NEUTRALITY is MALIGNANCY: ASSERTED In a Letter from an eminent Person in the Army, to his friend at Westminster: AND Clearly evidenced by an examination of a factious Malignant Libel, ENTITLED, THE MODERATOR: WHEREIN The Author thereof THOMAS POVEY Esquire, under a false pretext of Moderation and Neutrality, grossly slandereth the PARLIAMENT, and endevoureth to dissuade the People from yielding Assistance, or Adhering to them. PROV. 14.15. The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. Prov. 26.26. Whose hand is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole Congregation. Printed in the year, 1648. NEUTRALITY is MALIGNANCY, etc. SIR, YOu well remember the contest we had not long since concerning a Book, entitled, THE MODERATOR: At which time, though in respect of your heat, and the civility I bore unto so friendly a meeting, I seemed at length to yield unto your commendation of that Pamphlet; yet lest the Public Cause (for which I have often jeoparded my life, and am still in Arms ready to maintain) should suffer through an over-modest silence, I have written these lines to let you understand, how small satisfaction you then gave me, and how stiffly I adhere to my opinion, that The Moderator is a factious-Malignant Invective against the Parliament, as empty of sense, as conscience. Nor can sober men expect any other than a muddy stream from a dirty fountain. Is not Master Povey the Author of this Libel? Witness the Gentlemen of Grays-Inne, Witness the Stationers, Witness the title of Moderator, wherewith his companions do frequently salute him: And what can we look for from a Cavee (yea, from one who for his notoriousness is styled, THE CAVALIER) but malignancy? And to come up close to the manifestation and proof thereof, his own words suffice to his conviction. For without further ceremony than an impertinent Preface, he falleth hot upon the Parliament, and declareth them to be the Authors of the late War, and by consequence guilty of all the blood and horrid distractions of this Kingdom. p. 3. l. 2, 4, 6. Their courses (saith he) did usher in this War: And to these miseries we have been unhappily betrayed, by a fourfold means: 1. By the Parliaments endeavouring without success, or providence, or enough of both, a high and Imperious Reformation. Fit words, and modest, are they not? 2. By putting the Militia, the Navy, and the Ports into new confiding hands: p. 3. l. 34, 35, 36. Which, alas tender Heart! (He professeth) did sorely perplex him with the expectation and fear of bloody showers. 3. By discountenancing the Gentry and removing them from their Commands, p. 4. l. 11. and so from the usual respect they had in their Country: making little difference (or not the right) because they then wanted Mr. Povey's help to judge between the Gentry and Yeomanry. Which he turneth off with a flour, p. 15. a. l. 23. They may be thus excused; they did not think it justice to look upon any man according to his quality, but as he was a Subject; I hope this was all the reason. 4. By making Sides and Parties amongst the people; p. 4. l. 22. To which end the Parliament took such courses as might incite the MOST, and published that first Remonstrance, p. 14. l. 19, 20, 25. (Decemb. 15. 1641.) The most seasonable and happy Alarm that ever came to an oppressed languishing Nation, yet the Moderate Gentleman is so audacious as to style it, THE UNHAPPY HISTORY OF THE FOREGOING TIMES. And what (saith he) is the Result of all these Plots, p. 4. l. 26. Sidings and contrivances? But, The King therefore removes Northward, to find out that safety which is denied him here: p. 4. l. 32. Henceforth we must look upon the Parliament as a Council of War; we must not expect to find it punctual in the observance of any fixed Law; Only, SALUS POPULI must be produced as a general Warrant for all their undertake, and LEX NECESSITATIS must be made to justify all manner of severity and violence. The Sword must become Chief Justice; Robbery change its name, and be called no more a crime then borrowing; p. 5. l. 29. The kill of our Countrymen must be called valour and a service for the State; Disobedience to the commands of our Prince must be called Loyalty; and in brief, we must see an inversion of all order, Confusion in all our services t● Heaven and Earth, and a Chaos, in stead of that admirable composure which many years of peace had e'er now fixed this State in, if Those that have of late times been over us (namely, the PARLIAMENT) had done their parts. Is not this pure Oxonian language? Search the King's Declarations, consult with Williams, Ferne, Aulicus, and you shall not find them more agreeable to themselves, than your Moderator is to them. You see then the first Branch of this malignant Pamphlet is an Accusation of the Parliament, and that of less crime than the procuring of the late War with all its sad and direful effects. The other Branch is a Dissuasion of the People from joining with them; Which he endeavours under a pretext of Moderation and seeming Neutrality, and pursues this Theme with store of words and a rabble of vain circumstances; but the substance of all may be reduced to these five Heads or Grounds: His first ground of dissuading the People from joining with the Parliament, is, because the late War was without Reason: p. 6. l. 6. When Reason (saith he) shall tell me how requisite the prosecution of that War was, and how it may advantage the State, I shall be convinced. His second ground is, because the Parliament at that which (in his apprehension) is evil, p. 6. l. 16, 25. as to bring in an Aristocracy and make themselves States: Or, at that which is vain and impossible, to wit, a Thorough Reformation; p. 25. l. 34. than which (if this Forsooth-sayer mistake not) they will sooner reach their own destruction. His third ground is, because the Yeomanry that take part with the Parliament are nothing so considerable, as the Gentry of this Realm who take part with the King: p. 15. a. l. 39 For (saith he) the Gentleman follows his Resolution close, and wins of his silly neighbours many times, either by his power, by his example, or his discourse, when as they have an easy faith, quickly wrought upon and upon the next turn will fall off in shoals. His fourth ground is, p. 16. b. l. 14. because the King is the more likely to draw to Him the affections of the People, in that the pressures and miscarriages of His late Government are passed, and almost expiated by His acknowledgement of them, and a promise of redress, and are (as it were) forgotten by them, who resent more their present, Grievances than a thousand overpassed transgressions, which are driven out of their Remembrances by agravating every mistake, every circumstance of injury and violence, which the Parliament, either against their will, or upon necessity (the common excuse of Statesmen) doth commit. His fift and last ground is, because the Parliament is a crazy, helpless, impotent thing in comparison of His Majesty. The Parliament (saith he) hath nothing to cement itself, p. 16. a. l. 7, 16, 21. to increase and fix their Party, and keep it from staggering, but a little temporary reputation, and a resolution to hold fast to the Public good, and this (if things run so high as they do now) will be called rebellious stubbornness, and be branded with the foul imputation of Treason. Whereas the King (as the chief Master and Dispenser of the Commonwealth) is able to fit the humour of every man that he hath a mind to take off: He hath the power of a Pardon to hold out like a Lure, to fetch in such as have turned tail. By His Agents He will keep off the aid of foreign States from them, but is seldom denied some contribution towards His own defence. p. 15. b. l. 31. The controling presence of awful Majesty takes off, prevents, and counter plots the designs of any that are working near to it. The King (a syllable, of as much advantage as an Army) in His very Name is sacred and powerful, p. 16. b. l. 23. and shakes the consciences of many, who would else have willing hands and ready purses to oppose Him. He hath the advantage of the written Law, which he can use now, in His defence; and by the authority of it, joined with the power of His Sword, can thunder out Accusations, and the Penalties of Treason against those whom He shall call His Opposers. Now the whole Kingdom must witness, the King has often called and declared the Parliament and their adherents His Opposers; and therefore, what does the Moderator hereby insinuate, but that all Parliamentarians should be hanged, drawn, and quartered, had the King power to excuse the Law? If this be no malignancy, let Judge Jenkins be acquitted. Needless it were, and time mis-implyed to ravel further into the garbage of this slanderous-bitter Libel against the Parliament: For, if what I have at present laid open, (thought I confess much more may be alleged there-out to the same purpose, & shall be alleged when the Cornish Elections come into debate) be not sufficient to convince your judgement, for me go on; and be confident, hereafter you will say, A friend once gave good you advice. But yet, before I leave, let me tell you, that in this Pamphlet, there are not only Malignant, but also non-sensicall and most irreligious expressions. What kin is this sentence to a Bull; p. 2. l. ult. Wars, like diseases, are a long while working upon the humours, before they discover themselves; unless the Moderator can prove that men fight some years under ground, before they fight above? What sense in this, p. 5. l. ult. How like to these calamities the miseries we have felt already are, the sad experience of too many may witness, who have drunk deep of this bitter Cup? That is in plain English, such who have tasted of these calamities, can witness how like they are to these calamities: These like to these, a man like to a man; Is not here good stuff? And what sense or reason is there in this, p. 24. l. 3. The Commonwealth is now in the same, yet in more danger, than ever they saw it? As if a thrust through the body were the same as a prick with the swords point; Or, a shilling the same as a penny. As for Irreligious Expressions, be you yourself judge. For, though the Scriptures testify, we are all in the hands of GOD, Rom. 9.21. to be disposed of according to His Divine pleasure, Esa. 45.7. and that all peace and cessation of Arms is from Him alone; Psal. 46.9. Yet this Moderator feareth not to say, p. 2. l. 15. It is in our own election what shall become of us. Though the Scriptures exhort, with patience to wait upon the Lord and not limit the Holy One of Israel; Psal. 27.14. Yet this Moderator professeth, his Faith shall go no further than his Reason; p. 6. l. 4, 5. and like one in despair, crieth out, Now or never, Sudden Peace or certain Ruin. Though the Scriptures teach, that a man swearing to his own hurt, should not change; Yet this Moderator saith, p. 21. l. 15. It cannot be expected that a Prince, if he be wise as well as pious, shall be so superstitious to the strict sense of any Protestations, as to neglect his interest, which may suffer very much whiles he makes a conscience to do things fit and requisite. And what is this but to say, A Prince that maketh conscience of his Oath, when the breaking it may advantage, him, is a superstitious fool? I might also note unto you the ragged composure of this Pamphlet; and the Authors fantastic, proud, selfconceited, pragmatical humour, which discovers itself in every Page, as clearly, as if you had heard him speak, seen his posture, and taken an account of his Morning's work: But my lines are multiplied already to a greater bulk then at first I intended, and therefore I shall without further circumstances break off; Only desiring you to lay aside passion and partiality, and with a serious consideration to weigh what is here written unto you from a friend; who hath no other aim but to prevent (as far as in him lieth) your deserting the Parliament and their Cause: For be assured, if you are not for them, you are against them; Neutrality and Moderation is the Cavaliers last refuge, and a cloak for Malignancy. So far you well, And number me amongst those who are ever ready to serve you, J. M. FINIS.