Praemonitio Kanciae commitatui; OR, A WARNING-PIECE TO KENT Wherein are sundry motives to persuade the well-affected of that county, to hasten their Association with Sussex, Surrey, and Hampshiere.  Lento gradu ad vindictam sui Divina procellit ira tarditatemque supplicij gravitate compensat, Val. Max. 
Printed in the month after the great Conjunction, 1643.   

❧ A Warning piece to KENT.  
A Well wisher to the languishing iceland, with grief observing the vast Calamities predominant in most of the Counties thereof, occasioned by an intestine war, and presaging the danger that KENT will undoubtedly fall into, unless God bee the more merciful, and the speedier care be taken, for its Association with the neighbouring Counties; doth tender these ensuing lines, to the consideration of the well-affected Inhabitants, who have a precious regard to their Religion, Liberties, and Lives; never nearer invasion and abolition then now.  
It is doubted by divers, that the Parliament is not made sensible of the hazourdous condition that county is in, nor what extremities the whole Land may be exposed unto, in case that yet unconquered county, should be possessed by a Malignant crew, and therefore the Author, out of his affection to the republic in general, and to KENT in particular, hath published the following queries, whereby the impartial Reader may collect, what cause there may be for a speedy Association.  
1. Is the county large, and stored with grain, and other rich Commodities? Quaere, if it be not the fitter receptable for the devouring Cavaliers, who are at a stand, or rather sitting in council, to think where they may disperse themselves, to work most mischief.  
2. Is the county rich, as who doubts the contrary? Quaere, how free it hath been to give or lend, either to the Parliament, or the necessities of poor Ireland, the animadversion whereof, may sufficiently persuade any man, how that county stands affencted.  
3. Is the county populous? Quaere, how inconsiderable the number of good men, are to the Malignants.  
4. Is the county in part bounded with the Ocian? Quaere, if it be not the more liable to a foreign enemy.  
5. Are most of the Kings ships in a River within that county? Quaere, what great cause there may bee, for the safegaurding them, being the walls of the kingdom.  
6. Is not the principal Magazine for those ships at Chatham-dock? Quaere, if the Garrison under the Command of captain Chapman there, bee a considerable strength, to oppose the sons of violence, and to preserve the Stores, if any attempt should be made.  
7. Are the Bridges at Aylesford, and Rochester very useful for the stoping and examining of Passengers( the common Roads for the French and other Nations)? Quaere, Whether they have sufficient guards, and such as may be trusted.  
8. Hath his sacred majesty through the advice of those about him, issued Proclamations forbidding that, and the Neighbouring Connties upon severe penalties, neither to associate, nor contribute, to the late weekly sesse made by our wise council in Parliament? Quaere, if the cause may not bee so much the greater, to spur us on to an Association.  
9 Are the Magistrates within that county to be confided in? Quaere, what parties they adhere unto for it is an old saying and true, par cum paribus, birds of a feather will fly together, learn their company you shall have their inclinations.  
10. Are the clergy zealous for the Parliament? Quaere, how forward they bee to red their Declarations, how active they have been to stir up people by their preaching, to give or lend to the Common good, nay inquire further, if they do not allow of discourses against the great council of our Land, by not reproving those that belch out their Malignities, I dare say no more( though I might bee copious in this particular) lest I should make the black guard rise in the head, and under that pretence to raise a party before their time.  
11. Is the county forward, to furnish themselves with a zealous Ministry? Quaer. Who complains of their disordered Teachers, the hollow-heartednesse of the County appears in nothing more, I pray GOD this sin may not be laid to their Charge, who are silent in that particular.  
12. Doth the county abound with Taverns, and Victualling-houses? Quaere, if the multitudes of those that frequent them be not great, and for the most part ill-affected, excepting the Cathedrall and Cathedralized-Clergie within the two Cities, and the places adjacent.  
13. Doth the County exceed in Gentry? Quaere, the East and some other parts, how many have shewed themselves active, either in their words or deeds for the Patliament, good Sir Michael Livesey must troope it a loan, others are ashamed to appear in Gods cause.  
Beloved in Kent, I have given you thirteen queries to the dozen, if you bee not willing to sacrifice your Lives for the Parliaments good, yet out of your several relations to Piety, your Families, Estates, and privileges, consider whether the premises may not be necessary motives for hastening you to an Association, which I hear you are backward in, and if after so plain a praemonition you shall with-hold your mutual furtherance to that work, when misery fals upon you, say you had a Warning-piece from a Friend. Qui ante non cavet, post dolebit.