A LETTER WRITTEN Out of the Country TO Mr JOHN PYM Esquire, one of the Worthy Members of the House of COMMONS, February 1.  
feb: 11 Printed for W. WEBB. M.DC.XLII   

A Letter to his worthy Friend Msr JOHN PYM Esquire.  
SIR,  
I Shall not need to tell you with what tenderness of care I have hitherto observed your commands concerning the dispersing of those books you sent me, but I found my Arts now to fail, and that which herefore was want to found a willing, is now to seek a receipt; the Malignant party have infused such principles into them, as begin to shake the whole fabric, which with so much industry (I am sure on your behalf) hath been built. From a right understanding always proceeds a right judgement, (now those I have to deal withal, as they want of the first, so they ever are forward in the latter: and now that their sufferings hath prevailed above your Rhetoric, I am no longer able to restrain their rash Judgements of you and many other worthy Members of the Houses, accusing you as the prime Instruments of their miseries. And what more ordinary than the frequency of such like speeches as these? have we at all mended our condition since this Parliament? Nay are we not fallen almost into terms of absolute ruin? do we not see our estates, not only taken away without, but against Law, (and that by their authority, who pretended to protect us against all Arbitrary power whatsoever? (Had we borne the illegal (as they termed it) lay of Ship money even to the period of ours, and our childrens days, it had never laid so heavy upon us, as this one of the twentieth, besides the guilt that gnaws us, for that it is employed against our lawful King. Nay, as often as any Order hath issued out from either or both Houses (since the decerning spirit of our good King, whom God hath set over us, hath been absent) hath not the event been Profaneness, murder, disloyalty in the highest kind, not only not to assist, but to resist the higher powers? And as often as our impieties have (for our sins) seemed to prospero, so often hath thanks been given unto Almighty God; and those things, which in time past were marks of prosperity, are now badges of public calamities. And if any Ordinance of Parliament hath been ordained, new & strange by flattery or base and abject sufferance; how have we cried it up, as proceeding from the infallible Committee Chair, as if we had tied our faith to their sleeves; whose garments have not been washed from their filthiness, nor their hands from shedding of innocent blood? Now for the King, what fault hath He committed? whom hath He offended, that He hath not trebly satisfied? whether was it, that He was likely by his unparallelled virtues, to bring forth an unexampled and every where envied happiness to the Kingdom of England, with a true and lawful progeny, to muzzle the mouths of all pretenders, to establish our peace? or would we, that there should be brought into the Imperial dignity the issue of a great Horse, or some such abortive Governors? To be short, we are dealt with by cunning Sophistry, with odious Treason, to rid ourselves of our allegiance, and than 'tis an opportunity of no less favour to them, if we will part with the twentieth part of our estates, there being no way to maintain one wickedness, but by another.  
Thus are we brought into danger of our lives (by the Parliament Clients) who shadowing themselves under the name of the people by those usual terms of Religion and Law, have notwithstanding in effect overthrown both, having done that under the name of Peace, which would hardly have happened in War. First, Arms are taken against the King, there wanted only a Captain, which in a Tumult was easily found. The King now might easily leave the City, seeing at a beck (in His presence) such Tumults were raised: What hath been His demeanour since, but a continual wooing of us, not to undo ourselves for the private ends of a few, whose deserts have been only the shedding of the Earl of Strafford's blood, followed with an Ocean of that of Ireland, and now of England? Bribery from Papists, separating of Protestants, countenancing of Anabaptists, and all other Sectaries, inhibiting good Preachers; favouring ill, yea, even Coachmen and Cobblers: Plundering of Houses, Robbing of Orphans, exhorting to all manner of Rebellion and Lewdness, while they themselves have Lorded it, free from all danger, and care, but by printing such plausible lies as might draw things into a farther confusion, and by hoarding and sending beyond Seas those sums provided for the distress of this and bleeding Ireland; (for they have notice, I cannot tell by what means of those Trunks, you know by what secrecy were conveyed away.) And as for those Propositions you sent by those Honourable Lords, certainly (had they considered the odiousness of them, and what Masters they serve) they would have preferred the honour of their ancient Nobility, and the high opinion the Kingdom hath of them, before any obedience to you; and comply with His Majesty's Justice and Integrity, and hold it much beneath them to stoop to so much vice as is contained in them: and certainly whatsoever discontents of theirs you build upon, you will at last find them to return to their proper sphere, knowing they cannot avoid the Justice of Heaven, if they move out of their order.  
These things (jest your danger and prevention should have met together I thought good to acquaint you with, not doubting but your grave wisdom, as it will endeavour the warding of those blows are aimed at you, so it will take in good part the faithful advice of  
Your most affectionate friend, and humble servant R. E.   

Postscript.  
ONe of the Books you last sent me, entitled (His Majesty's Declaration and final Resolution, concerning the Honourable City of London) though (I assure you) it was framed with all subtleties that heart could wish; yet, (I know not by what crafty eye that pried into our Mummery) was brought unto the King, and He knowing it to be false, caused it to be burned by the hands of the Hangman, which has added a strange discredit to all our devices of that nature; pray be more circumspect hereafter.   
FINIS.