A DISCOURSE showing In what state THE THREE kingdoms Are in At this present.  
Printed in the year, 1641.   

In what State the three kingdoms are at this present.  
SIR,  
AS the faces of all Britain show their hearts and inclinations, so if their hearts were glazed with a crystal, they would appear fearful of the future: were not the representative body of the State careful to cure the present malady, purge the distempered humours and save the much gangrend body, by cutting some rotten and putrifide members off; which infect, infest and invade the republic; this makes me cheerful to discover the conceptions of the wise, and not as an Orator, but relate their opinion as their auditor: I hope it will take away from me ostentation, and trouble from the reader even to give ease of discourse.  
Their profound sighs and earnest prayers might quicken my ingeny, better than the sound of excellent instruments can revive the spirit; to present this with all obedience to my sovereign, and faith to the Country, and declare what is convenient to be done at this time, submitting myself modestly to head and body.  
Now if those stream of tears and sweet perfumes, make not my pen fruitful and odoriferous, pardon my rudeness, and consider the state we are now in.  
When our miserable condition perceived (before the access of the universal body) by the wrinkles, put on the brow of ruined affairs, council weakened, and reputation of State blasted, that the people cry out against such instruments; what miserable condition are we brought to? Oh God suffer not ill councillors to be as a bad spleen, to swell so big as to make lean the commonwealth, that our empty purses be not filled with blood, though with tears: wherefore I humbly beseech the head to produce such effect, as the sun on moist and cold grounds, to reduce the general capacity to such an influence of Justice, Peace, Religion and liberty; and that in lieu thereof, the people may make him a rich and potent King.  
As all Rivers return to the Ocean, so shall the labyrinth we are in, be by the help of wise Ariadne's escaped, and the golden fleece, continuance of gospel, Justice, Peace and downy tranquillity, with help of those godly Medea's, be preserved and procured: Therefore not as a Lawyer, give me leave as a wellwisher to the State, to put the case by way of supposition.  
If the fundamental laws be quite overthrown, Religion altered, the Nobility taken away by counsels of war (as the Lord Mount Noris should have been) the meaner sort used as Pryn, Burton & Bastwick; the propriety of goods taken away from the subject; an Army force an Arbitrary way of government, and justice bought & sold; what misery will follow? when the Judges shall affirm it legal, the clergy wrongfully in their Pulpits teach it, and the Cabinet council authorise the conveniency for matter of State; therefore to have our laws established, Religion maintained, the pride of Prelates abased, Justice administered, Liberty settled, and Peace continued for after times: It is necessary the King Lords and Commons, join in a most severe punishment, that none in the Postea, dare to enterprise the surprise and ruin of the common good, for it is an infallible maxim, the King is richer in the hearts, then in the treasures of his Subjects.  
Surely there was never a fitter time, nor a more convenient occasion then now, when three kingdoms unite for their own safety; when the Scot hath an army on foot for this purpose, and the King hath promised they shall not be interrupted in their counsels, and God requires it for his glory.  
Especially when Ministers of State have begun to act this fatal Tragedy, the guiltiness by so many lively testimonies proved, and the treason by precedents & weighty authority assured, by Law maintained, and by all the Commons house adjudged, who have power by 25. Ed. 3. and when it is brought to so good a pass by the Lords, who both have Legislative power, why should not Lords and Commons bring it to perfection; that the King sign; that who shall dare to alter Religion, innovate Law, or take away liberty of the Subject, be condignly punished, and for the future, cause an express Law to be made on purpose, to attaint blood, forfeit life, lands and goods, if any shall assay such crying exorbitances.  
If by the Law it be high treason to kill a Commissioner of Oyer and Terminer, in fear of justice; à majore to confound the whole body, when a Commissioner is but one poor member of the body politic.  
2. To make a Law, none be capable of any place of government, that hath or shall give such counsel, and leave the rest to the triennial Parliament, and not grasp too much, lest all the harpies fly away.  
Likewise it is necessary to make a remonstrance of the necessity of giving 300000. to the Scots, to give satisfaction to future ages, that it was no pusilanimity, but upon mature deliberation; because the evident necessity and inevitable dangers cast upon us by ill counsel, justly caused it.  
To the purpose, the house of Commons hath done wisely, to endeavour to clip the wings of the Clergy, that they may fly into no temporal place, whose pens and tongues have uttered such poison against the common good, and in their pride would willingly adhere to Rome, as by many superstitions it plainly appears; they have introduced some Babylonian ceremonies, and made a bridge unto the Church by the Arminian opinion, to pass over to Popery.  
The State of Venice jealous of any their members, confederating with enemies cause them to bestrangled and hanged up between columns, confiscate their goods and estates, banish their children and make them incapable of government: if for jealousy, much more for so foul acts committed, ought they die, by the Law of God and man.  
Among the Athenians, lacedaemonians and Romans; whosoever should go about to alter the form of government, or laws without public consent, hath been ever accounted the highest Traitor; witness their ostracism, and many such exemplary punishments, used to such wretches.  
If destroying the head be high treason, then ruining the state of the body must be; for if it be suffocated with gross spirits the head will not only ache, but be apoplectical or lethargical, such a sympathy or rather relation is betwixt head and members, that no rhetoric or eloquence can take it away: In this case it is no pity, but convenient to destroy the brood of such vipers, and by our Law the intention makes it treason. But how many ways the Lord of Strafford hath perpetrated this intention, hath been often proved.  
In 18. and 21. Jacobi, The whole house adjudged it treason, to alien the hearts of the Subjects from the sovereign, which hath been done by his Counsellors. His imprisoning without Law, was high Treason, in Sir Haukin Hanby 25. E. 3. Art. 61. who was drawn, hanged and quartered.  
Judge Thorpe for giving such an oath contrary to Law, was high Treason; and is not his?  
The reason Rich. 2. was deposed (plainly manifested) was because he suffered divers malefactors to escape, (condemned by Parliament) which caused the oppression of the Subject and ruin of the kingdom.  
In all ages a Lethargy in Kings hath caused their ruin: witness Ed. 2. Rich. 2. and H. 6. (I humbly desire God to bless his Majesty.) But consider we, that the three kingdoms will not be satisfied unless the wrong received be expiated with the oblation of some, have caused a heretic condition.  
The Lord of Strafford hath had counsel in case of treason, when none hath had the like since the Conquest.  
So the whole world may see with what temper, gravity and patience they proceed.  
Ed. Earl of Northumberland, in the 8. of Rich. 2. (because his Deputy let the Scots take Berwick Castle) was condemned of high Treason, and yet he never consented thereunto, for it was done without his privity: but the Lord of Strafford writ to the Major of Newcastle to let in the Scots, and caused the Arms to be taken away from the four adjacent Counties, making them incapable of defence.  
Wherefore it is visible as the sun, he is guilty, besides his other crimes; now his delay of punishment hath kindled such a fire, as all the Subjects of the three kingdoms are on a flame, and will not be satisfied: Ex parvis magna Crescunt.  
I pray God divert the evil, and give us true repentance.  
FINIS.