THE ANTIPODES, OR REFORMATION WITH THE heels UPWARD. BEING A compendious Narrative or Discovery, of the great hypocrisy of of our pretending Reformers, the treacherous enslaving practices of a traitorous Party in the House of Commons, contrary to their solemn Protestations, frequent Declarations, declared Duties, and the known laws of the Land, etc, WHEREBY Both the Commonalty and soldiery may plainly discover, that what was formerly by them adjudged tyranny and Oppression in others; is now practised and maintained to be Justice and Equity in themselves; and that notwithstanding they pretended Liberty, they intended Slavery, both to the King, His Posterity, and People.  Isaiah 59.7, 8. 
Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thought are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction is in their paths. The way of peace they know not, and there is no judgement in their goings: They have made them crooked paths, whosoever goeth therein, shall not know peace.  
OXFORD Printed and published for the information of the oppressed Commons of England. 1647.   

THE ANTIPODES, OR REFORMATION with the heels upward.  
IT cannot be forgotten, that at the first coming together of this Parliament, there were many burdens, and multitudes of oppressions and injustices done by persons in trust and authority; to the great dishonour of the King, and damage of the kingdom; all which were in the Parliaments Remonstrance largely explained, and laid down in divers heads or branches, viz. 

1. That projects and Monopolies were granted, and a general burden brought upon the kingdom, for the enriching of particular persons.  
2. That persons were protected from due process at law, by the power of great ones, the guilty acquitted, and innocent condemned.  
3. That the Law was not the security, but the ruin of the People  
4. That illegal and unnecessary taxes, as Ship-money, and others, (contrary to Law and the subject's liberty) were imposed.  
5. That several free men were illegally disenfranchised of their liberties, and imprisoned, without any indictment, or testimony of fact committed.  
6. That many others were stigmatised, fined, and banished, for endeavouring the maintenance of the laws and liberties of the kingdom.  
7. That many were forced to swear to answer to interrogatories against themselves, &c.    
These and many other great grievous oppressions lay upon the poor people of England, until such time as this Parliament (in the infancy and innocency thereof) did both declare against them, and endeavour to bring the authors to condign punishment, for the performance whereof they entered into a solemn Covenant, wherein they engaged the whole kingdom with them.  
In pursuance of which engagement, the Lords and Commons by several Declarations and Ordinances improved their interest in the People often declaring unto them the urgent necessity of assisting them; and often calling the great God of Heaven and Earth to witness that what they then aimed at was only the removing the King from his evil counsellors, and bringing Delinquents to trial, & securing the peace and liberty of the subject; and that if after all their reproaches from their enemies, and slightfull discouragements from friends, they could but obtain the desired end before mentioned, they should rejoice in their sufferings, and think that to be a sufficient reward of all their labours.  
And further, that they might the better work upon the affection of the People, they in a Declaration Jan. 30. 1643. declared as followeth. We place not our confidence in our own strength, but in God almighty, the Lord of Hosis, who will not leave nor forsake his People: it is his own truth and cause we maintain the exaltation of the kingdom of his son, and the preservation of his Church, and of this whole island from utter ruin, is our aim, and the end we have before our eyes.  
Upon these and the like grounds, we resolve with courage and constancy unto the end to do our parts; and the Lord who hath ●i●red up out spirits, displayed his Banner, and given the alarum, do that which seemeth him good.  
And this Declaration we make not from any presumption in the strength of our Armies; but from the sense of that duty which is required, and expected from the high places and relations wherein we stand, &c. Having after long and grave consultations resolved and decreed, never to lay down arms, till truth and Peace by the blessing of God be settled in this kingdom upon a firm foundation, for the present and future Generations▪ which shall be esteemed of us a sufficient, yea abundant reward of all that we can do or suffer in this cause.  
Oh that too many members of the Houses of Parliament had not forgot themselves! Or that they would remember, that the all-seeing God, (who knew their hearts, and hates hypocrisy) will surely require the due performance of their solemn engagements at their hands; and that they cannot now expect the continuance of his blessing upon them, since they have neglected to pay their vows unto God▪ perform their declared duty to the kingdom, whereunto they engaged themselves, and called him as a witness, as if their iniquity were not sufficient, unless proclaimed in the face of Jehovah. Hear oh Heavens, and tremble oh Earth; Oh England stand amazed! many of your trusties have conceived wickedness, they promised liberty, but behold slavery; they pretended Justice, but behold oppression; they pretended Reformation, but behold deformation; they pleaded law, but have lost conscience; they pretended purity, but behold hypocrisy; Justice is turned backward, Treason is countenanced, and truth discouraged, your oppressors honoured, your friends despised; your seeming safety, is become your certain sickness, and what will you do in the end thereof? Believe it countrymen and fellow soldiers, our condition is much worse than at the beginning, for than we knew our sickness, and remedy, but now such are our distempers, that we may more easily know them then cure them▪ 'tis their privilege is our bondage, their power our pestilence, their rights our poverty, their wills our law, their smiles our safety their frowns our ruin; and though by the free Commons chosen servants, yet by their usurpations become Masters, neigh Kings; commanding both King and People without control; because they cannot make a Law they'll keep none.  
Consider all your former sufferings, being compared ye will find that these Egyptian taskmasters do much exceed in cruelty; remember the vast expense of blood and treasure you have laid out for them to keep them quiet, see the improvement of it, see what oppressions they have eased you off, neigh rather have not doubled:  
1. If all projectors be proclaimed enemies, what makes Sir Henry Vane senior in the House of Commons?  
2. If it be a crime destructive to the Law and liberty of the People for persons to be examined from the due course of law and Justice, as the Parliament have often declared, against the King, how comes it to pass that Manchester, Clotworthy, Waller, Hollis, and Barwis, and many other accused of Treason and other misdemeanours against the State, are protected by virtue of a never before heard of privilege, and their accusers imprisoned, to the ruin of themselves and families; Oh England, England, what will become of thee, when thy fellow subjects exercise sovereignty, and thou like a silly sheep delights to have it so?  
3. If the working the Law like a nose of wax, and making it speak what the designed would have it, be a practice destructive to the law and liberty of the People what are▪ and have been the Votes Orders, and practices of their Committees, who derive a power from the Parliament, & they from the Law, for all their extraiudiciall practices and illegal proceedings in the examinations censures and sentences passed upon their fellow Commoners, answering all pleas with their power; and silencing all disputes, with this one affirmative, we that are the makers of a Law, are best able to judge of the sense and and meaning of the Law; and so if they say stealing is but borrowing, drunkenness is but good fellowship, whoring a trick of youth: treason or breach of trust, but a mistake, or misunderstanding; we are bound to believe it because they say so; let ignorance be the mother of devotion, and then oh brave laws, a brave Parliament; such as is the Tree, such will be the fruit, and then farewell to liberty, and welcome slavery: stoop, stoop poor England to the yoke of subjection; be a servant to thy servant, and let it be reported in future ages, that thou brokest the bonds of thy sovereign, and became a slave to thy equals.  
4. If the imposing illegal taxes in the Parliament sense, be destructive to the law and liberty of the People, pray how comes it to pass that so many Ordinances for Tithes of all other, that Anti-christian and soul murdering edict, with many other subject devouring Votes; hath within these few years passed for currant coin and good law amongst us.  
4. If it be a destructive practice to imprison free men without indictment or testimony of fact, committed by three witnesses, which the Law of the kingdom requires. How comes it to pass that so many faithful servants of God and the kingdom, have been so long imprisoned, some a year, some two, some more; merely for discharge of their duties to God and the kingdom; in discovering the treasons and deceitful practices of such as endeavoured the kingdom's ruin; what makes Lilburne, Overton, Musgrave, Booth, and many more in the Tower, Fleet, Newgate, gatehouse, White-lyon, every prison having some sufferers for the kingdom's cause in it, who are high unto famishing; Oh England England, if thou suffer thyself thus to be enslaved by thy servants, thou wilt prove a bye-word to all Nations, and not deserve the pity of any: Rouse up thyself, and rush upon thy adversaries; let them know that though thou hast been long patient, yet thou both darest and knowest how to call them to account for all their actions, let them know that thou art sensible of those vast sums or thy treasure they have received, and shared amongst them, and make them fear and tremble; look back upon their Declarations, have they not covenanted, and caused you to Covenant, and lift up your hands to the most high God, to preserve the privileges of the Parliament, and the Liberties of the People? (not by their privileges to destroy your Liberties) To preserve and defend the King in his Person and authority, and not to usurp his power, and imprison his Person, to discover and discountenance evil doers, not to protect and defend them, to bring them to alegall trial as malefactors, not to empower them as Judges of their accusers; have they not declared that this was the ground of their undertaking, and that the Reformation of the Church, and preservation of the Law, (viz,) mercy and truth, Justice and Judgement, was the only thing they aimed at; having resolved never to lay down arms till this was effected, with many heavy imprecations, desiring the Lord no longer to continue his blessing upon them, than they designed his glory and the good of this poor kingdom; now countrymen and fellow soldiers see whether the Lord hath not justly weighed them in his balance; see if he hath not met with them in their secret iniquity; they trusted in their wisdom, and it turned to foolishness; they boasted in their strength and confederacy; but the Horses of Egypt are flesh and not spirit; their confidence shall prove a snare, and the pit they digged for others they will fall into themselves; they have ceased to do what was pleasing to the Lord; they sought themselves and forgot the holy one of Israel.  
In the time of their necessity they promised fair, but having obtained their ends as they vainly Imagine the case is altered: See the forementioned Declaration.  
Although every man is to hope for the principal reward of his service from God, who rewards every one according to his works, yet we find ourselves bound in conscience and equity to declare, that besides those who have the public faith engaged to them for their security, such as since the beginning have done valiantly, and dealt faithfully in the cause, and such as have chosen rather to suffer the spoiling of their goods, then to assist the Enemy, or to take arms against their Religion and Country, and shall continue constant in the same cause of doing or suffering unto the end, shall be according to their merits taken into public notice and consideration, their losses so far as may be repaired, and themselves honoured and rewarded by such means and ways as we trust God in his providence shall afford, so that no man that hath been eminent in action, or hath suffered any notable loss for the public, shall be neglected or slighted, but one way or other shall be thankfully remembered to his own honour, and the good of his posterity.  
Here is a plentiful seed time, but a slender harvest; large promises but few performances; they confess themselves bound in conscience and equity to promise; but not to perform; fellow soldiers this belongs particularly to you, that you have been both faithful and valiant, if they should say the contrary, the kingdom, your enemies, nay their own consciences would give them the lie; but where's your reward? They are not at leisure yet, they will when you are disbanded, they cannot do it altogether; no, one after another, as fast as they can get power; you shall have it may be clean straw and a stone-wall, a stigmatised name of Rogue, Anabaptist, Brownist, &c. alack alack, they have been so liberal to their fellow members (who lost i confess great losses) some towns through treachery, others Cities through covardice, others stole one day, and was robbed the next▪ 'tis fit they should have thousands for their faithful service, and 'tis pity such Masters should have better servants, but as for you, alas alas, you are Sectaries, Schismatickes, you made too much haste, you bring the King to soon, to call them to account, they must reign a little longer, and rather than they will want work, they'll begin with you, what care they what the King, kingdom, or People suffer, provided they be secured; Therefore gentlemen and fellow soldiers, now while you have Power improve it, remember the end of your taking up arms was to defend the King's majesty, and to bring offenders to trial, let them be of which side they will, without limitation, and accordingly let them know that you expect and will have every member whether of the Lords or Commons, who stands charged with any crime, to be delivered up to the ttyell of the Law to be acpuitted or condemned; and that His majesty be invested in His just power, and that the great Taxes and burdens be removed, the soldiers of all Armies, that be or hath been under command of this present Parliament, in point of Arrears be satisfied, a general act of oblivion passed for both parties, so far as law and justice will allow; mitigated it being a most unmerciful act for the father's crime to ruin whole families. That there be an account given of all moneys received upon the several Ordinances of Parliament, and of the disposal thereof; That the public debts be paid by a general tax, equally laid upon all sorts and degrees of people according to their estate, (if there be not enough found in bank in the lands of Parliament men, Committee men and the like.)  
That the Militia be put into faithful hands; and not continued in the disposal of your and the Kingdoms enemies—  
That corruptions in courts of justice be examined, reformed, and reduced to the premitive institution.  
That the illegal and extraiudiciall fees of Judges, Lawyers, and jailers may be regulated.  
That a Declaration be published to the kingdom with speed by all the faithful Knights and Burgesses in the House of Commons, against the illegal proceedings of that traitorous party, and that they protest against them; to the end the kingdom may be informed who are their enemies, lest the good and bad (being unknown) perish together.  
That the just privileges of the Parliament may be by Declaration made manifest to the kingdom, and the kingdom not enslaved by an unknown and unlimited privilege.  
That the House of Commons be hence forward, not like a close Committee, but a free Court of Judicature, always open to receive the Petitions of the respective Counties and Corporations, by whom they are trusted, and to execute Justice and Judgement without delay or partiality; and that it be also declared (as formerly) to be the liberty of the people to Petition; and the duty of Parliaments to receive and relieve them.  
That every Member of that house, against whom any charge hath been or shall be brought, be forthwith suspended the house, and secured, as hath been the practice of former Parliaments, and not protected and abetted.  
That all ways that hath been used by any Member of Parliament, or any other Agents for them, either in Scotland or elsewhere for the raising of forces against the Army, be speedily declared against by both Houses, and the kingdom enabled by their Militia to oppose all such forces, whether from abroad or at home.  
That sufficient care be taken for the liberty and protection of those which cannot submit unto the external worship of the nation; though otherwise conformable to the civil power and authority thereof.  
This is that which must be the foundation of your peace if it be lasting, and if you disband before this be obtained, you may say farewell, liberty, peace, and all that outward comfort which you may justly challenge as your birthright, both by the law of God, and fundamental Institution of this kingdom.  
And you poor Commons of England, unless you seriously and suddenly lay your condition to heart, and as one man rise up for the vindicating of yourselves against those which have abused and daily endeavour to enslave you, and if you do not now take this opportunity enjoining with and assisting of this Army, who hath been faithful in delivering you from one enemy, and have now again undertaken to stand in the gap, and to be your protectors and restorers, i say if you shall now dissent them, know assuredly, that you do hammer out a yoke for your own necks, which will pierce the lives, liberties, and estates, of yourselves and posterities, and when your sufferings bring you sorrow, you may not happily find deliverers.  
You see they confess, in case the Body representative deceive their trust, the body politic hath power to preserve itself, book Decl. pag. 207. Here is warrant sufficient, up therefore and be doing, and the Lord who is wisdom and strength make you both wise and valiant. Farewell.  
This is the counsel of him that will not only prescribe, but endeavour the obtaining the same with the hazard of his life and fortunes. I. H.  
FINIS.