❧ A Letter of advice to the LONDONERS to forewarn them of their near approaching miseries, and to rouse them (if it be possible) out of their senslesle Security.  
A Man would wonder (O ye Londoners) to see how amidst your greatest dangers you are least circumspect and active in prevention thereof: you think you have done well enough, and played the parts of good commonwealth's men, if you can hinder the King's Forces from doing execution upon you; and never think upon them with any respect to yourselves, till they advance within few miles of your walls, that in the mean time while they are absent from you, they are plotting and contriving all ways that possible can be to endamage you, and work you into such a condition, that when they come next at you, they may the easier make themselves Masters of your city. When they have gained to their Party all the Western and Northern Counties, and disarmed or cut off all those your friends that stand out against them (as you perceive they resolve to do, and are like enough to effect unless you interpose) they will by that means not only subdue half part of England, but thereby likewise half conquer London itself: for as the Countries are not like to hold out, if the King's Forces possess themselves of London; so neither can London hold out if provisions be cut off from coming thither. To me you seem to bear yourselves as if you had no war in your Land, or as if you thought the Cavahers and desperate roisters intended no evil towards you, or that the design of making you slaves were therefore laid down, because 'tis found so easy a matter to compass, and you are so easy to admit it. What do you think of the condition you now are in? Or, do you not think of it at all? Verily, a man might swear you did not, you are so secure and quiet; so busy about your trading, You see it is otherwise with the King and his Friends, you see how active they are, that they set themselves wholly to this work, you see that every week produces some notable exploit they have enterprised to their real advantage, besides what private succours and supplies each hour affords, insomuch that they have made themselves in a short time, by their policy and laborious industry of a weak and contemptible Party, a strong power and overawing army of Traitors: when in the mean time you by your slackness and drowsy managing of your affairs are much wasted, have lost much of your strength, and are like to lose more, unless you look better about you than you have done heretofore: Your eyes are altogether upon the Parliament, and you do well; but can the Parliament sight for you? They are your counsel and directors; but 'tis you the People that are the strength and power of the kingdom: neither is it to be hoped that the King's Forces shall ever be vanquished by Words and Writings; it must be your Swords and valiant prowess that must subdue them. Why, what would you have us do you will say? Or, what can you do more than you have done? You have contributed freely out of your Estates; and you have likewise sent away your servants to the warts; I applaud you for it: but let me withal tell you, that if you do no more as the case stands, you have done as much as nothing, for all this will not avail you; for you see that the nature of the Country is such that the King can avoid your soldiers, and choose whether ever he will sight, but when he is sure to conquer, where his Enemies are weak and unprovided, or that our soldiers come on upon many disadvantages; so that unless your courage and resolution be the greater, and ye set yourselves more closely to your business, ye shall be sure to have this war last long enough, since his interest depends upon the prolongation thereof, whereby he finds his Party to be increased, and you impoverished and thereby unable to ssue out supplies to oppose your enemies: and so wearied with the Charge, many of you will be willing to make peace; which (the King being strong) must be expected to be upon such conditions as shall leave the way easy to make you perfect Slaves, and himself absolute. Well, you will say, what then must be done? Verily, I think 'tis to no purpose to tell you; for you are so heavy a People, that you make nothing of good counsel; you are only well-aflected; but you want abilities to deal with your cunning Adversaries, and all because you cannot find in your hearts to set about it: there is little difference in men besides custom and exercise in businesses, which principally makes one excel another: you do not set yourselves to contrive ways to circumvent them in their Policies, and to meet them half way; you are behind hand still, as your Army is with the Kings: You spend your time about telling and asking of news; and O how you are taken with some forged Report of Sir Ralph Hopton's overthrow, or the Lord of Newcastle's being driven into York? of so much money taken in one place, so much Armcur, and so many Horses in another? and your Enemies, since they find so small matters will content you, busy your heads, and keep you from rising as one man, they will be sure to furnish you. You are mere News-mongers, and when you have any, Oh how you flutter about to tell it, because you would be thought to know somewhat, as if the wars were in Sweth-land or the Low-Countries, and not in your own country, and ready to destroy you, as it hath done many of your friends already. And when you have a little victory, how you amplify it! Then your Bells must ting, and bonfires be made, when perhaps the loss was equal, and the Victory doubtful, and you are little nearer a conclusion of your wars then you were before: you are most unmanly in your behaviours; when if the King overthrows you or your Friends, as at Cisseter, the business is concealed; your Friends conceal it, because by declaring it they think you would be dejected, and your Enemies conceal it, lest by hearing thereof you be justly enraged and provoked to revenge: they are glad to keep your anger down, and jull your courages asleep, lest by awakening thereof it devour them: you are so far from casting about to succour and relieve your Friends abroad; that you neglect yourselves, and are not yet Masters of your own city, that place designed for a recompense to the Cavaliers hard services and dangerous hazards they now run; the hopes of pillaging thereof makes their labours and wounds pleasant to them, and sweetens all difficulties and dangers they now undergo in the King's Service. Do you look for advice? it will be good that you make it appear that you have first shook off that lethargy that has possessed you, for till then you are not capable of advice: if I thought you were a wake I would advise you to do what? to stop your ears against the Siren enchantments of such as you may be sure (by your former sufferings, and forcing you to these present shifts and 02 extremities) wish you not well; and to open your ears to such your Brethren who hazard themselves and their Fortunes in your behalf, who have lived amongst you, and of whose faith and sound affection you have had so much experience: follow their advice, I am a stranger to you, and think not much if they shall put you upon what for the present shall be irksome to you, your sickness is so desperate that 'twill be well if rough and chargeable means can cure you. Only let me tell you thus much, that 'tis not your fasting and repenting that God requires at your hands, so much as doing justice upon the wicked brood in the Land, whose procession in former times hath been to oppress you, and is now to destroy you. God is not wanting to you; neither can you make him more willing to assist you, than he hath already been; he hath given you understanding to discern your Afflictions and Afflictors, and power likewise to free yourselves from both: but 'tis you that are wanting to yourselves, you want courage and endeavours; you have strength to help yourselves given you by God, and yet you lie still and cry God help us. Well according as I hear you bear yourselves hereafter, and either amend, continue in the same sleepy state, or grow worse; you shall receive further from me: For this time farewell.  
Your Friend and Remembrancer. P. A.   

Composed by a zealous Well-willer of the whole kingdom and Parliament.