A LETTER Really written by a MODERATE CAVALIER TO AN Intelligent and Moderate Independent of Trust and Credit IN THE Now Marching Army.  
Occasioned by a Discourse between them entertained at London, June 16 th' concerning the present Grand Affair.   Scottish thistle  French fleur-de-lis  Tudor rose  French fleur-de-lis 
June 26 LONDON, Printed Ann. Dom. 1647.   

A LETTER Really written by a Moderate Cavalier, to an Intelligent and Moderate Independent of Trust and Credit in the Now Marching Army.  
Honoured Sir,  
When I look back upon ray promise, I am at a doubt whether I should be still your debtor, or make payment with Coin less current by clipping, or allay; of which there is an unavoidable necessity, the shortness of time not sorting with a liberty to write much, and the greatness of the subject requiring to write nothing but what may abide the Test: But having a confidence that your goodness will bury my errors by a kind suppression, I can the better adventure upon your judgement, which will communicate nothing that may be of no farther use then the reproof of the Writer.  
It is a Chrysis of time wherein each man labours of expectation, and before the main Birth (which we hope will be specious) be produced, there is a production of Monsters, according as the various size of men's understandings, the condition, and interest of many, and the fears and guilt of not a few do frame suggestions. It is and must be nevertheless the glory of that Army, (which now makes business for every thought) to be pious in, and constant to prepensed Principles, that accident (which will be encountered) make no visible Mutation in the main Design, of the contexure of which your yesterday Discourse seconding his Excellency's Declaration, begot in me a very wealthy Opinion; And to the progress, and value of which, I hope the scandals and pretences scattered will be neither a Remora, nor an Alloy.  
The cure of every Malady is then most easy when the Disease itself is throughliest; knowne. This Commonwealth was six years fithence pretended to be sick, and was committed into the hands of Physicians, who have practised upon the body by Purge, and Phlebotomy, till if before it abounded with ill humours, it is now deficient in good blood and spirits, and rather put into a condition to be still wrought upon until destroyed, then in any way of health, or renewed strength after so long a languishing. Certainly it is now high time to change its Doctors, and find out such who will apply some cordials and restauratives to a worn-out body, and recover it by degrees; towards which they may make advantage of the past Errors committed by such who have pretended to operate for its health, viz. an Eradication of the King's Prerorogative, while they pretended only a circumscription, or modest limitation; A Monopolising of power by pretence of Law, against Law, and confounding all freedom in notional and Fantastic, at least unascertained, Privileges; An unbounded Liberty given at first to the Plebs, while it conduced to ends, and at last a shortening of Liberty, and Property into a Vassalage and slavery; And in all a total defection wrought in the Government and Countenance both of Church and State, and a shuffling of order, and Discipline, into rudeness and Indistinction.  
The Publique-Faith (the Kingdom's reputation) hackneyed upon all occasions, and forfeited at last, and the Soldiers (after having served a purpose so fare as that it was able to walk alone without so costly supporters) neglected, and affronted in pay, and credit; In so fare, that if the Land were, or invaded by a Foreign, or embroiled with an intestine Enemy, those Managers could neither find Coin nor Hands to officiate to its preservation, or defence; And albeit we have not Laws to the Letter of which these misdemeanours are appliable by the names of Treasons, yet taking their own liberty of supposing constructive Treasons, their reduction of this distempered Kingdom in these years passed to its present condition will carry a sense of a complicate crime, not less then for what they have sought, and taken the bloods of some, and those no obscure persons.  
No man will therefore reprove your Armies Demand of those Members, who are conceived guilty of these heights of Impiety, but each moderate man will hope that they shall not be denied (though it were just to them if they were) the Liberties of a legal trial, though themselves and party give out, that a trial by the Law Marshal is only intended for them; yet, the Common Laws will be found sharp enough to correct them, and doubtless God will be better pleased with the sacrificing of such men by the hand of justice, then with their familiar Solemnities, and Celebrations of Fasts, by which they have upheld a reverence in opinion to their godless actions.  
You have a great Work to do, to restore Religion and Law, upon which depends the King's re-enthronement, and re-investure with his just rights, the Parliaments ascertainment of their just power and equal Privileges, and the people's restorement to their known Liberties and Properties, as to their limited and fitting obedience and subjection, which all are so concatenate, as that an omission of either makes the whole work ineffectual, and leaves the Commonwealth in a condition prepared for new and bad impressions, and subjected to changes as occasion which will not be long unoffered shall be administered to its innovation. What influence, honour or comfort can be derivable from a King merely nominal? what converse can there be with a people impoverished and embased? and what Peace with a people uncircumscribed and irregulate? what expectation of justice from an aggregate number of men entrusted with a Kingdom's concernment, who will pretend to have no boundaries for their Privileges but an involution of all dispository power of the people's lives and fortunes, which the free condition I mean the ancient freedom of this Nation (not yet extinct in the English breasts) will no more relish, than Kings will Rebellion, or than Subjects Tyranny?  
If you come therefore (as I will until otherwise convinced believe) prepared to state the case of the Kingdom, and to stand by as Protectors to Justice, while it dispenceth equally to King, Parl. and People, your swords will be the honoured propagators, & the whole Kingdom the happy partakers of a lasting Peace's; but if a defection be in advancing any of those great concerns we shall have but a seeming quiet or Cessation, merely to take breath for a new Embroilment; and have found away by a slight skinning of a sore to fit it for exulceration, and by pretermitting a part of the remedy prescribed, to render the disease incurable.  
junii, 17. 1647. Sir I am Your affectionate friend and humble Servant.  
FINIS.