The Masterpiece of Roundheads, or an Explanation and Declaration of the right Roundheads in deed, And such as are and shall be the true Roundheads by all consent and Act of Parliament.  
Written by a wellwisher to King, Parliament, Religion and State.  
THERE hath been a great noise and rumour about the appellation and name of Roundheads: But it is not yet apparent, neither by Ancient or Modern Writers, what these Roundheads should be, neither to what use or means this name or appellation is applied, or on what it is bestowed or meant. If it be intended by the Author that first devised this name, that it should be attributed and construed to the plain and right understanding of the word, as it is a primitive word, and literally;  
Then it must be understood of all men as they have Roundheads, although some heads be rounder than others, as if a man have a round shoulder, he is called round shouldered, and if a man have a bottlenose, he is called a bottlenose, and so likewise in all the like occasions, men may be termed by such names and appellations, and so in this construction, only thou that first set forth this name of Round-head shalt be so termed, and myself likewise will be thy brother Round-head. So likewise all men in Christendom are termed Christians, although some be good, and some bad, some of one opinion and some of another, some Papists, some Brownists, some Anabaptists, etc. yet all Brothers in Christ; now as in this sense all men may be termed by the name of Roundheads, it must not be understood and conceived that the Author did intent that all men should be so termed or reputed, but he had a further reach to attribute this name as a nickename, or a scandal to some particular persons, which opinion verily is by all or most men conceived, and not to the sense or construction of a primitive word only, for that were nothing, but as may be understood of all men alike. Now then good brother Round-head, for so we are all in the primitive word, give me leave to express your understanding herein (if you have any understanding) and to unfold that which hath so long been hid, and not unmasked, and that you and all the world shall confess, who are the right Roundheads you meant in particular, for no doubt in the general, it was intended by you as a byblow and nickename of scandal to some particular kind of persons, and those in all men's judgements must be meant of such as deserve scandal; for it is in charity conceived, that you would not apply scandal but upon such as deserved it, whether it be in some particular sin, as Drunkenness, Adultery, lose life, or erroneous in their Religion or Doctrine: or in some outward comportment, or ceremony, or the like, contrary to the civil and lawful government of our Church, State and Kingdom.  
Now then dear brother Round-head, I must seriously tell you that there are but two sorts of men in the world, the one good, the other bad; so Christians being men, are some good, some bad, so all men are Roundheads in the primitive sense, and so some good, some bad: now in charity it is granted that you meant not this nickname nor scandal against the good, howsoever the good may be abused by these names: now then to come nearer the matter, how many sorts of good men be there, and how many sorts of bad men be there? As for the good in this cause, they admit no division, and therefore we must leave them, as no part of our Discourse, because it will not be denied by the Author himself, but that they were cleared of this nickname or scandal, and was never intended against them: Well then, it must be understood (as fare as we can gather) how many sorts of bad men there be, for they are not as the good are, but may be divided, and surely are always divided, for they can never agree; and so to know against what sort of bad this name was intended. Now to come yet a little nearer to my brother Roundheads meaning, let the bad be of as many sorts as can be thought of, for it were too much for one to remember them all. It is conceived that amongst all these bad sorts of people in the world, he intended this nickname or scandal upon that sort of bad that are contrary, opposite, or differing in Religion and ceremonies to the Doctrine of the Church of England. Now upon this point it must be known who, and how many sorts of religions, Ceremonies and practices there be, which are contrary to the true and Orthodox Church of England; but because there be so many sorts, it will be too tedious to recite them all, and to tell you of the whole nine and twenty sects of late set forth, but only touch those that are known to be the most enemies to the Church and State, as the Papists, the Brownists, the Anabaptists, the Separatists, and a new Religion, and yet no Religion, called Cavaliers, which is lately sprung up, Jam nova progenies barathro sublata sub imo, Chara diaboli soboles etc. They in some sort would imitate the Apostles that were fishermen, for with these Cavaliers all is fish that come to their net. And yet to come a little nearer my brother Round-head, it must be known also which of these sorts or sects he meant or intended by this nick name of Round-head. Now because there lies the hidden mystery, this riddle was never dissolved, nor none by him ever named, who or what particular sect was the intended Round-head, therefore it must, shall, and can be not otherwise intended and meant, but that all sects, as Papists, Brownists, Anabaptists, Separatists, Cavaliers, and whatsoever else are not with, or any way against the true protestant Religion maintained by the King, Parliament and State of this Kingdom, are and shall be from henceforth deemed, reputed, and taken by the names and appellations of Roundheads, and shall be from henceforth so authorized to be named and reputed by Act of Parliament, and the aforesaid honest Protestant to be cleared herein: and this no doubt was the true meaning and intention of the author, howsoever it hath been misapplyed many times by these aforesaid Roundheads, to unload themselves and cast this aspersion upon the true, honest, Religious, and Zealous Protestants, whom neither King, or Parliament, or good men could ever detect; and therefore, me thinks, the Author was not so wise neither (as God might have made him) for if he had he might have expressed and set down every particular Round-head, with a several addition, whereby they might have been the better known to the Kingdom, and done himself much honour to clear his meaning, in expressing himself and his good will, in clearing those good Protestants that were no ways to be accounted amongst that rabble, as that rabble would make them: as for example, the Papists in regard of this, many mischievous Machiavile plots and conspiracies against this State and Kingdom, as that of 88 and that of the Gunpowder Treason, with many other Machiavilian devises, continually practised against our King, this present Parliament, and State, and therefore it had been a very fit addition to have called them by the name of a Machiavile Round-head, so likewise the Brownists, because they Preach and teach at the backside of Brownes Barn, from which name and Barn they had their denomination of their Religion, and therefore it had been very well to have known them (as hereafter they shall be) by the name of a Brown Round-head. So likewise the Separatists and Anabaptists, they use to rebaptize in Rivers, and preach in Tubs, and other secret places, and such like odd devises, and therefore it is very proper to have them called by the name of Tub Roundheads. And so likewise these Cavalieres, whose Religion is so hidden and not known indeed to be any at all; and not to have any means of living, but Ex damno alterius, and these are those that swear God dam'me, and therefore there can be no name or addition more proper to distinguish them from the other, then to call them damned Roundheads, and this is the dam'd Round-head indeed, Projicit ampull as & sesquipedalia verba; and it is most certain, if they do not amend their lives damnation will be their end, which God have mercy upon them, and give them repentance. These, and many more might be expressed, but that it were too tedious, I will name only one sort more, which are as ill or worse than the rest, and these are the Pulpit men, Ministers, and perhaps there might be gleaned out some that taste of every sort of these before named Roundheads, but they shall go with their followers. But here specially is meant those Pulpit men, that upon all occasions are of all Religions, that will drink up iniquity as beasts drink water; I mean the scandalous Ministers, qui sunt Rebelles lumini, that will profess with the good, but act with the bad, which are a shame and scandal to them that are good Ministers indeed, such as are Drunkards, Adulterers, contentious persons, mankillers, common Barrettors, like that Minister that had forty and odd Articles against him in Print, and like the two noted scandalous ministers in Suffolk, named Thomas Fowkes, and John Lowes, the one found guilty of killing a man, the other Arraigned for witchcraft, and convicted for a common Barretror, as appears on Record, and as they are lively set forth in a Printed Book called the Magazine of Scandal: these are the devilish crew, that are not only bad themselves but infect others, and carry a brand and plague with them wheresoever they come, not only by their insufficiency, diversity, and unconstancy of Doctrine, but also by their example of evil life and conversation, quorum non solum vita, sed oratio est execrabilis, and therefore they shall (as most proper to them) bear the name and brand of devilish Roundheads, and of these the Parliament have had notice of sufficiently, and have promised a course accordingly to purge the Church of them. Now brother Round-head, if you had taken this course to have given your distinction and addition in this kind, you had not left a gap open for the disparagement of any other honest religious good Protestant Minister or Layman, as these Roundheads have taken advantage to do, thinking thereby to clear themselves of that imputation. But let it be granted that these Machiavelli, Browne. Tub, Dam'd, devilish Roundheads, will apply this name of Round-head to an honest, good and zealous Protestant (as none else will) than it cannot be attributed to him, nor can he have any other addition than a good Round-head, for else we are clean against our former ground, that all men (and so all Roundheads) are either good or bad, and good admits no division as before sufficiently is made manifest, but of bad you may see how many divisions there be, & as long as a Protestant be good as no doubt there is none good, but a true zealous Protestant, then let these aforesaid Macheavell Round, tub, damned, devilish Roundheads, call them what they will, they care not, neither was it ever taken to themselves, neither will any man of any reasonable judgement, ever think that it was the Author's meaning to attribute it to them, and let my brother Round-head clear himself in this point, for if he meant otherwise then here is formerly expressed, he shall no longer be my Brother Round-head, in the simple and primitive construction and understanding of the word, as before is declared, but shall be adjudged and deemed for ever hereafter to be one of the other former right Roundheads indeed, and so amongst them shall be declared to be by Act of Parliament, as all Machiavelli, brown, tub, damned and devilish Roundheads shall be. And although thou shouldest be such a Round-head as that thou shouldest mean otherwise then before is expressed, yet than thou must think that no honest, no wise man will judge or account thee to be either honest or wise in thy intentions, for who can deserve any nickname or soandall, but such as are against our true Religion, such as are disquieters of our public peace, such as are evil Counsellors to King or State, such as will or would make division betwixt King and Parliament, or State, but for their own ends.  
And what are these but such or the like kind of Roundheads, as before are manifested? I pray tell me unto whom should we attribute any nick name or scandal but to such, who are the Roundheads now? Can any man speak the contrary? Can any man (I mean of the sober and honest sort) attribute any nick name or scandal to honest and good men? yet some of these sorts of Roundheads have not been ashamed to abuse the most Religious, well governed Protestants, yea some of the very highest Court of Justice, from whence we have had, must, and aught to have our chiefest being both for our Religion, lives, and estates, or else we must perish, and by whose daily unspeakable labours, do endeavour to preserve the King's Majesty, themselves, and all good Subjects from that miserable condition in which we are ready to fall into by the means of those Roundheads, if they do not like good hearted Soldiers, persevere in this good work, and stand in the battle with an invincible constancy, against all opposition and corruption that can be, secretly, openly, or cunningly, projected, divised, imagined or intended against the King's Majesty, his Parliament, and body, and heart of this famous Kingdom, as hitherto they have done. Please his Majesty, and the Parliament unanimously to consent to root out these forenamed Roundheads (as no doubt but they will:) O then our fears and rumours of wars will vanish as mists against the morning Sun.  
O what a happy state our Kingdom will be reduced unto! for then no doubt but his Majesty as head, may be compared like the Sun in the firmament with his body of so many stars about him, yea so many millions of inferior stars, as there be inferior Subjects in his three Kingdoms, will shine about him with joy full hearts, and crying loud acclamations of Joy. What a wickedness is it to think that the head should be divided from the body, in which body we all know the heart lies? Oh the heart of the Subject is a preservative and cordial thing to a Prince, and so also the head being taken away, the heart dies. O what a devilish damned trick of the Devil was this, to bring or send such Machevile dam'd Roundheads and incendiaries into the World, to work such an unheard of plot as (if they could) to divide the King and the Parliament! O tempora, O mores! And none but the devil and his agents and servants could ever have devised the like; but yet for all this the body and the heart will not be divided from their head, invito diabolo; they work day and night without breathing or sleeping to draw and obtain their head unto them (Vis unita fortior) they will not be divided, they will endeavour to support the King out of the hands of his secret enemies, and raise his Majesty's honour and state, they will draw him with cords of love, and hands of love, howsoever the devil, and these forenamed Machevile damned Roundheads endeavour to overthrow both King and Kingdom, and weigh him like Belshazzer, qui inventus est minus habens, but it is God hearing our prayers will cast out all these devils from amongst us; for by prayer it must be done, and these Roundheads his servants will not fail of themselves, and then seek a new Country, where they will get new footing, and perhaps may hope for new projections else where, if in the mean time the Gallows or some other place of execution do not stop them. Now to conclude that which is the matter treated of, that is the Declaration and settling of this name, of the Right Roundheads indeed, I most humbly beseech his Majesty, and that most honourable body and heart of the Kingdom, to give their approbation and opinion in this affair, and so to countenance the good, honest, zealous and true protestant, and to discharge them in your good opinions of this term of Round-head (as no doubt you can do no otherwise) and to lay and set it (as due of Right belonging) upon the afore named Roundheads, with their additions, as namely the Machevile Round-head, the Brown Round-head, the Tub Round-head, the dam'd Round-head, and the devilish Round-head, these being the chief, yea the only troublers and enemies to Religion, the King, State, and Kingdom, and to whom this appellation or term was without all question; first attributed and deservedly intended, it being impossible that any good men should deserve any nickename or scandal, or that any man that could but write or read English should intent or cast it upon any good man, much less the Author thereof; and thus by your good countenance and approbation the Round-head may be thus known and distinguished from honest men by Act of Parliament, that is, by consent both of King and Parliament; which I being sure not to be denied; it is granted that they must for ever hereafter be so named, reputed, and taken. Now to set forth the watchful wisdoms, the laborious carefulness, the continual diligence, and unspeakable blessings God hath given this Parliament to enable them to prevent all these plots and conspiracies, whereby they have preserved both the King, themselves, and Kingdom; It were a folly yea a presumption in me to endeavour to do or say more therein; being impossible for me to do: But thus much for conclusion, I am sure I may, and can, and will say; God bless the King, and his Parliament, and confound all those aforesaid Roundheads, or any other that wish any hurt either to King, Parliament, or Kingdom, or go about to work any division or separation betwixt the King and the Parliament, or Subjects. And so I desire all honest men to remember, and know who are the Right Roundheads indeed, and to shun them and all others that to this will not say, Amen.   


TO Cavaliers, that hang in the briers, and so to every Just as,  
Quidlibet audendi semper fuit aequa potestas.  
They drink and fight, from morn till night, but still lodge where their whore is,  
Laudandi ne quid cogitent tolerare laboris.  
Rob and steal, & cut piecemeal, these Roundheads never repent them;  
Monstrum horrendum, inform, ingens, cui lumen ademptum.  
The battle spun, these Roundheads run, you must know where their flight is:  
For, Noctes atque dies patet atri janua Ditis.  
When spoil they get, they cry more yet, but none will say, Dolebo;  
But, Flectere si nequeo superos, Ach●ronta movebo.  
They have open throats, Red Lousy Coats, I care not for their louse I;  
Spectatum admissi risum teneatis amici?  
In zeal and heat, of love so great, with whores they please with verbis:  
Hei mihi quod nullis amor est medicabilis herbis.  
They plunder our food, and envy our good, and they live where none but slime is:  
Invidus alterius rebus macrescit opimis.  
They have fiery swords, and blustering words, and swear God dam'me I'll eat thee;  
Nam mirandacanunt, sed non credenda poetae.  
From death and harms, yea without arms, our God from devils will ease us;  
Daemona non armis, sed morte subegit Jesus.  
Without all grace, with ill looking face, which show they will infult you:  
Heu quam difficile est crimen non prodere vultu!  
These roaring daws, will put down Laws, & turn things topsie-turva,  
Argentum atque Aurum faciunt rectissima curva.  
Let these red-coats, pull out our throats, let's sleep till they have plucked us:  
Quos ego? sed motos praestat componere fluctus.  
 fire them all, both great and small, and thus seek to decline these?  
Est modus in rebus, sunt certi denique fines.  
King and Cavaliers, Parliament and Peers, the Kingdom do deplore ye:  
Sol●men miseris Socios habuisse dolore.  
They live on the lurch, but near go to Church, profaning with vice they have plenty:  
Petere nec temphem, venerare nec omnipotenti.  
The work shall be no man's, to make us all Romans, 'tis God that bids them repent them,  
Tantae molis erit Romanam condere gentem.  
The great French pock, Venerean smock, and rot is come among 'em,  
Cum multis aliis quae nunc perscribere longum.    
FINIS.