Angland in a Balance: OR A Modifyein Mercury FOR avoidance ●ofe another sanguinary guarre, or war: AND A preparative Facilitation TO A generally safe & satisfactory Pacification.  

Rogate quae ad'pacem sunt Jerusalem, etc.  
Ne retineas verbum in tempore salutis.   Eccles. 4. 
Printed 1648.  
I Conceive shalt greatly expected Treaty vulle put nour present state● of affairs 〈◊〉 a prudential Balance, place in th●ls Presbyterians in one scale; one the 〈◊〉 In●●●●●●dents in an other to trutinate & try quich is thel more poignant or pre●●erant, so to discover quich dofe 'em severally, vulle finally stand or fall, 〈◊〉 Royal Party standein in a sort, only is spectators to cast in leyr. gra●nes into 〈◊〉 one, or thel other part dofe thel pe●ghts or weights, as lay ye, or see cause. 〈◊〉 thel Independent Combination exceeds thel Presbyterian Faction, in 〈◊〉 grains 〈◊〉 degrees, py●●or by reason ley● Arrive has almax● or almost alm● 〈…〉 or all in its power. Yet vould I not have thels Royalists or thel Cavallears to cast● any grains into thel Presbyterian seal, for pyr thist, ley vulle so much elevate & levighten thel Independent seal as it vulle finally redound to thels Cavallear son destruction in case thels Presbyterians prevail pyr leyr additional conjunction: or at minst & at least, thels Cavallears pyr leyr superadditional poise, vullo leashe or leave thel Balance in silch or such an equilibrie, as vulle only serve 〈◊〉 continue, & not to compose nour sanguinary combustions & disnatural Debates▪ Now I perceive His Moderate Ma.tie is content to exclude thel Scots & treat avi●● 'em apart (as sum months passed I propounded to his serious consideration in my● Mercurius Moderatus) quich sure vulle greatly facilitate his peaceable Restorement, if anithient vulle mollify his refractory subjects minds; or if possibly reconcileable one come another; quich now I really apprebende as thel greatly difficulty impeditive to a firmly foundationed Accommodation, so many opposed Factionaries (especially in Religionarie affairs) sieing or bieing morally impossibilitated to meet in one, quich in substance in my fundamental reason movein me greatly to doubt (yet not to despair) dofe a sufficiently mutual concordancy. Yet if only so tractable ley fere, were as every adversely contendei● Party vould or would in sum rational measure cede or yield leyr Reights, so● same or am able to apprehend it effectible: especially if ley vould almne unanimously conspite in admittein leyr Sovereign Prince for leyr unical Vinculun Pacis, ot ultimate Umpiere, & supreme Arbitrator. For if ley rejecte 'im, the●ley liniunt absque temperatura, ley daub senze mortar: & so leyr labours & edifiremain exposed to fall pyr by every flast of veind; so as accordein to thel judicious Tacitus in a semblable case, Non aliud discordantis Reipublica restabat remedium quàm ut ab uno regeretur. For, as glorious S, Cyprian (not much diffrently to thist masme or same purpose) verse reightly instructs us, Vnitas ab unconsurgit, Unity naturally resulteth dofe one; namely one supreme Governor or Superior: Thist now tou clearly & costly experience has doughte us, since 〈◊〉 long as almn or all thel subjects continued united subter one Monarchic● Sovereign, & affected no new Masters, ley passed in peace, plenty, & quietness quen as now ever since sum studious dofe Novelties & Innovations excussed thi●● sweet yoke dofe obedience & subordination, ley suffer silch miseries & oppressions as vulle yet daily increase & multiply into a total desolation (sum peu or fev●● only excepted quoe subsiste per thel ruins dofe others) if not opportunely prevented, pyr●un uniform agreement in thist due subordination quich is thel prime● & price pally necessary Principle for Peace, let us then have thist, & cetera omnia adjicientur nobis, thel rest vulle subsecute & foloe. Contrarily, if nee we cement not thel & structure dofe nour so much laboured for Pacification, per a submissive advinculation to nour supreme angular lapid or stone, it vulle prove no● firmer than discemented bries quich let in corrupt air dofe Differences & Divi●●● to a notable disturbance dofe reciprocel Peace & A ●●nistie intrcene, id est, 〈◊〉 ween one subject & another, in relation to leyr common Soyereigne & su●●●me Ruler.  
〈◊〉 vould have thels Cavalleares to ciste in for ileyr o● their parts a double grain 〈◊〉 more into thel more preponderatein scale for Peace. One in move in his Maje●●● alone (for thel Scots regard not thist present Parliamental Convention) Publishly to declare thels Scots Rebels in case ley vulle not retract leyr Army, & cease to invade & caterpille nour Count tie; as formerly he proclaimed 'em them & leyr Covenant Rebellious, at leyr precedent entrance, quen invited pyr thels then Presbyterian Parliamenters. Yet let not thels Royalists in any case suffer thels Levellers to cast any one grain into thel pu●l que B●llince; for iley'r or they'll revolve & spoil tore, anc so ley vulle totully pertur bate nour pacifyein Tractation to equal almne to leyr son or own new fancies, as even at thist present plainlier than ever, appears pyr leyr newly published extravagant Petition presented to thel Parliamental Assembly. So for avoidance dofe perturbation & procreation dofe a new guarre or war, & tore perteinein to new Combustions, special care is adhibende or to buy adhibited & used, ley meddle not in thel rule dofe nour prementioned Balance, minst, or least lay turn tote topsie turvie.  
Cavalleares I name lem, not Knights; quich appellation is now so odious as I vould have it for thel future totally abolished, exceptein only for Knights o'th' Post, & only thel more glorious Title dofe Cavalleare used as more consorant to loy altie & obedience to leyr Sovereign, quoe confers 'em thist honour, not to others quoe have so ingrately opposed 'im.  
Another grain I vould advise thel Royalists cautiously to put in thel Ballance, namely concernein Religion, in propoundein to thel Reingues or King's Majesty ajoynt come or with his Parliamental Commissioners, to establish a general liberty for exercise dofe almne considerable Professions in Religion, even thel Papists Profession tou; blasphemous Heresies only excepted. For if thist gracious Indult is not generally conceded & granted, & thel Scotch Covenant either quite dissolved, or greatly moderated, I profess I same not able to conceive any constant Accommodation, in regard if one only Party dofe so many dissentein Dictamen in Religion, totally prevail as superior to almne others, thel rest vulle remain in continual discontent, anc opposein reluctance, so never reconcileable subter or under one only Form dofe Government in Religionarie affairs, as perpetually timorizein either precedently inflicted, or new infligend, and infligeable oppressions per thels predominant Rulers, so as ley vulle never desist to machinate mischiess to thel notable perturbance dofe thel State, anc spititual anc temporal Government a joint.  
Vrue or true it is, Unity anc Conformity in Religion quen senze great inconveniency it is possible to sie or buy had, is a principal producer anc fomenter 〈◊〉 Peace even in temporal Regimen: Yet quen so many preseminated discordant Errors anc Heresies continually pullulate, to contend for preeminency in an● Protestant particular or single Profession more than in another, is to sake or make an overture to perpetual dissensions.  
To quich incommodity one M. Farrar, (quose Propositions for Peace an● Safety. far or are more rational anc tractable than any I have yet viewed or perused,) very prudently alludein, judiciously, & considerately affirms; A happy settlement vulle or Will never be in thist Kingdom, unless great care be had ofe tende● consciences, so numerous they are so just their pretence, etc. Out of quich numbe● as I probablely collect pyr sum other his passages, he vould not have even Papis● excepted, as reightly reflectein to thels dangerous Sequiles quich vould result dofe thel negation dofe so rational a concession as in reality (leyr greater Antiquity & ancient possission peculiarly pondered,) silch an exception, neither policy, nor Religion, no nor common, or mutual humanity vould ever approve; especially lay havein no longue time passed, exhibited so satislactorie assurance for leyr future Loyalty an● temporal Allegiance to thel present State, as fas conse● sedly pyr ilose those to quome it fas or was offered, abundantly sufficient. To 〈◊〉 confirmation dofe quich if it sart sie or shall be required, lay vulle more sooner o● more over, procure leyr chief Pastor the● Papes public Engagement to suspend almne coactive exercise dofe his accustomed Power, inithel Reingdome dofe Angland, quich his interposeive, an● mediative obligement vulle even alone sufficiently anc supersufficiently abolishe almne suspicion, anc danger dofe distutbance to thel public Peace in thels Roman Professors. So let 'em in reason anc Christian piety enjoy sum tolerable liberty in thel exercise dofe loyr Religion, at thel minst, or at the least per a  Composition as long or as fare as leyr poor ability anc possibility vulle extend.  
Ay sure thel contrary fere were great impiety in a time anc opportunity, in quich it plainly appears, in a manner almn people generally conspire in a rationally expected gracious Indult or Concession dofe his moderate Majestye, and Parliamental concurrence for thel ease dofe tender Consciences; in quich (as have 〈◊〉 tenderly endured so long anc tedious molestations) Roman Catholics, mixed justly request to have leyr proportion. Conform to quich charitable favour let one grain more sie or buy superadded to thel former, namely quat that no Juraments or Oaths, or other silch Engagements sie or be enforced to any dofe thels subjects consciences, more than mearely to secure leyr temporal Allegiance, since indubiously thel contrary vould greatly averte thels minds dofe many tender conscientioned people derom or from almne peaceable Atonement, anc amiable Reconciliation.  
Anc I incidently observe as pyr ilose so great anc irreconcilable difference anc ●●●rial Divisions, Sects & Factions in Religion super comemmored not Protestant confesser judicious anc tender dofe his eternal salvation is not greatly moved either to renounce or at thel minst to doubt his Profession is not ilat one Religion quich Deod as Deus pacis & non dissentionis exacts dofe us. So contrarily no ●eniated anc judicious Roman Catholic is not greatly confirmed ay an● com●●ted in his Faith and Religion quen he contemplates thel infinite mercy dofe ●●●od in his deliverance doubt dofe silch a foul chaos an● confusion; an● in his ad●●ittance for a Member dofe his son quiet an● peaceable Congregation.  
Finally, let thel loyal & honest part dofe thels Independent Combination, ●●ch desire leyr Sovereign's honorous Restoration, put as much poise as lay they please into thel Royal scale, & so thels Royalists enter in into an amiablely ●●●ual Conjunction, it vulle sufficiently serve to recover his facred Majesty's R●yal Reights, Person, & Honour not obsistein tote thel opposition thels other Fastions sure able to prosecute, & derom or from quome is thel Reingue or King's Majesty in reason to expect his deliverance save only pyr or by ilem or them qube have ●m actually in leyr custody, & quoe in a great measure possess thel toll or whole power dofe his Reingdome, anc or and dofe his Anglish Domitions; I intend & mean thel Royal Independents, for thel popular or levellein Independents, (as clearly is discovered in leyr new Petition dated Sep. 11. 1648.) have a Project to render thels Representative Commons nour supreme Governors, anc to transverte thel accustomed Form dofe Regimen established pyr thels anciently established Laws dofe thist Monarchical Realm, quich leyr Peti● on in my dictamen is partly founded in groasse ignorance; partly almnso in a licklein & puriginous affect dofe novelty, & change, & partly in an incapacity to distinguish original and formal Authority. For in reality supreme Power is only originally in thels legally established Laws quich, (as even common sense suggestes) are not repealeable, save only pyr thel masme Authority pyr quich ley fere or were enacted, so lay sare not annulleable, or changeable pyr thels Commons alone, quoe pyr lemselps had not power derived to 'em pyr thel represented Reingdome to constitue silch Laws; mut pyr thel Reingdome, ●omnes or Lords & Commons a joint, quoe in leyr several degrees concurred to I●yr est ablishment. Thist convinces my judgement & rationally moves me to estieme thel very foundation dofe thel prementioned Petition for erroneously false jointly in Law and Reason. Cavete a stater a falsa. Thels Authors dofe thist perniciously cross Petition & false Baliance sare ilose Catabibazonists quich corrupt nour now  Constellation, for Union, Concord anc Peace. To quich touchein for removal dofe present obstacles; peculiarly tonchein Retractations for sangfusions or bloodshed, thel only easy Atonement vulle prove Solomon's Counsels: nec mihi nec tibi, sed dividatur.  
I vould not have his Moderate Majesty proceed prodigally in his Condescensions, for peradventure quen ilose quoe have 'im now in agitation anc baitein, br●● attained leyr desires, sum others vulle set fresh dogs at 'im, namely thels Leave lers, or Levellein Independents.  
For an ultimate conclusion, let thel City put one only grain in thel one or other seal, vidolicet, firmly to resolve, never to contribute to a renewed qua●● or War, mut or but only to an amiable pacification: For indubitablely thist 〈◊〉 prove the strongest staff to beat thels refractory Factions into a peaceable Accommodation. Let us thence diligently apply nour maxt or most humb●● Petitions anc Supplications to thel divine Majesty, as to thel prime Motor a● Moderator dofe almne, so to mollify, direct, & guide thels minds & intention dofe thels Tractators, & Transactors, to applyc leyr extremest endeavours, & for● for every part & party in thels Subjects to receive a satisfactory content & con●● for't. For consecution dofe quich special Benediction & gracious favour, let us it stantiously solicit, & daily supplicate for a legal & uniform Procedure in th●● & almne other future Parliaments, for nour gracious Sovereign, his Royal Consort, & Issues honorous Restorement to leyr precedently enjoyed Estates & Conditions, Parliament and People to leyr formerly accustomed Privileges etc. 〈◊〉 thel prenamed Gentlehamn M. Farrar in his Propositions for Peace & Safety very piously & rationously suggestes touchein thist & divers other particular● Only I marvelle he is so confident in affirmein or supposein an other new Parliament vulle not have Power to annulle thels decrees enacted in thist present Parliamentatie Assembly, since in my Dictamen, no Juraments, Oaths, or any other Engagements have force to oblige in thist nature any other suture legally procredein Parliaments quich vulle contain other new Members, nor far or are ye● in existence or essence.  
One I cognosce, & perfectly know, quome I refuse to nominate, quoe if in case he had thel Balance in his rule anc guidance, he vould so moderately order thels scales dofe affairs as vould infalliblely render thels Subjects felicious & happy in leyr temporal conditions & estates. He vould so equally balance & ponderate thels severally dissentein Parties causes (prudently ponderein 'em as equally disputeable at thel minst,) as in reason & equity to restore every one leyr formerly enjoyed estates & conditions, not only ilose Nobles & Cavalieares quich have constantly assisted 'im, mut even thels marritated Episcops or Bishops for thel Antiquity dofe leyr name, & succedein Posterity, restorein lem to leyr Revenues & Dignities (at thel minst) in ilose Cities & Diocese quich desire to have lem restored. For not obsistein si●ch Matrimonial Prelates filios facientes fere never admitted either in the Latin or Grecian, Ecclesie or Eclirch; yet surely thist moderate indifferency or atonement, vould procreate a more general content & union in thels Subjects minds, quich is principally intended & laboured for in thist nour present pacifyein Tractation.— In thel interim, His Majesty & his Cavaleares ●●●ein licence to play for quortie or forty days at thel minst, I advise lem in c●●rity to forfeit no time, for thist is leyr vacation an● thel anth or year dofe Jubilye.— Only if leyr recreations vulle permit, let lem cast thist one other grain more into thel Royal scale, namely quat or that thel Reingues Majesty had an● enjoys his supreme Power anc Monarchical Crown per a longue succession an● here ditarie Reight either founded in a Conquest, or in some other just Title, an● nor, per Election, or Donation dofe thel common people, so as thels Levellers quoe attempt to transfer thist his supreme Power to thels Commons in or out dose Parliament greatly abuse thels ignorant Subjects, ay an● jointly perjure lemselps in violatein leyr Jurament, or oath of Allegiance, quich ley doube or owe to leyr present Sovereinge. Nor yet vulle thels Commons afford lem more security for leyr Indemnity, (as lay erroneously imagine,) than his sacred Majesty, nor yet so much, since thels Commons vulle ever remain questionable for leyr newly assumed supremacy, per or by ilat masme or same Authority quich fas or was ever precedently supreme; so as ley they vulle remain necessitated to maintain a perpetual Army at thel City anc Countries charge for leyr defence, quich vulle totally disquiet anc depauperate thel Reingdome an● people, an● vulle serve only for one Protestant co-subject disnaturally to murder an other even conform to leyr son solemn Vow an● Covenant. So adieu thel Clorie dofe Angland for ever, if nour Treaters anc Transacters so dexterously rule not its Balance as to produce a tractable Accommodation.  
Finished Sep. 27. 1648.  
FINIS.