AN ALARUM TO THE COUNTIES OF ENGLAND AND WALES, WITH THE OATH, OF ABJURATION, For ever to be abjured. OR, The sad MALADY, and sole REMEDY of ENGLAND.  
By a Lover of his Native country.  
Printed in the year, 16●●.   

AN ALARUM TO THE COUNTIES OF ENGLAND AND WALES. With the OATH of Abjuration for ever abjured.  
OUR Nation, which long since hath lost the Lustre and well-being, now at last struggleth for the Life and Being thereof. Our many [temporal] miseries are reducible to two principal heads.  
Daily 

1. Decrease of Trading.  
2. Increase of Taxes: So that every hour the Burden groweth weightier, and the Back of our Nation weaker to support it.    
2. 'Tis sad to see, in clothing countries, what swarms there are of poor people, the true objects of Charity; if any were as able to give, as they worthy to receive relief: for they would work, and can work, yet cannot work, because there are none to employ them.  
3. As for the Sea (which is the Land of Port-Towns,) it returneth small benefit; for since Dunkirk was ours, (more to the credit than profit of our Nation) the fire of Sea-robheries is removed out of the Chimney, and scattered about the House, not less destructive, but more diffusive: So that our Merchants could better guard themselves against that Single staple of Pirates, than many lesser ones sprung since everywhere, the cause why rich men will not (as poor cannot) adventure.  
4. Our second misery is, increase, yea, superfetation of Taxes, so long as so numerous an Army is maintained: For though some of their Soldiers will preach gratis, (conscientious to tahe nothing for that which they know is worth nothing) yet none will fight at so cheap a rate.  
5. Some will say, That what the Soldier receiveth with one hand he returneth with another, expending his pay in Victuals, clothes, &c. whereby Coin, by circulation, is continued in our country. This I deny; for some Grandees, greatened by the Times, have made their moneys over in Banks beyond the Seas, which are put into MORTMAIN, or a Dead hand, whereby no profit accrueth to our commonwealth. Others having gotten the Estates of Lords, live after the rate of Yeomen, whose discretion therein is to be commended, for proportioning their expenses (for fear of afterclaps) rather according to their original, than present condition.  
6. The increase of Taxes must inevitably cause the ruin of our Nation: For though still there be wealthy men left (as they show it in their cowardice, and fear to engage for the general good) yet they grow thinner every day, whilst such as are left no root of their own, rather than they will wither, will turn Suckers on the Stock of others. So that the greatest happiness rich men can promise to themselves, is only to be last devoured, though the comfort of the lateness will not countervail the sadness for the certainty of their destruction. Indeed it is miraculous, that our Nation hath subsisted so long, and few there are that would believe that the whole Candle of our English wealth could last so long, as we have beheld it burning in the Socket, but now giving the last blaze, if God be not merciful, and men discreet to prevent it.  
7. Pass we from the sad Malady, to the sole Remedy thereof, I say sole, not exclusively of divine miraculous power, but according to human apprehension, and this is a Free and full Parliament. Indeed Free-Parliament is a tautology, like a Reasonable man, who, if not reasonable is no man; as the other, if not free, no Parliament. But the late frequent forces put on Partiaments hath made the needless epithet become necessary, to express what kind of Parliaments we desire. Not such in which every word must be spoken under correction of the sword, but wherein every Member, without fear of violence (to interrupt or dissolve them) may follow the dictates of their own judgement and conscience.  
8. Nor ought a Parliament only be free from force, but also from any Abjurations, or previous Engagements. Let them take heed of renouncing any thing, save what is simply sinful in itself, as the forsaking of the World, Flesh, and devil, as was solemnly promised for them in their Baptism. But it is bad to be busy with other Ab-renunciations, especially of the royal Family.  
9 Look backward and we may say with David, The Vows of the Lord are upon us; I mean on so many of us as are of fifty years of age. The Oath of Supremacy (not to mention the Covenant) is the eldest Brother, to whom the inheritance of our Consciences doth belong.  
10. Look forwards, it limiteth God's providence, which is an heinous offence; we know not what a day, month, year, &c. may bring forth. This Age hath the least reason of any to meddle with the edge-tools of such oaths which in a short (but thick) time hath seen so many strange things, that now nothing is strange unto us. Have we not seen O. Cromwell from a private Gentleman gradatim ascend to be Protector of three Nations, and (by his Courage and wisdom without any right) a more absolute power was possessed by, and larger Tribute paid unto him than to any King of England. His Son and Successor (counted bad by many for his goodness and mild spirit) for eight months was congratulated by the most considerable Persons of our Nation. Now if some twenty years since an Oath had been tendered unto us to abjure the Family of Cromwel's from ever having the supreme Magistracy in our Nation; such an Oath would have seemed safe, but yet it was not lawful to take it, because none knew what was in the Womb of Teeming Time, though utterly improbable to our belief.  
11. Besides, the Imposers of this Oath may miss the mark they propound to themselves, viz. assurance of their own, and discovery of the opposite Party; for many now pass not for the taking or breaking of any Oath, and assurance of such is hard in keeping, and indeed not worth the having. Other will behold the Oath as temporary, and expiring with the power of the Imposers. As for the conscientious indeed, Eefusing it out of pure principles of piety, it is a barbarous act for persons in power, to turn Executioners to strangle tender Consciences, whose cordial fear of an Oath should be encouraged.  
12. As the Parliament must be free, no Vassal, but enfranchised from the Sword, so must it be full, no Cripple, but entire and complete in all the Members thereof. Our Land hath lately groaned under the most grievous Monopoly as ever was or can be, when a handful of men have grasped to themselves the representing of a whole (not to say 3) Nation, most of them being but Burgesses, who, though equal in Votes, are not equal in their representation with the Knights of the Shires. If they presume that the rest excluded by them (far more considerable for Birth, Estates, Number, Love of the People, and what not?) are virtually included in them, it is an intolerable PRESUMPTION. That what pertaineth to all should be handled by all, is a Truth so clear and strong, that they must offer a Rape to their own Reason that deny it. Such also is this Maxim, Vnrepresented, unconcluded: So that if so few have in them the notion of a Parliament, it is a bare Notion indeed, especially seeing this handful of men were (say the cavaliers) dissolved by the death of the King; dissolved (said Cromwell) by his Sword; dissolved (say some Great ones) by an Act of their own (Entered into the journal Book of the Parliament) dissolved must their own Consciences say, by their voluntary accepting of Elections in later Parliaments.  
13. Now the Members of a Free and full Parliament (the only Hope of human help) ought thus to be qualified: 

1. Let them be Godly and well-affected indeed, and not in the canting language of the Times.  
2. Men of Estates, who will be tender in taxing others, as striking them through themselves, whilst such who bear nothing care not how much they burden others, as if paying were as easy as voting, and Money as free as words.  
3. Men of spirits, no dull Souls, all the sparks of whose activity are quenched in their own phlegm.  
4. No Gainers by the continuance of the Army. Demetrius' the Silver-Smith was no fool (what ever else he was) so sticking for the shrine of Diana, by which Craft he got his Gain.  
5. Men of moderation, a quality not opposed to Diligence, but to Violence; not unactiving men, but regulating their Activity.    
14. This their moderation must appear in considering all Interests, seeing there be no two Interests in the Nation so contemptible, which if united, and twisting their discontents together, cannot draw trouble on all the rest. Especially the Sectarian, (though presented I believe by their party, through a multiplying glass) are considerable on a politic score of their numbers and pious account of their conscience; for, though many of them carry the later in their purses,, who when they find the moisture of Profit to fail them, will fall off like leaves in Autumn; yet can I not be so uncharitable, but to believe that many of them (having the heat of their affections above the light of their judgements) follow erroneous Consciences; Besides, having gone loose so long, they must needs swell, if hardly girded 〈◊〉 a sudden▪  
15. This moderation also must be used by all other Persons, to work themselves to be (if not pleased) contented with the decisions of a free Parliament. All must sit down Losers save such alone, who can plead, that they have been no Sinners in our Nation. The Grand design must be to have none, or, (if that be impossible) as few as may be, utterly ruined. I confess, two hungry meals makes a third a Glutton, and such who have long fasted from their detained Estates, will be not only greedy, but ravenous to recover them. Yea, such will shrewdly plead, that they now expect moderation from them, who never used moderation to them. However, in such a general danger, men must depose their animosities, labouring, first, to reconcile their spirits, then, their persuasions, the later being at less distance than the former. And men must divide, where they cannot get the whole, seeing few will pity his starving who will eat no bread at all, because he can recover but half of his own loaf.  
16. It will be objected that such a full P. is still but an Empty Parliament, having no House of Lords therein: But know, if both hands of a man be bound, no hope of liberty from himself; but if one be untied, it may do the brotherly office to unloose the other: Let us be content to row in a Sculler till we can get a pair of Oars. And such surely is the Ingenuity and public spiritness of the Peers, that laying aside personal Interest (which upon debate may appear more), they will suspend their Rights, immunities, and privileges, and submit all to the determination of a Free-Parliament to acquiesce therein.  
17. God give our Nation seasonably to understand their own strength, that the wars begun may be ended amongst ourselves before foreigners become the Arbitrators of our differences, who will demand great wages for little work, yea and turn their own Paymasters thereof. And may that great General (whose Intentions long have stood in the dark to our Nation, whilst our Nations desires were all the while in light to him, understand that Vox Populi is Vox Dei, and interpret, that God calleth unto him by the Declarations of all Counties, to be chiefly instrumental in asserting our Liberties, and we shall have cause for ever to bless the Day of his Nativity; yea, to erect a Statue better than Gold, of Gratitude in our Hearts unto him.  
18. Indeed had Providence fixed our Nativities under the Duke of Muscovy, whose list is his Subjects Law, we would (because we must) work ourselves patiently to the obedience of his power. But seeing God hath given us, with S. Paul, to be freeborn, Acts 22.28. (though also, with the Centurion, we have given great sums, not to obtain, but contrive this freedom) let us not tamely lose our birthright, and vigorously endeavour their preservation.  
19 The Story is well known of the old Woman who having but a small parcel of Wood, would leasurably roast her Goose stick by stick, till her wood was all burnt, and her Goose still raw. If the several Counties singly engage one after another, all will be overthrown, and nothing effected as to our relief. Let the two and fifty Shires of ENGLAND and WALES (with the City of LONDON, which eminently is two and fifty more) be all as one, and unanimously advance the work, and not do as they dealt with poor CHESHIRE, using it as Joab did Uriah, putting him forward on action, then falsely retreating from him, and leaving him a prey to his enemies. But I hope our old shipwrecks will be new Sea-marks, to us, documented by former nocuments, to steer a surer course for the general good.  
20. There is no English man so inconsiderable, but he may, at the least in a single capacity, be contributive to the happiness of his native country, the Wise with their Brains, the Rich with their Purses, the Learned with their Pens, the Strong with their Persons; All with their Prayers. And if now they suffer this opportunity which GOD puts into their hands, to slip through their fingers, they may hereafter have more years to bemoan their folly, than minutes to amend their misery; it being better now to say, WE WILL NOT, than three years hence to say, We cannot pay our Taxes.  
FINIS.