THE COMMISSION OPENED. OR THE POSITION, That it is not only lawful, but also the duty and Allegiance of all and every English man, to join and endeavour, for the restitution of his sacred Majesty, to his Throne and Dignity, though without Commission for the same, cleared and explained; and that it is to be performed, By 

1. Council and advice.  
2. Supplies with men, money, and other necessaries.  
3. Bearing of Arms.   And that whosoever doth the contrary is guilty of Treason.  
By a Lover of Peace and Truth.  
And thsy all helped David against the band of the Rovers, for they were all mighty men of valour.  1 Chro. 12.21. 
London, Printed in the Year, 1648.   

THE COMMISSION OPENED.  
OR The Position, that it is not only lawful, but also the Duty and Allegiance of all and every Englishman, to join and endeavour, for the restitution of his sacred Majesty, unto his Throne and Dignity, though without Commission for the same, is explained.  
I Have 
* In Com●●●sion o● Posit●●●  formerly (Country men) let you understand, that it is not only lawful, but also the bounden duty of all and every English man, to join, and endeavour for the Restitution, of his sacred Majesty, unto his Throne and Dignity, though without Commission for the same, which because of their authority and protection, for their undertaking, proved from the word of God, and the Law of the Land, and the light of reason I called a Commission, but least the said truth should be neglected or misunderstood, now I will explain the same, which therefore I will call The opening of the Commission: In both which, understand the end, and scope; to be the Restitution of our gracious Sovereign, unto his Throne and Dignity: wherein for the effecting of the same, men are not tied only to taking up of Arms, but to join and use their best endeavours to restore his Majesty, whether it be by war, or Treaty, or otherwise: and therein in every thing to perform our best Allegiance, in Faith, Truth and obedience.  
All which is to be done by all Englishmen, with wisdom, discretion and alacrity, to the utmost of their abilities, though without Commission for the same. I observed pag. 5. That by the Law of the Land, when Treason, and Felony is committed, it is lawful for every subject, who suspects the offender, to apprehend and secure him, etc. which makes it lawful for every English man to take up Arms for the restitution of our gracious Sovereign, which though it may be to every man lawful, yet it is not to every man though in this case expedient, as the Apostle Paul speaks in another case. For that would cause a total neglect of Trade, and Tillage, neither would there be any rule or Government of the Common wealth, all which would tend to subversion of the Nation, which would be too prejudicial both unto King and kingdom. Wherefore that we may effect this duty and trust with safety, profit and benefit unto all, it will be worth our pains, to look our Commission over again as it is delivered, St. 7. Ed. 1. which is to aid the King as our Sovereign Lord, at all seasons when need shall be, in his Majesty's defence of Force of Armour, and all other force against the King's peace, at all times when it shall please him, and to punish them who shall do contrary according to the Laws and usages of this Realm. Our Commission then is to aid the King as our Sovereign Lord, at all seasons when need shall be: Aid is the same with aid in French, and Auxilium in Latin, which we call help in English, which by the law of God is due unto every one that stands in need thereof, Relieve the oppressed, Isa. 1.17. Comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, 1 Thes. 5.14. ye ought to support the weak, Acts 20.35. And if this be a due unto every weak and and distressed man, how much more unto an imprisoned Christian King. This is the law of God, if thy Brother be waxen poor, and fallen into decay with thee, thou shalt relieve him, Leu. 25.35. And if we must relieve a decayed brother, how much more are we bound to set at liberty an abused King, which is all the help we can give where observe, help is given in this case three ways.  
By 

1. Council and advice.  
2. Supplies, with men, money, and other necessaries.  
3. By bearing of Arms.    
All these as I have showed in my Commission, are at all seasons when need shall be due from us unto his sacred Majesty, as we are enjoined the same, by our Oaths, both of Supremacy and Allegiance, and the Statute Law of this Land, and they are to be performed in Faith, Truth, and obedience, doing good and lawful service unto the King and his people. Therefore are all these, by every man to be discharged in a way answerable unto case and opportunity: And that with the best abilities.  
1. By Council and Advice; all men are not herein bound to sight, no the old Adage is observable, seniores ad honores, iuniores ad labores, it is not to be understood, that the honourable hoar head, is to undergo the weight and hardship of Military affairs, wherefore it is the old man's duty, as much as he is able, to give good Council, and advice or otherwise to assist them, who either have or shall engage herein: Sometimes this may be all that Martial Soldiers can do, as Benhadad's servants, who by their advice saved both their own lives, and the life of their Master, 1 King 20.31.32. Council and advice may do more good than the sword, therefore herein must it needs be the duty of every wise English man as much as in him lies, by wholesome advice to endeavour the Restitution of his sacred Majesty.  
2. All those who are with holden from a martial engagement herein, either by age or some otherlawfull and reasonable impediment, are bound if they are able, to join and labour therein, by supplies of men, money and other necessaries, in assistance of the said undertaking: in the rebuilding of the Material temple of Jerusalem, this duty was strictly charged by Cirus, and put in execution, Let the men of this place help him [who had oversight of the work] with silver, and with Gold, and with goods, and with beasts, besides the free will offering for the house of God, which is in Jerusalem. Ezr. 1.4. And if this was requisite, and just for the building of a material Temple, how much more for the relief, and restaurat on of any living Temple of the Holy Ghost, but especially for the enlargement of agracious, and pious imprisoned Prince, which is a defender of the truly Christian Faith, not only lege terrae, by the law of the Land, but also praxi Christiani, by his Christian practice, whose virtues makes him worth ten thousand of his people, 2 Sam. 18.3. Therefore must it must be their parts and duty, who are Christians in the Kingdom, that (if need shall be) cannot engage in Martial service, to join and endeavour, for the restitution of his gracious Majesty, by sending of men, money, arms, and other necessaries, towards the maintenance of so religious an undertaking, wherefore let not Covetousness, and self love, hinder so good & godly a cause; this is that hath already undone both King and Kingdom, for questionless half of that money and treasure which his Majesty's friends have paid in Composition, and other taxes unto the two houses, would have made up a competent maintenance, of a greater Army, than ever his Majesty had, and kept them in good order, the want whereof carried away the hearts of the multitude undid the Army, & lost the war. Whosoever therefore is endued with any fear of God, or love of his Country, let him know that if his Majesty be not restored, he cannot escape ruin, beggary, and all other miseries, which Tyranny, and Oppression can impose: Whereas if his Majesty be restored to his Crown and dignity, we shall enjoy all happiness and prosperity both in Church, and Common wealth; in Religion, and policy. Therefore is it the Husbandman's part & duty, if he cannot attend an Army in person to labour as much as in him lies, by Cattles & Tillage of the field, for the support of this religious undertaking: for The King himself is served by the field, Eccl. 5.9. And all Common wealths have been careful to preserve the Blow. Malmutius sometimes a King in England, made a Law that the Blow should not be arrested for debt, and the Laws of England, have ever been careful to preserve Husbandry, and seeing that both the life of the Law, which is the King, and the Letter of the Law, in the several Statutes of the Land, hath been thus careful for the good of Husbandry, how doth gratitude and their own good, enjoin all Husbandmen which do not in their persons engage for the restitution of his Majesty, to relieve and assist them who shall undertake therein, with such provisions as make the staff of life, which will be an acceptable joining, and endeavouring for the restitution of their Sovereign, so likewise all Merchants and Tradesmen, which cannot leave their homes, to follow their callings, with greater care and diligence then ever, that they may assist them, who shall venture: their lives therein, with coin which is nervus belli, the sineiwes of war, to recover him from traitorous hands, unto whom God inioyns us to give all Allegiance, Homage, and subjection.  
3. The third way to join and endeavour for the restitution of his sacred Majesty (if necessity drive thereunto which God divert) is by bearing of Arms, which ought to be seconded by all English men. The fear of one Mordecai was so prevalent with Ahasuerus his Nobles, that they all joined to help the jews. And all the Rulers of the Provinces, and the Lieutenants, and the Deputies, and the Officers of the King helped the jews, because the fear of Mordecai feli upon them, Est. 9.3. O Country men how much more ought the sear of God, a greater than Mordecai, to fall upon all men in England, Noble men, and Gentlemen, Magistrates, and Officers throughout the Realm, and to cause them to help their King and Country, almost ruined and destroyed, out of the hands of Tyranny, Oppression, and Usurpation: wherein all men that want employment, or others who upon good and sound principles, are induced thereunto by conscience, aught to join, and endeavour though without Commission for the same, of which men at this time certainly there are enough in the Kingdom, (with God's blessing,) able to perform a more difficult business than the Restitution of our gracious Sovereign, if with wisdom, and discretion, they would stoutly, resolutely, and unanimously join therein, ever having a Christian care to use serpentine Wisdom, and Columbine Innocence, For this we have a sufficient pattern in Scripture. Thus in the same case men came to help David in his distress till he had an Army like the Host of God, at that time day by day there came [men] to David to help him till it was a great host, like the Host of God 1 Chro. 12.22. 
Read the whole: Chapter.  If all those of our Kingdom who are wise, wealthy, honourable, and martial, would freely according to their duty, come unto his Majesty as they of Israel did unto David then questionless would they be recorded worthyes-unto eternity as well as them.  
Thus (dear Country men) you see that both the word of God, of the Land; and the light of Reason enjoins every English man to labour join and endeavour, for the restitution of his Majesty though with out Commission for the same, either by Council, and advice, or by assistance with supplies, of men, money, Arms, or other necessaries: Or (if need be which God avert) by bearing & Arms or all of them. And that whosoever undertakes herein hath the Law of the Land for their protection.  
But on the contrary, all those that join and endeavour, in any or of all these ways against his Majesty or the undertakers for the restitution of his Majesty, are guilty of treason, and let them observe what sentence is recorded in the word of God, to be given by Solomon, upon Abiathar and joab in such a case, for taking part with Adonijah 1 King 17. and ch. 2. v. 26 27 28 29. and let them know to adhere unto an other State, than the King in this Kingdom is high Treason 3. jacob 4. and to aid or comfort them who war against our Lord the King is Treason Stat. 25. Edw. 3, 2. The words are these, If any man levy War against the King in his Realm, or be adherent unto the King's enemies in his Realm or else where &c. ought to be judged Treason, where mark but to adhere to the King's Enemies is Treason. And the two Houses their bulls, wherewith they would seem to affright good Christians from their allegiance, with that horrible name of Treason, are but bugbears, which can prevail upon none but Knaves or Fools. Therefore good English Christian's labour and endeavour, by all means, to the utmost of your power to restore his Majesty, to his Throne, and dignity; and that will beget favour with God, and honour with men.  
God save the King.  
FINIS.