A PERSUASIVE TO A Mutual Compliance UNDER THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT. Together with A PLEA FOR A FREE STATE COMPARED WITH MONARCHY.  ROM: 13. 1. 
The Powers that be, are Ordained of God.  PROV: 11. 14. 
In the Multitude of Counsellors there is Safety.  
OXFORD, Printed in the Year. 1652.   

To his Excellency The Lord General CROMWELL.  
MY LORD,  
IT is hoped, Your Excellency may pardon this boldness, upon the consideration, That this poor mite offered in zeal, may longer bear Your superscription, than choicer pieces cast into the Treasury of Your desert, by greater and more popular pens: However his Election cannot be blamed, that seeks shelter under that Tree of Honour, which, during the storms of so many contrary Factions, hath not only shadowed all formerly owned by Antiquity, but may i'll the hands of Posterity with despair, of ever being able to match Your Actions hereafter. For those most celebrated for their Valour and Conduct, did but glean repute amongst the thorns of contrary and doubtful Successes; Whereas You, being the true Master of the Harvest of Honour, never were known to return without bringing Your sheaves with You; Which may be the less wondered at by those who observe how just an Accountant You are to Your alone Captain, the Lord of Hosts, in summing Your Bills of Victory to his glory, not Your own; Who hath now not only suffered You to build, but to shut the Gates of the Temple of War; And will no doubt inspire you with a pattern for that of Peace; so that as you have begun with Joshua, you may end with Solomon: Jethro hath long since laid the platform how to make a people happy. And it were presumption to offer to prescribe farther unto Master-Builders; Yet in particular for Oxford, of which Providence hath made you Chancellor, may it be spoken without offence, That the University, however represented, retains no surfeit of Obstinacy or Riches; Your Reformation being as suitable to her desires, as Your Protection: if Your wisdom apprehend a superfluity in one place, the next glance may possibly discover hundreds that want it: Her misfortune is, to be looked upon as having laboured so long of a Malignant Fever, that she is run past recovery in the books of prejudice, having nothing to redeem her from ruin, but Your pity and power; if You would be pleased to take Her into Your more peculiar Protection▪ and not suffer Her any longer to lie committed unto other Hands than Your Own, and such as under You, and nearer Her, shall be thought fit to put Her into. Which she hath the greater hopes to obtain, because more than ten times the number of good men assigned by God for the stop of the severest sentence ever pronounced against a City, Listed themselves in one day under the Noble Governor that then was, without looking bacl upon any thing of their own Interest, esteemed vile in comparison of the Public Safety, and Your Honour.  
There needs no more interruption be given to Your weightier affairs, then to acquaint You, that the Author absents his Name out of no other fear, then to keep himself in a condition to do You farther service. For though King's fall before You, their Instruments may rise up against others that endeavour to give evidence to an opposite Government; especially having no Legions to defend him but Your Name, and the assurance he hath to be owned, as truly he is  
Jan. 1. 1651/ 2. (My Lord) Your Excellencyes most humble and obedient Servant.   

To the Reader.  
NOt to stumble into the like folly with those who court their Readers for▪ Applause; since the most are wont to crowd about new Books, rather to note the blemishes, than beauties of Authors; hooting, like Boys, at all they find dissonant from what, Custom or Education hath tuned their apprehensions to; and not considering that what seems harsh now, may, when it is perfectly scanned, be most harmonious: I will say no more, lest I should seem to spread my endeavours to catch etc.— This being only directed to such candid spirits as being themselves in quest of Truth and the present Quiet, cannot but love those that do, though but weakly, promote it.   

A PERSUASIVE to a Mutual compliance under THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT▪  
IT was never thought safe, much less prudent, for a suppressed party to be intemperate in speeches, and turbulent in their Actions; especially having no Power standing ready in the eye of probability, to protect them: Neither are Examples easily found (all provocations considered) of greater Clemency, then hath been used by our present Governors; Into whose hands God hath delivered by an indubitable Conquest, some in his Anger, as others in his Mercy.  
Though Envy cannot charge me, to have fallen from my first Love, The true Representative of England; yet I never wanted natural bowels to those whom Prejudice and other more selfish respects had unhappily cast on the other side: but did daily lay out my supplications; and the poor Talon God entrusted me with, to buy them to the ways of Peace. And therefore I am not so much to be suspected of Partiality, but that I may possibly persuade at least the Vanquished (and so in reason the most exasperated) to such a temper, as may render, in their behalf, the prevailing Power as admirable for Moderation, as Success hath proclaimed them famous for their Valour.  
That no Government extant this day, can possibly be demolished by fouler hands, than it was erected; That, by the judgement of Truth itself, a strong man ought not in reason to be bound but by one more mighty; And That the sword in all ages, during the storms of War, hath pretended to a privilege of cutting such knots, as under a more serene Heaven might have puzzled not only Reason but Religion to uniie; Are so notorious to all not wilfully or naturally blind in Story, as he that should endeavour the proof of it, would to the wise seem an Owl, rather than an Athenian▪ there being news of little else in all History both sacred & profane.  
And though such changes are strangers to us hatched under a still peace; they were familiar to our Fathers; whose births stood ordinary dated from some Foreign Conquest or their Deaths from a civil Dissension at home: Yet, by the continuance of many of their Names in the same possessions, it doth plainly appear they had more patience and wisdom then perpetually to oppose irreconsileable minds to successful and irresistible Powers. And where this was not observed, how fatal and impartial the severity of Conquest hath proved, is plain in Comines, who attests to have seen a Branch of one of the most illustrious Families in England, begging in Burgundy: whose Duke after that infamous defeat given him by the Helvetians, ran, as was supposed, the like fortune, his body not being found. Neither is there any thing likelier to cast our Nobility and Gentry into this condition, than a change by another War, which will lie most heavy upon them, besides the uncertainty of the event: when as a quiet and timely submission would estate them or their Children, in an undoubted capacity to share in what is, or shall be established: Enabling them to alter what they may find amiss. Whereas otherwise it would be an act of the highest indiscretion for people so long beaten by the cruel storms of a Civil War, to refuse for the present any Harbour, though never so incommodious: and to venture again the wrack of so sacred a Vessel as the Commonwealth, for no richer commodities, than an uncertain hope of boying up such Honours, profits and Jurisdictions, as the fears, wilfulness and evil Counsels of those formerly at the Helm, caused them to cast away; since experience hath taught us, we may live happily without them. Neither are those thus desirous of alteration, able to procure it by their own strength; but must borrow of such suspected friends, or known enemies, as are unlikely to show much more favour to their Inviters, than those that shall labour to keep them out.  
Were it not more discretion, to let her lie quietly a while in the Dock, under the trimming of our new Masters? Who cannot be long uncompelled, if not by affection to themselves and their Children, yet by strong necessity, to set her a float under Justice and good Government; hitherto obstructed by yourselves and new declared Malignants, who have nothing to show for their Lives and Fortunes, but the mercy and courage of those they so bitterly exclaim against; Yet are not able to screen themselves from their Power; although as far from being pleased with it, as they can be safe without it.  
Others presuming on the Articles conceded at Oxford or elsewhere, protest themselves injured by that innocent Act for Subscription: But did they please to look back, now, upon the naked condition they stood in then, destitute of all hope of Relief; they might find greater cause to celebrate the goodness, then arraign of rigour, those did begirt them: For had the total destruction of those Lords and Gentlemen, been so grateful to the State, as some in spleen, others in ignorance do since represent; the siege need have been continued but a few days, and all must have perished by the hands of despair, or without caution have cast themselves into those of Mercy: or say the Commanders in chief (never known prodigal of blood or time) to give an honourable pretence for the rendition of that place, which the enemies had made impregnable by so many Oaths and Protestations, did yield to more than in reason could be asked, or granted, from so imperative a Power; It cannot be imagined they meant to situate them in a higher condition than they were themselves; making that arbitrary and at the will of the Vanquished, which is imposed without exception, on all that Overcame: By which they had not only bound their own hands from punishing all future disobedience; but left their enemies the liberty to subscribe to the ruin, that they refuse, to the preservation of themselves and their country.  
Consult seriously your own consciences, and catechise them with this Question; What Oaths, Confiscations, Restraints, and Obligations should have been imposed on all had survived your revenge, In case providence had cast the Die of War to the like advantage on your side? And you will not only blush at your own shame, but confess yourselves doubly subdued, first by the Valour, than the Civility of those you pronounce the meanest of men.  
The Norman Conquest, hitherto the fairest flower in the Crown of our Kings, and this of the Army's, were cut out with the same Iron, by the hand and direction of a like Providence: The difference is, he was a Stranger, these Natives; He established a Monarchy, whose nature is to decline into Tyranny; These a Government styled by all Politicians, Free; And if you find it otherwise, you may thank yourselves, who will neither be happy, nor suffer others; But oppose so obstinately the Public Establishment, out of no more weighty reason, then to reinitiate splendid Titles, so fare from being essential to humane felicity, that such Nations as have them, were never thought the happiest; no more than those that want them, the most miserable.  
Were I so uncivil, as to draw the curtain charity hangs before the Actions of dead Princes; I could match, out of the Annals of your own Government, as great disorders and oppressions, as you note in this; The latter being rendered so much the more excusable, because, not only precedented by the former, but created and continued to prevent such mischiefs, as your implacable Spirits do foment in the hearts of ignorant and abused people; To whom though a Government be most necessary, this kind or that is as absolutely indifferent. Yet if your doctrine be infallible, That a King is only responsible to God for his worst actions; it cannot but increase all wise men's affections to a Jurisdiction so modest, as to acknowledge their best correspondent to the people, at least in their Representative: And if you will suffer such a Government as these drive at, quietly to be settled, it may be guessed, by Venice and the United Provinces (though inconsiderable for strength in respect of England) what wonders may be expected; the first having stood a bulwark for above a thousand years against the Turks, as the later hath, from her infancy, a wall to the King of Spaine's encroachments.  
I do not believe, those daily alarm's, you give the State, are beaten by your consciences; but the louder Passions of Ambition, and Revenge: And if you could remain quiet, you might abundantly satisfy both, by sharing in the Government; and helping farther to chastise the perfidious Scot, who (under God's vengeance for our Sins) was, you think, the cause of all these distempers.  
You are to blame, if you have not already done your best to set up that Interest, your Consciences, for the present, taught you to maintain, and if so, you are freed from the shackells of all former Oaths and engagements; Man being bound to no performance beyond possibility: yet lest this should seem too weak a discharge for so much honour and fidelity, as you pretend to owe your King; God hath called him to an higher Court: And that he hath reserved all cognizance of the manner of his removeall wholly to himself appears, by placing the Authors of it above the reach of any power, but his own.  
It shall not be the project of this Discourse either to naturalise, or make invalid the Lines of Princes: though the truth or falsehood of them is made so contingent by the infidelity of Women; as it doth much abate my zeal, and may do all others in the prosecution of their interests, before that of a Free State; in a Nation so exhausted and tattered by divisions already, as it cannot but expire under a milder conflict, than these new and Victorious Governors will make, rather than part with their power, on which depend their heads, as dear to them as a Crown can be to those that bid for it; who being out of possession, are not so likely to find friends as enemies; especially in this conjuncture, when most Nations have need of more swords than their own, and therefore likelier to borrow then lend assistance: Neither is it a slight omen of their continuance that the wise Spaniard courts them: As for France they have work sufficient cut out already, or in case of want, we are near enough to send them more: Concerning Danes and Swedes, they may, like the Cat, desire the sweet milk of England, but will hardly venture wetting their feet, or the encountering an English Navy: It being not likely that such Foreign Princes as stood still all the Father's time, who had an Army might secure their landing, will in his vanquished Sons be active, who hath now almost nothing left to assure success, but the unarmed discontent of some Subjects; which cannot be so unadvised, as to venture what is left at the courtesy of strangers; much less can their hopes be so buried in the despair of the moderate government of their countrymen, as to think to measure out a better by the splinters of that broken reed Scotland, That hath no cleanlier way to redeem herself from being the byword and hissing of the World, for former Treacheries towards their Native Kings, then by selling us and our children to a perpetual slavery under one of their exasperated Sons: Neither durst they have ventured so much beating, had they not been encouraged by a mouldy Prophecy, That England (in which you have yet a great share, and may keep it if you will be quiet) must be one day ruined by the basest of people; which, in their own apprehension, can be understood of none but themselves.  
The Apostle Paul commands Christians to submit to the present power, for Conscience sake; And justifies this Precept so far by his own example, as to appear before a Court of Justice, no less illegal in regard of the Nation of the Jews, then corrupt in respect of the Judges: where by his Rhetorical expressions he teacheth us, to own all Jurisdictions God hath pleased to endow with an Imperative power: Else we should deny that to the Magistrate, which we make no conscience to concede to Thiefs; from whom we take ourselves to be happily discharged, if we escape only with the loss of our money, and a promise never to do any thing to their prejudice.  
Nor can I think Panl would have shown less compliance, or used courser language, had his trial fallen out in the days of Galba, Otho, or Vitellius; the which had no stronger titles than the sword estated them in; being all strangers to the line of the first Caesar's, or any adopted by them.  
Nay had Pisoe's Conspiracy succeeded, and Rome by wise Seneca's persuasion been reduced to their ancient Liberty; would the Apostles unwillingness have been more, to subscribe to that, than the Title of Nero? Can you think he would have pretended antiquitated Oaths, Covenants, or I know not what Protestations formerly exacted? which if offered, he could not have avoided; a refusal being as unsuitable to his Doctrine as safety: For we never heard news, till these times, of State-Martyrs; The primitive Saints thinking all Kingdoms too poor to die for, but that of Heaven.  
Indeed Shimei of the House of Saul, would needs be cursing where God blest; which gave occasion to Solomon to leave a Precedent under which you are fallen for the like luxuriousness of speech. And here note by the way, how short lived the love and forgiveness of Princes are: Since the best, though he could forget Jonathan his friend, was sure to remember Shimei his enemy: both secured by Covenant, the first of Amity; the latter of Charity, in acknowledgement of his kindness in meeting him.  
Now if David could not die quietly intestate to Revenge, what huge Legacies may we expect from the Heir of a Faher, who lost not only his Crown, but the Head that beware it? or if so much temperance might be found in his Successor as might mortify so high provocations; Yet the daily cries and clamours of the Widows and Fatherless, whose Husbands, Fathers, and Estates were lost in his defence, could not choose but call revenge up again. It being an ordinary course for Princes to esteem that part of their assistance as is lost in ill success, so little below enemies, as they oftentimes confiscate their Estates, only to increase the encouragement of those, from whom they hope to receive better. And if it be not the complexion of Kings to be ingrateful, I pray give me the Reason, why Henry the 7th cut off Stanley's head, after he had set the Crown upon his own?  
Therefore let not the sound of your discontent be heard in other Nations, to the prejudice of the happiness of your own: By which the ears of all that delight in war are so tickled, that the Sea, this Island is encompassed with, were too shallow to keep them out, but that 'tis assisted by a greater depth of God's mercy.  
Such as oppress unnecessarily the people, shall never want enemies; nor those that truly stand for Liberty, friends: Therefore have patience, and assure yourselves, that God, which hath taught the Army the ways to so much miraculous success, will suddenly (after this general submission I persuade to) inspire them with an Enstablishment may make us happy: or in case they neglect it, undoubtedly send as exemplary a ruin upon their own heads.  
Let me therefore entreat you to imitate your Ancestors, who suffered the Crown of England with more patience, to be transferred from one Strangers head to another, than you do contribute to the setting it on your own and your children's: There being nothing able to render you uncapable of it, but an unseasonable desire to wring it out of their hands, who, I hope, have no more ambitious ends in retaining it so long, then to make it fit and easy for you: Neither can any be in a right capacity to receive it, till brought to such a temper, as it is indifferent to them, either to obey or command.  
If you are so desirous the letter of the Law should be exactly observed, do nothing contrary to the sense of it, which is the preservation of the Government in being; whose quiet it is now as naturally to intent, as it was formerly that of Kings: Altar but the Name, and contribute the like obedience, and you are just where you were. But if this be denied, do not wonder, that new trials are opposed to new offences: For if ordinary Jurers will assign no punishment for them which act by the King's Authority, it is fit the State should provide others to take care, that in case it be employed against their safety, such as do it may not escape without punishment: Since God, that hath given them such vast successes, hath also endued them with more Prudence, then to be ruined by niceties.  
Neither are they less resolved to defend themselves from unavoidable ruin, than you to obtain a more uncertain reward. This makes me believe you would have as much reason to bewail an absolute victory, as they a total loss. For in that case, if the Nation should escape the tyranny of Strangers, it were impossible to avoid falling into a greater of her own: It being the custom of all Princes, to proportion the weight of the people's fetters, to their own fears: Now how the Cavaliers can be free, when the Roundheads are slaves, is not to be found in the small volume of my Politics.  
Though the High Presbyterian so suddenly swelled with the hope he had swallowed of Sovereignty, that he broke in the opinion of the people, before he was able to set up for himself, by endeavouring to lay to every single Parish, a power judged too unwieldy for a Diocese; Yet I thought not to have taken him so soon in the habit of a Malignant; which suits better with his passion, than the gravity & piety he pretends to; or discretion, which cannot but dictate to him, that he hath sinned past forgiveness, by reducing the Crown to the last extremity; And compelling the Army by an unparallelled ingratitude, to actions more suitable to his own, than the chief Commanders former deportment; in which if they leaned too much on worldly policy, it was to avoid falling into that visible pit, the heads of this party had contrived for them.  
What religious observers of the Covenant, they have been, & what enemies to the known faults of the Bishops, they with so much spleen, exploded, may appear by the multitudes of preferments, and bunch of Steeples the have hung to their purse-strings: Besides their ungrateful desertion of that Army, who, when they durst not trust their own side, for fear of being betrayed; expunged, by their faithful valour, that sentence of death, which those they seem to adhere to now, had writ upon every wall against them.  
Is it not a sad thing, to see Conscience like a cloak-bag, stuffed with all carriages, be they foul or fair? Were not the Papists truer friends to their Country's peace; who upon a change in Religion, and more to their general disadvantage, than this can be, to any at enmity with Rome, swore Allegiance to those of contrary Tenants; The truth of which they so far maintained, as in the year 88, many appeared with considerable forces, in favour of a Protestant Queen, against him they styled the most Catholic King?  
For those they call Levellers, so many of their Propositions as may concern the equal administration of Justice, and the Liberty of the People, ought no doubt to be hearkened unto: But their Consciences being possibly agitated by subtler heads than their own (the Devil never being in a greater capacity to act mischief, then when he is transformed into an Angel of light) it behoves them to be wary; lest, pretending to a government more exact than humane corruption is capable of, they do not fall into a worse than ever yet was established: For if they create a division in the Army, they promote the ends of their enemies, and shall set up nothing but tyranny, and the destruction of themselves and their Party.  
Then since this Nation hath endured so many several changes, in these later years, without any considerable diminution of her splendour and felicity; I hearty pray it may not run a severer fortune hereafter; which cannot be better prevented, then for all Parties in their several relations, quietly to submit to this present Government: Which having the only power of Protection, cannot in justice be denied the duty of Obedience. To persuade which the more easily, I most humbly beg of those in Authority, To concede to the just desires and Tears of the Nation.  
FINIS.   

A PLEA FOR THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT, COMPARED WITH MONARCHY.  
NOTHING makes me more sensible of the wrath of God for sin, than the consideration, That want and oppression are become the ill consequents of that primitive Blessing, Increase and multiply; from whence the Devil taking advantage on our natural self-love, raiseth up Covetousness, the parent of Propriety; out of whose bosom result all humane calamities: Amongst which this is one of the most severe, That it renders us uncapable to be governed without Laws; being too partial, to judge uprightly between our own interest, and our neighbours; so as where Right is absent, Power steps in and supplies her place.  
This at first necessitated Jurisdiction; And the example of one God might present a pattern for Monarchy: But Kings did so fare deviate from this precedent, that they quite forgot, their Election was to increase the felicity and ease of their Subjects, not their own: Which hath caused people in all ages to have recourse to Arms; whereby sometimes they impaired, seldom mended their Condition: Because out of pride, ignorance, or a superstitious reverence to custom, they refused to entrust more than one with their Obedience: And we have cause to believe, that the exorbitant power, and scandalous adoration given to Princes (in which, like Promotheus, they rob God of his Divinity, bestowing the Attributes of Sacred, Worship, and Majesty upon a sinful Man) grew at the beginning out of the bitter root of Idolatry; This dignity being at first found among the Heathen, and never taken into one Family by the people of God, till in likelihood, the goodness of David had alured them, and the wisdom of Solomon ensnared them into an absolute tyranny, under the House of Jesse: Which they saw so much cause to repent of, as ten Tribes cast it off by a Defection, made legitimate by God himself. And what frequent changes followed, appears in Sacred Story; set down no doubt not only for the instruction of Kings, but as a direction for Subjects what to do in such cases of oppression: Like causes being liable to the like effects.  
Greece and Rome, from whom the grounds of Learning are deduced, did suffer their wanton Poets to endow their Princes with the powers and names of their Gods; and their Gods with the vices of their Kings; as Adulteries, Rapes, Oppressions, Thefts, etc. not sparing Jupiter himself, whom they challenge to have wrested the Celestial Monarchy from his Father Saturn: (in which is morallized the unnaturalness of Ambition, breaking through all Relations, though never so sacred). But as the Idols of the Heathen cannot be distinguished from ordinary stones, unless by the worship given them by those, who yet upon higher illuminations, do break or cast them away: So though Princes (such Monsters in power) are able to dazzle the weak eyes of ignorant men, by the false rages of Divinity, the flattering Clergy flash in the faces of such as oppose them; Yet it is no less than miraculous, that wise men should be so enamoured on the works of their own hands, as to place such so near God, and to pronounce them unaccountable for personal faults, much less for those of so epidemical a nature, that they concern the welfare of all; forgetting that flesh and blood is of so wild a condition, that nothing can restrain it but the fearful apparition of some visible punishment; And that other Governments want not the blessings of the best of Monarchies, yet stand uncharged with their inconveniences (It being possible to be a bad King, though a good man in an inferior Relation: The whole mass of History being scarce able to furnish out one in all points accomplished with so many Regal virtues, as might compense the damages received from his Predecessor, or him that did immediately succeed: Yet dazzled with the splendour of a Title, whose foul original continuance hath razed out of the memories of the most, The ignorant multitude do, without any scrutiny after worth or conveniency, think themselves obliged to submit to the untried discretion of the next of the same Line: So fare entrusted in England before the Conquest, that the decision of all controversies lay incumbent in the person of the King only; till corruption and oppression had given cause to mould Reason into a more certain Law; which no respect to their Subjects good, but only their own trouble or visible constraint, was able to tempt them to: Yet the people were so simple, that upon the least concession of ease, they buried the benefit which might have resulted from their expense of blood and treasure, in the same Government, if not in the same person, they had opposed; who was made the more cunning, not the better, by any thing had passed; it being the business of all politic Princes, to rebate the edge of the Laws towards themselves, for whose moderation they were chief intended, and to render them mortal to the people; who in case they were too weak to make good the justest quarrel against their King, perished as Traitors, when the true treason was perpetrated by their Prince and his evil Counselors; who are ordinarily the first causers of commotions by their cruelty and oppressions.  
Now the indiscretion of our Ancestors hath been such, tempted to it by the miseries incident to Civil War, as they gave concession to all the Law's reason or experience could present were likely to strengthen the security of the King in fact; So as the justest opposition in the Subject lay under no slighter penalty, than the loss of Honour, goods, lands and life: Forgetting, That the stronger Fortification was raised before the gates of Kings, the more difficult they rendered all access to Liberty, when ever they were invaded by Tyranny, or the people's conveniency should call for another Government less ranting and expensive.  
And I may be confident, this could not have been effected with such ease, but upon a presumption That the power of Parliaments was thought subordinate to any Law, Experience being barren of occasion to make demonstration, where the Legislative power should reside, in case of a rapture between the King and both or either House, never till now in dispute, though tacitly implied in the cases of such as 'tis known they have deposed (which questionless was done without the Royal assent;) Therefore not being determinated in express words, it might be thought impossible, a Court so paramount, should lie included under general Rules, esteemed in all grants unable to prejudice the Crown, and therefore with better Reason unbinding to the Parliament, often known not only to dispose of that, but the heads that wore it, So fare as to determine some unable, some unworthy to govern. And if any should endeavour to set bounds to the power of this High Court, it was as vain an attempt, as to limit the Nation to such an extent of felicity; which could no longer hold in nature or Reason, than those that did it were able by love or force to master her strength; which wisdom would persuade her to resume upon the first approach of advantage. Besides, the King owning himself but a third Estate (as you may find in one of his well-penned Declarations) he could not, by his absence, remove power so fare from the other, but that it did virtually remain in some hands for the good of the People (esteemed the supreme Law) supposed in all probability to be more cordially intended by the other, by reason they were inseparable companions with the people in any good or evil redounded to them from the Law; Then by the Prince, whose Interest was single, and so fare remote from epidemical ends, that he might, by encroachment, improve his condition to a selfe-advantage, raising a particular gain, at the cost of the Public; not probably to be intended by the Nobility, unless their reason were quite lost in their dependence on the Crown; but impossible to be projected by the Commons, who after dissolution, and their power returned to those that gave it, all marks of distinction cease, and they are mingled with the rest of the people, being equal sharers in what loss or advantage the Representative, in which they did reside, produced to the Commonwealth.  
Wherefore if a Parliament falls in pieces, as this hath done, so much Legal power cannot remain in both the other, as in the House of Commons, The fairest, most natural, and least partial Representative of the whole Nation, whose true and unquestioned proxcies they are; The Lords residing by birth, as the Bishops (in these latter times) by favour; And both found by experience, rather to intent their own ends, than the public.  
And for such as maintain, That we owed the liberty of electing Parliaments, to the benevolence of our Kings, May as well say, we were indebted to them for our being or nature; which abhors to hold felicity, and what is assigned for supportation, at the will of another; a servitude impossible to be imposed upon a major part that are Masters of right reason.  
Now for the King, I should not have looked for him among the three Estates, much less have owned him for one of them, had he not pleased to name himself so, and, by this confession, made empty the formerly unquestioned seat of the Church; By which he rather did weaken, then support, the unnatural and destructive pretence he made to a Negative voice: For where there is a Parity in an unseparable union, it is impossible to find room for so much difference in power, as that the most single and suspected part (in regard of an experimented self-interest), should determine of the fitness or inconveniency of what the other should present, without giving a stronger Reason than his own Will; never known, but upon constraint, or for want of money, to contradict itself for the people's good.  
And though in cases of equal correspondency there might seem some colour of Justice, yet here there cannot; Because the King professeth his Person so fare out of the point-blank of Law, as that he is responsible to none but God, for the worst, not only that he can do himself, but suffer to be done by his Instruments.  
Therefore since no tie can be made strong enough to restrain him from breaking in to his Subjects most sacred immunities, this power must needs be too extravagant to mingle with theirs less interessed; who are so modest as to confess themselves and their judgements implicitly contained in the suffrages of the Major part; though the Law passed be never so contrary to their sense: And I cannot but admire from whence this Infallibility should at first be derived, which were no less madness for the people to give, than presumption in any, below a God, to receive.  
Such as allow the King a Negative voice, forget they place the Abstract of all the Prudence, Power and probity of the Nation, in one Individual; Juells of too high a value to be packed up in so single and weak Vessels, as our English Monarches appear to have been: But were they better, they might upon this account, enervate the gravest results of the Supreme Council; yet denied by Law and Custom the ability to quash the sentence of an inferior Court of Justice.  
Then if no Example can be produced, of any King, that hath voluntarily, and out of no more impulsive respect, then mere conscience and indulgency to his poor prince-trodden people, offered a Bill to abate the power he found so abused by his Predecessors, and not likely to be better employed by such as might succeed; What greater Impudence can there be, then to maintain, That this Negative vote is claimed only to avoid the abolition of good laws, and to hinder the passing of worse: Since it is notoriously known, that all the customs people complain of, have been intruded and still kept in being by the countenance of an exorbitant power pretended by Kings: And therefore such a prerogative cannot be looked upon as natural and convenient, but destructive to the very essence of Liberty; and consequently void in itself.  
In case of Minority, Madness and Folly, the trial of the King's sufficiency is without question in the Parliament; and if that be allowed to determine the extent of his power in contingencies, no ways chargeable upon any as faults: Shall wicked, contumacious and destructive principles and practices be exempt from their cognizance? Since the fool or mad man cannot be liable to so severe a censure, as he that employs his wit wholly to the destruction of his people. And if we trace our Kings through all the paths their encroachments have made over the people's immunities, we shall find, it was not Charity hath kept them from being more tyrannical, but Weapons and constraint: all our privileges having been first written, and in all ages forced to be copied out, in the people's blood; An argument sufficient to prove, that little is to be expected from them, in favour of the Public, but by constraint; Kings intending nothing more than the augmentation of their own Arbitrary power: Therefore Flattery, rather than Truth, fonted them Fathers of their Country; to which they are in nothing suitable, unless in correction, the severest and least hospitable part of Justice.  
They indeed, as domestic Fathers, are oftentimes suborned by a particular natural love, to do that which is destructive to the general well being of a Nation; as where an equal affection to their children shall cause a division of their Kingdom into several Cantons; by which the whole is weakened in regard of the expense of more Courts, and exposed to ruin by division; as is not without a precedent in Story.  
Next the affection they bear to their female issue, makes them raise great taxes to marry them, not only suitable to their birth, but unlimited ambition: By which means a people are often made subject to the curse of a foreign Jurisdiction: And in case it should happen to light upon France or Spain, or any Prince else unwilling to remove his Throne further from the Sun, they must run the fortune of Naples, Sicily, Milan, Navarre, etc. who are so miserable as to be under the Regiment of unnatural Strangers.  
And say they should be so mad, as to follow their ambitious humours, in quest of honour, out of their own territories, as Francis and John of France did, they may like them, fall into captivity, and tie their Kingdoms to harder conditions, and a greater Ransom, than all the particular benefits redounding from that government are able to compense; or all the inconveniencies objected to a Popular State, parallel; who are confessed on all sides to be responsible for their misgovernment, in parcel, as particular Members; or in gross, as the whole Council, when dissolved: Whereas the flattering Clergy and Courtiers, by perverting the Scriptures, have in a single person situated Regality out of the reach of all question; so as he may shake or kick about the world without any fear of other danger, than what the Poets feign fell to Phaethon from Jupiter himself: Which cannot but persuade wise men to keep it out, where it never was; and upon all advantages to explode it, where misfortune hath brought it in.  
Queen Elizabeth, though an excellent Prince, yet encroached upon the English Liberty, by denying them to inquire who should be her Successor; The unnaturalness of this tyranny being hid from the eyes of the people (whose interest it was to know it) by the delicate and soft hand she carried over them; defective in nothing, in their imagination, but that it was frail earth, and so subject to mortality: which made the Commons wink at the commitment of Pigot and Wentworth; valuing the satisfaction of her mind, before the Members of their own Body: Neither could they well have found weapons to have revenged this unparallelled outrage, she standing so fair painted in her Subjects hearts: Therefore though they did well to pass by a fault they could not punish; yet the goodness of her reign cannot be said to expiate the curse she brought in by this example, the unnaturalness of the Scotch Line took advantage of: which I believe had never come in (especially without Caution) but that the fear of the Londoners (wanting time to secure their wealth) and the baseness of the Nobility, tempted them to betray themselves into the hands of those, who were ever enemies to this Nation: Now if there was so little care found in a Queen, raised from a prisoner; and goodness in a King taken from the barren mountains of Scotland; Who could expect more gratitude, than we have found in his Son, that to make good his Father's Monopolies and his own illegal taxes, covered the Kingdom with a Sea of blood?  
It is impossible for a Popular Government to be so expensive as these two last Kings, though with jeroboam they should sell themselves to work wickedness; not having whereupon to bestow it, without making so palpable a demonstration of their Covetousness, as the people would soon take notice thereof, and redress it by their change or ruin; which might be obtained at an easier rate than by a War; without which no Monarch, though never so bad, is able to be removed; who commonly hath a power to defend him proportional to his prodigality, and the Honours he throws about; by which those multitudes who only hope, are as strongly taken, as the few that enjoy benefit by him.  
Now Princes though generally bad, do yet admit of comparisons; as you may find the three Degrees in Elizabeth, james, and Charles. For though Queen Elizabeth encroached upon the liberty of particulars; She maintained War in France, the Low-Countries, with Spain and Ireland; yet never had unlawful tax, or more than two Subsidies at once; which put to the whole Revenue of the Crown (as I have heard) did not make 10000 per annum: yet she kept a glorious Court, paid all debts, and was never known to break her word with the Subject. King james enters, who never paid Army, built House, or was any way magnificently hospitable, yet screwed the Revenue to a double proportion, sold and gave away inestimable quantities of Woods and Lands, omitting nothing wherein he might poll his Subjects; Yet died in debt, and scandalous for his breach of Faith, besides the incomparable repute lost to the Nation by the sale of the Cautionary Towns to the Dutch. King Charles succeeds, who answers this people's love and vows for his safe return from Spain, and assumption to the Throne, with a contempt of Parliaments, and augmentation of the Revenue (Shipmoney cast in) to 10000 (yet never equalled the magnificence of Queen Elizabeth, nor the liberality of King james) sums not be concealed by a more popular State; or if possible, easy to be retrived by squeezing the purloiners; whereas this vast Treasure mouldered away in Masques and other effeminate vanities, no ways for the honour or safety of the State. Not to say more, whose business is only to show the blessings of a Free Regiment, not all the curses attending the Government, or faults incident to the persons of Kings; which are rendered by our Clergy incurable, as sheltered under a Divine Right.  
But neither this foolish varnish, daubed on by flatterers; nor prescription itself, backed by an unquestioned consent of our Fathers, can be of strength enough to dispossess a people of so inherent a property, as nature hath estated all Reasonable creatures in; viz. The choice of the Laws they intent to be governed by: No more than a Parliament, which is virtually the whole People, can bind Posterity longer than shall suit with the will of the same power that did at first establish it. And if the Parliament is oftentimes so cautious, as to make Laws probationary; Can any think it suitable to the principles of Reason, that a King (obnoxious to the frailties of other mortals) should be borne to a right above them; and left to an absolute liberty; not only to do what he please, but to cross any thing shall be offered from his Subjects, by the inspiration of I know not what negative Power? I wonder men are so indiscreet to give that to a child, fool, or mad man, which they deny to a grave, wise, and experimented Pope; whom they call Antichrist for nothing more justly, than the arrogance he shows in advancing his single judgement above a Counsel. And if things be rightly considered, you shall find them both hang upon the same irrational string, and likely to drop into the same bottomless pit; the one vaunting to be Vicar general for things temporal, the other for eternal.  
Yet if we look near, we may find marks to demonstrate it was not thus from the beginning, that Kings pretended to a Negative power; as appears by the modest words he useth at the crossing of a Bill offered to him; which are Le Roy s'advisera: Though time and neglect may have taken such precedents of the file, as they have a number more, by which Kings were chalked a way to their duty; a thing by them so much abhorred, that the Records in the Tower have suffered a continual suppression. Besides it is notoriously known that this Negative Power so much insisted upon, and employed by the last King against the peace of the Nation; hath in all ages been subordinate to the will of a Wife or Favourite, who have not seldom been found to give or sell it to the prejudice of the Commonwealth.  
Wherefore if the inconveniences of Kings ascending without any opposition be so insufferable; what mischief can escape the imagination, (if the sense) of that people, who have all of them, according to Regal Law, forfeited as Traitors, all that is dear to nature; either for opposing, or want of assisting the dead King; should any of his Line succeed? which formerly so shackled us, but is now unravelled by the same means it was twisted, by William, styled, though unjustly, the Conqueror.  
As for places of Scripture alleged in favour of wicked Princes, by which their Parasites endeavour to remove them out of the way of Question; They will upon examination rather prove suborned, then competent witnesses; as taught to speak by interested Divines, whose power and estates were wholly dependant on the Crown.  
The extent of the Jurisdiction of our Monarches, held no proportion with that of Israel, confessed by God, to be founded in his wrath; who used at first to allot them out of his own choice; which rendered it, if not presumption, yet useless to limit them by Laws: But after this prepared Manna of just Government ceased to drop upon them from Heaven; They had reason to provide wholesome Ordinances of their own, to preserve them from corruption; As we find the ten Revolted Tribes did, by the process against Naboth; whereas Solomon gave no other reason for the death of men, than his will, by which alone joab and his own brother were tried and condemned. And if want of wisdom, haste, or lack of experience, made the people forget their own conveniency, in the large extent of power they afforded them; I know no place of Scripture binds us to follow their indiscretion; No more than it warrants our Kings to imitate the vices of theirs. And after Solomon I do not find any bad Prince longer endured than the people were constrained out of mere necessity; To whose destruction also they were oftentimes incited by God himself; whose silence now cannot in reason be taken for his consent, because he hath long since forborn to speak unto us otherways then by written examples, which afford plenty of them Deposed and put to Death.  
The mercenary Lawyers, to keep Kings safe behind the curtain (where they play at boh-peepe with justice, as their holy Father the Pope, doth by Religion) make the King a party in cases touching Life; By this means shrouding his Person so securely under his Office, as nothing could rescue the people from tyranny, but a through Reformation of the Common Law.  
For in the condition we stood, Magna Charta, and all other Law's extorted from our Kings in favour of the people, are rendered invalid, if Kings were responsible for no misdemeanours; It being the Lawyer's position in all cases That the King can do no wrong. Though it is apparent, that no mischief fell to us, but from his unlimited and usurped power: Since therefore so many years' experience proclaims it a thing impossible, to manacle a Supremacy in one single individual; it cannot but be most safe, to divide it amongst more: Many not being so apt, as one, to be intoxicated by the fumes of power and flattery.  
The childish Love the Common people bear the gaudy person of a King, giveth occasion to believe, that popular Goverments are rather results of Prince's disorders, than the natural effects of the people's inclinations; and therefore founded with the more difficulty; But after establishment easiest maintained; wise men being apt to connive at a fault in this Government, out of hope to have one day the happiness to mend, or commit it themselves.  
The first Monarchies were purely tyrannical as Babylon and Persia, who used to try both plaintiff and Defendant in a Starchamber of Beasts: Yet, though absolute tyrants over their people, so much enslaved to their own passions; as what was uttered against the life of the Prophet in folly, was not after repealable in judgement. And under these arbitrary Monsters the world laboured, till necessity, the pregnant Mother of all conveniency, taught their Subjects to temper them with Laws. But finding absotute Princes of so faithless a nature, that they were not tenable by compact: delighting like the Demoniaques in the Gospel, to room in the estates and among the graves of their Subjects; some Nations exploded them quite; as formerly several Cities of Greece and Rome etc. and of later years the united Provinces, who having obtained their liberty, and so not being exhausted by the exorbitant and vast expenses of a King, nor shackled by the distracted and contrary interests of a foolish and suborned Counsel; were able from their infancy to tear such morsels out of the throat of his great Catholic Majesty; as the weakness of France suffered him to swallow; and the fears of King James caused him to sell, to prevent the danger, he was persuaded by his jealousies, and some of his Counsellors (more servants unto that State then to him) waited upon the delivery or denial of the Cautionary towns to the King of Spain; which this poor spot of Earth doth not only dare to own, as their birthright; But have brought him to that pass, as he hath twice concluded peace with them, under the free notions of an Independent State.  
And some Nations never at all admitted any Kings; and such as are celebrated for most wisdom, felicity, and continuance; Apparent in the State of Venice, who hath outlived the story of her own birth, and seen the often repeated funerals of all the Kingdoms in Europe; being now by her account, onward of her twelfth Century: And though France seems to boast of little less continuance, deriving her original from the uncertain history of Pharamont, supposed her first King: Yet the impartial reader may find her subject to the discipline of strangers, and her own inferior Princes, till Lewis the eleaventh's wisdom had compounded for her wardship: and if Edward the fourth his contemporary had been owner of so much prudence, as the Free Cantons of the Swiss; he had missed of his mark.  
Fullness of bread, that inclines a people to Idolatry, makes them so proud and wanton, as to think any of their own body too mean to Govern; choosing rather, with the Frogs in the Fable, a Stork for their King, though it be his nature to devour them, than a selected number of their own, tied in reason to preserve them. Not perceiving that Monarchy is a sacrilegious overcharging a single person with more honour and power, than so frail a creature is able to bear, without falling into the distempers of excess: which renders industrious Nations more capable of freedom, as nearer to a parity; then such as time and luxury have overstocked with Nobility and Gentry; who scorning to be subject to those of their own quality, and not so well able to tyrannize over inferiors upon their own single score; cry up Princes, whose faults they cover with a false varnish, made up of an imaginary Divine Right, glistering only in the eyes of fools; wise men owning it as borrowed from the Eastern Idolaters; who were never better pleased then when they saw something carried before them gloriously adorned with the earrings, jewels, and spoils of the people. Which gives all Politians occasion to to pronounce, that a Prince cannot disparrage his affairs more, then by suffering his power to fall under a popular contest; Nor a Republic decline sooner into a tyranny, then by continuing that shadow which decency constrains Free Governments to retain of Monarchy, too long in one Family (as the Dutch did) without change or some vigorous opposition. For however Insurrections, like thunders are terrible for the present, They render Liberty more serene and clear: Princes being apt, with Alexander, to apprehend themselves more then humane, unless they be now and then besprinkled with their own blood; Affliction and opposition being better able to put them into the way of duty, than flattery or prosperity; so as if Fear were not more prevalent with them, than Love, Subjects would be fare more miserable: since it is without question, that the interest of Prince's looks with a contrary aspect to that of the People; His gain being for the most part their loss, as in case of illegal taxes, which if once carried clear without question, are conveyed as an inheritance to their posterity; who improve, rather than diminish any thing laid in charge by their Predecessors: Therefore Governors out of their own body, in reason should be more natural, than these fathers in Law, who see nothing about them but what they falsely imagine to be their own.  
Now though a Senate may have inclusively the same power, they are more tender of using it; for fear the evil consequence should reach their Children, who in these impartial Governments mingle among the people, and participate of all their inconveniencies; unless wisdom and good parts makes them capable of their Father's dignities; which happens rarely; Able Statesmen finding their virtues commonly wanting in their Children: And this discovers another gross inconvenience in successive Kingdoms, where not only Law and Custom, but Religion, if you trust Regal divinity, teacheth the people to cry Hosanna to the next Heir; Though nature, or which is worse, his wicked inclinations, render him unworthy the government of a Ass; Whereas a Senate is continually filled with the most able men.  
Not to lose time in casting up the account Antiquity made of this Government; upon whose approbation it is the nature of men to look through the prospective of multiplying opinion, as they do upon less remote verities with the eyes of envy and contradiction; The progress and virtues of the State of Venice are patterns not found in the greatest, or matched by the best of Kings: Who hath received nothing (her situation only excepted) but from the benevolence of Heaven and her own virtue; which hath enabled her (though but a Pamphlet in comparison of the Voluminous power of other Nations) to bear the opposition of all her Neighbours in their turns, and sometimes united by the malice of his Holiness; Though armed with no more natural weapons, than what her money puts into the hands of strangers; (the most unhappy Militia a State can employ;) Yet because all her Senators look one way, and not a squint upon Foreign Interests, as the Privadoes of our Kings have been known to do, in relation to their respective Pensions; Unity improves their small force to so much advantage, as they have for these latter years, not only disputed the dominion of the Seas with the Grand Signior, but forced him to wash away with his people's blood, divers marks of advantage his multitudes of Soldiers had purchased him in the Levant: So as if Monarches were owners of so much Christianity, as to spend but the tith of what is consumed yearly in Masques, and such unnecessary vanities, this way (a thing not to be hoped for, till our good God have discovered to all Nations, the curse of monopolised authority) this enemy to Christ might be easily reduced; Since all the force he can make, returns him, from this single State, nothing but dishonour and loss; whereas the greatest German Caesar was never yet able to bear the least branch of his power, without imploring and receiving aid from most of Christian Princes, who are now so weltered in their own blood, as they omit the opportunity; Thinking themselves more charitably employed in the ruin of their own people, or Neighbours; A Lunacy could never befall them, were they not agitated by such ridiculous humours, as Commonwealths disdain to be affected withal; where there is no room for any disputation about such trivial things as crabbed Titles, Legitimacy etc. all being ejected there as spurious that conduce not to honour or safety. And what advantage this State hath in the wise Conduct of affairs, may be easily discerned by any eye, that shall pass over the Transactions of this Senate and Paul the fift, during the Interdict; and compare them with the Treaties of our King James with Spain: the first redounding no less to the honour of that Republic, than the latter to the shame and loss of this Nation.  
Neither are these advantages peculiar to Venice only, but to all found under this Government; which officiating in the double capacities of a King and a Council both, cannot choose but be wiser than the first, and less subject to corruption then the latter; it being as unnatural for them to betray their own power, as it is usual with the greatest Courtiers to sell the revelation of their Master's most secret Counsels.  
Though Offenders under Free States are punished with the greatest severity, it is with the least injustice and partiality: Single persons being more subject to be agitated by the tempests of Fury, Prejudice or Revenge, then Popular Tribunals, which in all reason are not capable of so total a distemper, as to utter such intoxicated Censures, as ordinarily drop from single judgements; who rather than confess a mistake, will, with the Tyrant in Seneca, make three guilty, because they find one innocent.  
Neither doth Covetousness, the root of all evil, prosper so well, or spread so much in the hearts of Senaters, as in those of Kings; lest their Posterity should be forced to disgorge what they had devoured; Too vast estates being so formidable to this Government, as they cannot be passed by without observation, and jealousy, by such as know the cause of the reduction of the State of Florence under the House of Medici: But Kings are such bottomless pits, that they proclaim themselves responsible to none but God, for all their rapines and injustice: By which they do not only adjourn all reparation to the day of Doom, but leave their oppressions for lawful inheritances to their successors; As the Monopoly Queen Elizabeth granted upon Glasses, was improved since to very Rags and Marrowbones.  
All a Senate can justly be charged with by way of disadvantage, after perfectly founded, is division; which if pure from popular ambition, may possibly occasion more good than hurt, by keeping them upright; One Faction remaining as a guard upon the rest: Their own safety persuading all Corporations to intent the general welfare, in which Reason gives the right hand of advantage to the Government by a Senate, rather than that of a King; whose best designs are retarded, if not buried with his person; whereas this Jurisdiction is never sick, much less subject to drink or death; but reacheth, through a continual supplement, to as immense an eternity, as Providence hath afforded any humane Society; not being apt to be scared out of the paths leading to their advantage; consisting of too great a number to be subject to any clandestine attempt, or abused by evil Counsels, or corrupted by rewards; whereas experience teacheth, that Kings may be forced through fear, or alured by flattery, to resign their reason, and concede things not only contrary to their peoples, but their own interest: as appeared by that celebrated Prince Henry the Fourth of France, who was not ashamed to confess, he durst not for fear of his own life, but revoke the just Ban, he and all the Parliaments of France had pronounced against the bloody Jesuits; whose expulsion the Venetians make good against all their machinations, threats of the Pope, and mediation of Princes. From whence I may observe, That though experience proves by this State, and the Catholic Cantons, etc. that the Roman profession may suit, in some measure, with all kinds of Government, yet undeniable Reason of State renders Monarchy most acceptable to the Pope, as it doth the Reformation to Free States; who are too wise to admit willingly a Foreign interest into the Commonwealth, by a multiplicity of ecclesiastics, independent on any other power but that of Rome; which Kings, being but single persons, dare not resist, for fear of the Knife; it being besides a main disadvantage, in worldly policy, to profess a Religion so odious to their neighbours, that they are looked upon under no better notion, than Heretics; and so no faith to be kept with them, nor marriage contracted, but by an especial Indulgence from his Holiness, which Republickes have no use of; And being already under the ill opinion of the Roman Church, do but desire a fair opportunity to free themselves from it, and make booty of the Religious Houses, long since looked upon by them, as dens of Traiters and idle persons. Therefore such as desire a through Reformation, displease their ends by abetting Monarchy: Kings being known not only to have been the Begetters and Nurses, but the only Maintainers of Antichrist, if the POPE be the man. And if any, in opposition to this truth, object Queen Elizabeth (her Brother Edward's Youth and short reign rendering his inclinations abortive to the benefit of the Nation); I answer, whosoever considers how resolutely the Pope denied to reverse her Illegitimation, refusing to give a decent reception to her Ambassadors; And with what affection the Parliament (out of pure zeal, hatred to the Clergy, or fear of refunding the profits made of Abbey Lands;) did offer to cover her blemishes with the Crown; must conclude, there could be no better refuge for her in prudence, then to side with such, as did maintain the Church of Rome itself to be Basterdized. And for the dangers probability might threaten to such a total defection, all being avoided by her tyrannical Father, her Council (in whom she was the happiest ever waved the English Sceptre) thought a dispencing with them less prejudicial to her affairs, than the tedious ceremonies incident to a Reconciliation with Rome. Neither was the progress the Protestants made in Germany, France and Switserland, a small provocation; who by letters instigated her to this resolution; (the hopes of the Council of Trent not being quite lost,) because they found a general desire in all Princes to see the power of Rome moderated.  
And that she was rather thrown by necessity, than fell of her own accord, from the Church of Rome, appears by the Ceremonies used at her Inauguration, all purely Catholic; so as though she was not unwilling to give the new Profession hope, she could not be brought suddenly to put the old in despair; not endeavouring to bring in a greater Reformation than she found, but suffered the Bishops to besprinkle her Reign with the blood of some, and enrich her Exchequer with the livelyhoods of many more, that were so zealous as to desire a review of such errors, as they presumed the base ends of Henry the Eighth had let slip: And these were then persecuted (though of most exemplary lives) whose followers God hath in our days been pleased to requite with the most miraculous success that ever crowned the endeavours of an Army. And for a farther confirmation, that this total separation from the Pope, grew rather in the minds of the people, than the Prince; All the endeavours they could use, were not able to abrogate the ceremonies of Cross, Ring and Surpleece; though confessed by all, of no more absolute necessity, than what they derived from the breath of Authority: But their true end was, to discover such consciences as were irreconcilable to Rome, unto which they had then, and do still drive on a design of returning; Provided they could, by an universal conjunction of Princes, bring the Pope to renounce the power he pretends to have over Kings, in that which is merely temporal: And if I am not foully mistaken, the too vigorous prosecution of this project, was the cause of the murdering the two last Henry's of France. Therefore such as hinder the establishing a Free State, oppose the most probable way of suppressing Superstition, and discovering Truth; which in time will by the blessing of God, work itself into Unity.  
I do not write this out of an humour of singularity, or to cast dirt upon the Memory of Queen Elizabeth, who in my opinion deserves to be celebrated above all the Princes I ever heard of; but to manifest this truth, That Monarches look upon all Religions with love or disdain, as they find them suit with their worldly concernments. The like may be said of most of the Princes in Germany who took part with Luther, to have a pretence to seize upon the rich Monasteries and Lands of the Church. (And though humane policy may inject the same thoughts into the minds of Senators, yet purity of Religion is likelier to find friendship among many, than one.)  
Neither is the small countenance the French give to those of the Reformation, under a shallower policy, then to balance all partiality, which, the Pope may be terrified, out of a dread of his power, to show the King of Spain, to the French King's disadvantage; being always able by their assistance, to make the like booty of the Gallican Church, as Henry the Eighth did of the English.  
Neither had the rich revenues of the Roman Profession (which Christian Princes have long since surveyed, as too great a patrimony for a few Priests) been untaken in, but that the Catholic King is tied, not only by a contrary, but a stronger interest, to keep up the Pope from a total suppression: because he hath nothing to show for the possession of divers of his territories, and the dispensation of so many incestuous Matches, but the power his Holiness arrogates to make any thing lawful towards God or Man.  
Yet if any desire farther satisfaction, Why Spain remains so true to the bondage of Rome, whilst other Nations are in labour with divisions? it may be said, That besides the Inquisition, her natural pride and affected gravity renders her proof against Innovation; especially in order to a Profession less splendid than her own; being, like the Jews, more delighted with well dressed Ceremonies, then naked Truth: Neither have they any general propensity to the study of Controversies, or the writing of any thing besides Romances, to which the Roman Religion best suits, being replenished with the high Rhodomontadoes of Saints and miraculous Stories.  
A Monarchy both in Church and State is most suitable to the English Clergy, whose maintenance being raised out of the sweat of the Labourer, can find none so ready (the Pope excluded) as Princes to protect them: Commonwealths making no such room for flattery, as Kings, to whom those Churchmen are dearest, and readiest to be preferred by them; as having the faculty to discover Virtues where none are, and hid Vices where they most abound: to which qualities James and Charles were the indulgentest Princes, since the Reformation: For Queen Elizabeth, standing fair in her Subjects opinions, was bold to make exchanges with them to their disadvantage; The cause the sweetness of her Reign is no more legible. This proves it madness, to expect a pure Reformation under Kings; the Roman Religion being in all policy most necessary for them, because they have his Holiness ready at any time, as an honourable Umpire, friendly to cement them together by fair means; or in case they will not agree, to excommunicate the contumacious party: No small advantages to Kings, who participating of the same vindictive humours with other private mortals, fall upon most destructive wars, only to revenge personal affronts: As the last quarrel we had with Spain, risen from no more serious a bottom, than a misprision the Duke of Buckingham stumbled upon in his lust. And the same King's Expedition to the Isle of Reez had as noisome a source: which are things below a Senate, not apt to run a madding like unadvised Princes, who are distempered upon the least by't of a passion.  
Add to what hath been said, the vast sums correspondent to the charge of a Court, and wanton affections incident to Kings; (James of England having thrown away upon Dunbarre, Carlisle, Somerset and Buckingham only, according to computation two millions) and you cannot but conclude a Free State the thriftiest Government for the people; about whom no such sums can be found, but under the hazard of a present or future question. Besides, consider the excessive expense the Nation would be at, to repair the utensils of a Crown, which the charge or fate of war hath exposed to sale or ruin.  
We see it is the fortune of most private Families (notwithstanding their severer education) to fall within two or three generations, under a fool, or which is worse, one so infatuated with an immoderate thirst of pleasure, as to hazard the cutting off the strongest Entail: And can people be pronounced so happy, who have no more to show for their felicity, but the crazied and uncertain life of a King, (rarely found to be indifferently good in the first, but ever intolerable in the second or third Descent) as a Senate, which never dies, but grows daily more acquainted with the Constitution of the Nation; being taught by experience how to administer to the people's necessities?  
Whose children do not remain a burden and terror to the Commonwealth, as those of Monarches: Which makes the Great Turk to strangle them, like Vermin; and the Persian to put out their eyes, lest they should bewitch their Kingdoms into seditions: as in the Annals of our English Monarches is legible in red letters; though many deep marks of blood have been expunged by their power, or covered by the flattery of such as penned their Stories. And if we would seriously consider it without prejudice, we might clearly foresee, That no State is able (without stocking up the ancient Nobility and Gentry) to bear the true, much less the borrowed issue of three Queens in succession so fruitful as our last Marry: The pregnancy of whose head for mischief hath not yet been so fatal to this Nation, as her womb may prove hereafter to Posterity; that perhaps may be ignorant how few Kings come to the Crown unspotted with the blood of their Predecessors; And that Nature is so fare buried in their jealousies and fears, as oftentimes she cannot be heard in behalf of her own Children; manifested in Philip the Second of Spain, who put his own Son and Heir to death; A Tragedy since revived and acted by the same King's Players, upon the person of Prince Henry in England, at the especial command, as was thought, of &c—, because he seemed averse from a Match with the Infanta, for whose sweet sake his Brother undertook that honourable journey into Spain; by which (not to reckon the vast expense and shame it brought) the perpetual quiet of this Nation was in hazard. And till any can parallel this, with a like absurdity committed by a Senate, they must excuse all who think Monarchy not the wisest or happiest Government.  
Neither are the progeny of Kings less unmindful of their filial duty; since it is notorious, that Lewis the XIth, and Charles his Son, were found in the head of an Army against their Fathers, before discretion could securely intrust them with a Sword for fear of hurting themselves: the eldest not having attained the age of twelve years.  
What Tragedies the Royal issue have acted in England, is well known: But in Scotland they have been so frequent and dismal, that their Crown seems rather a snare to catch unadvised fools, than a Symbol of Honour; proving as fatal to most have worn it, as the Shirt of Hercules, the Drab had poisoned.  
Though a Senate may be tempted to severity at first, out of care and love to the people and themselves; The disturbers of peace being subdued or reform, it is as contrary to their natures and discretions to delight in blood, as for a wise Physician to use Phlebotomy when the distemper is over. Whereas under a Monarchy, the Nation runs a hazard of blouding upon every change; being ready to fall into a Fever by the contrary humours and claims of those of the same line; who upon the least nicety they are able to create, raise a civil and destructive war; as between Lancaster and York, which lasted so long as the people, out of mere poverty and weariness, were willing to sell themselves for Slaves to the succeeding Pharaohs of the prevalent Line: And having found such mischiefs to result from contrary claims, they, to perpetuate a single Title, made the justest endeavours to oppose it, Treason; and so entailed a perpetual inconvenience unto Posterity, that fell into the clutches of the Law upon the least offer they made to free themselves from these arbitrary Taskmasters, at whose devotion they have ever since eaten the bread of affliction and constraint, which they might have avoided, by changing the Government: But that, like Lucian, they lay under so strong a fascination, as they were in their abused judgements capable of no cure, but first by recovering a Conjunction between the Roses, and then an union with Scotland. And though the vanity of this conceit be made apparent by 40 years contrary experience; yet the generality cannot be wooed to assume their natural shape of Freemen, but desire rather to remain Asses still under the heavy pressures of a King; not considering, that the old Line is so exasperated, That if any of it come to succeed, they cannot in Prudence or Safety, but so bush up all ways leading never so little towards liberty, as we may well groan, but shall not have so much as hope to be heard or redressed hereafter: When those that stand for Kings shall receive as severe a doom as the rest, out of fear, they may another time, be as well able and as willing to oppose as now to assist them.  
After having weighed the deeds of the United Provinces, and Venice; Consider what despicable Nations (if capable of that Title) these had been, under absolute Princes: Or what King, deduction being made for the expense of his Court only; (without reckoning the concomitant vanities of Play, Revels etc. in which our last Kings spent more than they have done, in bringing home Victory from Spain or Turkey) would be able, with so small revenues, to pay so many Garrisons, and maintain such an Army as the Dutch have done for 80 years? Neither is the advantage lessened by objecting the vast sums they stand accountable for, to the Subjects of stranger Princes; which being entrusted without pawn, is the greater honour; all men's repute in the world having been suitable to their debts: Therefore since no Prince was ever thought capable of so much credit with his Neighbours, as to be entrusted with the like inestimable sums; as these, and other Free States are known to be; (who are made depositaries for the Fatherless and Widows) it is an infallible argument of their less esteem of Kings; never found true to their nature all Subjects; which makes none willing to lend to them, but out of fear or constraint, when money is by heaps laid voluntarily at the feet of this more free government. And what is to be expected from our redemption out of Monarchical thraldom, may be guest by the words of the Kings own Agent; who urged as an inducement to Holland, to favour his party, that if England could be free, they would be formidable unto them, not only by interrupting their Fishing, and all other Maritine advantages; but by robbing them of Traffic, as they had done the Venetians: and not only so, but give Law to all Christendom, by reason of the commodiousness of their harbours, and multitudes of their ships: Yet our bl— brethren of Scotland were so liquorish after the dainty shadow of being sharers with us in England, by the mediation of a King, they meant to have set over us, that they let fall the substance of as great a felicity of their own; having Sea room and greater advantages than the Hollander began with, or can yet purely call his own.  
To that obvious objection, That reason did always concede an advantage to the absolute Jurisdiction of a single person in the field; prescribing to that end but one General to an Army, for fear of divisions upon contrary Counsels and Commands; May be replied, that no King had ever greater success waited on his person, than this Government hath been ordinarily presented with from her Subjects; Who are not only heated with as great a sense of Honour, but also moderated by that of Fear; being subject to question, as well for Victory, if attained under too hazardous or improbable an adventure, as Loss; Whereas Princes take liberty to expose their people, without control upon all occasions and pretences, though never so trivial, disadvantageous or unjust. Neither are Generals taken up on trust, as Kings are, in successive Monarchies, who have nothing more to show for their Legitimacy, than the word of their Mother; nor better Reason and sufficiency for the execution of their Regality, then that his Majesty's Father had rendered the people miserable before him. And here I am constrained by truth to attect, That no Nation was ever more blest in the conduct and success of a General, than England is now; whose valour and judgement hath not only broke through such difficulties, for which Kings were wont to Triumph; but is become so familiar with Victory, as it may seem she dares not leave Him, for fear of being overcome herself.  
Neither is the good use may be made of Kings, excluded in a Free State, but continued; as in the Duke of Venice, and heretofore in the Prince of Orange etc. Who have the custody of such Honours and Ceremonies, as are not, with decency or conveniency, communicable to more than one: And such a Prince is not likely (nor in my poor judgement fit) to be kept from a Commonwealth: Provided his admittance be with that Caution, as no trespass may be committed upon the People's Liberty.  
Free States have been always looked upon as most auspicious to men of parts; Whereas Monarches prefer a good face; the importunate recommendations of a Mistress; or their own solitary affection; before all the desert attending upon parts or breeding: because empty themselves, they fear to be sounded by those more sufficient; Being as unable to resolve, as unconstant in the prosecution of the better counsels of others; which wise men communicate to Kings with much caution, as knowing that what they advise is upon no lighter penalty than their ruin, if it be not as suitable to the Favourites humours as their Masters own safety; which makes them either conceal their true judgement, or comply with such as prefer their single interest before the Public. This renders the best designs of Prince's addle, exposing their Subjects to a succession of evil events in the midst of their most probable advantages: A punishment inflicted upon the generality of Kings, for their Murders, Rapines and Blasphemies; it being rare for any of them to hold their Principalities from a more legitimate Tenure, than Poison or the Knife; their births being so sophisticated by the surer side, That they have oftentimes no more of the blood Royal in them, than the consent they lent to their Predecessors destruction hath clogged their consciences withal. And if the possession of the Crown alone be esteemed sufficient, in the sense of the Law, to expunge the grossest spots yet found in any that wore it; may it not as well charifie a Republic from any imputation can be objected to the means they ascended by? It being the custom of all supreme powers; to shape their Result, to the pattern, Prudence and success hath cut out for them, and not according to the fashion of old formalities; so little regarded by Princes as the oath was never yet sworn but they have broken; nor Stipulation so strong as to hold, when they saw the least advantage before them: They have therefore the less cause to complain, being only whipped with their own Rod; or like Haman rather, who was the justlier executed, because it was upon the same Gibbet, he had set up for the people of God.  
Therefore if men will not render themselves deaf to the voice of Providence, in no worldly thing so audible as a continued success; They may conclude, what is done, is by the approbation of God himself: He having manifested his power as well on the high and barren hills of Scotland, as in the fat and rich valleys of England and Ireland: Neither are his blessings wanting in the deep, where our Navies are no less successful, than our Armies on the Land; Though looked on with an evil eye, and cursed by the Kings of the Nations: whom the same God hath so weakened or employed as they have had no power or leisure to do us hurt.  
So as he that after all this, shall seem to apprehend more Divinity lost in a King succeeding by Conquest etc. Then may be found in a State (using as decent a proceedure, as can be expected in such a conjuncture, and from so many implacable humours and oppositions,) cannot but be blinded by Passion, or some selfeish interest: For though Government may be by Divine Institute; yet This or That is as indifferent, as whether your  be made after the Dutch or the French fashion; It being sufficient, if They defend us from the injuries of the Wether, and This protect us against our enemies; and prevent Sin and Disorder, the true occasions of all Government.  
I do not find particular Interests, that are useful and safe, much worsted by this change: For if our ancient Nobility consider how basely they were trampled upon by those two beggarly Princes Rupert and Maurice; who had nothing to bear the charges of their Pride, but the charity of those they scorned, and the gracious aspect of a Uncle, who could not love them, but for his own ends; What precedency or Honour could they have expected, had the Royal Issue been dilated to the probable number in three Descents it might have attained to, whereas now there is no likelihood, any more will be made; it not being suitable to Republics to give honours of that Magnitude; Though those few, the cruelty of the Catholic King left in the Netherlands, still retain the same Dignities and Possessions, the State found them in; As I doubt not but th●se may do here, if the implacableness of their Spirits do not render them unworthy of that favour; in thinking it not felicity enough, To be free from oppression themselves; unless they be in such a condition, as they may exercise with impunity a Tyrannical power upon others; as formerly they did; when like burning glasses, they multiplied the heat of the King's Oppressions.  
It is a wonder to me, to see, how nice they are now of their Honours; And what a scruple they make of submitting to this power, not to be denied Superlative; when I remember how basely I have seen them, or their Fathers, lying at the feet of the Court Minion; scrambling for his dirty Nieces; not leaving Inns, Shops, and (if not belied) worse places, unsought, to find some of his female Kindred, for their Heites: Forgetting that he is more Noble, who hath ventured his Life for Liberty; then he that hath nothing to show for his Honour, but a good face, or an Acquittance for so much money.  
Look upon our General in his Cradle, and you shall find him as good a Gentleman; as most of these (one of that House and Name having been a principal Instrument in overturning those Hives of Drones, and freeing us from the tyranny of the Pope:) But consider him in his Saddle, and you will think such low spirits unworthy to be his footmen: If he hath any faults, they lie neither in his Valour, Conduct, Prudence, nor Humanity: Being as far from Pride as Baseness; and known to be as faithful in the Preservation of his friends, as Providence hath made him successful in the subversion of his enemies. I had not writ this, for fear of being accused of Flattery; but that I know he is so employed in purchasing new Honours, and settling this Nation, that he hath not the leisure to hear what he hath already deserved.  
Concerning the Interest of the Ministry; I mean such as have no other end, than the glory of God; They may be more happy under this, then Monarchical Government: For though sublimer Titles (the Diana of more licentious times) be taken away; yet since the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is promised to be set up in the place; They ought with patience to expect; Assuring themselves, That God would never give so miraculous success to men designed for the ruin of Truth. Neither is it suitable with the rest of the Prudence used by those who have the absolute power of determining, to take away the decent maintenance of the Ministers of the Gospel, or to demolish the Universities: But rather hold the hands of such as, like blind Samson might go about to pull them down and ruin their own selves by their folly and indiscretion.  
It is past humane prevention, That two factions, both so fruitful in Learning as the Protestant and Papist, should not fall into so many subdivisions; as it is impossible to keep them all in Unity, Under a less severe restraint, than an Inquisition (as repugnant to charity, as unsuitable to the spirits of a free people); Or else by enjoying so indulgent a Liberty, as may leave every Conscience free (All civil Obedience presupposed as due to the present Government). Now such as conclude from this Permission, That the Catholics will then in a short time Master all; Do not consider, how much easier Oxen are kept out of a Pasture, than Coneys or Hares: The Papist having rendered himself so unsociable to all opinions but his own, as he is detested in Amsterdam, where the Jews find as good, if not better protection.  
Therefore the United Provinces and all other Free States, whose Foundations were laid under the mixed occasion of maintaining Religion and Liberty together; are not reprovable for making use of, and indulging tender Consciences, though they retain some things superfluous, or have not yet the strength to concoct into practice, all things necessary: For as Rome was not built in a day; so it is as impossible to pull it down in so short a time.  
Wherefore I desire men to be more charitable in their censures; since the Primitive Christians were so fare Independent, That they retained only so much of the Truth, as the tyranny of those times, and the stronger or weaker light they walked by, gave them opportunity to snatch up. Some running away with a belief of the Holy Ghost; others without so much as ever hearing of such a thing: some with simple Baptism; others with a mixture of Circumcision: Some with the bare knowledge of the Baptism of John, yet judged mighty in the Scriptures: Some with a religious respect to Days and Meats; others without it. And yet Paul is so fare from reproving them, that he attests, it was all done to the Lord. Neither is it less manifest, that they all did teach: And if the same Apostle would never eat Flesh rather than offend a weak brother, what charity appears in those High Presbyterians, that clamour for a Coercive power, as Saul did before his conversion, that they might deliver these men bound. I would feign have them tell me, What is meant by building with Hay, Straw, Stubble &c. which shall raise at least the Builders to heaven; provided Christ the Foundation be kept: And if so, let us take heed, lest a woe do not follow the scandalising these men, who without doubt are our Saviour's little ones. And since we cannot recover the whole seamles coat of Christ's righteousness, let us not despise any, about whom we find the undeniable pieces, though spotted with the frailties of humanity.  
The last Interest is the People's; which if not already better under this present Government, than a Kings, they may thank themselves, who by their own intemperance and noncompliance, occasion the major part of these heavy taxes; Which the State can take no pleasure in raising, Their own lands being as obnoxious to them, as the meanest Subjects.  
Therefore if all would willingly submit to the power, God hath set over them, The Tradesman might live free from being interrupted by Monopolies; and the Husbandman, from the rapine of Purvoyers, Comissaries, Dear, Carriages, Shipmoney, Wardships, and an innumerable number of other illegal impositions.  
Whereas otherwise it is impossible to make a Nation happy, that is resolved to be miserable; and to seek their own ruin by hating to be Reform.  
FINIS.