and put it up and â—o after a little further walk and discourse we two in loving manner did part asunder And soon after this I did well arrive at my said Kinsmans house called Thorp Hall and there resting my self for some few dayes by the love and kindnesse of him and one Mr. Cartwright a Divine that lived near I was freely furnished with an able horse to travell some part of my journey and also with other good accommodations that were very expedient for me at that time and to avoid further prolixity in the relation of the severall particulars and passages of that my Voyage so it was that it pleased God to procure me so much favour and friendship at the hands of divers Gentlemen as I passed along the Country that I was then never destitute of a good Horse to carry me from one Stage to another noâ— yet of any other necessaries that were requisite for mine use for just upon the very day that long before I had appointed with my Wife to give her this meeting I came riding up the Town towards tâ—e place in this postuâ—e I was bravely mounted upon an excellent good Nâ—g with money jingling in my Pocket and a compleat Foot-man in his Coat well accomplished â—unning by my Horse side in this manner I approached the house and I dare say that I was more truly wellcome then some Lords would have been at that time as the case stood and yet no Wife of mine appeared that night the next day I went to visit the Vicar of the Parish which had joyned us together in Holy Matrimony above twenty years before and then I presented him with a brief Relation of my late Voyage and that the principall occasion of my coming thither at that time
vvent together to the house of another Magistrate not of capacitie enough to practise much mischief and there before them tvvo I did subscribe it vvith this protestation so far as it vvas not contradictorie and repugnant to the vvord of God and the fundamental Lavves of the Kingdom and this device of mine did passe for currant though certainly I vvas not thereby any more engaged then I vvas before and yet I continued faithfull unto them in some sort for I dare say that both before and after this I did ever as freely reprove their villanies as any man that lived in England yet I most humbly crave your Majesties pardon for this my seeming in the least degree to yeeld unto them I could hardly have done so had I not learned the rule Sicut subditus teneâ—ur ad obedientiam ita Rex teneturad protectionem and that safeguard I vvas unhappily bereaved of my conscience likevvise relucted lest through 〈◊〉 or fear of danger I should offend God but I believed that in case of extremitie it were better to fall into the hands of God the fountain of all mercie then into the power of wicked men who had shewed themselves almost as void of humanitie as the verie bruit beasts Not long after this I was summoned up to be decimated and there it was ordered again that I should enter another Bond of five hundred pounds but upon what condition or cause I knew not yet by the meanes of some there that pretended some friendship unto me the penalty was drawn down to three hundred pounds and such a Bond I was ordered to enter into at Colchester before some of their Complices but I had the good hap to shufle it over and so escaped that bondage But notwithstanding all these my Troubles and Perplexities or their pretences of kindnesse towards me yet I could never be drawn or daunted from the defence of the truth and the bold and free utterance of my mind therein upon every fit occasion Once as I was pleading in a Court for my Client the cheif Magistrate there and my self began to clash a little whereupon I chanced to say that some courses would never be left untill the Kingdome were quite undone to which he answered me thus you to be sure will be undone in the mean time whereat I clapped my hand upon my Breast and said Gods will be fullfilled but if I be undone yet I shall have an advantage above some others for I shall fall with Majesty and a good Conscience and that too many will miss of at which some of the standers by were not displeased for I heard them whisper and say here is a man of a rare Spirit And when I was in the deepest danger for the sale of my Lands this Magistrate last mentioned had a Son that was interessed about Sequestrations and Sales and I remembred that St. Paul had taken hold of the Law of an Heathen Emperour to save himself from the lash and so I thought it lawfull for me to use the best means I could to preserve my Wife and Children from being turned out of doors To this man therefore I repaired and desired him to speak to his Son on my behalf and he presently called for his Son and charged him before my face to shew me all the curtesie and service that lay in his power and then the old man and I walked together into the Fields where being in discourse he said that he was sorry that it was so with me for if you quoth he would have gone the way that other Learned men did you should never have had need to crave a curtesie at any mans hand for you might have been able to do favours for all your Friends and acquaintance for you might have been a man of great rule and command in the Country and gotten what Estate you had pleased Yes sure was my Answer I might have got the Devil and all Then replyed he to me you will never leave these manner of expressions but they do you no good Yes said I there will be a time when the speaking of truth may stand me in some sted and Sir said I you must give me leave to tell you that if I had gone otherwise then I have done I had been as arrant a stinking Knave as ever pissed against a Wall whereat the man started and said why I hope you will not say that we are all so No sure said I my modesty will not suffer me to tell you on it so plainly but my self had been so howsoever And why you quoth he more then other men The reason said I is apparent for I had then gone against my Conscience in point of Religion and my Judgement in point of Law and he that doeth so I say is an arrant Knave But Conscience said he must be rectified Very true said I but how it must be rectified indeed by the Law of God and Man and not by the opinions and humours of a few factious Schismaticks This man had been a Magistrate near 30 years and I believed that the stream of the Times rather then the strength of his Judgement had now caused him to run the course he did and therefore I think that I gave his Worship such a pestilent rub as he had seldome met withall before but my intent therein was to do him good In the late Tyrants time an Attorney told me of a Lawyer which I knew that was then called up to be a Judge in one of the Courts at Westminster whereunto I answered that I was sorry for him because I feared that he had forgot both his Law and Religion too but alasse said I the pride of the heart is so great that some will hunt after and accept of preferment although it be upon never so evil termes but sure such men are quite out of their wits I wonder you will say so said he why if the Protector should send you a Commission to be a Judge would you not accept of it no surely said I and verily I hope that thou hast not so bad a conceit on me as to believe that I would once entertain such an offer and though I remembred the old Adage which saith That he that speaks the truth may have his head broken yet I proceeded on further and said that I should rather chuse to dye at mine own Gate then take a place under such a power for if ever I be either Judge or Justice I hope at shall be in Gods name and not in the Devils for all Rebells are of the Devil and only from him they had their first original Once again in that time my patience was pitiously put to it for having occasion to be at a Sessions amongst other stingie stuff of cruell consequence I heard it given in charge to the Grand inquest that it was High Treason to say that the Government was Usurpt in truth my heart did rise against such Doctrine and mine eares tingled to hear the people
it be because it is guiltie of so much puritie pietie and perfection and if there were nothing else to speak or plead in the behalf of it but only this that it was lately abrogated by a seditious Ordinance that alone were argument sufficient to prove it to be of God for had it been antichristian and opposite to the truth as some most ignorantly malitiously and fondly did affirm then it had never been opposed by any that were inclinable to rebellion but rather promoted by them for as it is the fierce facultie and inseperable accident to all rebells to patâ—onize contend and fight for the defence of falsities and â—ies so is it as meer natural unto them to impugne resist and depresse the truth to the uttermost of their power in regard they are and ever were the instruments and oracles of hell and the undoubted children of their first Father the Devil And yet all these wholesom instructions reasons and admonitions of mine did seldome or hardly work so well upon the fancies and affections of some of the seduced ignorant and stubboâ—nly conceited people as I desired and intended Indeed I know not better whereunto I may resemble most of them then to a company of wilde apes that I have read of in a Morall who rambling about in the night-time to find out their prey and being somewhat acold at length they espied a gloeworm lying upon the ground and taking it to be a coal of fire they soon resolved to take a course to warm them elves and hereupon some of them gathered sticks together and laid them over the gloeworm and bending down upon their knees and blowing stoutly they used the means as they conceited to make the sticks take fire from that imaginary coal others of them run up to the tops of great trees that grew near and broke down feare boughs to increase the flame and thus with their puffing cracking or crackling they awaked a poor Poppin Jay which had taken up his lodging amongst the branches of those trees who was much amazed to hear so great a noise there in the dead time of the night and therefore he set himself to peep and spy out what the matter meant at the last he perceived how busie the poor Apes were about nothing to the purpose and how shamefully they wronged and abused themselves by the means of their own ignorance and this Bird being of an ingenâ—ous nature and good disposition was sorry to see them thus labour in vain and strive against the stream and therefore to draw them out of their gross error and friendly to inform their Judgements in the truth he ventured himself came down amongst them and as the story tells me said thus unto them Good Apes you have awaked me with the great noise that you made and since mine eyes were open I have well observed your design and what a pitious deal of pains you have taken to no other end or effect but vainly to weary your Bones spend your Spirits and make your selves ridiculous to the World and being much grieved thereat I am now come in Charity to tell you wherein you are so grossely mistaken for I conjecture that your plot is to kindle yourselves a fire thereby to warm you and so amend your cold Condition but you may blow your nayles long enough and puff till your hearts ake before you bring your purposes to passe for if ever you get a fire by this meanes I dare warrant you that it will soon burn you all to Ashes But the Truth is that this shining thing that you behold is no fire at all but a silly worm whose nature it is to shine and glister in the night and so your sences are deluded with the glistering shew of a Bable wherein there is no such substance as you do vainly conceive in your opinions And therefore I counsell you to desist and give over this your so foolish and fond attempt Hereat the Apes were much offended and began to storm and wax angry and one of the principall ring-leaders amongst them got up a stick in his pawes and went furiously towards the poor Poppin Jay and said to this effect Silly Bird who made theâ— so bold as to come thus impudently to reprove us art thou so mad or foolish as to think that we know not well enough what we do or that we will be taught by thee or have our Judgement informed by a simple babling Bird I tell thee no for we are about our businesse and that we will bring to passe in spite of thy Teeth and therefore it is madnesse in thee to admonish us but I wish thee to give over thy prating and get thee hence in time for if thou dost tarry long here and dwell upon such a discourse we shall go near quickly to use a meanes to pull thy Skin quite over thy eâ—res And in truth upon the matter such or worse was the good entertainment thanks and reward that my self and others ever reaped at the handâ— of the late idiotisâ—d Rebells for all the good Counsell and Exhortation we gave unto them in sincerely seeking their Salvation and in laying before their eyes the dolefull consequences that must needs ensue upon their impious vain and desperate designes But they indeed did more then threaten us for they rent our fleeces quite off from our Backs and would soon have had the Skin and all too if God had not been the more meâ—cifull to prevent it and to stop the main stream of their malice against us There be two small Treatises the one set forth in Queen Maryes time and stiled An Exhortation against Rebellion and the other written in Queen Elizabeths dayes and named Caesars Dialogue they be both now allmost absolete and quite worn out of use for to the best of my remembrance I have seldome or never seen them in the hands of any man but mine own And I first found them amongst my Fathers old Books who deceased when I was a little Infant and before they came into my possession they were somewhat lacerated but I did diligently peruse them over for I was ever studious from my Childhood especially of such things as my Genius taught me were very necessary to be known And I am perswaded that through the Blessing of God they were a principall meanes to imprint and sow the Seeds of Loyalty in my heart so soon as I had the least Understanding in any literature And it is probable enough that if I had met with the Encouragement that some others have I might well have been able long ere this time to perform better services for my King and Country then my transverse and crosse opportunities would hitherto permit me to accomplish or bring to any such a good passe or effect as I desired for my endeavours being deprived of their due nourishment the want of that made me many times the more remiss in my studies which I am now most heartily sorry for But now
again armed with power will have a very large construction by the Judges of the Law There is a Parliament to be found in historie that did seem to wage warr against a King in this Realm but what ill successe it had I had rather the Historian should tell you then my self sure I am there is an ignominious brand laid upon is to all posterity for it is still stiled Parliamentum insanum Let no man hate instruction nor be too wise in his own conceit be Prov. 3. not high-minded but fear a prudent man saith Solomon foreseeth Prov. 27. 12. Numb 16. the evil and hideth himself but fools passe on and are punished forget not what became of Korah Dathan and Abiram that rebelled against Moses yet were they no obscure persons but princes of their families and men of great estimation amongst the vulgar remember what was Absolons portion for rebelling 2 Sam. 18. â— Sam 20 against David and what became of Sheba the sonne of â—ichri that lifted up his hand against the King and many such examples in holy Writ Nay look but into our Chronicles here at home and observe how Gods judgements have still prosecuted all them and their posteritie that have had any hand in the deposing or opposing of Kings upon any fair pretence whatsoever To abuse the picture of an earthly King hath been taken to be a great indignity how then shall the God of heaven take it at the hands of such as despitefully use and contemn the King himself a good King that is Gods image and Vicegerent upon earth but the times are come that the Apostles foretold that â— Tim. 3. 4. 2 Pet. 2. 10 Jude 8. many in the latter dayes would be traitors headie and high-minded presumptuous and stand in their own conceit despise Government and not fear to speak evil of them that are in dignity But some say that this war is not against the King neither do they intend him any wrong indeed they ought not to wish him the least hurt for God commands us not so much as to think an evil Eccl. 10 20. thought of the King but these men do more then think for they openly reviled the King by reproachfull and scandalous speeches saying that he is led by bad counsell and intends to set up Poperie and can there be any greater aspersion laid upon a Prince for Solomon saith A divine sentence is in the lips of the King and his mouth transgresseth not in judgement And it is Prov. 16. 19 20. abomination to Kings to commit wickednesse for the throne is established by righteousnesse It is the part of a Christian to judge charitably both of King and of people but where the subjects go about in hostile manner to invade their Soveraign and his friends and forces under his command and also use with extreme crueltie such of the Kings faithfull subjects friends as they can get into their power and yet will aver and maintain that they warr not against the King neither intend him any wrong What to make of their reason or argument I know not but a meer solecism yet the late Oathes imposed upon such as had so little Grace to take them do make the meaning both of the matter and manner of their evil intentions of proceeding to be somwhat more plain to be perceived It is most true that the King and many of his true Subjects are much abused for truth is hid in darknesse and it is the misery of miseries that men are so wilfully blinded and besotted as their eares are stopped to all good Counsell Wise men that know the truth of things are much discouraged to impart the same to others because they see many are so wedded to their wilfull Errours that he which in charity goes about to advise them for the best may sooner himself fall into a snare for his good will then pull any of them out of the danger that hangs over their heads for he that now a dayes dares venture to speak the truth is presently snapt at for a Malignant But God that knoweth all things knows that the Kings Majesty hath raised his Forces and doth maintain this War only for the beating down oâ— Faction Schism and Sedition and for the upholding of the true Protestant Religion established in Queen Elizabeths dayes and under which this Kingdom hath long flourished and for the setting and maintaining of the true and genuine Laws of this Kingdom But some dream of a great Reformation now in hand I am sure there is already a great Deformation both in Church and Common-wealth I wish these Reformers would in time un-hoodwink themselves and see what successe they have had and learn ere it be too late to be obedient to God and their Prince following the counsell the Angel gave to Hagar Return to thy Mistris and Gen. 1â— 9. humble thy self under her hands and let them endeâ— vour the due Execution of the good Laws that are now in force lest while they fondly presume to amend that which is well already they make the word Parliament have an ill savour and open a gap to greater desolation and so marre all Indeed it were to be wished there were a more generall Reformation from sin and God when it pleaseth him will afford us that happinesse and incline the Kings heart to all occasions plyable thereunto For the Kings heart is in the hand Prov. 21. 1. 25. â—5 of God as the Rivers of Water he turneth it whither soever he will And by long forbearing a Prince is perswaded we must therefore wait the Lords leisure and seek no Reformation by unlawfull means for we must not do evil that good may Rom. 3. 8. come thereof But some will now be wiser then Gods word or at least take Gods power upon themselves they will have the Kings heart in their hands and the Government in Church and State must be turned upside down at their beck and the most deserving bodies in the Kingdom left without heads at their command and pleasure or else to Armes they must forgetting the counsell of the wise With good advice Prov. 24 6. Exod. 7. 12. 2 Tim. 3. 8 9 Prov. 21. 30. shalt thou make Warr Alas these men may a while resist the King and in the King Gods Ordinance but it will be to as little purpose as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses for there is no wisdome power nor policy against the Lord of Hosts And if God for the sins of this Nation should lay that heavy scourge upon us to take away the Kings Majesties life and the lives of all his posterity and alliance which the Lord in his mercy forbid then may these men have some likelihood to prevail in their purposes or otherwise never Beloved Countrymen delude not your selves any longer the Kings Majesty hath sent forth many Declarations to open the eyes of your understandings and to inform you in the truth and equity of