A BRIEF DISCOURSE OF THE PRESENT MISERIES OF THE KINGDOM: Declaring by what practices the people of England have been deluded, and seduced into Slavery, and how they have been continued therein, and by what means they may shake off that bondage, they are now entrhalled under.  
Written by a lover of his Country, for the good of all such who are not contented to be slaves, but desire to live Freemen.  
Printed in the Year, 1648.   

A brief discourse of the present Miseries of the Kingdom, etc.  
THe sad and deplorable condition of this unhappy Kingdom, is remarkably evident to all intelligent persons of all degrees, who have any share or interest in the Commonwealth; and by all those who are honest as much lamented. Yet every man is not sensible by what practices and endeavours, our Laws have been subverted, or who have been the Authors, and contrivers of the Kingdom's misery: or at least all men will not seem to understand, who have blown the bellows to kindle this unnatural War, which hath almost wasted and consumed (although not in their persons, yet in their Estates) all the chief Nobility, and Gentry of the Land. I have therefore out of my zeal, to rectify those understandings, who are not wilfully blinded by their own ignorance and folly, written this ensuing narrative; wherein is discovered, how, and by what practices the Subjects of England have been seduced, and made the unhappy instruments, to contribute to their own undoing: by which they may easily discern, who have been the Authors, and contrivers of their misery: and may hereby if they become sensible of their past errors, find a means to recover their lost Liberty, and redeem themselves from the Slavery and Thraldom they have so long endured.  
No man is ignorant in how happy a condition this Kingdom was, before it was destroyed by this unhappy Parliament; neither am I so partial to the foregoing times, but that I could discern that there were faults then, for there was pride, sloth, and covetousness in some of the Clergy, Bribery and corruption in some of the Judges, partiality and selfe-interests in many Magistrates, an aiming at an exorbitant power in the Court, managed to His Majesty's disadvantage, by those He employed and trusted, who studied their own ends and profits, without regard to His Majesty's Honour. These were the personal crimes of men, which could not justly occasion complaint against the whole frame and order of our settled constitution of Government, yet the offences of these evil Ministers, were accounted great grievances, and multiplied in their number, and aggravated in their nature, by those Schismatics, who could not make a rent and division in the Church Government, to which they were enemies, because they were curbed and restrained by the Ecclesiastical power; & hindered from introducing innovation into the Church, which they could not effect, unless they first beget a distraction in the Civil Government. And therefore there was no pressure put upon the people (and they counted all such, whether legal, or illegal, if it concerned them in their purposes) but these Schismatical people, presently put themselves in opposition against it, and by that gained an opinion amongst the common sort (who are still of least understanding) that those men were the chief Patriots: believing according to their hypocritical demenors, that they had no indirect ends, but aimed only at the good of the Commonwealth, and to maintain the Laws and Liberties of the Subjects. These men having by these subtle insinuations, crept into the good opinion of the vulgar people, the Clergy and Laity of the same Sect, magnifying each the others integrity, and both deluding the ignorant people, the one by an humble and feigned piety, the other by pretending to a strict observation of the Laws, in so much that the common people imagined that there was no way left to recover the golden age, but by bringing these men into power and Authority, and to make them the directors, and Governors both in Church and State. Then was raised a general complaint that all things were out of order, by reason we had no Parliaments called, but how to reduce His Majesty to a necessity to call a Parliament, and to make that necessity such, as that He might not be able to dissolve that Parliament: this was the study and practice of these underminers of our happy and peaceable Government.  
The people of England had been so long inur'd to Peace, and with it were grown so rich, that it was difficult to stir them up to any commotion or Rebellion: And therefore there must be some way found out by His Majesties own Instruments, and Ministers of State to disturb the Kingdom; and no man was found so fit for this as the Archbishop of Canterbury, whose zeal to advance the dignity of the Protestant Church within His Majesty's Dominions, by reducing it to an uniformity, and decency in God's worship, and by endeavouring to increase the Wealth of it, that so the Clergy might not become contemptible, was cherist in these pious endeavours, and became so passionate in the pursuance thereof, being I am afraid a little transported with the vanity of being styled the author of so glorious a work, that without mature consideration he swallowed all proposals, that he imagined might conduce to so good an end: And so became unfortunately engaged in the reforming of the Scottish Kirke, by endeavouring to conform it to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England. In this undertaking I am confident his Lordship had no end that aimed at any thing but God's worship, but I have been on very good grounds ascertained that those who put his Lordship on this work, had an intention thereby to destroy the Bishops in that Kingdom; that so they might be disposers of the Church's patrimony. This gave the first rise to our miseries, for the Scots immediately oppose our liturgy, branding it as Popish, and Superstitious, that liturgy which in the time of Queen Elizabeth, when She protected them against the Invasions of the French, they embraced with all reverence and thankfulness, and made use thereof in their Churches, as long as they had need of the English Protection, and then it was neither Popish nor Superstitious, but a most holy worship, divinely composed for the decent and true honour of God: but they had not then been instructed in Mr. calvin's Doctrine, or at least knew not how to wrest it, and make use of it to throw off obedience to Kings, as the true Protestant Religion had taught them to throw off the usurped Authority of the Pope.  
Cardinal Richlieu, who was undoubtedly the most vigilant, and wisest Counsellor of this latter age; who industriously studied his Prince's advancement, and enlargements of his Dominions, and had been long studying and contriving to disturb the Peace of England, and watching every opportunity to do it, for he well knew as long as the King of England enjoyed Peace, he held the balance of this part of Christendom, and by joining with any Prince in opposition to the French King, would be able at any time to give a stop to his increase of Empery, and restrain his enlargement of Dominion, which this Cardinal aimed at: And for that cause he covetously embraced this occasion offered by the Scots refusal of our Book of Common-Prayer, and presently endeavours to insinuate the Ancient League between their Nations, how willing the French would be to assist them in the defence of their Religion, Laws and Liberties; But the Language which the Scots best understood was the French crowns, for that wise State's man well knew, how little gold was generated in that cold climate, and how affected that Nation was to that mettle, for he believed they might be purchased not only to forfeit their Allegiance but to sell their God for that coin. And therefore he subtilely dispersed his crowns amongst their poor Nobility, who received them with condition of Rebellion, but yet durst not enter openly into an hostile opposition of their King's commands, until they were assured of a party in England, and therefore the Puritanical party of this Kingdom must be tampered withal, and accordingly were, and found right for their turn; but these were but of the meaner sort of people, and such as were not able to raise any considerable power to countenance their undertake. And therefore it was necessary that some eminent Lords should be drawn into the Plot, of which there were not many, that were Pruitanically affected, and therefore they must seek to gain such who were discontented, because they were not countenanced, and enjoyed offices and honours at Court, to which their ambitions prompted them. This was by the industry of these men effected, and accordingly divers of the Nobillty were wrought upon to be of this party, of which I believe divers of them who looked not into the depth of this Conspiracy, have since hearty repent; seeing, and now knowing, what instruments they were made, to contribute to the ruin of this Kingdom. But they understood His Majesty had money in his purse, and was beforehand with the world, and until that was wasted and He become poor, there was no hope of bringing Him to comply with their ends, and therefore there must be a show of War, before a real War, and for this reason His Majesty must be persuaded to carry an Army to the borders of Scotland, to compel the Scots to conformity, and there He must have instruments to persuade Him to lie still, until His stock of money was spent, Treating, and making, and receiving overtures of Peace, which at last was concluded, and the observation thereof solemnly protested to continue so long, until their Brethren in England were ready to assist them, and then the Religious Scots had liberty to break all Oaths, and Protestations, and Rebel again. And so shortly after they enter into England, with a pretence to Petition His Majesty, but not to fight, but for their safety. This Petition must be presented by an Army, and this Army must possess themselves of Towns in England, and must have all things granted unto them, which they could possibly desire, within the Kingdom of Scotland, and this must be confirmed unto them by Acts of Parliament, wherein His Majesty must divest Himself of all Regal power, and give up all into the hands of His Scottish Subjects, to be at their disposal, which could not have been an ill bargain for His Majesty, if He had had but some tye upon them to make good the compact; for if an Earthquake should swallow up those that are perfidious of that Nation, it could be no loss unto the Crown of England, unto which they have ever been false and burdensome: For what was there wanting to that Nation, that they could desire from their native King? His bounty, affection, and protection they were sufficiently sensible of, if they could be sensible of benefits, but nothing can oblige them to hold their faith, or become grateful.  
These Scots being in a hostile manner entered the Kingdom, whom all good Subjects were bound to oppose and resist; it was so far from that, that those Soldiers which His Majesty raised for that purpose were disheartened, and discouraged, in their undertake, and their Officers branded with the names of Papists, and the Soldiers encouraged to mutiny against their Commanders.  
The Scots being Invaders were welcomed, and to make it good that they were Invited into the Kingdom, they were well recompensed for their pains. And no doubt this money was given them that they might be ready on all occasions to enter the Kingdom again when the Parliament should call for them to second and assist them in their attempts against His Majesty: For truly now the Parliament have a very fair pretence, to challenge the same grants from His Majesty that the Scots have obtained, and they are sure of their brethren's assistance, for they desire that this Kingdom should be as far engaged in Rebellion as themselves; for by that being become equal sharers in iniquity, they are thereby mutually obliged to potect, and preserve each other against the power of the King, whom they are bound to oppose and suppress, lest His justice enabled by power, should overtake and punish their Traitorous Rebellion.  
The Scots being now gone out of England, and His Majesty having been in Scotland, and there according to His promises confirmed all by Act of Parliament as aforesaid, He returned hither to assure His subjects here that He was willing to do for them whatsoever they could demand for the good of the Commonwealth, and by the precedents of having already condescended unto more than ever any of His Ancestors did for the Subjects, they are not at all stirred up to a gratitude for His grace and favour already conferred, but are thereby encouraged to make greater and higher demands, and must now invest themselves with all Regal power and authority, and His Majesty must be but a cipher, whilst they rule, govern, order and dispose all things at their pleasure. And that they may the better gull and abuse the people, and so lead them on to believe in them, they must in generals traduce the whole government, the Church they must bespatter with Popery, and therein all decency must be accounted Superstition, and the Bishops who laboured for uniformity, and punished non-conformists, must be branded with the names of Popish innovators, and the chief crimes laid to their chare was Church Ornaments, which they styled rags of the whore of Babel. Sure if God had commanded these reformers to have built the Tabernacle or the Sanctuary, they would not have obeyed him, but told him he was Popishly affected, and would have built him a Temple after their own fancies and imaginations.  
The Church being now the object of their furious zeal, the wisdom of this grave Senate is not bound to particularise the faults therein, for so they might come to be disputed, and might either in the reason and opinion of the people prove no faults, or else by that course it might only produce a Reformation, but that was not the Parliaments aim, for they endeavoured to throw the whole Kingdom into combustion, especially the Church Government, that must be destroyed, that so they may therein frame a new Utopian government, agreeing with their phanatique zeal: The people greedy of novelties, willingly embrace & entertain these changes, and with an easy credulity, believe all scandalous reports that are by these men's factors and abettors, raised to calumniate the Church, they doubt not if these men tell them so, but that there lurks Idolatry in a Tipet or a Surplice, and if these men incite the mad multitde thereunto, they will presently disroable their Ministers of their decent vestments, and for no other cause then that they are conformable to the established Government of the Church of England, they will assist to drive them from their Cures, and without any legal authority, to divest them of what they are possessed of by the Laws of God and the Realm: if any Inhabitant within those Parishes where these enormities were committed, was so conscientious as that he would not adhere to these exorbitant courses, he was sure to be presently branded with the name of Papist, or at least Popishly affected, and that alone was sufficient to declare, that he was disaffected to the Parliament proceed, and must be presently new Christened by his Parliament godfathers, with the nickname of Malignant, and Delinquent. And if this new named creature doth not forthwith seal up his lips, and not dare to speak or mutter against those, who prosecute these illicit acts, a Messenger shall be ready to fetch him to the Parliament, where in custody he shall attend at an extraordinary charge their honour's leisure, who by reason of the high and weighty affairs of the Kingdom, cannot admit to hear so petty a complaint, until this poor Malignant's purse grows empty, and the Messenger hath sufficiently drained his pockets; and then peradventure he will carry him before a Committee, where he shall be examined upon captions gueres, whereby he may entrap himself, he shall neither know his accuser, nor his accusation, but he shall be told in general, that he is a notable opposer of the Parliament, and for that he shall be sure to be committed to some Prison, that so his example of punishment may terrify others from daring & presuming to be honest men. With this manner of proceeding, the most rational men, who discovered and disliked these practices, were deterred from opposing them, and those of the vulgar and ordinary rank of people, were persuaded by other arguments, which were more prevalent on their understandings, which was impunity and profit: for they were informed that they should neither pay Tithes, nor be be subject to Ecclesiastical Courts: by this they were engaged to take part with these new Reformers. But as yet the Parliament durst not declare against the Common-Praier Book, for they thought the people were too well inclined to that form of Worship, to be suddenly deprived thereof: And therefore they declare that they intent not to abolish the Book of Common-Prayer, but by authority confirm the use of it throughout the Kingdom, and withal they tell the people that it is a scandal raised by the Malignant party to make them odious, to report that they intended any such thing as to take away the Common-Prayer Book, only there may be some things in it that may be fit to be reformed; which hereafter with the advice of an Assembly of Reverend Divines they mean to perform: Yet at the same time they connive at such Ministers as leave it off, and suffer scandalous pamphleteers to traduce that Sacred liturgy, abstracted from the Scripture, Composed by the most Reverend, Learned, and pious Divines, and sealed by the blood of Martyrs: By these Instruments they first undermine it, and afterward when they have occasion to make use of their Scotch Brethren to Conquer the Kingdom, than they are fitted with a packed Assembly, that must declare against the Book of Common-Prayer, as Popish and Superstitious, that so they may introduce a thing called a Directory, that may bring them to a conformity with their Brethren in Doctrine, Worship, and Discipline.  
Now give me leave to tell you by the way, that these men who have so universally changed, and altered the settled, and professed Protestant Religion within this Kingdom, abused the people with telling them that His Majesty by the advice of His evil Councillors, and assistance of the Bishops, meant to change and alter Religion, by throwing a supposed infamy on His Majesty, which they really intended afterwards to effect themselves, as is manifest by the sequel, for they have absolutely changed our Religion, and His Majesty remains a constant perseverer in the maintenance of the old established form, both of Doctrine, Worship, and Discipline; and I will be bold to affirm, that the Kingdom is almost if not altogether, the unparallelled precedent that have Rebelled against their King, and fought, and destroyed the Nobility and Gentry of their Kingdom, because they will not consent to introduce the Religion and Laws of another Nation, and of such a Nation as Scotland, whose people for the most part are not yet civilised, and for their rudeness, and poverty, are the scorn and contempt of all Christendom.  
This could not be that the gallant English should be so deluded, but that for their sins God hath infatuated them to be seekers of their own destruction.  
This much by way of digression; The Parliament now finding the people so apt to believe all that they suggest, they begin to decline, not only against His Majesty in relation to Religion, but also accuse Him of misgovernment in Civil affairs, but like the rest, they will not strike pointblank at His Majesty, but wound Him through His Ministers sides, telling the people, that He hath been misled by evil Councillors, and thereupon they frame a Remonstrance, which I may call an appeal to the people, whereby they asperse and traduce His Majesty by enumerating all the pressures, and supposed grievances, wherewith the Subjects have been burdened, since His Majesty came to the Crown, and they therein proceed so far as to accuse His Majesty's intentions, saying that He intended to put an Excise upon his people. Every man imagined that they did this to declare to the world what Taxes the Subjects groaned under, and no man could suppose that the Parliament would multiply and increase these grievances, and that they would impose an Excise upon the people, and so would induce that into Act, which they pretend only was intentionally in His Majesty, but time shows us otherwise, for now the little fingers of these Councillors are weightier in oppressing the Subjects, than the loins of His Majesty's Councillors.  
The Freeborn Subject must be imprisoned, disseised of his Estate, and no Legal cause shown, Taxes imposed, all things managed by Arbitrary power, and no appeal but to them that do the injustice, this is part of the present misery we groan under, but more of this in its due place.  
The Parliament finding an inclination in His Majesty to reform all that is amiss, and willing to comply with His Parliament in all that they can propose for the good of the people, they grow fearful that if His Majesty be suffered to comply with them so fast, all that is amiss in the Commonwealth will be reformed too soon, and then there will be no work for them, but they must return home, and become private men again, which is contrary to their intentions; for they resolve to Lord it over their fellow Subjects perpetually, which they cannot do, unless they devolve the Kingdom into greater miseries and distractions, by contriving a Civil War within the bowels thereof: for the effecting of which, they use all their art and industry to enslave the people, by pretending that there is a Malignant party in the Kingdom of Papists, and such as are Popishly affected, who are machinating treacherous plots against them, by destroying of this glorious Parliament, which intends so much good to the Commonwealth; and in the ruin of this Parliament, to bury all hopes of future redress of our grievances.  
These fears and jealousies are fomented amongst the people, by their active instruments, who are especially those of the Clergy, and these by their pretended sanctity of life easily gained credit amongst their simple auditors, besides such as are divulgers of these reports, are directed to insinuate, that His Majesty hath a hand in these contrivances, by which obliquity He must be represented as the object of the people's fear, who ought to be the protector of them and their Laws, and they the security of His Power and Person: By this, distrust of His Majesty being begotten, and nourished amongst the people, His Majesty's Person, together with His Royal Consort and Children, are exposed to all calumny and reproach; that so they may become contemptible. Yet notwithstanding all these practices, which were the contrivances of particular plotters in both Houses: yet there was a party of honest able Gentlemen in the House of Commons, and the Bishops and some Noble Lords in the House of Peers, that crossed and thwarted the proceed of this violent party. How to remove these was now the great endeavour, and the Bishops they must first be thrust out of the House of Lords, and the better to effect this, the people they must be stirred up to Petition the House of Commons, that the Prelates who by their Votes in Parliament hindered the intended Reformation, might by an Act of Parliament be excluded out of the House, and their Votes taken away.  
And to the end that these people might not err in the form or manner of Petitioning, they had good friends in the Parliament that could pen their Petitions according to the sense of the House: these Petitioners were commonly attended by a tumultuous rabble of the City and Suburbs, who were summoned to meet together for that purpose, and although they came together, and flocked to the Houses, more like an unlawful assembly of riotous, and mutinous persons, who imperiously demanded, rather than humbly Petitioned for what they desired, and therefore for their manner of coming, rather deserved to be reprehended then cherished, yet they were welcomed, and thanked for their great care of the Commonwealth, and encouraged to draw together in such unlawful assemblies.  
The Bill being now form for the excluding the Bishops out of the House, they press His Majesty to sign it, and that they may work Him thereunto, they make use of all those Instruments about Him, who are either afraid to be lashed by their exorbitant power, or else are desirous to partake with them in their ways, and these who are truly the evil Councillors, obtain of His Majesty to pass this Bill.  
I wish with my soul His Majesty had never been betrayed by these evil Instruments to do so ill an act as to deprive the Church of that power next under Him should govern and protect it, and by their consent to wholesome Laws in Parliament preserve their flocks from the ravenous Wolves that have since devoured them.  
I am no Lawyer to determine how essential a part of the Parliament the Bishops were, but I believe they were one of the Estates that made up that great body, and this I am sure is consonant to reason, for if each Member of the Commonwealth be obliged to obey the Laws made in that Convention, because they consent unto them by those who are present at the making of those Laws as being Persons chosen by them by whose Votes they oblige themselves, I know no reason that the Clergy who are so eminent a part of the Commonwealth, should not have fit persons by them chosen to sit and Vote likewise in the House, by whom their consent unto all Laws might be included.  
And it will appear a strange irregular course in the opinion of foreign Nations, and that which will be a dishonour and a disparagement unto this Kingdom, that the doctrine and discipline of our Church, is subverted, and that we have in a manner a new Religion framed, and no Clergyman hath either an affirmative or a negative Vote in the composure; an Assembly of Divines being picked out and packed together by no lawful authority, and only made use of to colour out and countenance the acts of those who are altogether Laymen.  
It will seem strange hereafter when these proceed shall be maturely heard and debated, that it should appear that a business of so high a nature as the dispossessing the Bishops of their just rights should be transacted, and that those who are parties should be made their Judges, to condemn without hearing those who are so eminently their Superiors both in degree and dignity: but it is now too apparent to all the world what it was that provoked this violent and irregular prosecution, the end being that these Reformers might rob the Church of that patrimony which the piety of their Ancestors had invested the Bishops withal.  
And it will be well if the legislative power which these men exercise can secure them from being guilty of sacrilege, and quit them at the dreadful Tribunal from horrid impiety.  
Those honest and able Noblemen and Gentlemen who were chosen and trusted by their Countries, and whose tender consciences scrupled at these injurious and impious proceed, and according to the dictate of their reasons dissented from these unjust and irregular actions, these were traduced amongst the people as members Popishly affected, and not fit to continue in the Houses.  
And to deter them the more, the rabble & scum of the people were brought down often to Westminster, and there were taught to know those men that opposed their Faction, and to revile them with scurilous and opprobrious language, and so to menace them as they thought it not safe for them to stay longer in the Houses, especially after they had with the like Tumults driven away His Majesty from Whitehall, the Protector of them and the Laws being chased out of the Town, there was little security left for those Subjects who did desire to regulate their actions by the Law, when their King that should maintain the Law, and unto whom all His Subjects did owe and had sworn obedience, could not secure Himself from the insolence and violence of the enraged multitude.  
Sure all this while the people were in a dream, or else they could not have been drawn so madly to violate all Law, and to contribute to their own undoing.  
For, by driving away these sober and temperate men from the Parliament, and His Majesty from their protection, they put all Power and Authority into the hands of furious Schismatiks, and submitted themselves and their Estates to be disposed by them, whose phrenaticall spirits never knew temper and moderation in any of their actions.  
By their Votes and Ordinances the Kingdom is immediately thrown into all disorder and distemper, unlimited tyrannous regal authority usurped by Subjects, who like Phaethon gotten into the Sun's Chariot set all the world on fire, it never happening otherwise but that when such unskilful Pilots get to the helm, all Passengers are shipwrackt on the rocks. So it fell out with these men, as how could it be otherwise imagined, that Shopkeepers and poor mechanic Tradesmen (for such were the major part that were left in the House of Commons) should be able to manage and dispose the great affairs of the Kingdom. I do not say that all the House of Commons consisted of such, for there were some cunning Contrivers left in the House, who either out of malice to the present settled Government, or envy that they were not preferred to eminent Places and Offices at Court, at which their ambitions aimed, who guided and governed the rest of the Members to consent unto, and Vote what they designed for the disturbance of the Commonwealth.  
These having driven away His Majesty, and also their fellow Members that opposed them, it was now necessary that they should still infuse fears and jealousies into the hearts of the people, thereby to prevent that they may not return unto their wits and settled judgement: For, then their Treasons would be unmasked, and their Plots and contrivances discovered, and then the people would fall upon them as the Authors of their misery.  
To avoid this, these cunning Artists shifted the scene, and according to the common Proverb, cried Whore first. And divulged that His Majesty intended to raise War against His Parliament, whereas the truth was, they intended to raise a War against His Majesty, and to this purpose all the lies that the Devil the Author of lies could invent, were printed and published by their allowance, Papists every where mustered invisible Armies under ground, and foreign Forces were landed in every Port, and daily intelligence pretended to be brought to the House of strange Massacres intended for the cutting the throats of all their Members, especially the most eminent, they were aimed at to be destroyed: and yet all these pretences could hardly prevail with the people enured to long peace and quiet to put themselves into Arms, and therefore they would not rely on the giddy multitude, although they had incensed them with strange malicious reports, which was, that His Majesty's Commissions of Array which He directed into the several Counties of the Kingdom to muster the Forces thereof for the preservation of their peace according to an ancient and known Law, was intended for their ruin and destruction, and thereby to subject them unto a tyrannical and arbitrary power, whereby they should be robbed of their Estates, and enslaved in their persons. This rumour wrought much with the ignorant multitude, yet not so much as that the Parliament would build upon this foundation, an assurance of protection from the people, but would make use of the people's affections and inclinations towards them as a good second to their main support, which was an Army of mercenary Soldiers, raised by His Majesty's consent, to suppress the Irish Rebellion, but employed by these men to fight against his Majesty, & upon the  pretences to destroy Him and all those who adhere unto Him, out of their Loyalty, and the conscience of the duty they owed Him: The horrid acts committed by the barbarous Irish, in massacring the poor Protestants in Ireland, was so strong a motive to engage people to take arms to suppress those Rebels, and revenge their injuries, that every man was willing to undertake that War, little thinking that the design of Ireland should only be made the pretence, whilst a Civil War in England was principally intended.  
And if men were not stupidly ignorant, they might still discern, that the Irish War is kept on foot, without intention to end the same by a vigorous undertaking of it, that so they may have a pretence still to levy and keep Soldiers here in England, thereby to oppress the people by their Taxes, and enslave them by their power.  
For if this had not been their end, why would they not permit His Majesty who was willing at first in Person to undertake that War, to be the manager thereof, as it did properly belong unto Him? why did they impose such hard conditions on those poor people? wherein the innocent with the guilty were all involved, disposing of their Estates, and selling of it to Merchant Adventurers, before they begun the War, thereby rendering the people desperate, by leaving no gap open, whereby they might enter by way of Treaty, mercy or accommodation? Why do they now proceed so slackly in that War, by sending over inconsiderable Forces, and starving those before they recruit them by fresh supplies? or why have they taken such care, and used such industry to dissolve all Treaties, which His Majesty's pious endeavours framed to compose the differences in that Kingdom? unless they intent still to continue and prolong that War, that so they might have specious pretences from thence to enslave and poverish the people here.  
But now Forces being raised for Ireland, they did delay the sending of them, alleging that His Majesty seduced by evil Councillors, was raising an Army to fight against the Parliament, and to enthrall His Subjects, depriving them of their just rights and Liberties, and therefore these Soldiers with as many more as they were able to raise, must be employed to fight against the Cavelieres, for with that honourable appellation, they were pleased malitioufly and ignorantly to style all those, whose Loyalties prompted them to adhere unto His Majesty.  
Being now resolved upon a War, their next study was how to be assured of the sinews thereof, MONEY, and they find the certainest means to be furnished with that mettle, is to engage the City in their Rebellion, whose purses overflowed with abundance, indirectly gotten by false light Wares, Weights, and Measures, and therefore it was not unlikely that what was gotten by the cunning of the Devil, might be exhausted to be spent by his ministers: but yet the knave & his money are not so soon parted as the fool and his money, and therefore they must use some artificial, & cunning suggestions, to divorce the Citizen from his God.  
And therefore first, they sell him very cheap pennyworths of Land in Ireland, and having once bit at that bait, and disbursed some money for that purchase, it was easy to persuade him to shoot one arrow after another, until he be drawn by the perusal of a fair survey, with the title confirmed by an Ordinance of Parliament, to buy the Manor of Hell with the fishing of Styx, and the ferry of Charon. Else who would imagine that there could be a generation of Christian people so given over to work wickedness, without any the least show of legal title, or justice for their warrant or security, that could be induced to purchase other men's Estates, nay to purchase that Land which the Religion and piety of our Ancestors conferred on the Church, nay that these Sacrilegious villains, ravenous birds of prey, can unplume the Sacred birds of Paradise and pride it in their feathers, exposing the reverend Clergy naked to the frozen charity of these unchristian times?  
Pride and plenty are the diseases of this City, and War which by blood-letting cures this sickness must do it; but there is a great deal of hazard in it, the remedy being commonly worse than the disease; for some time it kills in stead of curing, and most times it so ruins and destroys the fabric, and constitution of health, that it leaves a weak, miserable, and consumptive body ever after.  
In all ages of the world this hath been experimentally manifested, and I wish it may not be prophetically now spoken of this City. For all the flourishing and most famous Cities of the world, when their pride and luxury had debauched them into such sins as London is guilty of, they have been at last miserably swallowed in the ruins of that War, which their own Rebellion first begot.  
But the Parliament now had their ends, which was to engage the City as deeply in this Rebellion as themselves; for so they became masters of their Estates, and so were enabled to manage and continue the War at their pleasures. And truly it was no difficult task for them to go through with their undertaking, for now being possessed of the money bank (the City mines) they could do all things.  
There the Army is now raised, and wants nothing now but a popular General to conduct this Army. Essex, who being scorned, laughed at, and contemned at Court amongst the Lords, for his disability, being angry at his slighting, he was thought fit to be the man, for upon his Father's score, no merits of his own, he was esteemed amongst the people: besides, he was bold and blockish, so his confidence might lead him into action, and his ignorance not discover their artifice that employed him: By this he appeared to be a fit subject for their election, and rejection at pleasure, and accordingly afterward they used him, rejected him, and scorned him, when he had served their turns.  
The Army being now raised and marched, both was done under the specious pretext of fight for the King, to bring Him to His Parliament, and to withdraw Him from His evil Counsellors, to reside with His great Council, who intended to make Him a GREAT and GLORIO10  
S KING. A Battle is fought pretended for the King, where His Majesty opposed them in Person, and their undistinguishable bullets let fly against His Majesty, the Prince and Duke of York, and yet all this was still pretended for the safety of His Person: in this Battle it pleased God to protect His Majesty, that He came off with Honour and safety, for He kept the field, took divers Colours, and some Cannon. Yet this must be other ways represented to the City, and those who pretended to be in the Battle, but were indeed hid in Sawpits, must be instructed to make ample narratives at the Guild-Hall, thereby to gull the City with an opinion of a Victory, lest they should be disheartened, and so withhold their contribution.  
It is most true His Majesty lost gallant men there, and it could not be otherwise, for He had none but such in His Army, and playing like a prodigal gamester, gold to brass, it must of necessity follow, that by the chance of War, He must lose some of the Nobler mettle, by adventuring it on that odds.  
But His Majesty went on with his design, and took Banbury, which His enemies durst not attempt to hinder, and from thence marched towards London, and having beaten the enemy at Branford, might undoubtedly have pursued His success into the City, where certainly he had then a strong party to have assisted Him, but His Party restrained Him, being unwilling to expose that rich City, to the fury and rapine of the greedy Soldier. His Majesty therefore retreated unto Oxford, where He might study that Logic which the Parliament had taught Him, which was, how Subjects might fight against their King, for His preservation: but finding not learning enough there to instruct Him in this strange and unheard of doctrine, He takes the field again, and sometimes wins, and loses according to the hazard of Battles. Yet at last He grew so successful, that our Brethren of Scotland were called to the aid and assistance of their distressed friends here.  
And now the solemn League & Covenant was contrived, and these accursed Traitors as they had abandoned their Loyalty, so they must swear to forsake their Religion, thereby to engage the Scots to their assistance. This accordingly they perform, and so a Scottish Army is brought into the Kingdom, hired by these miscreants at the price of their Religion, to gnaw out the bowels of their native Country: by the help of these and their money, and by the evil conduct, emulating pride, and perfidious treachery of His Majesty's Officers they prevail, reduce the whole Kingdom to their obedience, and at last purchase His Majesty who was fled to the false Scots for His protection, and refuge, and by them to the dishonour of their Nation be it ever spoken, and with this Character of ignomy and infamy, let them be branded to all posterity, who had any share therein: His Majesty was treacherously and basely delivered up into the hands of His Rebellious and disloyal Subjects, who in so many several Battles had sought His life, and therefore could not be imagined but that they would expose Him to contempt, and as they have robbed Him of His Liberty, when they found it necessary or convenient for them, would deprive him of his life also.  
I have now brought the Parliament, or rather they have brought themselves to the highest degree of power and Sovereignty; I beseech every man seriously to weigh and consider by what means and instruments they have ascended to this Supreme height, each step by which they have climbed have been multiplied Treasons, new in their invention, unparallelled in their condition, sins of the blackest nature have been their props and supports, the foulest impieties, and the most irreligious practices, the basis and foundation of all their structure: public faith they have prostituted like a common whore, and taught her to pick the pockets of her fornicators: Lying and perjury hath been the untempered mortar they have daubed withal: Murder, Theft, and Rapine, hath been the chief materials they have wrought withal. But lest you should imagine me too invective, although I speak nothing but the truth, I will give you my observations of the difference, between the present and preceding times, wherein if every indifferent understanding be not able to discover a remarkable disparity, and how we are declined into a much worse condition then formerly we enjoyed; I must conclude he wilfully shuts the eyes of his reason, lest he should be made sensible of that ignorance he hath lived in, or be found guilty of conniving at those plots and practices which during this Parliament have been used, to ruin and destroy his Country.  
It were enough to let you see the difference, if I only tell you the Kingdom before this Parliament enjoyed peace, and that it is now embroiled with a Civil War: but I shall address myself more particularly to each man's understanding; and in the first place I shall begin with our Religion, which was so reformed and settled in this Kingdom, as that it was an honour unto our Nation, a fear and terror unto the Romish party, and the hope and wish of all Protestant Churches beyond the Seas, that they might be rendered in a capacity to imitate us; for we had excluded the novel introductions and superstitious fopperies of the Papists, and yet retained a decency of order & Divine worship in our Churches, such as would not admit of parity to confound, or fancy to disturb the wel-composed harmony in the government of the Church.  
That God, who is the God of Order, and is delighted in it, as appears by the consent and union in the Creation, and disposing of all things, was here served with Order and Reverence; Humility was the Garment we put on when we entered into the holy places, expressed by our humble Gestures and civil Comportment in the time and place of Adoration, and each degree according to his eminency had that duty and respect paid him, which was due according to the superiority of his calling, from his inferior and subordinate Officers.  
A remedy was provided for each inconvenience, and no crime could escape unpunished, unless by the corruption of the Judge, and that nothing can prevent; for whilst Jugdes are men, some of them will still be wicked and corrupt, and private passions and interests will lead them to connive at offences, or to pass indirect and unjust Sentences, according to their affections and relations. We had as many eminent and learned men in the Kingdom as any Age ever produced, and the Universities and Inns of Court as flourishing in their several Professions as ever they were. The Word and the Sword, Religion and Justice, were equally administered through the Kingdom; each man knew where, and how to pray according to the Pattern and Form prescribed by our Saviour, and to join with united hearts and voices in the most sacred and best composed liturgy of the world. The first rudiments of Christian Religion were learned by heart, by being only Auditors and Assistants at our Church service. The Lord's Prayer, the 'Greed, and the ten Commandments, which are the principles of Christian Religion, was a part of our liturgy; and we are daily taught how to praise God for the benefits we had and did daily receive, and how to pray unto him for the supply of our wants. And sure, on these two main pillars of Praise and Prayer, the structure of Religion is erected.  
This was the Sacrifice we offered three or four times a day in our Cathedrals, and at least as many times a week by injunction in our ordinary Churches; and now this sacred Offertory which by Act of Parliament was Enjoined, by Ordinance is Abolished, as if it were a crime to serve God in any other form or method then the two Houses shall prescribe. Instead of this Decency and Uniformity, what confusion is introduced is obvious to every man; how these divine Collects are enforced to give place to extempore Nonsense, and the admirable composed Prayers extracted out of the most pathetical parts of the Scripture, must be banished the Church, whilst Heresies and Blasphemies are planted within the walls of the Church, whereby whole Congregations are infected and become Separatists in their tenants. Pious, Religious, and Orthodox Ministers are Voted out of their Free-holds, and violently ejected, because they will not be perjured, and conform to worship the Presbyterian Idol, or the Independent Monster, these novel Reformers would set up. And in the Cures of these Reverend Divines for the most part, ignorant Non-conformists and factious Schismatics are placed, by which they have new modelled the Church, and settled therein fit Chaplains for such Patrons, who must instruct the people to believe nothing to be Orthodox Divinity but what they read unto them out of a Parliament Ordinance, or a City Diurnal. And if they can but continue the people in this slavish Ignorance, to forget their duty to God, and their Loyalty to the King, and to submit by an implicit faith to the power of the Parliament, than their great work is done; for all their great labour is to keep up their Diana the Parliament, and to keep the people from knowing that it is the Devil that utters those Oracles which are vented from that Shrine. But sure the Blood of those Martyrs who have suffered for good Consciences, and have either died in Prisons, or for want been starved abroad, being unjustly rob by these merciless men of all their Estates and Livelihoods; cry loud for vengeance, and will one day awaken the patience of our long suffering God: And draw down his revenging wrath on these counterfeit Zealots, and impious Hypocrites, who have indeed really no Religion, but only make use of that sacred Cloak to disguise all their villainy. For what have these great Reformers done, but introduced will-worship into the Church, and lawlessness in the Commonwealth? For who can now discover the face of any Church in this Kingdom? where every several Congregation use a distinct form of worship, and where there is no Coercive power to compel Uniformity in Doctrine, or to punish Deformity in manners. The sacred Scripture is profaned, and by the Liberty each man appropriates to himself to Interpret according to his own Fancy, or rather to apply that divine writing to serve for the advancing his own designs; the sense thereof is so inverted by these Scripturists, who use it no other ways then the Devil did to entrap & circumvent their hearers; so that those divine Oracles which were bequeathed us, to instruct us in the right way to Heaven, are by these lying Prophets become by-paths that lead to destruction. Our Laws which are each Subject's Birthright, how miserably are they perverted? what man can now be secured in his inheritance or possession, being so enslaved and subjected to an Arbitrary power? when by a Vote of the House of Commons we are dispossessed of all that we enjoy, and if we plead our title and appeal to any Court of Judicature, expecting Justice according to the known Laws of the Land, our proceed are obstructed by some Order from the House of Commons, or one of their Ordinances, (of which they have made so many, that they know not what they have made; and besides, divers of them are contradictory in themselves) and by these, without dispute, we are debarred of our legal Rights.  
This is now our miserable condition, that we know not what we may call our own, or how to preserve those ancient Inheritances descended from our Predecessors: for it is in the power of a Knave to style an Honest man and a Loyal Subject either Malignant or Delinquent; new terms in the Law, invented this blessed Parliament; and to inform this underhand to a Committee, where himself dares not publicly appear to avow his information, or to be cross interrogated concerning his accusation; and this is sufficient to turn a man out of all his Estate, expose his Wife and Children to beggary, and no way left to repair this injurious proceeding, but by appealing to them that do the wrong: whence it is probable you may expect equal justice, when your Judges have equally divided your Estate amongst them: For Informers they share with Sequestrators, Sequestrators they share with Committee-men, and Committee-men they share with the Members of the House, who are their great Masters that protect them against all complaints in the House of Commons; & thus the honest Countryman, who knew no offence in maintaning his Allegiance which he was bred in, and had sworn unto his King; is taught by suffering to conform to what he understands not, nor his rulers declare not, the inscrutable unlimitable Privileges of Parliament: from offending whereof he is no sooner cleared by submitting to a large Fine, but that he is presently subject again to the like mischief, if he obeys the Law of the Land, or the malice of his neighbour prosecutes him. Rebels and Traitors shall be protected to rob and plunder by Ordinance of Parliament, and honest men and Loyal Subjects shall be ruined and destroyed for adhering to the Established Religion and the known Laws.  
I will appeal to every honest Countryman, whether he were not in a much better condition when he was unacquainted with the terms of Plunder, Freequarter, and Contribution, when he understood not the iniquity of a Sequestrator or a Committee, but upon occasion of any injury done him, had immediate recourse to the next neighbour, the Justice of Peace, where he complained, and had redress according to a known Law: When he went to Church, and knew how to Pray, and had good life and manners taught him out of the Pulpit, and not Parliament Orders and Declarations read every Sunday which he understands not; when holy Feasts were kept and observed, by which he was taught the History of the Church, and martyrology of the Saints, at which time Hospitality was observed, and thereby Amity and Friendship maintained and continued amongst neighbours.  
These were the blessings of peace; what hath succeeded instead of this, they have fresh in memory: I need not particularise, but I am sure they have, according to the old proverb, removed out of God's blessing into the warm Sun: for I am sure they have changed Peace and Plenty into War and Poverty: by which, as they sowed, they are assured to reap the unpleasant fruits of their labour. I am confident, if men are not mad, and possessed with such a spirit of Frenzy, as that they cannot discern between Good and Bad, Falsehood and Truth, Religion and Irreligion; they must needs confess, that all they have done or acted for six or seven year's last passed, wherein they have complied with the Parliament, they have endeavoured to advance evil, falsehood, and irreligion, thereby to destroy themselves and their Posterities, and to make themselves slaves to the Arbytrary wills and powers of the usurped Authority of their fellow-subjects; by which they are not masters of their own Estates, but at the wills and pleasures of those they have set over them. And let them ingenuously judge of their own actions, and then they will confess that they have wilfully perjured themselves in forfeiting their Allegiance to their Sovereign, for no profit or advantage to themselves, but to render themselves in a worse condition of Slavery and Vassalage then ever they were in, for now they are disposable at the wills and pleasures of their fellow-subjects, as their absolute Vassals and Slaves, and can call nothing their own, when they, that is, the House of Commons have a desire to call for it. For this is a Maxim in our new reformed Government, that all we possess, belongs to the State, and that when the State bath occasion to make use of it, all is at their disposal. O happy Subjects! what a blessed Government have you fought for! no doubt the whole Christian world will admire your Ignorance, but not follow your Example, for that were to become fools like you, and from being Subjects free and happy under a gracious King, to make themselves Slaves to their Fellow-subjects, as you have done to M. Ash the Clothier, M. Martin the Atheist, M. Blackston the Pedlar, M. Birch the Carrier, & therest of the Reverend rabble, of which the House of Commons is now composed. Oh you Subjects of England! if you have any sense of your own miseries entail them not to your Posterities, but at length rouse up yourselves, & shake off the servile youk you have drawn in, return in zeal to your God & his Worship, in duty to your King and his Just Rights, in love to your Country and your Legal liberty & vindicate yourselves from those aspersions which now lie heavy on you, and make the King (according to your Protestation) a great and a glorious King, yourselves free from Slavery; & make the Parliament know, they are but your Fellow-subjects, trusted by you, and that you will call them to an account, wherein they have exceeded their Commission.  
And when you dare to become so bold, as to call the Parliament to account for their past actions; ask them whether you gave them any Authority to destroy the Church, to extirpate Episcopacy, root and branch, to abolish Common Prayer, to exclude you from the blessed Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper, to introduce a form of Marrying and Burying into the Church, fit for Pagans then Christians, to remove the Ten Comandements, written with the Finger of God, out of the Church, and to place instead thereof, their new-invented damned Covenant? After them, whether you gave them Authority to levy War against your King, and to pursue Him, and endeavour to kill Him, because He would not perjure Himself by taking that Covenant, contrary to the Oath He took at His Coronation? Whether you gave them Authority to imprison Him, & c? Ask them, whether you gave them Authority to overthrow all Laws, according to their will and pleasure, and to usurp to themselves, nay, to exceed Regal power, and to dispose of your Persons and Estates as they think fit? Ask them for an account of all the Money they have raised out of your Estates? Ask them concerning all things that have been done amiss in the Kingdom during their reign, either by their command or toleration; and if they cannot give you very good satisfaction in all the particulars, proceed against them as guilty of the breach of the trust you reposed in them, and punish them according to their deserts; or if in Clemency you think fit to pardon them, at least remove them from their Rule and Government; and let not those, who have so ill behaved themselves in the discharge of their trust, be any longer employed by you, but humbly desire His Majesty to call another Parliament, and desire that you may have free leave to choose new Members, in whose honesty you have better hopes. This may be a way to resetle the Kingdom, and restore our Peace, else we shall all be miserable: for if these Parliament men continue to govern us, who have designed themselves Princes, and us their Slaves, what can we expect but by our own consents, to be made despicable?  
It was the cunning of the Church of Rome when she intended to become Catholic, & rule over all her sister Churches, when she introduced novel superstitions which she was taxed for, and could not justify; She still maintained her errors by the power she invested herself withal, which was, that what the Church declared either in doctrine or discipline, ought not to be contradicted or disputed, for the Church of Rome was the sole interpreter of Scriptures, and where they were not able by their glosses and interpretations, to justify and defend their Tenants, they had un-written tradictions, which on all occasions supported their doctrines.  
Is it not so with the Parliament, I mean the House of Commons, for that usurps the whole power of the Parliament, (the Lords being become no cyphers but blanks in their accounts) do not they invest themselves with a Sovereign power, apropriating sole dominion unto themselves, and that nothing is Law, but what they declare to be so? and if any act of theirs be questioned to be done contrary to the known Law, have they not an unknown Law, one of their unwritten verities, which are as necessary and useful as the Popish traditions, to justify them in their erroneous proceeding? have they not their Parliament privileges, which is their Catholocon, a medicine for all diseases, a principal help at Maw, by which they always with the prize, for by virtue of this mystery of iniquity, they defend and maintain all their illegal actions, and are protected from all inquiry into their proceed, by telling the people it is a breach of their Privileges.  
But I wish the same course were taken with the Parliament, that our Protestant Divines taken with the Church of Rome, to inquire when those superstructures were built in the Church, so when these Privileges were begotten in the Parliament; and than it would appear, that those privileges were illegitimate, begotten by Rebellious parents, and nursed up in factious times, and that the Law of the Land neither owns them, nor knows them. Let the Parliament be required to produce some good authors, that have anciently written concerning their fundamental Laws, which they so often mention, and of their unbounded Privileges, which they so often make use of: that the people may know that they are not their own inventions, that they are not fictions and chimaer as to delude the vulgar, and to disguise the truth, and bluster out their own iniquities: Let them show how an Ordinance becomes a Law, or is able to destroy the Law: Let them declare where that privilege is that protects a Parliament man to commit Felony, or Treason, and that it is a breach of privilege to indict him for it. Let them produce Records that are authentical, that diudes the power from the Person of the King, and incorporates that Power into the House of Commons. Let them show in any times that the House of Commons ever disposed of the Militia of the Kingdom, usurped authority to make Peace or War, and to contract leagues with foreign States, to condemn or pardon, to make Judges to dispose of the King's Revenue, to Imprison the King Himself, etc. Nay was it ever heard or read of, that a Speaker of the House of Commons, an inconsiderable contemptible person for his birth and breeding, should arrogate to himself, and assume by the permission of that House the ensigns of Regal Authority, and usurp the King's Chair and cloth of State, and give public audience to Ambassadors? Oh unheardof arrogance, never to be paralleled by precedent or future precedents, and cannot be exceeded, unless by that of the Devil who attempted to be like the highest.  
Let these exorbitances suffice to put the Kingdom in mind what pressures have been put upon them, what usurpations the two Houses, (but especially the House of Commons) have injustly arrogated to themselves, and then let them consider how they are robbed of their just rights, and into what a slavery they are enthralled, and whether they have not slept those years past, whilst the Devil and his instruments have sown these tares amongst their good corn, and so spoiled the plentiful harvest, they hoped to reap by this Parliament; and that they must be compelled to hazard to pluck up the tares, though therewith the good corn be endangered, for the field must be cleansed, to sow and prepare for a new crop, else in a short time the people of this Kingdom will be starved for want of Bread.  
I could enlarge myself further on this subject, for there is no want of matter to swell this discourse into a volume, but I resolved not to make my Countrymen more miserable, by enumerating too many of their miseries, or by paraphrasing on them, Rhetorically argue them into too deep a sense of their Sufferings; it shall suffice me, if they become sensible of their present condition, and thereby endeavour a Manumission from their Slavery, that they remember what they were, what they are, and what they ought to be, and as true borne Englishmen, shake off their Fetters, with the same hands they have imposed them, depose the Tyrant Parliament, and Reinthrone their lawful Sovereign, expel Rebellious Presbytery, and establish moderate and limited Episcopacy, provide for tender consciences who will conform in obedience to Civil Magistracy, and then no doubt we shall return to a settled Government, and Peace will be restored with plenty, and we shall again be a happy and united people, as formerly, under our gracious King, whom God preserve.  
FINIS.