AN ANSWER TO A LETTER  
Written from Cambridge to Sir Thomas Lunsford, Knight and Baronet, Prisoner in the Tower of LONDON.  
July 7th Printed in the Year, 1647.   

AN ANSWER TO A LETTER Written from CAMBRIDGE To Sir Thomas Lunsford, etc.  
SIR,  
I Have received your Letter, and give you hearty thanks for it: These parts are full of expectation; the great actions in motion have fixed the eyes of the Kingdom, and false rumours (the Harbingers of such designs) have taken up transitory lodgings in the several dispositions of men; but those which have been beaten into judgement of the times, stand upon their guards, refusing admittance to what comes not with good authority. That an Army, and a powerful one is on foot, is known; that (if the King be pattie in it) it will be , is likewise out of doubt, that the Declarations of it is unpleasing, and challenges part of the Freehold of our Parliament, we see in print; and that the Parliament will part with nothing it can either get or hold, we know by experience; and (that I absolutely hope the dissolution of it,) I assure you upon my Reputation: Now the Army having thus fare displayed, and the Parliament not having power to equal what is on foot, the one standing upon power and the hearts of the people, the other upon Thorns, and the festered wounds of the Commonwealth; I give the one assured, the other capable of a very speedy determination: I likewise judge a Necessity of restoring the King, and returning the Laws into their former channel; for should the Army be satisfied with only their Arrears, and expulsion of the Presbyterian party, and yet continue the two Houses, (when it shall be disbanded) what assurance have the Independents in Parliament, that the City (which is Presbyterian, and from wherce the Army at this instant affirms would be raised another (to countenance Presbytery) were it not for the Interposition of this on Foot) shall not raise Forces, and destroy the Acts of these hereafter, who forcibly may settle themselves now? That the City shall not newmould the Houses with Presbyterians, as perhaps the Army may now with Independents? and that the Houses then (by virtue of the City) shall not run rigorous ways of Revenge? For what can oppose the City, if the Army be away?  
These Considerations will not admit me to glean other Expectations from the Courses in motion, then Honourable and Popular Conclusions. The King in Parliament, can assure the ends of the Army, can confer Honours, can gratify with Estates, can make an Act of Oblivion; and then, by the dissolution of the Parliament, the parties are sure to enjoy all that is so given them: but keep it still on foot, and disband the Army, than there is danger of the prevalency of the other Faction, and consequently, of the revocation of all Grants to the former. Likewise, to keep an Army long up, requires a Charge insupportable, as well as it gives an aspect formidable to all who have observed the mutability of these Times. Besides, without the King nothing can be confirmed, nothing enjoyed longer than an Army is on foot; nor can Peace be so settled, but that Seeds will be left for a new War to spring forth, so soon as the Season can produce it.  
But me thinks now there is a Miracle working: An Army (powerful to enrich itself by Offences) is so spotless, as the world admires it; and this Army summons a Parliament (indeed red as Scarlet) vies with it in Innocence, and boldly demands Reparations of the Crimes committed against the Commonwealth: The nature of the one is (commonly) charged with Sin and Blood, and of the other with Pretty, Virtue, and Blessings upon the Realm. But as the one hath degenerated into the others quality and nature, so is it just it should receive the others property. As a good Parliament might demand Accounts of a wicked Army, so why may not a righteous Army demand the like of a wicked Parliament? In mine opinion, Justice hath laid this Scene, to be acted in this Antipodian Tragedy; and (so that it may be the last) he little cares how soon it be concluded, who is,  
The Tower, 16, june, 1647. SIR, Your friend and servant, Thomas Lunsford.  
THough I know this will not please you, yet to let you understand, and to possess all your University (contrary, perhaps, to its present Opinion) that our Halcyon days are not fare off, I writ this, and care not if both Houses see it, and desire you to publish it.  
FINIS.