Two Discourses, Lately Revievved and enriched by the Author.  
One, The Pre-eminence and Pedigree of PARLIAMENT. Whereunto is added A Vindication of some passages reflecting upon the Author, in a Book called the Popish Royal Favourite, penned and published by Master Prynne; wherein he styles him, No Friend to Parlements, and a Malignant, pag. 42. With a clearing of some Occurrences in Spain at His Majesty's being there, cited by the said Master Prynne out of the Vocal Forest, whereunto the collateral Landskippe refers.  
The second, ENGLAND'S TEARS. By james Howell Esqr one of the Clerks of His Majesty's most Honble privy-councel.  
Printed at London according to Order, by Richard Heron. 1644.   

The Printer to the Reader.  
REader, These two Discourses, one, the Pre-eminence and pedigree of Parliament, the other England's Tears, I present again to your view: They went abroad singly before, but I have conjoined them now in one piece, for your better accommodation. They have been surreptitiously printed in Oxford, and else where, but mistaken in divers places; They come forth now, not only corrected, but enriched by the Author himself. When they were exposed first to the world, they found extraordinary good acceptance, and have been very much sought for since, as well for the richness of the stile and matter, as for the gallant worth of the Author, which is so well known at home and abroad.  
R. H.   

To my worthily honoured Friend, Sir W. S. Knight.  
SIR,  
I Have many thanks to give you for the Book you pleased to send me, called the Popish Royal Favourite; and according to your advice (which I value in a high degree) I put pen to paper, and something you may see I have done (though in a poor pamphleting way) to clear myself of those aspersions that are cast upon me therein. But truly Sir, I was never so unfit for such a task; all my Papers, Manuscripts, and Notes, having been long since seized upon and kept from me. Add hereunto, that besides this long pressure and languishment of twenty three Months close restraint (the sense whereof, I find hath much stupefied my spirits) it pleased God to visit me lately with a dangerous fit of sickness, a high burning fever, with the new disease, whereof my Body as well as my Mind is yet somewhat crazy: so that (take all afflictions together) I may truly say, I have passed the Ordeal, the fiery Trial. But it hath pleased God to reprieve me to see better days I hope; for out of this fatal black Cloud, which now oresets this poor Island, I hope there will break a glorious Sunshine of peace and firm happiness: To effect which, had I a Jury, a grand-Jury of lives, I would sacrifice them all, and triumph in the oblation.  
So I most affectionately kiss your hands, and rest  
Your faithful (though afflicted) Servant, james Howell. From the Prison of the Fleet.   

The Pre-eminence OF PARLIAMENT.  

Sectio Prima.  
I Am a Freeborn Subject of the Realm of England; whereby I claim as my native Inheritance, an undoubted right, propriety, and portion in the Laws of the Land; And this distinguisheth me from a Slave. I claim also an interest and common right in the High national Court of Parliament, and in the power, the privileges and jurisdiction thereof, which I put in equal balance with the Laws, in regard it is the fountain whence they spring; and this I hold also to be a principal part of my Birthright, which great Council I honour, respect, value, and love in as high a degree as can be; as being the Bulwark of our liberties, the main boundary and bank which keeps us from slavery, from the inundations of tyrannical Rule, and unbounded Will-government. And I hold myself obliged in a tye of indispensable obedience, to conform and submit myself to whatsoever shall be transacted, concluded, and constituted by its authority in Church or State; whether it be by making, enlarging, altering, diminishing, disannulling, repealing, or reviving of any Law, Statute, Act, or Ordinance whatsoever, either touching matters Ecclesiastical, civil, common, capital, criminal, martial, maritime, municipal, or any other; of all which, the transcendent and uncontrollable jurisdiction of that Court is capable to take cognizance.  
Amongst the three things which the Athenian Captain thanked the gods for, one was, That he was born a Grecian, and not a Barbarian. For such was the vanity of the Greeks, and after them, of the Romans, in the flourish of their Monarchy, to arrogate all civility to themselves, and to term all the world besides Barbarians: So I may say to have cause to rejoice, that I was born a vassal to the Crown of England; that I was born under so well moulded and tempered a Government, which endows the subject with such Liberties and infranchisements that bear up his natural courage, and keep him still in heart; such Liberties that fence and secure him eternally from the gripes and talons of Tyranny: And all this may be imputed to the Authority and wisdom of this High Court of Parliament, wherein there is such a rare co-ordination of power (though the Sovereignty remain still entire, and untransferrable in the person of the Prince) there is such a wholesome mixture 'twixt Monarchy, Optimacy, and Democracy; 'twixt Prince, Peers, and Communality, during the time of consultation, that of so many distinct parts, by a rare cooperation and unanimity, they make but one Body Politic, (like that sheaf of arrows in the Emblem) one entire concentrical piece, and the results of their deliberations, but as so many harmonious diapasons arising from different strings. And what greater immunity and happiness can there be to a People, than to be liable to no Laws but what they make themselves? to be subject to no contribution, assessment, or any pecuniary levy whatsoever, but what they Vote, and voluntarily yield unto themselves? For in this compacted Politic Body, there be all degrees of people represented; both the Mechanic, Tradesman, Merchant, and Yeoman, have their inclusive Vote, as well as the Gentry, in the persons of their trusties, their Knights and Burgesses, in passing of all things.  
Nor is this Sovereign Surintendent Council an Epitome of this Kingdom only, but it m●y be said to have a representation of the whole Universe; as I heard a fluent well-worded Knight deliver the last Parliament, who compared the beautiful composure of that High Court, to the great work of God, the World itself: The King is as the Sun, the Nobles the fixed Stars, the Itinerant Judges and other Officers (that go upon Messages 'twixt both Houses) to the Planets; the Clergy to the Element of fire; the Commons, to the solid Body of Earth, and the rest of the Elements. And to pursue this comparison a little farther; as the heavenly Bodies, when three of them meet in Conjunction, do use to produce some admirable effects in the Elementary World: So when these three States convene and assemble in one solemn great junta, some notable and extraordinary things are brought forth, tending to the welfare of the whole Kingdom, our Microcosm.  
HE that is never so little versed in the Annals of this Islle, will find that it hath been her fate to be four times conquered. I exclude the Scot; for the situation of his Country, and the quality of the Clime hath been such an advantage and security to him, that neither the Roman Eagles would fly thither, for fear of freezing their wings; nor any other Nation attempt the work.  
These so many Conquests must needs bring with them many tumblings and toffing, many disturbances and changes in Government; yet I have observed, that notwithstanding these tumblings, it retained still the form of a Monarchy, and something there was always that had an Analogy with the great Assembly the Parliament.  
The first Conquest I find was made by Claudius Caes●r; at which time (as some well observe) the Roman Ensigns, and the Standard of Christ came in together. It is well known what Laws the Roman had; He had his Comitia, which bore a resemblance with our Convention in Parliament; the place of their meeting was called Praetorium, and the Laws which they enacted, Pleboscita.  
The Saxon Conquest succeeded next, which were the English, there being no name in Welsh or Irish for an English man, but Saxon, to this day. They governed by Parliament, though it were under other names; as Michael Sinoth, Michael Gemote, and Witenage Mote.  
There are Records above a thousand years old, of these Parlements, in the Reigns of King Ina, Offa, Ethelbert, and the rest of the seven Kings during the Heptarchy. The British Kings also, who retained a great while some part of the Isle unconquered, governed and made Laws by a kind of Parlementary way; witness the famous Laws of Prince Howell, called Howell Dha, (the good Prince Howell) whereof there are yet extant some Welsh Records. Parlements were also used after the Heptarchy by King Kenulphus, Alphred, and others; witness that renowned Parliament held at Grately by King Athelstan.  
The third Conquest was by the Danes, and they governed also by such general Assemblies, (as they do to this day) witness that great and so much celebrated Parliament held by that mighty Monarch Canutus, who was King of England, Denmark, Norway, and other Regions 150 years before the compiling of Magna Charta; and this the learned in the Laws do hold to be one of the specialst, and most authentic pieces of antiquity we have extant. Edward the Confessor made all his Laws thus, (and he was a great Legis-lator,) which the Norman Conqueror (who liking none of his sons, made God Almighty his heir, bequeathing unto him this Island for a legacy) did ratify and establish, and digested them into one entire methodical Systeme, which being violated by Rufus, (who came to such a disastrous end as to be shot to death in lieu of a Buck for his sacrileges) were restored by Henry the first, and so they continued in force till King john; whose Reign is renowned for first confirming Magna Charta, the foundation of our Liberties ever since: which may be compared to divers outlandish graffs set upon one English stock; or to a posy of sundry fragrant flowers; for the choicest of the British, the Roman, Saxon, Danish, and Norman Laws, being culled and picked out, and gathered as it were into one bundle, out of them the foresaid grand Charter was extracted: And the establishment of this great Charter was the work of a Parliament.  
Nor are the Laws of this Island only, and the freedom of the Subject conserved by Parliament, but all the best policed Countries of Europe have the like. The Germans have their Diets, the Danes and Swedes their Rijcks Dachs; the Spaniard calls his Parliament, 'las C●rtes and the French have, (or should have at least) their Assembly of three States, though it be grown now in a manner obsolete, because the Authority thereof was (by accident) devolved to the King. And very remarkable it is, how this happened; for when the English had taken such large footing in most parts of France, having advanced as far as Orleans, and driven their then King Charles the seventh, to Bourges in Berry; the Assembly of the three States in these pressures, being not able to meet after the usual manner in full Parliament, because the Country was unpassable, the Enemy having made such firm invasions up and down through the very bowels of the Kingdom; that power which formerly was inhaerent in the Parlementary Assembly, of making Laws, of assessing the Subject with Taxes, subsidiary levies, and other impositions, was transmitted to the King during the war; which continuing many years, that entrusted power by length of time grew as it were habitual in him, and could never after be re-assumed and taken from him; so that ever since, his Ediots countervail Acts of Parliament. And that which made the business more feasable for the King, was, that the burden fell most upon the Communality (the Clergy and Nobility not feeling the weight of it) who were willing to see the Peasan pulled down a little, because not many years before, in that notable Rebellion, called lafoy laquerie de Beauvoisin, which was suppressed by Charles the wise, the Common people put themselves boldly in Arms against the Nobility and Gentry, to lessen their power. Add hereunto as an advantage to the work, that the next succeeding King Lewis the eleventh, was a close cunning Prince, and could well tell how to play his game, and draw water to his own mill; For amongst all the rest, he was said to be the first that put the Kings of France, Horse de page, out of their minority, or from being Pages any more, though thereby he brought the poor peasans to be worse than Lacquays.  
With the fall, or at least the discontinuance of that usual Parlementary Assembly of the three States, the liberty of the French Nation utterly fell; the poor roturier and Vineyard-man, with the rest of the Yeomanary, being reduced ever since to such an abject asinin condition, that they serve but as sponges for the King to squeeze when he list. Nevertheless, as that King hath an advantage hereby one way, to monarchize more absolutely, and never to want money, but to ballast his purse when he will: so there is another mighty inconvenience ariseth to him and his whole Kingdom another way; for this illegal peeling of the poor Peasan hath so dejected him, and cowed his native courage so much by the sense of poverty (which brings along with it a narrowness of soul) that he is little useful for the war: which put's the French King to make other Nations mercenary to him, to fill up his Infantry: Insomuch, that the kingdom of France may be not unfitly compared to a body that hath all its blood drawn up in to the arms, breast and back, and scarce any lest from the girdle downwards, to cherish and bear up the lower parts, and keep them from starving.  
All this seriously considered, there cannot be a more proper and pregnant example than this of our next Neighbours, to prove how infinitely necessary the Parliament is, to assert, to prop up, and preserve the public liberty, and national rights of a people, with the incolumity and welfare of a Country.  
Nor doth the Subject only reap benefit thus by Parliament, but the Prince, (if it be well considered) hath equal advantage thereby; It rendereth him a King of free and able men, which is far more glorious than to be a King of Slaves, Beggars, and Bankrupts; Men that by their freedom, and competency of wealth, are kept still in heart to do him service against any foreign force. And it is a true maxim in all States, that 'tis less danger and dishonour for the Prince to be poor, than his people: rich Subjects can make their King rich when they please; if he gain their hearts, he will quickly get their purses. Parliament increaseth love and good intelligence 'twixt him and his people; It acquaints him with the reality of things, and with the true state and diseases of his kingdom; It brings him to the knowledge of his better sort of Subjects, and of their abilities, which he may employ accordingly upon all occasions; It provides for his Royal Issue, pays his debts, fines means to fill his Coffers: and it is no ill observation, That Parlement-monyes (the great Aid) have prospered best with the Kings of England; It exceedingly raiseth his repute abroad, and enableth him to keep his foes in fear, his Subjects in awe, his Neighbours and Confederates in security, the three main things which go to aggrandise a Prince, and render him glorious. In sum, it is the Parliament that supports, and bears up the honour of his Crown, and settles his Throne in safety, which is the chief end of all their consultations: For whosoever is entrusted to be a Member of this High Court, carrieth with him a double capacity; he sits there as a Patriot, and as a Subject: as he is the one, the Country is his object, his duty being to vindicate the public liberty, to make wholesome Laws, to put his hand to the pump, and stop the leaks of the great vessel of the State, to pry into, and punish corruption and oppression, to improve and advance trade, to have the grievances of the place he serves for redressed, and cast about how to find something that may tend to the advantage of it.  
But he must not forget that he sits there also as a Subject, and according to that capacity, he must apply himself to do his Sovereign's business, to provide not only for his public, but his personal wants; to bear up the lustre and glory of his Court; to consider what occasions of extraordinary expenses he may have, by increase of Royal Issue, or maintenance of any of them abroad; to enable him to vindicate any affront or indignity that might be offered to his Person, Crown, or Dignity, by any foreign State or Kingdom; to consult what may enlarge his honour, contentment, and pleasure. And as the French Tacitus (Comines) hath it, the English Nation was used to be more forward and zealous in this particular than any other; according to that ancient eloquent speech of a great Lawyer, Domus Regis vigilia defendit omnium, otium illius labor omnium, deliciae illius industria omnium, vacatio illius occupatio omnium, salus illius periculum omnium, honour illius objectum omnium Every one should stand Sentinel to defend the King's houses, his safety should be the danger of all, his pleasures the industry of all, his ease should be the labour of all, his honour the object of all.  
Out of these premises this conclusion may be easily deduced, That, the principal fountain whence the King derives his happiness and safety, is his Parliament; It is that great Conduit-pipe which conveighes unto him his people's bounty and gratitude; the truest Looking-glass wherein he discerns their loves; now the Subjects love hath been always accounted the prime Citadel of a Prince. In his Parliament he appears as the Sun in the Meridian, in the altitude of his glory, in his highest State Royal, as the Law tells us.  
Therefore whosoever is averse or disaffected to this Sovereign Law-making Court, cannot have his heart well planted within him: he can be neither good Subject, nor good Patriot; and therefore unworthy to breathe English air, or have any benefit, advantage, or protection from the Laws.   

Sectio Secunda.  
BY that which hath been spoken, which is the language of my heart, I hope no indifferent judicious Reader will doubt of the cordial affection, of the high respects and due reverence I bear to Parliament, as being the wholsomest constitution, (and done by the highest and happiest reach of policy) that ever was established in this Island; to perpetuate the happiness thereof, Therefore I must tell that Gentleman, who was Author of a Book entitled the Popish Royal Favourite, (lately printed and exposed to the world) that he offers me very hard measure; nay, he doth me apparent wrong, to term me therein, No friend to Parliament, and a Malignant; A character, which as I deserve it not, so I disdain it.  
For the first part of his charge, I lwoud have him know, that I am as much a friend and as real an affectionate humble servant and Votary to the Parliament as possibly he can be, and will live and die with these affections about me: And I could wish, that he were Secretary of my thoughts a while, or if I may take the boldness to apply that comparison his late Majesty used in a famous speech to one of his Parlements, I could wish there were a Crystal window in my breast, through which the world might espy the inward motions and palpitations of my heart, then would he be certified of the sincerity of this protestation.  
For the second part of his Charge, to be a Malignant, I must confess to have some Malignity that lurks within me much against my will; but it is no malignity of mind, it is amongst the humours, not in my intellectuals. And I believe, there is no natural man, let him have his humours never so well balanced, but hath some of this Malignity reigning within him; For as long as we are composed of the four Elements, whence these humours are derived, and with whom they symbolise in qualities; which Elements the Philosophers hold to be in a restless contention amongst themselves (and the Stoic thought that the world subsisted by this innated mutual strife) as long I say, as the four humours, in imitation of their principles (the Elements) are in perpetual reluctancy and combat for praedominancy, there must be some malignity lodged within us, as adusted choler, and the like; whereof I had late experience, in a dangerous fit of sickness it pleased God to lay upon me, which the Physicians told me proceeded from the malignant hypochondriacal effects of melancholy; having been so long in this Saturnine black condition of close imprisonment, and buried alive between the walls of this fatal Fleet. These kinds of malignities, I confess are very rife in me, and they are not only incident, but connatural to every man according to his complexion: And were it not for this incessant struggling and enmity amongst the humours for mastery, which produceth such malignant effects in us, our souls would be loath ever to depart from our bodies, or to abandon this mansion of clay.  
Now what malignity my Accuser means, I know not; if he means malignity of spirit, as some antipathy or ill impression upon the mind, arising fromdisaffection, hatred, or rancour, with a desire of some destructive revenge, he is mightily deceived in me: I malign or hate no Creature that ever God made, but the Devil, who is the Author of all malignity; and therefore is most commonly called in French le Malin Esprit the malignant spirit. Every night before I go to bed, I have the grace, I thank God for it, to forgive all the world, and not to harbour, or let roost in my bosom the least malignant thought; yet none can deny, but the public aspersions which this my Accuser casts upon me, were enough to make me a malignant towards him; yet it could never have the power to do it: For I have prevailed with myself to forgive him this his wrong censure of me, issuing rather from his not knowledge of me, than from malice, for we never mingled speech or saw one another in our lives to my remembrance: which makes me wonder the more, that a Professor of the Law, as he is, should ronounce such a positive sentence against me so slightly. But me thinks PI overhear him say, that the precedent discourse of Parliament is involved in generals, and the Topique Axiom tells us, that Dolus versatur in universalibus there is double dealing in universals: His meaning is, that I am no friend to this present Parliament (though he speaks in the plural number Parlements) and consequently, he concludes me a Malignant; Therein, I must tell him also, that I am traduced, and I am confident it will be never proved against me, from any actions, words, or letters (though divers of mine have been intercepted) or any other misdemeanour, though some things ●re ●ather'd upon me which never dropped from my quill. Alas, how unworthy and uncapable am I to censure the proceedings of that great Senate, that high Synedrion, wherein the wisdom of the whole State is epitomised? It were a presumption in me, of the highest nature that could be: It is enough for me to pray for the prosperous success of their consultations: And as I hold it my duty, so I have good reason so to do, in regard I am to have my share in the happiness; And could the utmost of my poor endeavours, by any ministerial humble office (and sometimes the meanest Boatswain may help to preserve the Ship from sinking) be so happy, as to contribute any thing to advance that great work (which I am in despair to do, while I am thus under hatches in this Fleet,) I would esteem it the greatest honour that possibly could befall me, as I hold it now to be my greatest disaster, to have fallen so heavily under an affliction of this nature, and to be made a sacrifice to public fame, than which there is no other proof, nor that yet urged against me, or any thing else produced after so long, so long captivity, which hath brought me to such a low ebb, and put me so far behind in the course of my poor fortunes, and indeed more than half undone me. For although my whole life (since I was left to myself to swim, as they say, without bladders) has been nothing else but a continued succession of crosses, and that there are but few red letters found (God wot) in the Almanac of my Age, (for which I account not myself a whit the less happy;) yet this cross has carried with it a greater weight, it hath been of a larger extent, longer continuance, and lighted heavier upon me than any other; and as I have present patience to bear it, so I hope for subsequent grace to make use of it accordingly, that my old Motto may be still confirmed, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
HE produceth my attestation for some passages in Spain, at his Majesty's being there, and he quotes me right, which obligeth me to him; and I hope all his quotations, wherein he is so extraordinarily copious and elaborate in all his works, are so; yet I must tell him, that those interchangeable letters which passed between His Majesty and the Pope, which were originally couched in Latin, the language wherein all Nations treat with Rome, and the Empire with all the Princes thereof, those letters I say, are adulterated in many places, which I impute not to him, but to the French Chronicler, from whom he took them in trust. The truth of that business is this: The world knows there was a tedious treaty of an Alliance 'twixt the Infanta Dona Maria (who now is Empress) and His Majesty, which in regard of the slow affected pace of the Spaniard, lasted above ten years, as that in Henry the sevenths' time, 'twixt Prince Arthur, and (afterwards) Queen Katherine, was spun out above seven: To quicken, or rather to consummate the work, his Majesty made that adventurous journey through the whole Continent of France, into Spain; which voyage, though there was a great deal of gallantry in it (whereof all posterity will ring, until it turn at last to a Romance) yet it proved the bane of the business, which 'tis not the errand of so poor a Pamphlet as this to unfold. His Majesty being there arrived, the ignorant common people cried out, the Prince of Wales came thither to make himself a Christian. The Pope writ to the Inquisitor General, and others, to use all industry they could to reduce him to the Roman Religion; And one of Olivares first compliments to him, was, That he doubted ●ot but that His Highness came thither to change His Religion: whereunto he made a short answer, That He came not thither for a Religion, but for a Wife. There were extraordinary processions made, and other artifices used by protraction of things, to make him stay there of purpose till the Spring following, to work upon him the better: And the Infanta herself desired him (which was esteemed the greatest favour he received from her all the while) to visit the Nun of Carrion; hoping that the said Nun, who was so much cried up for miracles, might have wrought one upon him; but her art failed her, nor was His Highness so weak a subject to work upon, according to His late Majesty's speech to Doctor Maw and Wren, who when they came to kiss his hands, before they went to Spain to attend the Prince their Master, He wished them to have a care of Buckingham, as touching his Son Charles, he apprehended no fear at all of him; for he knew him to be so well grounded a Protestant, that nothing could shake him in his Religion. The Arabian proverb is, That the Sun never soils in his passage, though his beams reverberate never so strongly, and dwell never so long upon the miry lake of Maeotis, the black turfd moors of Holland, the aguish woose of Kent and Essex, or any other place, be it never so di●ty; Though Spain be a hot Country, yet one may pass and repass through the very Centre of it, and never be Sunburnt, if he carry with him a Bongrace, and such a one His Majesty had.  
Well, after his Majesty's arrival to Madrid, the treaty of Marriage went on still, (though he told them at his first coming, that he came not thither like an Ambassador, to treat of Marriage, but as a Prince, to fetch home a Wife;) and in regard they were of different Religions, it could not be done without a dispensation from the Pope, & the Pope would grant none, unless some Capitulations were stipulated in favour of the Romish Catholics in England, (the same in substance were agreed on with France.) Well, when the dispensation came, which was negotiated solely by the King of Spain's Ministers; because His Majesty would have as little to do as might be with Rome, Pope Gregory the fifteenth, who died a little after, sent His Majesty a Letter, which was delivered by the Nuncio, whereof an answer was sent a while after: Which Letters were imprinted and exposed to the view of the world; because His Majesty would not have people whisper, that the business was carried in a clandestine manner. And truly besides this, I do not know of any Letter, or Message, or Compliment, that ever passed 'twixt His Majesty and the Pope, afore or after; some addresses peradventure might be made to the Cardinals, to whom the drawing of those matrimonial dispatches was referred, to quicken the work, but this was only by way of civil negotiation.  
Now touching that responsory Letter from His Majesty, it was no other than a Compliment in the severest interpretation, and such formalities pass 'twixt the Crown of England, and the great Turk, and divers Heathen Princes. The Pope writ first, and no man can deny, but by all moral rules, and in common humane civility His Majesty was bound to answer it, specially considering how punctual they are in those Countries to correspond in this kind, how exact they are in repairing visits, and the performance of such Ceremonies; And had this compliance been omitted, it might have made very ill impressions, as the posture of things stood then; for it had prejudiced the great work in hand, I mean, the Match, which was then in the heat and height of agitation: His Majesty's person was there engaged, and so it was no time to give the least offence. They that are never so little versed in business abroad, do know that there must be addresses, compliances, and formalities of this nature (according to the Italian Proverb, That one must sometimes light a candle to the Devil) used in the carriage of matters of State, as this great business was, whereon the eyes of all Christendom were so greedily fixed; A business which was like to bring with it such an universal good, as the restitution of the Palatinate, the quenching of those hideous fires in Germany, and the establishing of a peace through all the Christian World.  
I hope none will take offence, that in this particular which comes within the compass of my knowledge, being upon the Stage when this Scene was acted, I do this right to the King my Master, in displaying the Truth, and putting her forth in her own colours, a rare thing in these days.  
TOuching the Vocal Forest, an Allegorical Discourse, that goes abroad under my name, a good while before the beginning of this Parliament, which this Gentleman citys (and that very faithfully.) I understand there be some that mutter at certain passages therein, by putting ill glosses upon the Text, and taking with the left hand, what I offer with the right: (Nor is it a wonder for trees which lies open, and stand exposed to all weathers to be nipped) But I desire this favour, which in common justice, I am sure in the Court of Chancery cannot be denied me, it being the privilege of every Author, and a received maxim through the World, Cujus est condere, ejus est interpretari; I say, I crave this favour, to have leave to expound my own Text, and I doubt not then but to rectify any one in his opinion of me, and that in lieu of the Plums which I give him from those Trees, he will not throw the stones at me.  
Moreover, I desire those that are over critical Censurers of that piece, to know, that as in Divinity it is a rule, Scripturae parabolica non est argumenativa; so it is in all other kind of knowledge. Parables (whereof that Discourse is composed) though pressed never so hard, prove nothing. There is another Rule also, That Parables must be gently used, like a Nurse's breast; which if you press too hard, you shall have blood in stead of milk.  
But as the Author of the Vocal Forest thinks he hath done, neither his Country, nor the Commonwealth of Learning any prejudice thereby (That maiden fancy having received so good entertainment and respect abroad, as to be translated into divers Languages, and to gain the public approbation of some famous Universities) So he makes this humble protest unto all the World, that though the design of that Discourse was partly Satirical (which peradventure induced the Author to shroud it of purpose under the shadows of trees, and where should Satyrs be but amongst Trees?) yet it never entered into his imagination to let fall from him the least thing that might give any offence to the High and Honourable Court of Parliament, whereof he had the honour to be once a Member, and hopes he may be thought worthy again; And were he guilty of such an offence, or piacle rather, he thinks he should never forgive himself, though he were appointed his own Judge. If there occur any passage therein▪ that may admit a hard construction, let the Reader observe, That the Author doth not positively assert, or pass a judgement on any thing in that Discourse, which consists principally of concise, cursory narrations, of the choicest Occurrences and Criticisms of State, according as the pulse of time did beat then: And matters of State, as all other sublunary things, are subject to alterations, contigencies and change, which makes the opinions and minds of men vary accordingly; not one amongst twenty is the same man to day as he was four years ago, in point of judgement, which turns and altars according to the circumstance and success of things: And it is a true saying, whereof we find common experience, posterior dies est prioris Magister The day following is the former day's Schoolmaster. there's another Aphorism, The wisdom of one day is the foolishness of another, and 'twill be so as long as there is a man left in the world.  
I will conclude with this modest request to that Gentleman of the long Robe; That having unpassionately perused what I have written in this small Discourse, in penning whereof, my conscience guided my quill all along as well as my hand, he would please to be so charitable and just, as to reverse that harsh sentence upon me, To be no Friend to Parlements, and a Malignant.   
FINIS.   

ENGLAND'S TEARS, FOR THE PRESENT WARS, WHICH FOR THE NATURE of the Quarrel, the quality of Strength, the diversity of Battles, Skirmishes, Encounters, and Sieges, (happened in so short a compass of time,) cannot be paralleled by any precedent Age.  
Hei mihi, quam miserè rugit Leo, Lilia languent,  
Heu, Lyra, quam maestos pulsat Hiberna sonos.  
Printed at London, according to Order, by Richard Heron, 1644.   

To my Imperial Chamber, The City of London.  
Renowned City,  
IF any showers of adversity fall on me, some of the drops thereof must needs dash on thy Streets. It is not a shower but a furious Storm that powers upon me now, accompanied with fearful cracks of thunder and unusual fulgurations. The fatal Cloud wherein this storm lay long engendering, though, when it began to condense first, it appeared but as big as a hand, yet by degrees it hath spread to such a vast expansion, that it hath diffused itself through all my Regions, and obscured that fair face of Heaven, which was used to shine upon me; If it last long, 'tis impossible but we both should perish. Peace may, but War must destroy. I see poverty posting apace, and ready to knock at thy gates; That ghastly herbenger of Death the Pestilence appears already within and without thy Walls; And me thinks I spy meager-faced Famine a far off making towards thee; nor can all thy elaborat circumvallations, and trenches, or any art of Enginry, keep him out of thy Line of Communication if this hold. Therefore my dear Daughter, think, Oh think upon some timely prevention, 'tis the Counsel, and request of  
Thy most afflicted Mother ENGLAND.   

England's Tears.  
OH! that my head did flow with waters; Oh, that my Eyes were limbecks through which might distil drops and essences of blood! Oh that I could melt away and dissolve all in to tears more brackish than those Seas that surround me! Oh that I could weep myself blind to prevent the seeing of those Mountains of mischiefs that are like to fall down upon me! Oh, that I could rend the Rocks that gird me about, and with my ejaculations tear and dissipate those black dismal cloud● which hang over me! Oh, that I could cleave the Air with my cries, that they might find passage up to Heaven, and fetch down the Moon (that ●atry planet) to weep and wail with me, or make old Saturn descend from his Sphere, to partake with me in my melancholy, and bring along with him the mournful Pleyades, to make a full consort and sing lachrymae with me, for that woeful taking, that desperate case, that most deplorable condition I have plunged myself into unawares, by thi● unnatural selfe-destroying War, by this intricate odd kind of Enigmatical War wherein both Parties are so entangled (like a skein of ravelled silk) that they know not how to unwind and untwist themselves, but by violent and destructive ways, by tearing my entrails, by exhausting my vital spirits, by breaking my very heartstrings to cure the Malady. Oh, I am deadly sick, and as that famous Chancellor o● France spoke of the civil Wars of his Country, That France was sick of an unknown disease; so if Hypocrates himself were living, he could not be able to tell the tr●● symptoms of mine, though he felt my pulse, and made inspection into my wate● never so exactly; only in the general he may discover a strange kind of infecti●● that hath seized upon the affections of my people; But for the disease itself it wi●● gravel him to judge of it: nor can there be any prediction made of it, it is so sharp which make some tell me that I cannot grow better, but by growing yet worse; Th●● there is no way to staunch this Flux of Blood, but by opening some more of the m●●ster Veins: that it is not enough for me to have drunk so deep of this cup of affl●●ction, but I must swallow up the dregs and all.  
Oh, Passenger stop thy pace, and if there be any sparkles of humane compa●●sion glowing in thy bosom, stay a while and hear my plaints, and I know they w● not only strike a resentment, but a horror into thee; for they are of such a nature that they are able to penetrate a breast of brass, to mollify a heart hooped with Adamant, to wring tears out of a statue of Marble.  
I that have been always accounted the Queen of Isles, the Darling of nature, and Neptune Minion; I that have been styled by the Character of the first Daughter of the Church, that have converted eight several Nations; I that made the morning beams of Christianity shine upon Scotland, upon Ireland, and a good part of France; I that did irradiat Denmarque, Swethland and Norway with the light thereof; I that brought the Saxons, with other Germans high and low▪ from Paganism, to the knowledge of the Gospel; I that had the first Christian King that ever was (E●●ius) and the first reform King (the eight Henry) to reign over me; I out of whos● bowels sprung the first Christian Emperor that ever was, Constantine; I that had five several Kings, viz. john King of France, David King of Scotland, Peter King of Boheme, and two I●rish Kings my Captifs in less than one year; I under whose banner that great Emperor Maximilian took it an honour to serve in person, and receive pay from me and quarter his Arms with mine; I that had the Lion rampant of Scotland lately added to fill up my Scutcheon, and had reduced Ireland, after so many costly intermissive wars, to such a perfect pass of obedience, and settlement of customs & Crown Revenues; I that to the astonishment and envy of the World, preserved my own Dominions free and flourishing, when all my neighbour Countries were a fire before my face; I that did so wonderfully flourish and improve in commerce domestic and foreign both by Land and Sea; I that did so abound with Bullion, with buildings, with all sort of bravery that heart could wish; in sum, I that did live in that height of happiness, in that affluence of all earthly felicity, that some thought I had yet remaining some ingots of that old gold whereof the first age of the world was made: Behold, behold, I am now become the object of pity to some, of scorn to others, of laughter to all people; my children abroad are driven to disadvow me for fear of being jeered, they dare not own me for their Mother, neither upon the Rialto of Venice, the Berle of Ausburg, the new Bridge of Paris, the Cambios of Spain, or upon the Quoys of Holland, for fear of being baffled and hooted at. Me thinks I see my next neighbour France, (through whose bowels my gray-Goose wing flew so oft) making mows at ●ne, and saying, that whereas she was wont to be the chief Theatre where fortune used ●o play her pranks, she hath now removed her stage hither; she laughs at me that I ●hould let the common people the City rabble, (and now lately the females) to ●●ow their strength so much.  
Me thinks I see the Spaniard standing at a gaze, and crossing himself to see me so ●olish as to execute the designs of my enemies upon myself. The Italian admires 〈◊〉 see a people argue themselves thus into Arms, and to be so active in their own ruin; ●he Germane drinks carouses that he hath now a Copartner in his miseries; The Swed joyces in a manner to see me bring in a foreign Nation to be my Champion; The netherlander strikes his hand upon his breast, and protests that he wisheth me as well once the Duke of Burgundy did France, when he swore, He loved France so well, ●at for one King he wished she had twenty.  
Me thikns I see the Turk nodding with his Turban, and telling me that I should ●hank Heaven for that distance which is betwixt us, else he would swallow me all up ●t one morsel; only the Hollander my bosom friend seems to resent my hard condi●ion, yet he thinks it no ill favoured sight to see his shops and lombards every where ●●ll of my plundered goods, to find my trade cast into his hands, and that he can undersell me in my own native commodities, to see my gold brought over in such heaps, ●y those that fly from me with all they have for their security; In fine, me thinks I ●ear all my neighbours about me bargaining for my skin, while thus like an unruly ●orse, I run headlong to dash out my own brains.  
O cursed jealousy, the source of all my sorrows, the ground of all my inexpressible miseries! is it not enough for thee to creep in 'twixt the husband and the wife, 'twixt the lemon and his mate, 'twixt parents and children, 'twixt kindred and friends; hast thou not scope enough to sway in private Families, in staple societies, and Corporations, in common counsels, but thou must get in, 'twixt King and Parliament, 'twixt the ●ead and the members ('twixt the Members amongst themselves?) but thou must get a 'twixt Prince and people, but thou must cast up so deep a trench 'twixt the Soveraign ●nd the Subject. Avaunt, avaunt thou hollow-eyed Snake-haird monster, hence away ●nto the abyss below, into the bottomless gulf, thy proper mansion; sit there in thy hair, and preside o'er the counsels of hell amongst the Cacodaemons, and never ascend again to turn my high law-making Court into a Council of War, to turn my best antidote into poison, and throw so many Scruples into that Sovereign physic which was used to cure me of all distempers.  
But when I well consider the constitution of this elementary world, and find man ●o be part of it, when I think on those light and changeable ingredients that go to his composition, I conclude, that men will be men while there is a World, and as long as the Moon their next neighbour towards heaven hath an influxive power to make impressions upon their humours, they will be ever greedy and covetous of novelties and mutation; the common people will be still common people, they will sometime or other show what they are, and vent their instable passions. And when I consider further the distractions, the toss, turmoilings and tumblings of other Regions round about me, as well as mi●e own, I conclude also, that Kingdoms and States and Cities and all body politics are as subject to convulsions, to calentures, and consumptions, aswell as the frail bodies of men, and must have an evacuation for their corrupt humours, they must be phlebotomized; I have often felt this kind of phlebotomy, I have had also shrewd purges and pills often given me, which did not only work upon my superfluous humours, but wasted sometimes my very vital spirits; yet I had Electuaries and Cordially given me afterwards, which fetched me up again; Insomuch that this present tragedy is but vetus fabula novi Histriones it is but an old play represented by new Actors, I have often had the like. Therefore let no man wonder at these traverses and humour of change in me. I remember there was as much wondering at the demolishing of my 600 and odd Monasteries, Nunneries & Abbeys for ●●ing held to be Hives of drones, as there is now at the pulling down of my Crosses Organs and Windows,; There was as much wondering when the Pope fell hire, a● 〈◊〉 that the Prelates are like to fall; The World wondered as much when the M●sse was disliked, as men wonder now the Liturgy should be distasted; And God grant that people do not take at last a surfeit of that most divine Ordinance of preaching, for no violent thing lasts long; And though there should be no satiety in holy things, yet such is the depraved condition of man, he is naturally such a Changeling, that the over frequency and commonness of any thing, be it never so good, breeds in tract of time a kind of contempt in him, it breeds a fullness and nauseousness in him.  
The first Reformation of my Church began at Court, and so was the more feasable, and it was brought to pass without a War; The scene is now otherwise, it is far more sanguinary and fuller of Actors; never had a Tragedy Acts of more variety in so short a time; there was never such a confused mysterious civil War as this, there was never so many bodies of strength on Sea and Shore, never such choice Arms and Artillery, never such a numerous Cavalry on both sides, never so many Sieges, never a greater eagernes and confidence, there was never such an amphibolous quarrel as this, both parties declaring themselves for the King, and making use of his name in all their Remonstrances to justify their actions, The affect on, and understandings of people were never so confounded and puzzled, not knowing where to acquiesce, by reason of such counter-commands. One side calls the resisting of Royal commands loyalty, the other terms loyalty, the opposing of Parlementary Orders and Ordinances. Both parties would have peace, the one would have it with Honour, the other with Truth, (and God forbid but both should go together) but, Int●a●a ring or Ego, in the mean time I, poor I am sure do suffer by both, the one taking away what the other leaves, If the one polls me, the other shaves me, and God grant they fall not a flaying of me at last. Insomuch that whosoever will be curious to rea● the future story of this intricate War (if it be possible to compile a story of it) he will find himself much staggered, and put to kind of a riddle before he understand it; for touching the intricacy of it, touching the strange nature, or rather the unnaturalness of it, it cannot be paralleled by any precedent example: In my Chronicles I am sure no age can match it, as I will make it briefly appear, by comparing it with all the Wars that ever embroiled me, which I find to be of three sorts, either by the invasion of Forreners, the Insurrection of my Commons, or by the confederacy of my Peers and Princes of the Blood.  
I will not ●ake the ashes of Antiquity so far as to speak of that deluge of blood I spilt before I would take the Roman Legions for my Garrison; I am loath to set down how the Saxons used me, and how the Danes used Them, nor how I had one whole brave race of people (the Picts I mean) quite extinguished in me, I will begin with the Norman expedition, and indeed to make recearches of matters before, is but to grop● in the dark, but I have authentic annal and Records for things since. The Norman came in with the slaughter of near upon sixty eight thousand Combatants upon the place, a Battle so memorable, that the very ground which sucked in the blood retains the name of it to this day. The Dane not long after struck in to recover his pretended right, with the sacking of my second great City of York, and the ●iring of her, with the slaughter of 3000 of my children in one afternoon, yet he was sent away without his errand. In the reign of Rufus I was made of his colour, red with blood both by the Welsh and the Scot, who lost his King Malcolm in the Battle of Alnwick. All my eight Henries were infested with some civil broils, except my fifth Henry the greatest of them, who had work enough cut him out in France, and he plied his work so well that he put that Crown upon his Son's head. All my Edward's also had some homebred insurrection or other; indeed two of my three Richards had always quietness at home, though the first did go the furthest off from me, and was longest absent of any; And the third, though he came in by blood, yet the short time of his three years' Vsurpership he was without any, and proved one of my best Lawgivers, yet his life ended in blood, for having come in like a fox, he died like a calf. Touching my second Richard, and second Edward, there were never any of my Kings came to a more Tragic end, and the greatest stains that black my story are the violent deaths they suffered by the hands of their own (Regicide) Subjects. The two Sister Queens that swayed my Sceptre had also some domestic commotions; and now my CHARLES hath them to the height, insomuch that of those five and twenty Monarques who have worn my diadems since the Norman entered, there was only four, viz. the forementioned Henry, and Richards, with King JAMES scaped free from all intestine broils! Oh how it torments my Soul to remember how my Barons did tear my bowels! what an Ocean of blood the two Roses cost me before they were conjoined, for during the time that I came to be a Monster with two heads (made so by their division) I mean during the time that I had two Kings at once, Edward the fourih, and Henry the sixth within me, in five years' space I had twelve Battles fought within my entrails, wherein I lost near upon fourscore Princes of the royal stem, and parted with more of my spirits than there were spent in winning of France. The World knows how free and prodigal I have been of my blood abroad in divers places, I watered the Holy Land with much of it; Against my Co-Islander the Scot I had above twenty pitched Battles, took many, and killed some of his Kings in the Field▪ the Flower de lyces cost me dear defore I brought them over upon my Sword; and the reduction of Ireland from time to time to civility, and to an exact rule of allegiance wasted my children in great numbers. I never grudged to venture my blood this way, for I ever had glorious returns for it; and my Sons died in the bed of honour: but for them to glut themselves with one another's blood; for them to lacerate and rip up (viperlike) the womb that brought them forth, to tear the Paps that gave them suck, can there be a greater piacle against nature herself, can there be a more execrable and horrid thing? If a stranger had used me thus it would not have grieved me half so much; It is better to be stung with a nettle, than pricked by a Rose; I had rather suffe● by an Enemy, than by my own natural born offspring. Those former home-wag● Wars, whereof there happened above fourscore (small & great) since the Norman cam● in, were but as fires of Flax in comparison of this horrid combustion, which mak● both my Church & State to suffer so much. One may find those Wars Epitomise in small volumes, but a whole library cannot contain this. They were but Scratches being compared to the deep wounds which Prince, Peer, and people have received by this; such wounds, that it seems no gentle Cataplasms can cure them, they must be ●anc'd aed canterized, and the huge scars they will leave behind them will, I fear, make me appear so deformed and ugly to all posterity, that I am half in despair to recover my former beauty ever again. The deep stains these Wars will leave upon me, all the water of the Severn, Trent or Thames will hardly wash away.  
The Sun yet hath not run twice his course through the Zodiac, since the two-edged sword of War hath raged & done many horrid executions within me, since that Hellish invention of powder hath thundered in every corner, since it hath darkened torn, & infected my well-tempered air, since I have weltered in my own blood, and been made ● kind of Cockpit, a Theatre of death to my own children; And in so short a circumvolution of time, I may confidently affirm take battles, re-encounters, skirmishes, with sieges both winter and summer, there never happened so many in any Country; not do I see any appearance, the more is my misery, of any period to be ●ut to these Distractions, every day is spectator of some new Tragedy, and there●ations that are hourly blazed abroad sound sometimes well on the one side, sometimes on the other, like a peal of bells in windy weather (though oftentimes in a ●hole volley of News you shall hardly find one true R port) which makes me fear 〈◊〉 the all disposing Deity of Heaven continueth the successes of both parties in a ●inde of equality, to prolong my miseries. Ita serior, ut diu me sentiam mori, I am ●ounded with that dexterity, th●t the sense and agonies of my sufferings are like to ●e extended to the uttermost length of time and possibility of nature.  
But, O Passenger, if thou art desirous to know the cause of these fatal discompo●●res, of this inextricable War, truly I must deal plainly, I cannot resolve thee herein 〈◊〉 any full satisfaction. Grievances there were I must confess, and some incongrui●es in my Civil government (wherein some say the Crosier, some say the Distaffe ●as too busy) but I little thought, God wot, that those grievances required a redress ●●is way. Dost thou ask me whither Religion was the c●use? God ●orbid; That in●●cent and holy Matron had rather go c●ad in the snowy white robes of meekness 〈◊〉 longanimity, than in the purple mantle of blood, her practice hath bee●e to ●●ercome by a passive fortitude without reaction, and to triumph in t●e milk-white ●●ory Chariot o● innocency and patience, not to be ●urried away with the fiery ●●eels of War; Dei lar●●es not les arms (●s my next neighbour hath it) groans not guns, 〈◊〉 nor swords, prayers not partisans were used to be her weapons unless in c●se of 〈◊〉 and impendent d●nger, in case of invincible necessity, and visible actual unavoidable extinguishment, and then the Arms she useth most is the Target to shroud 〈◊〉 self under, and fence away th● blow▪ she leaves all other weapons, to the 〈◊〉 to propagate and exp●nd itself. Thi● gentle grave L●●y▪ though the Rubrics of 〈◊〉 Service be in red characters, yet she is no lover of Blood▪ she is an embracer of 〈◊〉, and the sole object of her 〈◊〉 is the God of Peace, in who●e Highest ●ame, in the name I●h●vah, as the Rabbis observe, all the letters are quiescent. That sacred Comforter, which inspires her Ambassadors, uses to ascend in form of a Dov●, not in the likeness of a 〈…〉, and he that brings him down so, may be said to sin against the 〈…〉; To be●t Religion into the brains with a Poleaxe, is to 〈…〉, to o●●er him victims of humane blood; Therefore 〈…〉 wrong R● igion if I should cast this war upon her: yet me thinks I 〈…〉 lame●● that she was not also without her 〈…〉 Gove●●ors (for want of moderation) could not 〈…〉 t●e Church, but ●hey must pu● themselves 〈…〉 up to the Turret's of civil policy, many o● her Preachers 〈…〉 ●ome to the Cou●t, some to th● Country; some would have nothing 〈…〉, o●●ers nothing 〈◊〉 Privilege▪ some woned giveth 〈…〉, some to feed zeal, would famish the understanding; others 〈…〉 understanding, and tickle the outward ear (wit● essays and flourishes of 〈◊〉) would 〈…〉 the soul of her true food, etc.  
But the principal thing ●●ear that Reverend L●dy, (that Queen of souls, & turn key of heaven) make 〈…〉 of, is 〈◊〉 that Se●mlesse garment of Unity and Love which our S viour left 〈…〉 and rend into so many Sci●sures and Sects by those that would make 〈…〉 which she wore in h●r infancy, to serum her in 〈…〉. I hear her cry out ●t the monstrous exorbitant liberty that almo●● every capricious Mechanic takes to himself to s●ape and form what Religion h● list: for the world is come ●ow to 〈◊〉 pass, ●h●t the Tailor and Shoemaker may 〈◊〉 wh●t Religion they please; 〈…〉 and tapster m●y breach what Religion they p●e●se; The Druggest and Apothecary m y ming e her as they please; The Haberdasher m●y put her upon w●at block ●e presses; The Armourer and Cutler 〈◊〉 fur●●sh her as they please; The Dyer m●y put w●at col ur, the Painter may 〈◊〉 what face upon her be please; The Draper and Mercer may measure her as th●● please; The W●●●er may cast her upon wha● 〈…〉 please; The Boatswain and 〈◊〉 m●y bring her to what dock they please; The Bar●er may trim her as he plea●● The Guard ●er may lop her as he please; the Blackesmith may forge what Religion 〈◊〉 please, and so every Mechanic according to his profession and fancy may form he● he please. Me thinks I hear that venerable Matron complain further, how her 〈◊〉 in some places are become mere Beacons to summon men to Arms; How in 〈◊〉 of lights, her Churches up and down are full of Firebrands; How every capri●● of the brain is termed now tenderness of Conscience, which well examined is thing but some fond fa●cy, or fanatic frenzy rather of some shallow-braind 〈◊〉 For whereas others h●ve been used to run mad for excess of knowledge, some of children grow mad now a days out of too much ignorance. It stands upon reco●● my story, that when the Norman had taken firm footing within me, he did demo● many Churches and Chapels in New-Forrest, to make it fitter for his pleasure venery▪ but amongst other judgements which fell upon this Sacrilege, one was 〈◊〉 tame soul grew wild; I fear God Almighty is more angry with me now than & that I am guilty of a worse profanes; for not my Fowl, but my Folk & people ●rown half wild in many places, they would not worry one another so in that wol●ish belluine manner else, they would not precipitate themselves else into such a mixed ●●ungrell War, a War that passeth all understanding; They would not cut their own throats, hang, drown, and do themselves away in such a desperate sort, which is now ●rown so common, that self-murder is scarce accounted any news; which makes stranger's cry out, that I am all turned into a kind of Great Bedlam, that Barbary is come ●●to the midst of me; That my children are grown so savage, so fleshed in blood, and become so inhuman and obdurate, that with the same tenderness of sense they can 〈◊〉 a man fall, as see a horse, or some other bruit Animal, they have so lost all reverence to the image of their Creator, which was used to be more valued in me, than ●mongst any other Nation.  
But I hope my King and great Council will take a course to bring them to their ●ld English temper again, to cure me of this vertigo, and preserve me from ruin; 〈◊〉 such is my desperate case, that as there is more difficulty, so it would be a grea●●r honour for them to prevent my destruction, and pull me out of this plunge, than 〈◊〉 add unto me a whole new kingdom; for true wisdom hath always gloried ●uch in conservation, as in conquest.  
The Roman, though his ambition of conquering had no horizon, yet he used to triumph more (as multitudes of examples might be produced) at the composing of an in●stine war, than for any new acquest, or foreign achievement whatsoever; And though 〈◊〉 was a great martial man, and loved fight as well as any other, yet his maxim 〈◊〉, That no peace could be so bad, but it was preferable to the best war. It seems the ●●lian his successor retains the same genius to this day, by the late peace, (notwithstanding the many knots that were in the thing) which he concluded: For although 〈◊〉 absolute Princes were interessed in the quarrel, and that they had all just pretences, and were heated and heightened in their designs, yet rather than they would dila●●t the entrails of their own mother (fair Italy) and expose her thereby to be rashed by Tramontanes, they met half way, and complied with one another in a 〈◊〉 kind of freedom, though every one bore his share in some inconvenience. Oh at my children would be moved by this so seasonable example of the Italian, who ●mongst other of his characters, is said to be wise, à priori, before the blow is given. ●esire my gracious Sovereign to think, that it was never held inglorious or deroga●ie for a King to be guided and to steer his course by the compass of his great council, and to make his understanding descend, and condescend to their advice; ●●was it ever held dishonourable for subjects to yield and bow to their King, (to be ●●lowes, not Oaks) and if any mistake should happen, to take it upon themselves, ra●●●r than any should reflect upon their Sovereign. And if, in case of difference, he ●●illing to meet them half way, 'twere handsome they went three parts before to ●ent him. Therefore I conjure them both, in the name of the great Deity of Hea●●d, (who transvolves king domes, and tumbleth down Kings in his indignation) that they 〈◊〉 think of some speedy way to stop the issue of broud; for to deal plainly with 〈◊〉 see far greater reason to conclude this war, than ever there was to 〈…〉 Let them consider well they are but outward Church rites and ceremonies they fight for, as the rigidst sort of Reformers confess, the Lutheran (the first Reformist) hath many more conformable to the Church of Rome, which he hath continued above ●hese 120 years, yet is he as far from Rome as the first day he left her, and as free from ●anger of relapse into Popery as Amsterdam herself; and must I, unhappy I, be ●acerated and torn in pieces thus for shadows and ceremonies? O let not posterity ●ind it upon record, that the unparallelled Act of grace for the continuance of this, be ●ore hurtful to me, than the untimely dissolution of all Parlements passed. I know ●here is a clashing 'twixt Prerogative and Privilege, but I must put them in mind of ●he misfortune that befell the flock of sheep and the Bell-wether, whereof the first ●ed in a common, the latter in an enclosure, and thinking to break into one another's pasture (as all creatures naturally desire change) and being to pass over a narrow-nar●ow bridge which severed them, they met in the middle and justled one another so ●ong, till both fell into the ditch. And now that I have begun, I will warn them by ●nother fable of the Spanish Mule, who having by accident gone out of the great road, ●nd carried her Rider thorough a by-path upon the top of a huge steepy rock, stopped upon a sudden, and being not able to turn and go backward, by reason of the narrowness of the path, nor forward, in regard of a huge Rocky precipice, she gently put ●ne foot behind the other, and recoiled in that manner until she had found the great ●oad again.  
I desire my high Council to consider, that the royal Prerogative is like the Sea, which as Navigators observe, and the Civilians hold, what it loseth at one time or in one place, gets always in some other; That Subjects banding against their King, are like the earthen pitchers in the Fable justling with the great brass kettle. I desire my dear King to consider, that the privilege of Parliament, the Laws and liberties of the Subject, is the firmest support of his Crown, that his great Council is the truest glass wherein he may discern his people's love, and His own happiness; It were wsdome that both did strike sail in so dangerous a storm, to avoid shipwreck; I am loath to say, what consultations, what plots, and machinations are fomenting and ●orging abroad against me, by that time I have enfeebled and wasted myself, and lost the flower of my best children in these woeful broils. Me thinks I spy the jesuit sitting in his cell and laughing in his sleeve at me, and crying out, The Devil part the Fray, for they do but execute my designs.  
Oh, I feel a cold quame come over my heart, that I faint, I can speak no longer; yet I will strain myself to breath out this one invocation, which shall be my conclusion.  
Sweet Peace, most benign and amiable Goddess, how comes it to pass that thou hast so abandoned Earth, and taking thy flight to Heaven, as once Astraea did, dost reject the sighs and neglect the Sacrifices of poor mortals? was that flaming Usher of God's vengeance which appeared six and twenty years since in the Heavens▪ the Herald that fetched thee away? for ever since poor Europe hath been harassed, and pitifully rend up and down with 〈◊〉 Wars▪ and now I am become th● last Scene▪ Gentle peace, thou which makest Heaven and Earth to triumph, which gladdest not only the heart of man, but makest the very medo●●s ●nd 〈◊〉 the forests and woods the hills an● h●●ses to rejoice; Thou which goest always 〈◊〉 by plenty and pleasure, Thou w●ich fill'st the 〈…〉, the Graziers folds, the Tradesm●ns shop, th● Vintner's cellars▪ 〈…〉 desk▪ the Me●chants Magazines, the Prince's 〈◊〉, how comes it 〈…〉 Throne to Bellona, 〈◊〉- destroying 〈…〉 Yeoman wan●s H●●ds a●d Horse to p●ow up 〈…〉 the morning dew with his anheled sweat, shakes at his work 〈…〉 plundering; The Tradesm●n shuts up his shop 〈…〉 would; The Merchant w●lks to the Exchange only to learn new ●, not to negotiate. Behold how my best sort of Children are weary of their lives, e●●her for 〈◊〉 endless exacti●ns, or remediless unthought-on imprisonments, a●d ill by an 〈◊〉 confused power which the necessity of this fatal war hath drawn upon them. Sweet 〈…〉 which wast used to mak● Princes Courts to triumph with Tilt and Tournements, and other Gallantries, to make them receive lustre by foreign Ambassadors; to make the Arts and Science● flourish; to make Cities and Suburbs shine with good y structures to make the Country ring with the Hun s-mans' Horn, and the Shepherd's Pipe, the Highways with Carrier's bells; ●ow comes it to pass that bloodthirsty Discord now usurps thy place, and fl eggs about her Snak s in every cor●er, that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, the double-edged sword of civil war doth r●ge and cu● on both sides in so horrid and inhuman a manner? Behold, my Prince his Court is now full of nothing but Buff Coats, Spanners and Musket Rests; both Towns and Country, and my Highways echo w th' nothing but with t e sound of D●ums and Tru●pets; Hark how pitifully my Lions roar, how dejectedly my Roses and Flower de luces hang down their heads, what dol●full strains my Harp gives.  
O consider my case most blissful Queen▪ descend, descend again in thy Ivory Chariot? resume thy Throne, crown thy Temples with thy wont Laurel and Olive, bar up janus' gates, and make new Halcionian days to shine in this Hemisphere; dispel those Clouds which hover'twixt my King and his highest Council, chase away all jealousies and ombrages of mistrust, that my great Law-making Court be forced to turn no more to polemical Committees, and to a Council of war (unless it be for some foreign Conquest,) but that they may come again into the old Parlementarie Road, To the path of their predecessors, to consult of means how to sweep away those Cobwebs that hang in the Courts of justice, and to make the Laws run in their right Channel; to retrench excessive fees, and find remedies for the future, that the poor Client be not so peeled by his Lawyer, and made to suffer by such monstrous delays, that one may go from one Tropic to the other, & cross the Equinoctial twenty times, before his suit be ended; That they may think on a course to restrain Gold and Silver from travelling without licence, with other staple commodities, and to punish those that transport Hides for Calf-skins; To advance native commodities and Manufactures, to improve and balance Trade, and settle it so, that it may stand upon its own Bottom, and not by any accidental ways, as of late years a glut of Trade was cast upon me by the wars 'twixt France and the House of Austria, and others.  
That this Trade of mine (my chiefest sinew) be not cast into the hands of Aliens, who eat me out in many places in my own commodities; That it be prevented hereafter, ●hat one Town be not permitted to engross and engulf all (like the spleen, ●hat by its swelling sucks both blood and moisture from the rest of the members) but that my Trade and wealth m●y by some wholesome policy be diffused up and down my Cities in a more equal distribution. That they may advise of a way to relieve the Orphan, who suffers more for his minority in me, than any where else; That the poor Insolvent Subject be not so buried alive, and made to rot in Prison, notwithstanding his apparent known disability, whereas were he ●bro●d, he might be useful to the Commonwealth some way or other, and come haply afterwards to an ability to pay. To regulate the business of drained lands, which well managed, would tend very much both to enlarge and enrich my Quarters. To secure the Dominion of my Seas, the fairest Flower of my Crown, which is now almost quite lost. To preserve my Woods, whereof, if this coursehold, their will hardly be found in some places enough to make a Toothpick. To settle the Revenues, and supply the wants of my Crown; for the wants of the Crown & the Grievances of the Subject have been always used to go hand in hand in my Parlements. And now, that my neighbour Princes (specially they of France and Spain) have of late years enhanced the revenue Royal, at least to the third part more than it w●s, it were a disparagement to me, that my King should not bear up in equal proportion▪ and point of Greatness this way, considering that he hath more of the Royal Stem to maintain, than any of his Progenitors ever h●d. Lastly, that they may settle a way to regulate all exorbitant fancies of novelists, in the exercise of holy Religion: It being an undeniable maxim, th●t where there is no obedience, subordination, and restrictive Laws to curb the changeable humours and extravagancies of men's brains there can be no Pe●ce or Piety: if the fire be not kept within the tunnel of the Chimney, and that some be appointed to sweep down the Soot with a high hand (which may be done otherwise than by shooting up of Muskets) the whole House will be in d●nger of burning.  
Oh me, I feel the pangs of death assail me, let some good body go toll the bell; And as one of my Kings, (Wil Rufus) the night before he was slain in New-forrest, for the expiation of his father's Sacrilege, did dream that a cold wind did pass through his bowels, so me thinks, I feel a b●eake cold Northern blast blowing upon me, w●ich I fe●r will make an end of me: It is a miracle if I scape, 'tis only the high hand of Providence can preserve me. If I and my Monarchy miscarry, I desire that my Epitaph may be written (in regard I know him to have been a long time not only sensible, but a sharer with me in point of suffering) by my dearly beloved Child  
james Howell.   

To the discerning Reader.  
HE that with a well-weighed judgement observeth the passions of this last Discourse, must needs conclude, that th● Author (besides his own hard condition of two years close impri●sonment) hath a deep sense of the common calamities of this hi● Country in general, which makes him break out into such pathetic expressions. And because he might do it with more freedom, an● less presumption, he makes England herself to breath out hi● disordered passions. We know a Mother hath a prerogative by a● uncontrollable Edict of nature to speak home unto her children, & sometimes in a chiding round way (though with tears in her eyes) to give them advice: The same doth England in this discourse but with all the tenderness and indifferency that may be to bot● parties now in Arms. Therefore the Author humbly hopes tha● no exception, much less any offence, will be taken at Her complaints, or Counsel.  
Mollia commotum frangunt documenta furorem  Prov. 
FINIS.  
I. H.