A Sober and Seasonable Vindication, OF THE MODEST PRESBYTERY.  
WHen by the providence of God in the Year 1640. the late Unfortunate KING, by the serious Advice of his gravest Counsellors for a Remedy to the then menacing Grievances of the People, had the Third of November called a Parliament, and therein given from the Crown many precious Jewels voluntarily, (not to be retorted from his Ancestors by a continued series and concatenation or blood and Treasure expended in a long and tedious War, (the Name whereof yet too freshly bleeds in the late renewed distractions;) yet such was the rage of the then regnant Party, that under pretence of a disagreeing humour, not immediately jumping with their Fancy, there began a deficiency in the Main under which the Nation for a long time laboured; and after many strong convulsions and griping pains was delivered of a Personal Treaty, the then only thought conducing means to Resettle the disturbed Nation,) and herein indeed were included the Major part of the Parliament, whose original aims never tended any further than to Reform the Abuses of the then present Power, not an Extirpation either of the Governor much less Government.  
We need not run to Antiquity to maintain this Point, that most worthy and learned Gentleman Mr. Pryune hath so cleared the way, that he hath left nothing for a poor gleaner; however in vindication of the Truth, and as a poor Imitator of his virtues, give me leave to Inform the whole English Nation.  
That when the burden of dissension (by its too frequent decision in the Field) had made the people pant for want of breath, that they were even ready to fall grovelling in the dust, then as a Moses in the Gap did the far Major part of the Commons House, joined with the then sitting Lords, conclude themselves within the reasonable limit of amending abuses, not engrossing the public revenues of the Nation into private and single hands. But although the unwearied endeavours of some ambitious Heads, wrought effects even beyond expectation, as to an Oligarchical Democracy; yet the uncessant labours of the honest and modest Presbyter could never be beaten off, but even when the sword itself with an usurped Majesty cut the Gordian knot of their Rule, they yet kept their heart; and notwithstanding the decollation of the Head, maintained that ancient Maxim of Cor'ultimum moriens; for indeed had they not been all heart, the whole from thence could never have received a new strength and vigour.  
To these therefore all freeborn Englishmen owe their Liberties, Magna Charta had died if the Members secluded in 1648. had not survived, the Law had ceased, and every man might have done what seemed good in his own eyes, as when there was no King in Israel; or as at the time when the Committee of Safety domineered in England, whose constitutions used only to the calm of a Southern breeze, was not able to endure the storm of a cold Northern blast.  
But such is the well-tempered constancy of the not to be altered Members, that maugre Malice and Envy, they still continue in their first resolved temper, Namely, a regulated Monarchy, according to the Concession in the Isle Wight, a Democratical House of Commons in its primitive Original, soon joined to the Fountain of Honour by an Oligarchical Peerage; which Three (without blasphemy be it spoken) resemble the Deity, and each of them on the other so consistent, that though there be Peace in the circumference, yet still they unite in the centre.  
It is therefore a sin to doubt a Defect: in them whose realities cure the Imperfections of the Nation; the worst that can be said of them being only this, that having deviated, they now return into the right Path. A good precedent to the whole Kingdom.  
With what Triumph and Exaltation did the Streets echo and Resound at this Restauration, as already confident of a Settlement from them in Power, whose promises were so rich while laid aside, I really hope the fullness of our Expectation shall from them receive the desired satisfaction; so shall they by all, be justly entitled, Patres Patriae, The Fathers of their country; The Repairers of Breaches, and the Restorers of Paths to dwell in.   

Printed for Henry Marsh. 1660.