ADVICE TO THE NOBILITY, GENTRY, & COMMONALTY OF THIS NATION IN THE Qualifications and Election Of Their Knights and Burgesses, Their REPRESENTATIVES in PARLIAMENT.  
Humbly offered unto their Serious Consideration,  By Robert Tell-Truth. 
FAction in all Ages hath been such, and ever had her Tricks, and played them generally in the Fear of God, and with strange Success; but had the Ill-Luck in Forty-Eight, to lose her Mask in that Pious Tragedy; and cannot again soon appear with Confidence in her Religious Dress, because the Holy Cheat is too well known, to Take twice in one Age: And therefore, the Godly Brethren begin a New Game, (Look about you Gentlemen!) and not as before, in Nomine Domini, but Populi; and make the Interest of the People, their Stall now,— as they did plead the Fear of God before.  
One while we know, 'twas Puritan that did ●well in its Generation; after it was the Godly; and then the Sober Party: But because True Sobriety, and Godliness, were at last a scarce Commodity amongst the Good Brethren, as well as the Wicked; These Distinctions, by degrees began to wear away, and almost quite to be laid by; and now they have a New Shiboleth, though but that same Cause: And now 'tis Countryman, and Courtier; and in at this Country-Man's Door, all Mischief is like to Creep: For though the Word in its Natural Significancy, notes nothing but abundance of Plainness and Honesty; yet being got into the Saint's Dictionary, it now gins to be of the same Import with any of the other Godly Names, and Phrases, they use to style Themselves and Party by. And now 'tis a Word, that, like the Troj●● Horse, is Milite Plenus, full of Wildfire and Mischief; or, like Elimas' the Sorcerer, full of all subtlety and Craft: For, let a man be the bitterest Enemy to King and Church, yet if he can but obtain this Title of Countryman, and set him declare at the Head of any Faction whatever, That he will stand up for the good of the Country, in Opposition to the Court-Interest, and his business is effectually done; he shall most certainly be Chosen for any Place he stands for, and the most sober, prudent, and worthy Patriot, and whatever, may not be fit to be a Competitor with him. And this I, and many more, can speak upon too sad experience: For in a little Election in our Parts, I saw a most incomparable Person thrown by, with Shame and Disgrace, merely by this Stratagem.  
I cannot therefore choose, but give the Country a Caution, and a just Sense of this New Artifice; and how mischievous it is like to be to the King and Church, if not in time detected. And this perhaps, may be a good Hint for others to describe it better.  
The Plot, Gentlemen, was this▪ To get this Parliament by any Arts whatever, Dissolved: And why? Not that they ●o any thing that is short of the Wisdom and Gravity of so great an Assembly; saving this, that they are Good Churchmen, (and this Crime enough with the Brethren and they will not allow of either a Romish or Scottish Fanatic; neither Toleration, nor Comprehension, will they swallow: And therefore, no Parliament say the Kir●-Men; and they must be sent Home again, and a New One chose. But will the next be betrer in their Sense? Ye●● undoubtedly: For those busy Men have for some Years last passed, so possessed the Minds of t●e People against the Court and Bishops, and underhand, the King too; and so endeared them to their public Spirited Men, which they called Countrymen; that now such Persons, as they give that Title to, shall infallibly have the People's Hearts and Votes; and be the Lads that must make up the next House of Commons, and Retrieve the Godly dying Cause, before it quite Expire, and Bleed to Death. And the Cunning of these Designing Men is such, that there are but some f●w neither, of these Good Countrymen (here and there one) that shall be cried up as such: And those are either Earmarked already in the late War; or such as are sprung out of that Holy-Seed, or as do secretly give Testimony of their Antipathy against Court, Bishops, and (when with a Confiding Brother) King too. But be sure, such are as hopeful, at least, shall have this Title conferred on them. So that now the Title gins to have Rebellion, and Phanatisme in the Belly on't; and is all well, fitted for the fanatics turn, if not better than any other of their Godly Names and Titles were.  
an indeed, it is so strangely taking, not only with the credulous Populacy, but even the Old Cavalier.— And the King's best Friends suffer themselves to be imposed upon, and wheedled by it; and think, there is something that is Good and Useful in it, for the Nation; which seems to Bode as ill to the King's Interest, as any thing yet. For which Cause it is, that I am so bold to trouble the Country with my Sense about it; and how the One came to be in so much Esteem, and the Other a Note of Infamy and Disgrace.  
The Word Courtier in its Primitive Sense, did note One that did attend on the Person of the King, or was employed by him in any considerable Office at Court; and that did him faithful Service in those Trusts. And originally, it was never any Shame or Disgrace to the best of Men in the Cauntrey, (Peers and Others) to Serve at Court, and Attend the Pleasure of their Prince, till the Saints made it so: Nay, it was always thought an Honour, to be admitted to these Courtly-Attendance; and the Country thought; they could not do themselves a greater Service, than to Choose such (neither indeed can they) for their Representatives in Parliament, that were near the King; That so they might have an occasion to make known the State of the Country, and the Wants and Grievances of the People, when need required; and to have an opportunity to Redress them. But how Courtier in our Days, should come to so degenerate a Sense, as to denote (if some may Expound it) an Enemy to Law, and Liberty, and Propriety, and every Thing that is dear to the People, is strange: And how Countryman, which is a Word of great Plainness, Integrity, and Loyalty, if Honest Men may gloss it; and how, I say, this Innocent name shall denote every thing that is Mischievous to His Majesty, and directly opposite to the interest of White-Hall, is more strange. But the truth on't is, the Case now is come to this, That no Man whatever, can attend the Person of the King, or serve him in any of the most Honourable Offices at Court, and that sometime with the Exqence of his own Estate and Fortune: but he must be looked upon as a dangerous Person to the People, and as the worst of Men, that is a Courtier. And on the other side, Let a Man be what he will, as bad as Twenty years' Rebellion, and Conversation with Blood and War could make him; yet if no Courtier, he shall be the Darling, and the Delight of the People, and shall command their Votes and Suffrage. Let him be a Man of Sacrilege and Violence to God, and his Church; Let him hold his own and other Men's Lands, by the strength of two Acts of Indemnity: Let him be for Rebellion, Schism, Faction, Toleration, Comprehension, or whatever else is Dear and Precious in the Saints esteem; if he writ but Countryman, he is sure to carry the Day. Not that I think 'tis Essential to all Men that live in the Country, that have no Employ at Court; to be endowed with these Excellent Qualities: God forbidden! But this I say, But all men of these Mischievous Principles, against King and Church, that have any Design to insinuate into the People, to creep into Place and Power, where the People can help them, they get in by this Artifice; And all Persons of the most Eminent Loyalty and Integrity that oppose them, and are not Competitors with them, are cast off with this Stratagem, These are for the Court Party, when perhaps they have not Concern there at all. So that in a very short time 'tis like to come to this, That none must be accounted Lovers of the Country, but the Enemies of the King: And 'tis pretty near it now: For, let these Gentlemen that seem to be so taken with this Distinction now, consider well, and consult their own Experience, and they shall find, that all the Elections for Knights and Burgesses of late, in any of the Counties, and Corporations of the Land, have been endeavoured to have been filled with such Leavenned Men; and under that Notion of Good Countrymen only. And in a little time, it is to be feared, that the Populacy will confirm it, as the Cunning Men design it to a Fanatic only: And an old fashioned Loyal Cavalier, must not think to show his Head upon any Public— lest he be deemed a Courtier. For the people are taught to believe, that neither the King, nor any about him, nor indeed, any that are highly for him, have any true Love for the Country; but that they design to Enslave them, and their Estates, and to bring all under an Arbitrary Power and Bondage. And from this gross, lewd, and False Conceit, they conclude, That it concerns all that Love Themselves, or their Posterities, to oppose with Might and Main, the Court, and all that adhere to it: And he that so doth, is a True Lover of the People, and a downright Countryman. And we find this Name made use of always, to serve the most Disloyal and Fanatic Ends, and Purposes, in all Counties: and it seems to be as well fitted for those Ends, as any of the former Religious Names of Sober and Godly Party were, and better for those that will not be wrought upon by Pious Pretences, and Religious Arts, and Wheedles: Yet will be strangely affected, when they are told, that their Secular Concerns are in Danger. And any that pretend so much Love to Them, as to stand up against all Underminers of these their Dear Diana's, shall be sure to be their Darling for ever: For we see, the Generality of the Country have more Care for their Commons, and Country Privileges, than for their Consciences: Nay, will often venture Them, to secure those. And those Persons, for instance, that declare for this one thing, viz. Against giving away the Country's moneys, (be the Occasions of State, what the will) except by it, they can hope to make New and Great Encroachments upon the Prerogative, shall be accounted the Country's Friends for ever, and never want their Vote at any time.  
So that you see 'tis a very serviceable, cunning, and mighty obliging Distinction; and is the likeliest to pull down Whitehall of any yet; and principally for this reason, because it obtains so much amongst the Royal Party. For as they were always a sort of good Natured Persons, and innocent themselves, so were apt ever to believe well of others too, and to be caught with fine Names, till they had believed themselves into the Saint's Yoke, and their Families into want, and their Estates into villainage; and so will do Again, if they be not very wary.  
The truth of it is, the suffering Cavalier had the most reason at first, to allow this distinction of any Man; and I am almost in the mind, was the first that made it,— But than it was upon a particular reason, and that at a particular time. I will not say how reasonable and just his discontents then were; but certainly the than New Statesmen in Sixty and upwards laid the Axe to the Root of the Royal-Oak, when they pursued that cursed Rule in their New politics, Oblige your Enemies, you are sure of your Friends; which blew up more of the Royal party, than either Cromwell's Plots or Army; and was more destructive to them, than that fatal Naseby; for then some Escaped, but this Maxim Kills all if well followed, and that in their own Quarters; and makes their dear Sovereign (for whom they fought) to be their executioner; this kind of usage, no doubt, exasperated the Kings suffering friends, if not against the Cause, yet against the then Court; and gave them too great occasion to believe, they had worse enemies at Whitehall when the KING was come home, than before; for before, they had but what they looked for; but to be split in their Harbour, and to revive their greatest Stabbs from the Court-friends, went to the very heart; and hence I fear, came the opposition between the Court and Country. But now Gentlemen, consider those Statesmen are dead, and their politics stink, as well as their names; and those New-ruling men, that drew sword both against Father and Son, and sucked of the ones blood, and the others Wine, are most of them gone to their place; and Loyalty that then Languished, gins now to revive, and meets with better encouragement, then when Rebels and Regicides were in place and power; and now his Majesty sees with his own spectacles & knows (God bless him) though at too dear a rate, that the old  is the best Subject, and loves and serves him best, and is truest to his interest; and that all others pretend they what they will, are hollow at the heart, and will love as they obey, with abundance of distinction and caution; that is, just so well as may consist with their brethren's, their own, and their causes interest; Now then, there is not the same reason for these mens prejudices against the Court, as once there was; for Sir. John Fresbyter is now pretty well known, and perhaps is the most contemptible of all pretenders to an interest there; and therefore is fain to use his old Tricks, and his new Shibboleths, to creep into Place and Power to save a sinking, and dying cause: and if the Gentry and Nobility would keep from a second time, under the Fanatic Tyranny, and from Grinding any more in these Philistine mills, they must not allow of such serviceable distinctions as those are for their cunning purposes. Choose therefore of the Country men for your Representatives, men of Religion and Loyalty, that love the Church and KING; and be sure there is no danger in such; but all others whatsoever, let them pretend what they will, are hollow within, and mean no good to either God or Church, to King or Country, but are, by their old sly Tricks, and new Artifices, seeking an opportunity of destroying a glorious Church a second time; and of Acting the second part of the same Tragedy; and insinuating Again, craftily into the good opinions of the people, by the pretences of Love and Zeal to their good and welfare. Of these beware, and take this as a certain truth; that a house of Commons made up of such Countrymen as the pretended Godly party cry up, will be the most Antimonarchical seditious, and Fanatical Assembly in the Christian world. From which, Good Lord Deliver us.  
FINIS.