arguments, Proving that we ought not to part with the MILITIA, TO THE KING, Nor indeed to any other, but the Honourable House of COMMONS.  
1. We conceive it is Treason to ourselves and ours, to put the lives of Millions, so their estates and liberties, into the power of one man, their servant, so that the murders, rapes, rapines or abuses, he shall commit, by himself, or his, are unavoidable, we are also guilty of them, for it is to sell our birthrights, (that is the power of our lives, estates and liberties, which is ours by nature) for a mess of Pottage, or rather for nothing. Esau was well paid for his, in comparison of ourselves, for necessitated to a famishing, he had sustenance for support. Yet what is his birthright of Elder-ship, to what we part with, it was but a point of Opinion, not of Power, as ours is? But to part with the Militia, is to enslave ourselves, and ours, to the Will of the wilful, so it is the height of profaneness.  
2. It is against the law of Nature, reason, and human justice, for that he having such power in his hand, may overthrow us all, ad placîtum.  
3. It is against the law and will of God, so divine Ordination, that millions should be at the mercy of one man, their servant, in their lives estates and liberties; and therefore God excepts against it, and warns the People against it, telling them how their king might abuse them, by reason of his too large betrusted power. vide, 1. Sam. 8. Repented for as a great six, 1. Sam. 12.  
4. All our laws then are of no use, and all the blood shed, is as water spilled upon the ground, lost to no purpose.  
5. Quere, If it ought not to be made treason, to bring it in question? For it is conceived, if delivered in right words, it is an absolute betraying of us, quite contrary to betrust, & the end of government.  
6. Should we connive or consent at the disposure of it to him it were a treacherous, unnatural, unjust and profane act in us, and we conceive it the same in them that shall confer it on him, so in him to desire it.  
7. Now because we must bestow it somewhere, we cannot conceive where it can be better or safer bestowed, than where it is, many in likelihood not so soon agreeing to abuse us, as one, we further conceiving, the careful choice, and large betrust of the People, will be a strong tye on them &c. Therefore we entreat the honourable House of Commons, to confine it within the Confines of their own jurisdiction; and to bestow it in faithful hands, not factious, such as will not subdue all but themselves, nor indeed any at all, but be in a readiness to support all such, (though of different judgements and opinions in Religion) in their rights and privileges.  
8. Had we bestowed it on him by Law, that Law were lawless, because destructive, and quite contrary to the end of government, that law than were justly breakable, he resistible, and our safety revocable. It is a breach of the 6th. Commandment, and self-murder, to give power to any to murder us.  
9 Yea more, had he bought the power with millions to each individual, it was an unlawful contract, for defence of life is inst, and justly irrecoverable, we conclude then as at 7th.  
10. That to give [or debate upon giving] the Militia to the King at the end of twenty years, is very dangerous, and apt to beget an opinion in the people, that he hath some right to it, and that at present it is only kept from him, for his abusing it, when as in deed and in truth he hath no right at all in the least unto it; neither is it just, or reasonable to betrust him, or any one single man in the kingdom with it, Salus populi having already run such hazards of an utter ruining, by the Militia's being in his single hand, for which he ought, according to Protestations, Oaths, and Covenants, to be brought to exemplary, & condign punishment, he being the greatest & most notorious Delinquent in the whole Kingdom, yea, the original fountain and wellspring of all the Delinquents in the kingdom, giving Commissions to all the rest, to kill, murder and stay the innocent People, whom by oath, duty and office, he ought to have protected; and therefore his sin and offence more heinous and capital than any others, yea indeed, than all others that have joined with him.  
11. Quere, Whether or no, if the King should have the Militia again, then whether indeed, have not the Scots the power of it under his name, which only is used to colour the design, that so they may not be seen in it, to desire and endeavour to be Kings and Lords over England? But the project portends noless.  
London, June 1646.  
FINIS