Honest Patriot▪ A SHORT DISCOURSE Touching the POLEMICAL SWORD; And of the command in chief of The Militia.  
London, Printed by J. G. 1659.   

Touching the POLEMICAL SWORD, And command in chief of The MILITIA, &c.  
GOVERNMENT is an Ordinance of God for Mans good; the kinds of Government are ordinances of men for Gods Glory: Now, among all Worldly affairs there is not any thing so difficult, and fuller or incertitudes as the Art of Government,( Hominem Homini Imperare difficilimum;) And those nimble spirits who from Apprentices have been bread up journeymen, and at last thought themselves Masters in this Art, having spent their Youth, their Manhood, and a long time of old Age therein, yet when they came to leave the World they profess themselves still to be but Novices in the Trade. There is a certain way to break, guide, and keep in awe all other Animals, though never so savage and strong; but there is no such certain way to govern multitudes of men, in regard of such turbulences of spirit and diversity of opinions that proceed from the Rational Faculty, which other creatures that are contented onely with sense, are not subject unto; and this the Philosopher holds to be one of the inconveniences that attend human reason, and why it is given man as part of his punishment.  
Now, why the Government over men is so difficult, there may be two main reasons alleged, The First is the various Events, and World of inexpected contingencies that attend human negotiations, specially matters of State, which as all other sublunary things are subjects to alterations, miscarriages, and change, this makes the mindes of men, and consequently the moulds of policy so often to alter, scarce one amongst twenty is the same man as he was twenty years ago in point of judgement which turns and changeth according to the success and circumstances of things, The wisdom of one day is the foolishness of another, Posterior Dies est prioris Magister, the Day following becomes the former dayes Teacher.  
The Second reason is, the discrepant, and wavering fancies of mens brains, specially of the common people, who( if not restrained) are subject to so may crotchets and chymeras with extravagant wanton desires, and gaping, after innovations. Insulary people are observed to be more transported with this instability then those of the Continent, and the Inhabitants of this Ile more then others, being a stout spritefull people. In so much, that it is grown a Proverb abroad, that The Englishman doth not know when he is well: Now the true politician doth use to fit his Government to the fancy of the people, The Ruler must do as the Rider, some people are to be rid with strong bitts and curbs, and martingalls as the Napoliatan and French our next neighbour, which is the cause that a kind of slavery is entailed upon him, for the French Peasant is born with chains; Other Nations may be rid with agentle small bridle, as the Venetian and the Hollander, who hath not such boiling spirits as others, but may be said to be so still as if butter-milk did run in his veins instead of blood; a bridle doth serve also the Spaniard, who is the greatest example of stabiliy, and exact obedience to authority, of any people; for though Spain be the hottest country in Christendom, yet it is not so subject to fevers as others are, I mean to fits of intestine commotions: And this was never so much tried as of late yeers; for though the present King hath such known frailties, though he hath been so infortunate, as to have many Countreys quiter revolted, and rent away from him; though the ragingst Plague that ever was in Spain under any King, happened of late yeers, which sweep'd away such a world of people; though his Taxes be higher then ever were any, though he hath called in and engrossed all the common coin of the country, and delivered but the one half back again; though there's no legal Instrument no Bond, Bill, or Specialty can be writ but upon his sealed paper, with sundry other exactions, yet his subjects are still as obedient, and aweful unto him, they are as conformable and quiet, as if he were the most virtuous, and victorious Prince that ever was; and this they do principally for their own advantage, for if there were another governor set up, it would inevirably hurl the whole country into combustion and tumults; besides, they are taught, that as in choice of Wives, so the Rule holds in Governments, seldom comes a better.  
Touching the Originals of Government and ruling power, questionless the first among Mankind was that natural power of the Father over his Children, and that Despotical domestic surintendence of a Master of a house over his Family; But the World multiplying to such, a mass of people, they found that a confused equality, and a loose unbridled way of living like brute animals to be so inconvenient, that they choose one person to protect and govern; not so much out of love to the person, as for their own conveniency and advantage, that they might live more regularly, and be secured from rapine, and oppression; As also that justice might be administered; and every one enjoy his own without fear, and danger: such Governours had a power invested accordingly in them, and to appoint subservient, able Ministers under them to help to bear the burden.  
Concerning the kinds of Government, all politicians agree that Monarchall is the best and noblest sort of sway having the nearest analogy with that of heaven, viz. A supreme power in one single person, God Almighty is the God of Unity, as well as of Entity, and all things that have an Entity do naturally propend to Unity; Unity is as necessary for a well-being, as Entity is for a Being, for nothing conduceth more to order, tranquillity, and quietude, nor is any strength so operative as the united; The fist is stronger then the hand, though it be nothing but the hand; viz. The fingers united by contraction; The republic of Venice which is accounted the most Eagle-ey'd and lastingst State in the World, for she hath continued a pure Virgin, and shined within her watery Orb nere upon thirteen Ages, is the fittest to give the World advice herein, for if ever any have brought policy to be a Science which consists of certitudes this State is Shee, who is grown as dexterous in ruling men as in rowing of a galley. But whereas the vulgar opinion is, that the common people there have a share in the Government, 'tis nothing so, for her Great Counsel which is the main hinge whereon the republic turns, is composed onely of Gentlemen who are capable by their birth to sit there, having passed twenty five yeers of age; To which purpose they must bring a public Testimonial that they are descended of a Patrician or noble Family. But to return to the main matter, this sage republic who may prescribe rules of Policy to all Mankind, having tried at first to Govern by Consuls and Tribunes for some yeers, she found it at last a great inconvenience, or deformity rather, to have two heads upon one body; Therefore Shee did set up one sovereign Prince; and in the Records of Venice the reasons are yet extant which induced her thereunto, whereof one of the remarkablest was this; We have observed that in this vast University of the World all Bodies according to their several Natures have multiplicity of Motions, yet they receive virtue, and vigour but from one, which is the Sun; All causes derive their Originals from one supreme cause; wee see that in one creature there are many differing Members, and Faculties which have various functions, yet they are all guided by one soul, &c.  
The island of Great Britain hath been always a Royal Ile from her first creation, and Infancy; She may be said to have worn a Crown in her Cradle; and though She had so many revolutions, and changes of Masters, yet She continued still Royal; nor is there any species of Government that suits better, either with the quality of the country, and Genius of the Inhabitants, or relates more directly to all the ancient laws, Constitutions, and customs of the Land, then Monarchal; which any one that is conversant in the Old Records can justify; Britannia ab initio mundi semper Regia, & regimen illius simile illi caelorum.  
Concerning the many sorts of Trusts which were put in the Supreme Governor of this Land( for there must be an implicit and unavoidable necessary trust reposed in every sovereign Magistrate) the power of the Sword, was the chiefest; and it was agreeable to Holy Scripture he should have it, where we know 'tis said, The King beareth not the Sword in vain; The laws of England did ever allow it to be the inalienable prerogative of the sovereign Prince, nor was it ever known( humbly under favour) that any other power whatsoever managing conjunctly or singly, did ever pretend to the power of the public Sword, or have the Militia invested in them, but this ever remained entire and untransferrible in the person of the Ruler in chief, whose chiefest instrument to govern by, is the Sword, without which Crownes, sceptres, Globes and Maces are but babbles. It is that Instrument which causeth true Obedience, makes him a Dread sovereign, and to be feared at home and abroad; Now 'tis a maxim in policy, that there can be no true obedience without Fear; The Crown and sceptre draw onely a loose kind of voluntary love, and opinion from the people, but 'tis the sword that draws Reverence and awe, which two are the chiefest ingredients of allegiance, it being a principle, that the best Government is made of Fear and Love, viz. when by Fear Love is drawn as thread through the eye of a Needle; The surest Obedience, and Loyalty is caused thus, for Fear being the wakefullest of our passions works more powerfully in us and predominates over all the rest; Primus in orb Deos fecit Timor. To raise up a sovereign Magistrate without giving him the power of the Sword, is to set one up to rule and metall'd Horse without a Bridle; A chief Rule without a Sword, may be said to be like that log of Wood which Jupiter threw down among the frogs to be their King, as it is in the Fable. Moreover, One of the chiefest glories of a Nation is to have their Supreme. Governor to be esteemed, and redoubted abroad as well as at home; and what foreign Nation will do either to the chief Governor of England if he be armless, and without a sword? who will give any respect or precedence to his Ambassadors, and Ministers of State? The Sword also is the prime Instrument of public Protection, therefore that Governor who hath not the power of the Sword, must have another Title given him then Protector: Nor indeed can any sovereign Governor part with his Sword, or transfer the power thereof to others, for that were to betray his duty and desert the protection of his people.  
Thus it appears that nothing conduceth more to the honor, and indeed the essence of a Supreme Governor then the power, and management of the Sword; There's none so simplo as to think there's meant hereby an ordinary single sword such as every common soldier carrieth by his side, No, 'tis the Polemical public Sword of the whole country, 'tis an aggregative compounded Sword; and 'tis moulded of Bell-metall, for 'tis made up of all the Ammunition and Arms, of all the Military strength of all the Forts, Castles, and Tenable places within, and without the whole Ile. The sovereign Princes of England have had this Sword by virtue of their Royal Signiory from all times, the laws did gird it to their sides, they employed it not onely to dubb Knights, and confer honors, but to repel all foreign force, to revenge all hostile injuries, and affronts, to quell all civill tumults, and to protect the weal of the whole Body politic; The people were never capable to have the power of this Sword, the fundamental constitutions of England deny it them, 'tis all one to put a sword in a Mad-mans hands as the Peeples.  
The Civilians, who are not in all points so great friends to Monarchy as the Common-Law of England, do allow Six Regalia's to a Supreme Magistrate: VIZ. 1. Armamenta; All kind of Arming; 2. Potestas Judicatoria; Power of Judicature; 3. Potestas Vitae & Necis; Power of Life and Death; 4. Bona Adespota; Masterless Goods; 5 Census; Sessements and public Taxations. 6. Monetarum valor; The value, and coining of Money.  
Among these Regalia's we find that Arming, which in effect is nothing else but the Military power, and public Sword of a country, marcheth with the foremost.  
But some allege that 'tis fitting the Chief Magistrate should be so qualified restrained, and limited that the people may not have cause to fear him, which must be if he have the power of the Sword; Under favour, this is point blank against the rules of true Policy, for if he be not feared, he will not be long obeyed, the truest Obedience, as it was touched before, being bread of Fear and Awe; Among other attributes which the Parliaments gave Henry the Eighth, One was Metuendissimus ille Monarcha; The most feared, or redoubted Monarch, and it was always the style that the laws of England gave their ruling Prince, Most dread sovereign. I will conclude this short Discourse( which the Author most humbly submits to the Higher Powers) with an old Egyptian Fable which is not much impertinent to this purpose.  
Vpon a time the Flowers assembled, and met in one general council, by the authority and summons of the Rose, who hath been ever esteemed the Prince of Flowers by a special Decree of Nature; many Debates, and bandings of Opinions happened in this Assembly, and among other good pickaxes, it was propounded to the Rose whom they acknowledged their Prince, that he would part with his prickles, and transmit his strength that way, to them to be disposed of; The Rose made them this answer, The prickles which God, and Nature hath given me, are inherent in me from the Creation, and though they be but Excrescencies, yet you know they fortify and arm me; Armat Spina Rosam, and by them, protect you, and yours from violence, and what protection, I pray, can there be without Arms?  
Therefore I would be loathe to part with them to enervate, and weaken my strength, for that were to betray my trust, and desert the protection of you. Nor do I much value what that silly insected animal the King of Bees tells me sometimes, when humming up and down my leaves he would buzz this fond belief into me, how it added much to his Majesty that Nature gives him no sting as all other Bees have, because he should rely altogether upon the love and loyalty of his Subjects; No, I will take warning by the Eagle the Prince of Volatills, and by the Lion the Prince of Quadrupedalls, who when by fair insinuations the one had partend with his talons, the other with his teeth and ongles, wherein their might, and consequently their Majesty consisted, grew afterwards contemptible to all creatures, and quiter lost that obedience and awe which was due unto the one from all Volatills, and to the other from all Quadrupedalls.  
The moral and mythologicall sense of this Fable, with the applications thereof is obvious, and easy to any indifferent Capacity.   
FINIS.