A LETTER From one of the PERSONS Under censure of Parliament, Written upon the publishing of his Majesty's late Speech in the upper-house, With an Answer thereunto. W S printer's or publisher's device LONDON, Printed for William Shears, 1660. DOCTRINA PARET VIRTUTEM a device consisting of an open book with a sword, scepter, and surrounding motto A Letter from one of the Persons under censure of Parliament, written upon the publishing of his Majesty's late Speech in the Upper-House To his Friend at Oxford. SIR, HIs Majesty's Speech, which I send you here enclosed, as it is the only theme of our discourse, in these parts, so it shall ever be the subject of my grateful remembrance, and now the argument of my Letter. As the goodness of God was manifested in the great Act of our redemption, so was his wisdom in the seasonableness of the Act, which having first shown us our heavy doom, then opened unto us a door of Mercy, by whose example his Vicegerent (for such he ever was, and now appears,) hath permitted us to be acquainted with our Ruin, that by a due sense of our condition, under the Law, we might be prepared to value his pardon, and our deliverance: I shall freely in my own words, deliver the sense, I hope, of thousands, his Majesty knows how to conquer; for in one peaceable action, he hath won many battles, by enlarging us, he multiplies our captivity, and makes us more his prisoners, than we could have been in the Tower, and if hereafter we forget such a bounden duty, may our names be at once recorded in the book of Infamy, and blotted out of the book of Life; The Parliament, in their late Votes, procceeded with such freedom, justice, and moderation, that not any, the most concerned, could or durst appeal but the KING, hath, alone, the glory of 〈◊〉 great sincerity in exceeding his own promises and our hopes, modesty in referring his own Interest, to the Parliament, and above all, Clemency; in intercepting so deserved a sentence; Certainly, his Majesty, hath an invincible evidence of his virtue, whilst his actions are thus exalted by his enemies, and censured of nothing but too much generosity, by a few intemperate royalists, whose eyes, it seems, are evil, because his Majesties is good, who, methinks should be better satisfied, if they consider, how their Victory is thereby completed, his Majesty's Throne established, and he, by God's blessing, better enabled in due time to reward their merits, than he could have been by exacting the utmost forfeitures. This indeed was the right way for his Majesty's cause to prevail, and extinguish, even the brands, and embers of faction, whilst those, who sought for Parliaments, against him, now flee to him from the Parliament, the most Fanatic of Commonwealth's men being taught to reverence the name of a KING, and confess, there might be more, and better use of his prerogative, than they dreamt of: Thus, betwixt the loyalty and gratitude of his people, he will I am confident, need neither guard for his Person, nor taster for his Meat, (but for fashion sake) being protected by his Majesty, his innocency, and his benefits, and may expect such security among us, as no earthly power could afford him; which, that he may find answerable to our duties, and his deserts, shall be the daily prayer of, Sir, His Majesty's faithful Beadsman, and your humble servant, W. L. London, july 28. 1660. A Letter from Oxford in answer to the former Letter. SIR, I Read both his Majesty's Speech, and your Letter, with much satisfaction, finding in the one, I hope, a solid foundation of our future settlement, in the other an honourable sense of his Majesty's unparaleld Clemency; and though I cannot choose, but fancy to myself, too vast an inequality; I reflect, how even such as could afford others no justice, now, themselves find mercy, and those who are full of our spoils, march off, as it were, with bag, and baggage, the very thought whereof not only raises my spleen, but perplexes my mind, for that, (besides the seeming scandal,) the consequence is really dangerous, both in the discouragement of loyalty, and emboldening of future insolences; yet since, I believe, the peace of the Nation, now requires it, I shall cheerfully submit my interest and wishes to so great an end, above all, since his Majesty who is most concerned, hath declared himself so fully and accuratly, I think it time for Subjects no longer to debate the Justice or Wisdom of his Counsel, especially in an act of Grace, which though most proper, and seasonable to his enemies, is yet, in some degree, necessary, even, to his friends, whose future security (therein included,) ought to balance their dis-satisfactions. I shall not therefore examine the reasons of this truly Royal Action, but conclude, that his Majesty, being more moderate in his Judgement, more charitable in his Censure, more generous in his thoughts than we; resolves to try an experiment; (viz.) how the amplest of indulgences will work with the greatest of offenders; wherein I can only wish him that success which is due to his virtue, or, at least, a better return, than his blessed Father found, upon the like, (not to say, the same) account. And truly, if his Clemency make such impressions in others, as it appears to have done in you, it is not cast away. But I fear his Majesty, hath now, too many Proselytes, who follow him more for his Loaves then his Doctrine, and will be taught no longer than they are fed: Such, indeed, can promise vastly, in the tempest, but perform nothing, when they are come on shore, like those Lepers, whom our Saviour cleansed, not one of ten, I doubt, will make so much as a bare acknowledgement; Give me leave, Sir, therefore, to Catechise you, a little not in your own person, but in the name of those thousands, whom you mention. Do your Vows proceed from Christian remorse, or servile fear, are they not a kind of deathbed repentance, when judgement is at your doors, and do you not retain the will, when you have lost the power of offending? Are you changed in your principles, and natures, or is the change only of your condition? Would you not have sat in the seats of violence till doomsday, if it had depended only on your own choice, and would you not still wish for the opportunity of new crimes, if you could hope for it? Do you not lie in wait to disserve his Majesty in all things, where you can with safety, since you cannot break his head, do you not plot and contrive, at least, to bruise his heal? Are you not better satisfied in his Majesty's present Declaration, than you were in his late Restitution, and would not the prosperity of Lambert, or a fortunate attempt upon his Majesty at his Landing, have been more welcome news to you then either? Can you with Mary Magdalene, wash his Majesty's feet with your tears, and wipe them with the hairs of your head, or do you love in measure, as you are forgiven? Would you with Zacheus, if you had wherewithal, restore fourfold, for all the goods you have gotten by Extortion, and will you, now make restitution, so far forth as you are able? Can you be content, to do a weekly penance, for what is past, or go a yearly Pilgrimage to Tyburn, as long, as you live? Will you not swallow, digest, and void your pardon, as you did thanksgiving dinners, in eight hours that you may be ready for another meal, will you not take it for a step to reward? Will you think yourselves more obliged to his Majesty, than your fellow subjects, and vie services with the most zealous of the Royalists? If you can clearly answer to these, and other the like interrogatories, I shall rejoice with you, & for you, Otherwise, I must tell you plainly, I fear, his Majesty hath cast his Pearls to swine, who will turn again, and rend him. Sir, I shall recommend this argument to your serious meditation, and entreat your favourable construction of my freedom, as the truest testimony of my friendship, who really am Your affectionate and humble servant, R.E. Oxon July 31. 1660. FINIS.