The Divine Catastrophe OF The KINGLY Family Of the House of STVARTS: OR, A SHORT HISTORY OF THE Rise, Reign, and Ruin Thereof.  
Wherein the most secret and Chamber-abominations of the two last Kings are discovered, Divine Justice in King Charles his overthrow vindicated, and the Parliaments proceed against him clearly justified,  
By Sir Edward Peyton Knight and Baronet, a diligent observer of Those Times.  
London, Printed for Giles Calvert, at the black Spread-Eagle at the west-end of Paul's. 1652.   

TO THE Supreme Authority of this Nation, Assembled in this present PARLIAMENT.  
Right honourable Senators,  
WAndering in the Circumference of my contemplations, to find out what was most suitable to present to the Supremacy of Parliament, under such a Divine revolution as God hath brought to pass instrumentally by your wisdom and direction, and his heavenly Providence; in this wide field, the Omnipotent guided my thoughts to dedicate a Discourse to your honourable hands, concerning the fatal Catastrophe of the last House had superintendency over us, to the time the Almighty put the Stern of this Commonwealth into a Parliamentary Power, which I most humbly wish our celestial Creator to continue, till a Snail be able to creep over the whole Globe of the earth.  
In the mean while, I crave your pardon that I have not so distinctly in order laid down many remarkable passages worthy recite, my Papers being remote a great distance from me: yet, by God's grace, I have composed a little Enchiridion of divers remarkable events have happened out, to prove Gods just revenging hand on the Family of the Kingly Stuarts of Scotland, and justified your proceed, and proved that the heavy weight of sin hath given a downfall justly imposed by Providence from above; my Observations reaching no higher than from the King of Scots being taken prisoner at Muscleborough-field, in Edward the sixth his Reign.  
Now therefore I thrice humbly desire your Patronage, especially finding by experience the composition and stile of this present Narrative will incur the displeasure and hatred of most in this State: yet I value it not, being prompt by a higher power than that of Man, which points out by a Divine finger the overthrow of all men exalted above all that is called God, whose ruin will be the bridge to let into the Stage of the world the heavenly Government of Christ, which shall continue for ever, maugre the malice of the Universe.  
Wherefore I most humbly implore the thrice honourable Parliament to accept of This, as a testimony of my fidelity to the present Government; which I pray God to bless and maintain, to advance his glory, and bring the whole Nation to a most happy condition, which now the present symptoms thereof show plainly a new approach of a great tranquillity, not only to this, but to the three Nations in general.  
Edw. Peyton.   

THE Rise, Reign and Ruin OF THE Kingly Family Of the STUARTS.  
SInce Great Britain hath been elevated all along the stems of Plantagenet, Theodor or Tedor, and Stuart, to so high a Tree of Tyranny as she was afore the late wars; the Princes had designs proportionable to a way of making themselves absolute Governors; which overture hath appeared more or less, according to the humour of times, and inclination of the Guiders of the Stern: for some endued with ability and craftiness necessary to settle an usurped ambition, whilst the people were willing to bear the load of that burden, have made a progress so politicly to bring their aims to the mark shot at, that they have so subtly dissembled the enterprise, as no notice or scandal arrived at their doors, nor impatience to the three Countries of England, Ireland, and (since the access of the Family of the Stuarts) to Scotland; until King James, for hatred of his Mother's death, plotted the ruin of Parliaments, which ratified Queen Mary's execution; and left it as his Testament for his successor to follow; dictating, not long afore his death, to William's Archbishop of York, the course he should steer to bring his counsel to conclusion. This devilish advice thrust on this wilful Prince with an inconsiderate fury; and, inflamed with that fire, to settle to himself and his successors an unbridled power of dominion; which hurried him on with the whirlwind of passion, to discover the mystery which ought to have been concealed till the design should be accomplished. Wherefore, of this number in our days was Charles the first, who, from the beginning of his Government, blaming the moderation of his predecessors, resolved to go a way contrary to the stream of a pious Rule, and the command of God; and act, during his time, that which God would not suffer to be done in many ages past. And because the pretention is always encumbed, when the object cannot be attained; by wicked advice perceiving he had not so well marched to accomplish his drifts, with the just power of Parliaments, which might found a Trumpet in the behalf of a Commonwealth, by advice of his Antecedent and his wicked adherents, laboured to raze out the memory, breaking up two Parliaments; and not satified therewith, to practise Tyranny, kept the Nation near fourteen years without such most lawful Assemblies, where the Rights of the Nation might be discovered, and true Liberty appear. This he did, that the power of Law, and property of the Subject's estates, might be enclosed in his sole Arbitrary breast. To that purpose, he made his Sycophants of the Council-Table, Judges of the Right of his people, the Star-Chamber the Executioners of his unbridled will, and the High-Commission the destroyers of Piery and Religion: which three though he revoked by Acts, yet being angry with himself for so doing, he raised a War, to make abortive all he had done, by an armed power, although he seemed willing to affect it afore: therefore, pursuing the former series of his will for a Law, Charles quarrels first with the Gentry and People about Coat, Conduct, and Ship-money, and plotted with his wicked Council that a thousand German Horse, in the nature of Trayle Baton, should take every one denied to give him money, or that would not subscribe to his endless will and easeless power, to be hurried to Prison, there to end their days; (some of them being so barbarously used.) This unjust resolution he took upon him, unless they yielded to his unsatiable desires: by which means, the eyes of many of the triple Nations were sealed, as pigeons are used for trains to devouring Hawks to plume and prey on. This struck such a Panic fear, that they imagined all power consisted in the Diadem, to be at his mercy, because they were ignorant of their Rights, which were usually discovered in Parliaments, by some practised in the Records. But behold! God raised up some Heroes within the doors of the Representative, and without, to awaken the people from a dead sleep; or rather, to cure them of a disease of lethargy: who rousing like Lions let lose out of a Den, opposed this most wicked Oppression; by which way, they certainly fulfilled God's determination upon the seventh Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter (being Sabbattical) since the beginning of the world, to bring down the Mountain of Monarchy, which had continued more than five hundred years; to depress the extortion practised in Europe from Charlemain's Age; a Symptom and Harbinger for France, Spain, Germany, Turkey, and Papacy, to change from an unbridled power, to an Aristocratical, or Plebeian way of rule, which will better advance the Kingdom of Jesus Christ thorough the Universe: whereby it appears, that England, (by God's assistance) may be the elder brother, to bring to pass so mighty an alteration on the the stage of Christendom.  
By divers ungodly Sophisms of State, for the space of ten years, King Charles raised up innumerable Projectors and ungodly burdens, to enthral the Nations, by an Arbitrary way; imposing Monopolies & many unlawful Taxes, under which they remained without remedy of relief; the eyes and ears of all in high authority being blind and deaf, not to hear nor see Petitions of just complaints, insomuch that the people generally cried out, Where are our Laws? and demanded if all Justice were banished out of their quarters; and, with eyes lift up to Heaven, desired that those caterpillars might not swell too big, like a Spleen, to bring a Consumption to the whole body; praying also that their empty purses might not be filled with blood, although their eyes with tears.  
Now this miserable condition (perceived by the wrinkles sorrow made on the brow of our disordered affairs, all wise counsels banished, and the reputation of a pious State withered) was augmented by King Charles his imposing the Common-Book of Prayer on the Scots (wherein God seemed to be deaf a time, for the sins of this Nation, multiplied against the Divine Majesty; yet at last he heard the prayers of the Saints, that the Scotish men could not endure this imposition so Diametrically opposite to the Kirk, and disposition of the Nation.)  
This Stratagem was by the artifice of Laud Archbishop of Canterbury, to bring into the Country Episcopal Government, to unite both Kingdoms in one form of Church, in something agreeable with Rome, as a bridge over which he might bring both people to Popery, to ingratiate himself with the Pope for a Cardinals Cap.  
Lo, how Charles and Scotland differed in this wide field of behaviour: the interest of the King made Will a Law, and the other avoided such a Slavery: the issue was, (growing by this Edict obstinate) they could not endure it. But King Charles persisted in his wilful determination to find out this subject to work the effects of his indignation upon; so that this occasion was fitly presented to his wishes, to raise an Armed Power to subdue them to his unbridled Pleasure. But when this War exenterated his Coffers for lack of Money, he was constrained, nolens volens, to call a Parliament, by the advice of the fomer wicked Counsellor, who persuaded him to it; making the King believe that at his pleasure he might on all accasions break the neck of such Assemblies. In the mean while, the enterprise was hatched on the basis of a contrariety of inclination, by which he might set a bone to divide and govern both; because that Nation, by the immense bounty of King James, was grown exceeding rich; which sowed seeds of envy in England to oppose the Scot But by this Parliament, God (who hath sole power in sublunaries) turned this cross blow to the good of both, to enlarge the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and for the Liberty of England and Scotland.  
But because the errand of my Discourse is not solely to show the abuses of State, but rather by reckoning up a brief Catalogue of some, to demonstrate and delineate the just Judgement of God on the Family of these Stuarts, for Cruelties and Murders one of another; that we may raise up our praises to God, who out of the ashes of intended ruin, hath made the Source of so glorious a State as now is planted on our English Stage, wherein God finds this Commonwealth very consistent with his adequate glory in consummating the fullness of the Gentiles, and calling home of the Jews, foretold in the Scriptures, to be performed in the latter Ages of the World; to the intent Promises and Prophecies should be accomplished, for the Dominion of Christ to extend to the ends of the earth, that those who sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, may be brought into a more perspicuous light, to follow the steps Christ hath traced out for all to walk in; which the overgrown pride of Kings and Emperors would not submit to.  
Therefore to demonstrate and observe, how the Almighty hand of God hath determined the extirpation of the Royal Stock of the Stuarts, for murdering one of another, for their profane Government, and wanton Lasciviousness of those Imps engrafted in that Stock; I am forced to raise the fabric of this Relation higher by the fourth Story, and last stair of the great Grandfather of Charles the first; who was slain at Muscle-borough-field by the English Army, under the command of the Earl of Arundel and Surrey. This King, I say, left a sole Daughter, Marry Suart, Inheritrix of that Realm; who, when she attained of Viripotency, was sought for a consort to the Dolphin of France; which title of right belongs to the first Son of the King of that Crown. This Prince, after the Marriage, ended his days by a shiver of a Lance, at the sport of Tourney in Paris. A Match contrived by the French, for the Scots to be Goads in our sides, to hinder our invading of France, to which we had a just Title.  
But this Mary deprived of her mate by this sad accident, living some few years in the French Court, where she was educated in the School of Venus, proved an apt Scholar in that wanton Academy; and affecting in her inclination to be more absolute in her passion of Love to choose without control a Paramour suitable, when, how long, and who she pleased, grew weary of the delights of Paris, desiring variety, returned into Scotland, where she had more power; she being constant in nothing but in Inconstancy: A place where the amorous way was much in esteem, though the Church-Government somewhat hindered it; which was then not of such force as since.  
This Princess cast her glances everywhere about, to find a beauty fit for her embrace; and at last fixed her liking on the Lord Darnel, of the House and Family of the Stuarts of Boot in Scotland; whose Ancestors were there famous, contesting long ago for the King with one Wallis in their homebred broils, who sided with the people. To say truth, this Lord was a goodly and amiable person, fit for any Compeership, how great soever: but after some time, this Princess (soon satiated) grew weary of the conjunction, by reason of a servant she entertained, called David Ritsoe, an Italian Musician, who exceled in the Airs of Italy above others in that Faculty: who enchanting the Queen with his voice, made her think there was no happiness but in his approach into her Cabinet (a place wherein she continually resided:) but from thence the Lord Darnel was banished above nine months; divorced from her in joy, although he sought divers means in vain.  
At last, for a medicine to remedy his discontent, one Dowglas administered Physic for his cure, to amove Ritsoe from the Queen, and put the Lord her husband into her arms. So violent was the Ingredience, that Ritsoe was taken from this Princess by twelve arrived Lords, and their retinue, who put her into the Lords arms; killing Ritsoe, laid his dead body on the same trunk was his bed the first night he arrived to the Queen's service. But there was much ado, afore this Tragedy was acted. To understand this better, this Dowglas, an Agent for the twelve banished Lords out of Scotland to return, could not effect it, unless the Lord Darnel undertook the accomplishment upon the former condition, to dispatch Ritsoe from Court. But they being jealous of Darnels promise, not fixed in other Puntilios, would not believe him, till, pricking his fingers, he wrote an assurance under his hand with blood, in a paper, really to effect it: which was acted, when the Queen leaned on Ritsoes shoulder, at the game of Primero with the Earl of Morton Chancellor of Scotland; who cherished this unlawful familiarity: a verity justified on Oath by Darnel, and one of the twelve Lords, the Lord Ruthin, at his execution on the Scaffold, a place where dying men speak true.  
This Lady very sorrowful, retiring to Sterlin Castle, shortly after was brought a-bed of King James; but took no delight in her husband's company: for the Lord Bothwel became a new Corrival in her affection; who both consented (as Germanicus wife with Sejanus, after she had been lascivious with him) to blow up her husband's body with Gunpowder; who was cast dead on a tree next morning: a spectacle made Scotland amazed at so fearful a murder. By this most wicked design, she grew so contemptible to her Realm, that she was fain to flee to Queen Elizabeth for succour: but lo, some years afore, several Treasons were here discovered, that this Mary set the Traitors a-work to take away our late Queen's life; who were afore condemned for Traitors, and suffered death: for this Mary was the next pretender to the Crown, from Henry the seventh: but God prevented it, by her Privy Council (counted the wisest of all Europe) who counselled Elizabeth to condemn her, to free England from Treasons against her Person. But the sage Princess conjectured, if the death should be by her Edict, it might raise the hatred of foreign Princes against her; and therefore caused the sentence only to be ratified by Act of Parliament, the Vote of the whole Realm, insomuch that a mock-Secretary (called Davison) was chosen to go to Fotheringham, where she was rewarded with a Hatchet: a just Judgement of God on her.  
After this, King James (being about sixteen years old) was crowned, and had for Tutor one Bohannon, called amongst us Buchanan; a learned Divine, and wise, to train up young Princes; whose Books are famous through this part of the world. This prudent Schoolmaster observing the young Prince's facility to sign any Grant for his Servants without reading, by which means he had pardoned many murders, and passed other Instruments of damnable consequence to the Commonwealth; in which this Tutor imitated Theodosius' godly fraud, to discern the hearts of his Courtier's soundness in Religion; who having taken great pains with the King from his childhood, desired a boon, which King jame was willing to grant; therefore one morning the king going out early a hunting, Buchanan brought an absolute resignation of his kingdom, with all Immunities to it; which was signed without aspect. At night, returning from field-sports, retiring usually afore supper to read some profitable Author, which his Schoolmaster chose; all shut out of the Cmhaber, Buchanan sat down in the king's Chair, and told him that he was king, giving him the writing to peruse; which reading, he shed tears for his folly; yet Buchanan after comforted him, and charged his Scholar not to sign any Grant but what was just; and so threw the Grant of all Scotland into the fire.  
About this time, Queen Anne was brought out of Denmark for a match; a Lady of a goodly presence, beautiful eyes, and strong to be joined with a Prince young, and weak in constitution; an union unsuitable, for a Virago to couple with a Spiny and thin Creature; a course made her fancy work as a Fat, for to further a female content; and placed in her delight one Master Stuart, of the house the Earl of Murry. His haunting her Chamber too sedulously, bred such a jealousy in King james, for to impart his thoughts to Marquis Huntly, and get dispatched this Stuart out of the way, burning his house, and himself in it. After whose death, the Queen found others to satisfy her unruly appetite, as namely the Earl of Gowry, a Lord of a comely visage, good stature, and of an attracting allurement; who upon King james suspicion of often society with the Queen, converted to the Poison of hatred the friendship and love of the Earl; causing Ramsey, after Earl of Holderness, with others, to murder Gowry in his own house; giving it out for a stolen, that the Earl with others would have killed him; And to make his falsehood appear odious in shape of truth, appointed the fifth of August a solemn day of Thanksgiving for his supposed delivery; and in this mocked the God of Heaven.  
After this, the Queen entertained into her service one Mr. Beely a Dane, to whom she bore an affection; this Gentleman came with her into England, and grew more entire in her thoughts; with whom I had a familiarity, to be a Commissioner for him in a Grant his Mistress procured for him of King james, of felons goods in divers Counties; who in great secrecy discovered to me, he was natural Father of King Charles; but waxing old, the Queen took two proper Gentlemen of the House of Bohannon to her service: these being partners in her affection, fell out in a Duel, and killed one another for priority in her love.  
Not long after Gowries death, Prince Henry was born at Edinburgh; whereupon, Queen Elizabeth sent the Earl of Sussex Ambassador, to congratulate this birth, and be Godfather, with a gallant retinue: but Scotland being poor, and the king wanting money to discharge the glory of such a Royal entertainment, the Earl of Orkney, a Bastard of the former kings, pawned his Estate in the Islands of Scotland, to raise a great sum to discharge the Christening. Behold, how King James did not only not disengage this Mortgage, but suffered this Earl to die in Prison at Blackness near Edinburgh-Castle: an ingratitude indelible for after-ages to detest.  
I omit the Murders, Enchantments, Witcheries, committed by his Predecessors, of weight enough, without more, to pull down that House.  
But Henry the fourth of France being informed of this congratulation, and conceiving it to be a step to unite England and Scotland in one Government, Elizabeth waxing old, sent a Letter of encouragement to King James, to join with him in revenge of his Mother's death; who replied, (as the true Copy expressed) that he would not fall at difference with Elizabeth, since he was now more secure in his Throne, then in his Mother's time; intimating he was not sorry for her amovall; for her life might have procured his ruin.  
Elizabeth, after forty year's Reign, was moved by her privy Council to settle King james for successor: who said, she would not erect a Monument in her life, for a follower to expect her end. She was a Lady adorned with Majesty, Learning, Languages, Wisdom, and Piety; yet fearful of death; for she hated any word tended to it; as shall be manifest by Roger Lord North, when carving one Day at Dinner, the Queen asked what that covered dish was; he lifting up the cover, replied, Madam, it is a Coffin; a word moved the Queen to anger: And are you such a fool, said she, to give a Pie such a name? This gave warning to the Courtiers not to use any word mentioned her death. But this prudent Prince died after forty four years complete; and king James was proclaimed about the last of March, 1602. king of England, by his privy Council, assisted by the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Robert Lee. In May after, he entered, met with many Nobles and Gentlemen; the Sheriffs attending him in every County from Berwick: so that there was a general applause, and Royal entertainment, at his entrance into the  in London; yet ominously attended with a great Plague of three thousand dying in a week in the City. This Union gave a grand expectation of tranquillity to both kingdoms. To effect this better, he called a Parliament lasted seven years, and raised many Subsidies, with great sums left by his Predecessor; which vast treasure was all bestowed on the needy Scots, who, like Horseleeches, sucked the Exchequer dry; so that Honour and Offices were set to sale, to fill the Scots purses, and empty the kingdoms treasure. This caused a byword, That the Exchequer reached from London to Edinburgh. This was not sufficient to gorge their insatiable requests, but many Monopolies likewise were erected, myself after reporting thirty two Patents to the Parliament in decimo octavo jacobi.  
The Queen deprived of the nightly Company of a husband, turned her delight to the Prince, whom she respected above her other children: finding him too serious, diverted him from so much intensiveness, to an amorous gesture, in which the English Court took great pride. To that purpose, she initiated him in the Court of Cupid; as one night she shut him under lock and key in a chamber with a beautiful young Lady now dead; which shown her love to the sport: indeed, morelikea Bawd; than a discreet Mother, who is bound to season her children in virtue, while young, that they may hold the taste in age: whose example, in virtue or vice, might draw a world to follow the pattern. But after, Prince Henry fell mortally sick of a supposed Fever, but not without suspicion of poison. A Prince, whom all Europe expected to be the promoter of some great and famous action, because his inclination was bend to the Martial art above his years, and also excelled in matters of State, both in discourse, and choice of ablest company; which he much delighted in, for advice and counsel. This ripeness in judgement, and dexterity in Soldiery to form Models of any sort of Battles, stirred up king james to suspect the Prince might depose him; especially knowing he was not begot of his body. This caused the Lord Saintcleare, than Ambassador in Denmark, not to be ashamed to challenge Prince Henry to be his own son, to English and Scots there arrived: so that by some Pill or other the Prince came to his end. This was plainly showed, when he was cut up to be imbalmed, his brain was Liver-hued and putrefied; an argument of poison, as was affirmed by a most learned Physician, Butler of Cambridge. Now king james, more addicted to love males then females, though for compliment he visited Queen Anne, yet never lodged with her a night for many years. Whereupon, Gundamore observing how king james was addicted, told him that the Lady Hatton would not suffer the Lord Cook her husband to come into her fore-door, nor he himself to come into her backdoor. (Hatton and Ely houses joining together, where they dwelled; she denying him a passage backward to take air.)  
Now that the fruit of Mortality might declare humane frailty, Queen Anne, who had trod so many stately footings in masks of Court, Beauty fading, strength falling, and youth metamorphosed to years, health to sickness, being haunted with a linger sickness, which contracted her end. For Doctor Upton at his death (not long afore the Queen's) declared a Skeleton being in her womb, proves she was with child, and that Physic had destroyed it, and so the Skeleton remained; which was laboured to be purged away, but all in vain, rotten in her. Of this Doctor there was a jealousy of revealing it, for which his passage was made to another world, as his tongue to me at his death uttered; who married my near kinswoman.  
The Queen departed, the King sold his affections to Sir George Villiers, whom he would tumble and kiss as a Mistress. This favourite had erected many Monopolies; who finding Parliaments hindered his profit, caused his Master to dissolve those Patents, and break up the Parliament of decimo octavo; raising a number of Privy Seals, which were borrowed and never paid.  
And to add to the iniquity of the times, divers Incests were then pardoned: insomuch as two Gentlemen who married two sisters one after another, got Licence at Newmarket not to be molested in the High-Commission. But above all, a godly Minister in Lincolnshire was barbarously murdered by one Cartwright, whom King james pardoned. The reason of this murder was, for rebuking him of swearing, drunkenness, and whoring.  
At this time were many pious Divines silenced by the Bishops, who inhibited preaching in the afternoon; divers Exercises in several Towns commanded down: an occasion bred much profaneness in England; king Iames allowing dancing about Maypoles, and so winked at breaking the Sabbath; a vice God curseth everywhere in Scripture.  
What shall I say more? All impiety was encouraged in such a sort, that lawful Marriages were divorced or nullified; as namely, the Countess of Essex from the Earl of Essex, late General for the Parliament; alleging the Lord had a defect, and was not able to perform the act of generation; (although the contrary was after proved) to make a gap for Somerset's adultery, by a Nullity which Bishop Bilson devised; a nickname being given for this to his son, who was rewarded with Knighthood; and therefore styled by the people, Sir Nullity Bilson. This Bishop maintained Christ's personal descension into hell: an opinion disavowed by all Orthodox Divines. And many other false opinions were maintained in that age; as, that Solomon was damned, an amanuensis of the Scripture.  
The second example is the Lord Riches Lady, named Penelope; who was divorced, to make way for the Lo. Montjoy's lust, Earl of Devonshire.  
What shall I say more? Did not king james his minions and favourites rule the kingdom in the person of the king, who were five in number, since his approach upon English ground? to wit, Sir George Humes Earl of Dunbar, Sir Philip Herbert after Earl of Montgomery and Pembroke, Sir james Hayes Earl of Carlisle, and Sir Robert Car Earl of Somerset, who defiled his hands in Overbury's death; that wicked divorce ushering the murder. This Somerset being elected of the Council, furnished his Library only with twenty Playbooks and wanton Romances; and had no other in his Study. A Lord very like to give wise counsel! This Lord, with his Lady, were questioned for the murder; and the Lieutenant of the Tower, Sir George Elloways, was hanged, but for concealing of it: king james being willing with this accusation, to make passage for another favourite, which was Sir George Villiers, after Duke of Buckingham, who by his greatness vitiated many gentile and noble virgins in birth, though vicious for yielding to his lust; whose greatness opened the door to allure them more.  
To please this favourite, King james gave way for the Duke to entice others to his will. Two examples I will recite: first, the King entertained Sir john Crafts, and his Daughter, a beautiful lass, at Newmarket, to sit at the Table with the King. This he did then, to procure Buckingham the easier to vitiate her. Secondly, Mrs Dorothy Gamay, being a rare creature; King james carried Buckingham to Gulford, to have his will on that Beauty: but Sir Nicholas Bacon's Sons conveyed her out of a window into a private chamber, over the leads, and so disappointed the Duke of his wicked purpose. In which cleanly conveyance, the Author had a hand, with the Knight's Sons. Truly, that day a sober man was hard to be seen, in King, Prince, and Nobles. Moreover, it was an art King james used for these favourites, to be skreens to decline the hatred of his People; when complained of in Parliament, and when questioned, they were sponges to be squeezed to to fill his Coffers.  
One story I will relate, more remarkable than the rest; the king very timorous of death from the contrivings of Pope and Spain, wrote a Letter to the Pope that he would tolerate Popery when he brought affairs to his bent in Great Britain. The Letter discovered by a lucky chance, to the seven year's Parliament, and complained of in the Remonstrance to the king, he made the Scotish Secretary own this act, and affirm it was his, and not the kings; promising him to take him off at last with advancement: but contrary, it occasioned the Secretary's ruin.  
Here, by the way, I must play the Cook, to lard three several occurrences not impertinent to the matter in hand. The first was, that Secretary Winnode took a bribe of 20000 pound, to redeliver the four Cautionary Towns in Holland to the Dutch; which we now may see might have kerbed the States from prejudicing England. Another was, king james his weakness, to give way to Gundamore to take away Sir Walter Rawliegh's life; who might have vexed Philip the second of Spain. A third was, to sell Iron Ordnance, & discover the art of their Carriages; which all the world was ignorant of.  
This last favourite, George Duke of Buckingham advanced to such power with his Mother, rewarded the king with poison, by a poisoning water, and a plaster made of the Oil of Toads.  
This Duke, from a private Gentleman with an annuity of thirty pound a year for life, was raised to such a mount of glory and power, to be Master of Horse, Master of the Wards & Liveries, Admiral of England, and Lord Warden of the Cinq-ports. A Lord tall of stature, amiable countenance; who, like a ravenous kite, engrossed all into his hands, to enrich and advance his kindred, and to place and displace whom he listed: so that this Lord was grown so potent, his Master stood in awe of him, in such sort, that when the king was sick of the Gout, he would remove him from place to place at pleasure, against the kings will: who, to work his ends, wrought into favour with the rifing Phoebus, king Charles. The king prying into this way of his Successor, set a bold Courtier, Doctor Turner, a float, to bring the Earl of Bristol (than out) to launch into favou; but the Duke complying with Turner, perceived the plot against him, wrought by a countermine, by Charles the chief Engineer: but the Duke's drift was, after king james his death, to make himself king of Ireland; and therefore he was styled Prince of Typeraria, an appendix to that Throne. This made the Duke swell like a Toad, to such a monstrous proportion of greatness in vast thoughts, as muitiplying to an ocean, from the rivers of pride, power, and ambition, he sat as a Giant on the shoulders of king james, and drowned his power; limiting no bounds to his overflowing will: whose virtue and good nature being corrupted by so wicked a life, turned love into hatred, obedience into rule: for after he had dispatched the Duke of Richmond, Marquess Hamilton, the Earl of Southampton and his son, by poison, (as by Doctor Eglestons' relation plainly appeared to the Parliament; whom he caused to be killed in foreign parts, for discovering the villainy;) Thus filled with venom of greatness, he made no bones to send his Master packing to another world, as appeared plainly in Parliament, by the witness of divers Physicians, especially Doctor Ramsey, in full hearing at a Committee. Wherefore, for this & other crimes, he was impeached in the beginning of King Charles his Government: and though King Charles was bound to prosecute King james and the other Lord's death, committed contrary to all the laws of God and Nations; yet King Charles, to save the Duke, dissolved the Parliament, and never after had the truth tried, to clear himself from confederacy, or the Duke from so heinous a scandal. Now let all the world judge of Charles his carriage, whether he were not guilty of conniving at so foul a sin, though not of the death: so that covering his Lion-like disposition with appearance of a Lamb, he proved like Nero the Tyrant, that in the Parliament of the Petition of right, showing himself in his lively colours: for displaying the Banner of Tyranny, he put an end to the meeting, & imprisoned divers members, so that Sir john eliot died, and the rest remained in durance, because they had been faithful to their Country; and, to add to cruelty, he sent Sergeant Glanvile, Sir Peter Hayman, and Colonel Purify, into foreign parts, to consume their fortunes, and hazard their lives; calling not a Parliament long after.  
By this time, Sycophants so enlarged the Monarchy without bounds, that there were exactions too many to be repeated in so little a volume as this: and piety being entombed so many years, and so many pious men silenced, caused Nobility, Gentry, and all inferiors, more licentious; who by insensible steps grew Atheistical. This was connived at by many debauched in Authority: so great a current of profaneness was generally for want of Ordinances; which caused the People to perish in Godliness. The fault proceeded in both Kings; but especially from the first, governing by young Counsellors, who had not virtue, but vanity; this caused Gundamore (that cunning Machiavil) to scoff at the Counsellors of State, telling King james, he was the wisest and happiest Prince of Christendom, to make privy Counsellors sage at the age of twenty one, which his Master (the King of Spain) could not till sixty. A jest pocketed up by him, who loved commendation and flattery more than truth; by which he was blinded, and saw not the hidden flout. This Prince (otherwise very much knowing) mewed in his English Reign favourites to the fifth Coat: these Nobles being addicted more to pleasure and delights, than the School of prudence and wisdom; looking more at their own Interest, than the common good, or piety of life, gave so vast a liberty to their lives, as made an abordment of looseness in many; insomuch that strictness of life (which our Saviour requires) was imputed a disgrace; and the vainest counted the wisest; the profanest, no hypocrite; and a Puritan was styled a Devil: so that by this time it was difficult to hear profitable Sermons; the Pulpits being stuffed more with eloquence, than zeal to move the conscience; and the Preachers were fit for a Stage then a Pulpit. Thus begun goodness to dwindle, and vice to spread far and near; vicious being counted the gallantest men. But God opened Pembroke's heart to see the errors of youth.  
But behold! the last was Sir George Villiers in number, but first in vice and villainy, as by the former relation he appeared unmasked in his open colours; who mounted the highest steps of honour, and profited most in the Academy of Nicholaus the Florentine, accompanied with a juncto of Achitophel-advisers, who spun the web of all his inhuman devices; and had none to intercept the contriving, but Felton with a knife to take away their General; which hindered further rallying his Diabolical plots. This man embarked us in an unnecessary war, at the Island of Rees, where many brave Commanders ended their days, by his unexperienced discipline in War; who, though advised by Burrows, guarded not a Fort: which made the French Masters of that Island, after he had taken it; and in his retreat from thence, placed his Ensigns in the muskets, not the pikes.  
Afore this, king Charles sought to marry with Mary of the House of Bourboune; and sent the Earl of Holland ordinary Ambassador to France; who, with the assistance of the Extraordinary Buckingham there, dispatched that overture by the aid of Queen-Mother, with their alluring behaviour, which drew on the conclusion more than a team of horses or oxen could: a byword king james used, to obtain ends by female creatures.  
To Dover Mary was brought, and so to Canterbury; where king Charles bedded her, without the ordinary religious form of uniting.  
This Queen, some years after, shown great modesty, although there lay a pad in the straw: for the Count of Soysons justified boldly and openly at the Lovure in Paris, that he was contracted before to her with divers witnesses; and so challenged her for his lawful wife before God.  
Holland of this advertised, sent Soysons a challenge to combat him; but Soysons was deaf of that ear, and never met: a reason was, the Court-faction for the marriage was too strong, for him to maintain the truth with his sword: an occasion demonstrated more his fear of ruin, than valour; and that his enemy's power abated the edge of his courage.  
Whilst this match was a brewing, the Duke aslayed to defile Lewis the thirteenth's bed by some accomplices; which then was found out by the Parliament in Paris: a discovery instigated him to procure his Master to the French War, inhibiting the Spanish marriage, because Count Olivares had foisted into his bed a pocky Courtesan at Madrid, in stead of his Lady often solicited by Buckingham; most of his wisdom consisting in such constuprations. So that these bawdy transactions, in a prospective-glass, may bring nearer to our memories the fashion of Charles his Reign, how sin was hatched from an egg to a Dragon, to devour holiness of life; insomuch that the Masks and Plays at Whitehal were used only for Incentives to lust: therefore the Courtiers invited the Citizen's wives to those shows, on purpose to defile them in such sort. There is not a Lobby nor Chamber (if it could speak) but would verify this.  
King james dead, King Charles ascended the Throne, with a dismal plague of 5000 dying every week: God pointing to us, as with a Feseu, as a Scoolmaster, to warn us to repent of our abominable sins; if no admonition would reform us, he would scourge us with an Iron Rod. Yet, in show, King Charles gave good hopes to his People of a virtuous Reign; but finding the sweetness of his invasselling the People, king Charles paved his path by the steps of his forerunner, who reigned twenty three years save one day: but Charles, instead of pacing it, ran violently to destroy his subjects; following too hastily his precedents direction; which brought him afore his time to the block, the desert of Tyrants.  
Certainly those times differed much from these: for where it is falsely objected, that these days are more heretical; I answer, By a general sale of heretical books, than they sought to vitiate truth with greediness, the sole endeavour in the Universities: now in these days, too curiously finding out truth, they mistake it unwillingly, and run upon some points of error; which this wise Parliament labours to suppress, by placing pious and learned Divines, (as speedily as they can) men endued with the Spirit of God, through their Dominions: there being a wide difference it wixt those do wilfully maintain against knowledge, falsehood; and the others, that mistake the truth. But in those times they studied erroneous opinions, being encouraged by the Bishops; so that the Students were ambitious to rake out of the ashes many heresies of Rome, to maintain their Lordships; as namely, kneeling at the Sacrament: they used arguments of the real presence of Christ, and so reverence Christ corporally present, with the Papists; when our Saviour used sitting, another gesture. From this root sprang the Socinian damnable opinion, to make Christ's death an imitation for all to follow, to bury in oblivion the great High Priesthood of Christ, and to advance their Sacerdotal Tyranny, and insult over the People by the power of spiritual Courts, which exalted them above others; when Christ abased himself to be a Saviour in his actions on earth; a carriage they ought to have used, according to his example: by which means, the Clergy were the eyes, ears, hands, legs, and above all, the brain, to support the King's insupportable Tyranny. To this head I will reduce their Idolatrous cringing to the altar, bowing at the name of Jesus, and making Churches Idolatrous; usually kneeling and praying in them, when no service of God was used: and their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, reverence at the Eucharist, was to no other purpose: but to support Antichristian Episcopacy; what honour was done in the Church, was placed on them; transferring the honour done, from the place, to the persons administering service: a cause made King Charles take them into his intimacy, to support his absolute Monarchy to do what he pleased with Subjects property, real, personal, and vital; as also finding the Papacy conduced more to Regality, he favoured them more than Protestants: for when the Justices in all parts persecuted the Papists upon the Statutes, they were disgraced, and removed, and the Protestant persecuted and punished, and the Priests delivered out of Prison. In which rout, amongst others, was Secretary Windebank, a principal Agent to get in favour with Queen Mary; insomuch that I knew divers Papists brought out of Newgate, and their pursuers punished. This last-recited Secretary was a Creature to Laud, both brothers in iniquity to accomplish such matters.  
Did not king Charles his Letter written in Spain to the Pope, show his Inclination to set up Popery, if the Pope would grant him a dispensation to marry the Infanta? yea certainly it cannot be denied by any rational man; if he considers fully the bent of those times, he must be convinced by a truth I shall utter. When the king came from Greenwich with the Queen on a Tuesday morning, a little afore the last Parliament, she landing at Sommerset-House, where she lodged, the king arriving at Whitehall a day he used to hear a Sermon, the Queen drew him from the Sermon to Sommerset-House; insomuch as a Lord to whom I gave a visit, told me (when he came not to the preaching at twelve of the clock, long expected) in anger, that the king was then at Mass, and reconciled to the Pope; and so this Lord in haste went after Mass-time to Sommerset-house, and there dined. It is therefore no marvel why the Almighty sent so much misery upon these three Kingdoms, and wrought such a fatal Catastrophe to turn the spokes of the Wheel upside down, raising the humble out of the dust, and abasing the proud and highminded.  
By this, as by a prospective glass, we may behold how king Charles erected the Fabric of his potency, or rather the structure of his ill government. For it will appear plainly, that king Charles negotiated with the Pope to reduce England to Popery privately; therefore it is known to all, that king Charles entertained three Nuncio's from the Pope, Gregorio Pansano, Signeur Con, and another, under pretence to regulate the Popish Clergy under the Bishop of Chalcedon, appointed by Barbareno the Pope's Nephew, protector of the English Catholics; when the purpose was to reduce to any union the Protestant Clergy with the Roman. And was not Arthur Bret appointed to go Ambassador to Rome from king Charles? who died by the way: and after there was sent Sir james Hambleton, of the House of Abercorn.  
To make a step further, I will inform the Reader. After Buckingham's death, the Earl of Holland was highest in favour with king Charles, who bestowed on him near one hundred and fifty thousand pound in few years; and he was no less esteemed of the Queen, being her Agent to receive moneys forfeited, and compositions given her by her consort; as namely, to free Sir Giles Alington's punishment for marrying his niece, twelve thousand pound was paid to Holland for the use of the Queen; they sharing money and delights together.  
This made the King's love of Holland not always firm: for a suspicion arose, as a Devil, to be the bane of friendship; which thus happened; such was the intirety twixt the Queen and this Lord, she having sent Letters into France to one Monsieur de jerre then in prison, she enclosed a Letter unsealed in Holland's Letter sealed; which was intercepted by the Ambassador the Lord Jerome Weston resident in Franc, and sent to his Father the Lord Treasurer, by whom it was shown to the king: a matter made him so passionately jealous of Holland, as he was confined to Kensington. Whereupon, the Queen was so discontented, as she bedded not with the King some nights; and was so enraged for Holland's confinement, as, till the king released him, she would not entertain him to her bed: But, as Nature is frail, so she flying embraces, made the husband more earnest to pursue her fruition; so that at last, Holland's enemies are chid, and he brought into favour. These are the devices of cunning Dames, when silly men, being horn-beaten, oftentimes, are cured without a plaster: he had better have put them into his pocket. After this, the Queen advertized of Charles his lubricity with divers Ladies his Mistresses; which appeared, because he was jealous of a Lord handing a Countess he dearly loved through the court of Whitehall, at which he shown much indignation for a great time. In the mean time, there were not people wanting, who nourished each in suspicion; so that both seeing themselves peccant, one had freedom of Mistresses, and the other of Servants.  
Now I must crave your pardon, if I have not observed so punctually the times; this being rather a Rhapsody, than a continued History, and therefore I am constrained to patch up the post with the prior; faults being all of one batch of Tyranny; as Ben. Volington, Witted Stroud, and Eliot, Mr. Hambden, Sir john Corbet, Sir john Hevingham, were confined, for being faithful in Parliament. Moreover, for discovering the design of a thousand Germane horse, the Earl of Somerset, the Earl of Clare dead, Sir Robbert Cotton dead, my Lord Saint john, Mr. Selden, and Mr. james, were sent to the Tower. The occasion was this, as I remember, Pickerni Master-Falconer, found the written project in the king's Cabinet, it being open; who took it out, and brought it to Somerset, and so it came to the hands of Sir Robert, and the other four usually meeting: but Sir Robert had a man would take his cups freely, and, at a Tavern, told it to a false brother, who betrayed them all: for which cause, the five were brought aurium tenus into the Star-chamber, because it was discovered afore it was acted.  
But it is more memorable, how king Charles was angry with the Parliament of the petitions of Right, as he was so far from punishing Sir Richard Plumly for pulling a Knight Hubard out of a Coach, and beating him so that he died, and to show his hatred to Hubard, who was one of them held the then Speaker of the Parliament, Sir john Finch, in the Chair, that he advanced this Plumly to be Admiral of the Irish Seas, and made him a Knight for his service for killing Hubard, when justly he should have questioned him for his life.  
And to sound King Charles his heart, it is probable King Charles was in his heart a Papist, by the Queen's persuasion, and her mother; for after going from the Parliament, he sent Pardons for divers Priests condemned; who ingeniously finding this would make a rapture 'twixt King and Parliament, the Prisoners petitioned the Houses, sending the Pardons to the House; and desired, rather than there should be a breach between them, to suffer death: for which prudence the Parliament would not let them die.  
In both these king's times, swearing was in such esteem principally from king james his example, cursing the People with all the plagues of Egypt; though king Charles granted twelve pence an Oath through the Kingdom to Robin Lashly, which was observed more to get money, then suppress swearing: for such a negligence was in the Magistrates, seeing the great Courtiers garnished their mouths with God-dammees, as if they desired Damnation rather than Salvation.  
Bribery the nurse of Justice was so rife in those days, that right was not distributed to the owner: a vice augmented by Knights of the Post, very frequent in City and Country. And Lawyers would take sees, and never plead for their Clients; and sometimes on both sides; insomuch as in a Suit depending 'twixt myself and my Son, we gave fees to one and the fame person. Wherefore on these times God hath brought on us a lamentable war.  
Now let all the world behold how king Charles violated the rights of Parliaments, coming into the House with great power, to carry away the five members. To prove how great a breach of privilege of Parliament this was, the Author hereof wrote a discourse against it, affixing his hand; it being taken in his Wagon at Banbury by the king's party; for which he was condemned to die, by Sir Robert Heath; and his Estate given away.  
I will not repeat how much he hath suffered for being faithful to Parliaments, both afore & since the access of this; only I will rehearse, that being taken Prisoner by the Cavaliers, he lost four hundred pounds in money, apparel, waggon, and forty horses: and likewise in Wiltshire at Broad Choke, in householdstuff, four hundred pounds; which was carried into Langford, after a Garrison taken by Colonel Ludlow for the Parliament; which he had never restored, although he often petitioned.  
Another wrong long since he had: when Sir Robert Heath had enclosed two thousand acres of Common, as Lord of Soham, one named Anne Dobbs was kept with bread and wain Cambridge Castle, by a Justice of Peace, a Creature of Sir Roberts, to confess the Author of this Discourse counselled her with others to pull down the Enclosure taken from the Common; by that means to take away his life as a Rebel; when it was well known he had no hand in it, but then was sitting in Parliament as a member.  
By this it appears, the king chose good Judges and Justices, which were so corrupt. The reason was, that the Author being condemned, he might forfeit a Manor next adjacent. This Justice of Peace was a mortal enemy of his, Sir Robert Heath having bought four hundred pound a year of the Justice, where the accused was Lord, that Sir Robert might beg it of the king.  
And if we examine the king of Denmark, brother of Queen Anne; the first time he was entertained into England, what debauchedness was exercised in his welcome to king james, to add punishment to the family! who both were so drunk at Theobalds', as our king was carried in the arms of the Courtiers, when one cheated another of the Bedchamber, for getting a grant from king James, for that he would give him the best Jewel in England for a Jewel of a hundred pound, he promised him; and so put king james in his arms, and carried him to his lodging, and defrauded the Bed-chamber-man, who had much ado to get the king into his Bed. And Denmark was so disguised, as he would have lain with the Countess of Nottingham, making horns in derision at her husband the high Admiral of England; which caused a deep discontent between them. And generally the Courtiers were then so debauched in that beastly sin, as at that time, in the waiters chamber at supper, a Courtier was found dead on the Table, the wine foaming out of his mouth: a horrid sight to behold.  
And it is worthy of observation to consider the carriage of the king of Denmark and his Son usually in his own Country: for at my being there, I saw the old king (as his custom was) to call for the Master of his household; when he made a voyage or progress, wrote on a Pasteboard what he should do, and so took the waggon to go to his Boars houses, and eat Martlemas Beef, powdered pork, bacon, or such like as they had ready; and after repast, took for a collation the handsomest daughter, kinswoman, or servant in the house (all her kindred adorning her with all sorts of wearing ornaments) whom the King carried to one of his Guest-houses, where he had not above three or four Lodgings and a Kitchen, and solaced himself with this jewel so long as he pleased; and after brought her home. A fruition made her in much esteem with her friends, after so adulterous a fact.  
Likewise it was the custom of his Son to ride on a Sled drawn with horses, bells fastened to them, which tingled as he passed through the Towns; the noise caused the women to run out of doors: the Prince beholding one more amiable than the rest, beckoning to her with his finger, presently she came to the Sled, and accompanied him to some Hostery, till he had satisfied fully his lust.  
Also their usual course is to profane the Sabbath in such sort, as all the Carpenters in the Kingdom that day work gratis, to make the King's ships; and the people go to Church in their worst , making no difference 'twixt the Lord's day and other days; who, in stead of Godly exercises, use much profaneness.  
Give me leave to repeat, that this King ordinarily would be drunk, and namely one time (Sir john Peoly being his Servant, after an Inhabiter at Wroungay in Norfolk) he commanded Pooly to ask any gift, to the value of half his Kingdom, and he should have it. But he finding his Master so beastly out of tune, demanded a great pair of Stag's horns; for which, after so moderate a request, the king bestowed on him three thousand Dollars.  
Is it not known to all Germany, that his drinking out of reason with his Commanders, lost many battles to the Emperors General Wallestine, which proved a disaster to the united Protestant Princes, so that he was feign to submit to the Emperor, with much loss and disgrace, to the prejudice of the cause of God? In which war his brother king james proved a Coward to back a religious cause; for he would not raise men nor money; yet the Parliament incited and urged him thereto: to whom he made this answer, He would not give so bad an example to support his Son-in-law against the Emperor. Whereas the Laws of the Empire were, If the Emperor did unjustly, the seven Electors might depose him: for certainly the joining of Bohemia with the Count Palatine of Rhine, might have been a chief prop to support the Protestant party; which by Denmark's fault, and King james his wilfulness, the Emperor got the Mastery of: though after God raised Gustavus Adolchus' King of Sweden, to turn the scales to the united Princes side, yet in conclusion, the Swedes have sought more their own interest then Gods.  
Behold, if we examine Queen Mary, she cannot clear her reputation with Harry Jermine: for if king Charles had not been so blinded, it had been discovered long ago, and she punished or divorced; but the king being guilty of the same crime, winked at it; which made him purblind, and count it a venial sin, as the Papists terms them; but swallowed the mortal; yet urged by an Earl much with him, if he would not believe the unsuitable behaviour between the Queen and Jermine, if he would go into her Chamber, he might be satisfied, and behold Jermine sitting upon the bed with the Queen; so the King and the Lord went in, and found her and Jermine in that posture. The King presently, more ashamed of the act, then blaming her, departed, without speaking a word; yet for all this, the queen was very jealous of the King; insomuch as he loving a very great Lady now alive, whom he had for a mistress, to the intent he might have more freedom with her, sent her Lord into the Low-countries; in the mean while, daily courts her at Oxford in her husbands and the queen's absence: but the Lord returning, the King diverted his affectionate thoughts to another married Lady, of whom the queen was jealous at her return from France; so that on a time this Lady being in queen Mary's presence, and dressed a la mode, the queen viewing her round, told the Lady she would be a better Mistress for a king, than a wife for a knight. The Lady replied, Madam, I had rather be Mistress to a King, than any man's wife in the world. For which answer, she was constrained to absent herself from Court a long time.  
Now as all men and their affairs are subject to mutation by a heavenly providence punishing sinners for sin, the wheel turns greatness from top to bottom, of which I have given you a notable Landscape in the frail condition of the Imperial family of the Stuarts, who raised to a glittering glory by the succession of many kings, are now tumbled from the mount of ambition and highest authority over three kingdoms, & at last reduced not to be Lord of a visible molehill; whose heat of fiery pride hath consumed into ashes of ruin their felicity. Let us mark the shipwreck of those, who will not veil the sails of Tyranny and oppression; they shall not avoid a tempest of God's anger for precipitation.  
In this revolution, God had a special hand, who, when he determined to bring this family to destruction, accomplisheth it not only by poor and weak means, but by his mightiest thunderbolts of vengeance. This truth manifesteth itself perspicuously in this Tragical History, who have made the flourishing condition of three kingdoms stumble, by advancing and giving ear to corrupt instruments of State placed at the helm; who wept not for our common calamity, but in the tears of inferiors; and therefore I demonstrate, that never shall justice be so well done, as by Parliamentary proceed, to settle this Commonwealth upon a pious basis, where they proceed in justice to banish oppression, that property may fall into the right channel, and holy men advanced and rewarded, and wicked punished, to the end that the people may be lulled asleep in the cradle of ease and tranquillity; so shall love of Governors be in such estimation, as body and purse may be at command; for fear poisons a Nation with distrust and hatred; the first makes firm and stable the foundation of any State, the last brings it by insensible steps to fall and moulder away like a crazy building. Provided always, until the State have a perfect cure, there may be armed Surgeons to cut off the gangrened part, which might putrify the head, resembled to wise Counsellors, who will preserve the whole body; so they endeavour that taxes be moderated, as the temper of the pulse and health shall appear.  
And therefore I beseech you give me leave to turn my pen out of the Road, with a counsel from my heart not impertinent to my dear countrymen, to profit by the storm past, reduced by God's providence to a calm; to make a pious use of his great miraculous deliverance. I being a man can speak by experience, who hath been most justly worryed by the hand of the Almighty for sins; therefore let them consider that The chide of a friend are better than the kiss of an enemy; a proverb of Solomon; which if we shall confide in, we may be styled children converted to good; if not, may be accounted despisers of the rod: which maxim I illustrate the truth of, by the Grecian Alcibiades; by how much his banishment was more cruel by the Athenian Ostracism, by so much more his qualities and worth were esteemed. The skill of the Mariner is not at all observed in a calm, but in a Tempest; the wise Ulysses had perished, if he had not been in danger of ruin: pleasures blunt and strangle piety; when adversity moulds the will and humours to a by as of fearing God, inclines us to know ourselves, and understand the end of Creation and birth to the glory of God, and good of our Country: we are not born for ourselves: Our eyes are closed with delights, open in chastisements; in the one, sin draws more punishment; in the other, we see clearly our aberrations, as spots in a glass. We are here on a Theatre for every one to play his part; the tragical seems more difficult, by hatred, envy, and jealousy, the slaves of Reason; yet in truth, are banished in troubles, when God loves the afflicted better, who, as a Sovereign, resembleth the Ocean, which receives that it gives, to the end the revenging justice of heaven turn not wrath against them; but the Devil, enemy of repose, enchants us in Luxury, when affliction imitates nature by degrees from a little to more, and from more proceeds to a humane perfection in piety.  
I hearty desire you, take this advice above a humane, the command of God: Be subject to the higher powers: for they are of God. Wherefore, I beseech you, respect those set at the Helm, whom God hath made instruments of our happiness: for naturally we are hooded, and cannot see that God hath done miraculous works: look not upon them as men, but as God's instruments, to execute his will; brought out of the shop of his Almighty workhouse, to accomplish his determination; and are not to be laid aside, till by God's appointment they turn into the tiring-house: for certainly we have great cause to give thanks to God for the Parliaments valorous success of Army and Navy; both for General, Lieutenant-General, Sergeant-Major Generals, Colonels, Officers, and Soldiers; as for the Admirals and Captains at Sea, whom God hath miraculously preserved, to prevail over the enemies of the State; and so let God have the glory, and we tranquillity all our days.  
But when I revolve in my thought the opinion most are possessed with, as with a Devil, that Parliament and Army are a punishment for their sins, and attribute so great Victories to chance; I may justly suspect their Atheism; whose lives I never see more amended, by God's immediate hand on us, to make the omnipotent Father of spirits to have no hand in it; or if acknowledged in words, return not from iniquity, and are not thankful for arriving to so safe a harbour as they are in, nor see that God is about to mould the world in another fashion, as he hath declared by his Prophets of old; and so, like swine, look down to the earth, and not to heaven, to see a divine cause of a mighty alteration.  
Now to show that the Parliament proceeded justly in this war, I will prove it by arguments Divine and Humane, Reason and Law.  
First, if we regard the Scripture, we shall find Rehoboam the son of Solomon justly lost the ten tribes, because he laid such heavy burdens on the Jews, who declared they had no share in David, wishing Israel to departed to their tents; although God had made a Covenant with David, that his posterity should sit on the throne for ever, on condition they continued to serve the Lord as they ought; which Covenant Rehoboam broke by sins, in such sort as God punished sin with sin, suffering him to oppress and impose more heavy taxes on the people, than his father; a reason God dissuaded the children of Israel, refused God, and would have kings to rule over them, to enthral them to his will; but they persisted not to follow the Counsel of the Almighty, therefore it was just the kingdom should be divided for their disobedience: or if King Rehoboam did wickedly, he could not be styled God's vicegerent over the twelve tribes; for God, whom Governors represent, never oppresseth his people but for sin. When kings cease to imitate God, they cease to Govern or be Governors, and represent not God; when they are not Gods Deputies, they insult over the people without authority: for this is an infallible rule (not to be gain said) in Scripture, that if the people sin against God, and the king do not oppose it, but yield to it, they are punished; and if the king sin, and they concur with him, they are punished: so that if the Parliament had not opposed king Charles, God would have been revenged on them. Now when a father wrongfully injureth his children, his love to them is at an end, and so is his paternal power; for children are bound to be obedient to Parents, not to be ruined by them: so that subjects are bound to obey the Sovereign, so long as he keeps himself in bounds of justice and doing right; but if the king would destroy his people, they are no more his subjects, nor are they bound to obey; but he is a Tyrant. God never punished a pious king that used his people well; otherwise God should be unjust. If God were Author of the conquest over king Charles is so many battles; who is the God of Sabbaths, that is, of battles; if he were not the cause of our Victories, he were not God of battles; in which belief they should give a Deity to the Parliament forces, which is blasphemy; for they conquered over the Cavaliers: By which it appears, God sent this as a punishment on the king, and the Victory was not a punishment on the Parliament, who defended the people in their rights. King's are ordained for the good of their subjects, not for their hurt; nor were people brought into the world to have kings over them, but to honour and glorify God: God is not glorified, when inferiors are oppressed by their superiors; a sin God highly punished in the Jews; God were the Author of oppression, if kings had such a deputation from him.  
This Prince committed a great fault, in adhering too much to his unbridled will; preferring his passion above the good of his people: there may be excuses in youth, for want of experience; in stealing, for the occasion; in killing, for injuries offered; in adultery, for persuasions of love, and heat of youth; in Rebellion, for defence: but for offences against the Commonwealth, there is not satisfaction but a block or a gibbet. For a shepherd to shear the fleeces off his flock, may be tolerable; but to flay them, and cut their throats, is abominable before God and man. For kings should have the care of a Master, love of a Father, tenderness of a Protector, diligence of a Shepherd, to preserve their subjects from wrong: for without a Parliament, kings have no ears, nor eyes to see the injuries of the public, but by their favourites; who, for to increase Wealth (raised from nothing) are like bloodsuckers, to drain the people, & make themselves rich. If every member of the commonwealth ought to preserv the State above his own life, much more a King is chosen God's vicegerent on earth, to preserve his people committed to his charge in safety.  
Therefore God took from Rehoboam and Belshazzar their kingdoms, by his instruments the people; and Nabuchadnezzar and Sennacherib, both for pride, and wronging the Jews; the one was reduced to grass with the beasts, and the other was overthrown in battle with hundred thousands. The example of Attilius Regulus is commendable; who, rather then the honour of the Roman Senate should suffer prejudice, performed his promise, and returned to Carthage, to undergo exquisite torments. If subjects, much more a King God hath entrusted with his people, should have care of his Parliament and People; then much more should be take care of the lives of the people.  
Wherefore the Parliament seeing King Charles did raise an Army to defend ill counsellors, and ruin his people, the Parliament; rather than the king should ruin the people, first they employed the Army to take away from him bad Counsellors, and bring them to condign punishment; but King Charles justified their destructive advice by a war, to ruin the authority Parliaments; and by this made himself an enemy of Commonwealth. Therefore it was just the Parliament should defend themselves by a war, yea subdue the king's power, which would destroy the Representative, which maintained the liberty of the subject and property of their personal and real estates.  
And though it may be objected, he had most of the gentry and Nobility; yet I answer, They had the major part of the Electors sided with the Parliament, in their purses.  
Also some object, that the king had many Members of Parliament; but for certain, if they would departed from the lawfully-called Parliament, to ruin the people, the remainder in the house were the Representative, to adjourn the Parliament from day to day; for otherwise it had been sine die, and ipso facto dissolved the Parliament; then had the whole Nation remained slaves and vassals for ever, at the king's mercy. And therefore it was most to subdue and put king Charles to death, as a mortal enemy, who laboured to destroy the Commonwealth with all his power; for if a member, who hath an inclusive right, aught to have sentence of death; much more a king, who hath an impositive care from God, aught to have sentence of death: for kings now are not the anointed of God, as David was; but by the Scripture, every Saint is anointed; which by the Popish Clergy was usurped to them, and after by their policy attributed fasely to kings, to maintain their Hierarchy.  
Whrefore we may justly argue, that the Author of spirits had a long time continued patiented, in suffering three several families to be Superintendents over three kingdoms five hundred years; when he raised the several houses to the Throne, to make an essay of their behaviour, to bring up the people in the fear of God; whose time was long spent in Idolatry, and after reduced to a profaneness, and then to a piece, and little part of a reformed way, and not to a total; partly serving Baal, and partly God; which caused God's arrows at last to fly abroad, and shot the last Prince with a mortal blow: for it is manifest, a king could not make a war with his Parliament, till it were ended; and the king passed an Act not to end it till all the three Estates were agreed: and when it ended, all he could do, should be to indict them by a Jury, to find them guilty; but by making a War, he leaves them at liberty to defend themselves; so that what he did amiss, should be complained of in the next Parliament after.  
In the war, the king's purpose could not be to make them obedient; which is too harsh a way: for in so doing, he becomes their enemy; and then they are out of his protection. Or if the subjects war with the king, and he oppose, they are not subjects. A king is not a king, when he makes a war against his subjects, but he is a Tyrant; and they are not Rebels, no more than when a king treateth with his subjects, are they not subjects: by such a war, he ratifieth them to have a right and power to contest with him; as the fifteen Provinces were made by the king of Spain, in a Negotiation, a free State: much more the reason holds in a war.  
How many times did the Parliament court the king, yea humbly petition him, and treated with him by Commissioners, to do divers things most necessary for the good of the then kingdom! and he remained obdurate. If he were so obstinate when he was under the power of the Parliament (as in the Isle of Wight) how averse would he be, or rather, domineer over and ruin them, when they were in his clutches! As if a Partridge (being near to a Falcon) entangled with his varvels, might peck and tach her, yet would not she yield to small a bird; what could the Falcon do when he had her trussed: surely plume on her, and at last wring off her head.  
How many times have the people in this Nation assumed the power to themselves, for king's overflowing the rules of moderation! as in the times of Henry the third, Edward the second; Richard the second, Henry the sixth, and after, upon good behaviour, they resigned the keys of Sovereignty to the entrusted keepers; as namely in choosing the supreme Officers, which of right be longed to the Parliament; and a long time since, by intrusion, kept in the hands of the Diadem, but in a Parliamentary orb; wherein when the great Officers were fixed, they kept their course from Retrogradation, by their Aromatical influence upon the good of the people; but after they were at the devotion of the chief, by that derivation they wronged the people, and augmented the power of invassalage; as who in name of the Upper, insulted over the Inferior; that all the English world was conformed to an incompatible subjection and submission, too unjustly imposed.  
Therefore it was impossible that Charles which had his hands in the blood of hundred thousands, by his instruments, should after that carriage be free from Cruelty, Indignation, and Injustice; no more than a Leper can be made pure, or a Blackamoor white, or a Leopard clear from spots. Therefore I will justly conclude, the cup of God's vengeance was filled to the blim, for king Charles his family to drink the dregs.  
Now if the war of France and Germany were just, especially the last, when the Emperor transgressed the laws of the Empire, to make the united Princes to raise an Host to defend themselves, and rectify what was amiss, by engrafting another Cion in the Empire; which continued too long in one house of Austria; much more just is that of the Parliament, which hath Legislative power, and authority to draw Acts for the good of the Subject, to which the king is always enjoined not to end the Assembly, till he had signed such Acts, and reform all abuses complained of. If the king should retire from the great Counsel, and not sign Bills of Right, twelve of the Lords, and twenty four of the others, were to repair to him, to know the cause of his absence; and urge the king to sign such bills, and remove grievances. If he did not sign nor come in the space of forty days, they ought to choose a Protector. And if he did persist in his absence, they might justly depose him; as appears in the book of the manner and fashion of holding Parliaments. And this was the reason of the former king's removal.  
If a master of a Family, who hath wife, children, servants, stock, and , in a madness should go away from his house, and bring a force to destroy his family, kill his children, take away his  off his own ground, and burn his house, he were a mad man, and fit for Bridewell, then to be a master of a family; as likewise a Protector, who ought to protect his people, if he would destroy them, because they would have a pious and virtuous government, he is to be accounted a destroyer, no protector.  
But some will say, The king had a number of his subjects, and the better part.  
But they were such as supported a Power would take away the property of their real, personal, and vital estates; which the King might do, if he conquered: if there were not Parliaments, a check on the Sovereign, to protect inferiors, such kingly power would grow to such a height, as no moderation might be 'twixt Mercy and Tyranny.  
I have often heard the Cavaliers say, They meant not to take away Parliaments, knowing they were for their good and benefit.  
But if the King had prevailed by their means, they should never have had Parliaments after: then they would have been like Deer put in a toil, and would have proved in the second degree after us slaves; of which slavery they were principal authors.  
Open your eyes, ye Cavaliers, and see what noose you had prepared for your own necks; when it had been too late to get your heads out, after the conquest, and Parliament ruined. Look into France: when the Parliament Estates were destroyed, they were no better than slaves. How many of the Nobility suffered! as Montmorancy, Count of Soysons, Bovillon, and others; and the people generally so miserable, as they can hardly live.  
For Bills of Grace, I see no authority for it; a Prerogative intended only by the power of kings; for people, (when they choose one to rule over them) would justly be dealt with, and not harshly, when obedient; for then the Sovereign aught to be loving to them, and a father to them. But when the king takes his sword to fight with his subjects, they ought to defend themselves; especially the Parliament, which is the highest appeal for any wrong offered by the king.  
Therefore it was that our common Law allowed every one a plea upon a Writ, justifying any against the Crown, for taking away of real and personal estate. Also if Magna Charta forbids any free man to he imprisoned, and allows him an Habeas Corpus; much more life may be preserved and defended by the sword; for upon an Indictment of man slaughter in se defendendo, it is a good plea to save his life in his defence, although he kill the other.  
If any one defend his estate against the king, much more life may be defended, by a Parliamentary power, which is of a higher nature: if every subject, than the Parliament, which represents the whole body, may raise an army (if the people be willing to undergo it) on purpose to defend their lives. All Warrants of peace and good behaviour were made in the king's name; so than if the king raise an army to murder his subjects, he hath lost to be a defender of them, and hath suspended, or rather lost his Prerogative of Sovereignty; for every subject may kill one another, when there is no power to restrain them; and the king cannot defend, when he raiseth a power to kill them. The King had two capacities; one as a King, another as proprietor of Lands, Honours, and Signories: when he lost his first capacity, the Parliament, which is the representative, in right of the people might justly assume the supreme authority to themselves, to defend those the king would murder; for the people first granted or suffered kings to have authority over them for their good; but when the King abuseth it, he ceases to be any longer their King, but becomes a cruel Tyrant; and then he may be justly tried in his second capacity, as a Subject, and lose his life, forfeit lands and goods by the Parliament the supreme Judges.  
And therefore it was, that Richard the third, before Henry the seventh conquered him, was held a lawful king, and Henry the seventh attaint as a Rebel by Parliament; but after the Conquest, Henry the seventh his Attainder was reversed, and Richard the third affirmed to be a Tyrant. This declares positively, that Parliaments have only power to ratify and annul kings, and no other. For else, by power any one may be a Sovereign, without the Parliaments approbation: but never any ascended the Throne, that was not confirmed by Parliament; not only in way of Ceremony, but essentially and really performed, by an Act to allow and ratify the present King, or else he could not lawfully govern.  
Besides, the King takes an oath at his Coronation, to maintain all the privileges of the people: but when he brings them to oppression and Tyranny, he is perjured, and loseth the title of a father and protector of his people, and is in the capacity of an enemy to the Commonwealth.  
Many examples are in the world, that Kings, when they became Tyrants have been deposed and killed; as in Muscovy, among the Turks, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Romanr; and he who is an enemy to the Commonwealth, deserveth to die by all Laws Humane and Divine.  
King's have augmented their prerogatives, and so by intrusion have tyrannised over the Subject: for they have in the interim of Parliaments had prerogatives to pardon Manslaughter, and such as are expressed in the Acts of Parliament; and by their greatness they encroached their power: for Kings could not take away the life of any Subject, but by Indictment and Arraignment, and that by a Jury of twelve men, who must find the Delinquent guilty or not guilty; not in Parliaments, but in the interim of them: wherefore King Charles his coming with an armed power to take out the five members, was a high breach of privilege; and for declaring he would break the neck of Parliaments, he deserved to be dethroned: this was to destroy the right of his Subjects, so that they should have no property in estate, real or personal, nor life: for while the Parliament sat, he ought not to question any: and afterwards he could not take away the life and estate of any without a Jury, but it would be questioned the next Parliament, as many Precedents in the Rolls of Parliament showeth.  
A Parliament is a free place, where every one ought to speak their mind freely, for the good of their Country. Now it was the fashion of King James and King Charles, when anyspoke for the good of the people, to corrupt them with preferment, and make them Royalists who were afore for the Commonwealth; preferment drawing them opposite to the Commonwealth, as Sir Henry Yeluerton, Sir John Savill, Sergeant Glanvile, Sir Robert Heath, my Lord of Strafford, and Master Noye; but Master Noye shown afore his death a great remorse for it, to some of his intimate friends. It was greatness so bewitched them, and increased the king's power, to wit, by preferment and honours, insomuch as Sir Edward Hoby, a factious Gentleman, at a Committee in the Parliament chosen to punish some boys that abused old Master Jordan's Gloves, certain boys being proved to be the authors of that Roguery, the Committee debated what Schoolmasters should correct them, whether Westminster or Paul's; Sir Edward Hoby (I say) told the Committee he had found out one would lash on both sides, meaning Master Yeluerton, Sir Henry being newly chosen Sollicitor-General for the king, to sign Bills of Grace; which was only in Parliament to be done, when Lotds and Commons had signed them afore, but out of Parliaments the kings had no such right. It's true, kings might in interim of Parliament, upon an invasion, raise an Army, and impose moneys upon many of the Subjects; but this was authorized by Parliament; and if he did amiss, it was questioned the next Parliament. This shows plainly, that the Parliament had the power, not the Royalty.  
It is true, kings had a power to call Parliaments; so have the Beadles in the Universities power of calling Assemblies, Stwards of Courts to send out Warrants to keep Courts; and yet both are subject, one to the Chancellors of the Universities, the other a servant upon the matter to the Lords of Manors.  
We need not fear Darlings of the multitude in this State; every one will labour to be a darling of the people; and none will make himself great, unless he means to be ruined, and be an Ostracism.  
Certainly to prevent this, it were good to extinguish all the print and stamp of Monarchy, not to give a provocation to raise power.  
The Praetorian Cohorts advanced Emperors at their pleasure; the Janissaries the great Turks; but our Army is so pious, there is no fear, especially being not in body, but some in Irelana, some in Scotland, and dispersed in several Countries: those who pay the Soldiers, shall have obedience; but as the proverb is, No money, no Swiss: No money, no obedience.  
While the Roman Senate was rich, none durst assail the Monarchy; but, as Tacitus reports, when the greatness of the Senate and riches decayed, than Cesar invaded, after he had conquered Pompey.  
It is to be observed, that what overthrows Monarchy, the same overthrows a Senatical government. The Majors of the Palace at Paris had power to raise and depose kings at pleasure, till it was justly taken away; if there be any such power in the City of London, it is to be taken away; for they may, by wealth, potency and multitude, do the like to the Parliament: yet they deserve much to be respected; for they have done as much for the good of the State, as any City ever did in the whole world; and therefore are to be encouraged, to have Immunities and Privileges bestowed on them by the Parliament.  
I deny not that there were privileges belonging to the kings of England, but those are due to him so long he is a defender of the people, and a good king: but if he proves not God's Vicegerent, but becomes an enemy to the Commonwealth, his Regency is suspended, and he is but a common person: otherwise, kings might destroy the people, and become an enemy. So that his Title is annihilated, and made void; as a shepherd who ought to preserve his sheep when he goes about to kill and slay them, he cannot be called a shepherd, but a destroyer of his sheep.  
The example of king Henry the eighth, who when the House of Commons would not consent to pull down the Abbeys, sent for them, and kept them in a room all night, and in the morning came to them, and persuaded them to pass the bill, who in fear next day did it; this is no argument to show the power of Kings: it was their obstinacy to oppose against the will of God, who determined to destroy those wicked houses, which were erected in a blind zeal, thinking by their erection to make their souls saved.  
A king is compared to a father; if he would kill his own children, he ceiseth to have care of them, and is to be justly styled a murder, and no parent, to preserve the issue of his body.  
Parliaments were to be called every two or three years, to reform abuses in the Nation; but king James said they were assembled to supply his wants, and raise money; and therefore he denied them any other discourse; whereas indeed Parliaments were called for all the members to complain of their grievances, which were always redressed there. And there were tryers of petitions within the House to examine whether their complaints were just: & certainly if there were some now appointed without the door of the Parliament to take petitions, and examine whether they were fitly to be delivered to the house or no, it would give great content to the people: for I am confident there have been many petitions delivered, which ought not to be presented to interrupt the weighter affairs there transacted: And upon this, the Parliament have unjustly been charged that they would not hear them, when in reason they ought not to be preferred; for many of them might have been redressed by Law, or some other way.  
Now to show how the prerogative was advanced: and that was done by making Lord-Lieutenants in every County, and so Deputy-Lieutenants; a device invented by the Earl of Leicester, when he returned from being Deputy-protector of the Low-Countryes under Elizabeth Protectress; who wished the Qeen (from a form he had observed in those parts, from whence he came, for a way that furthered the opposing of Spain) to make such; for if there should be an Invasion or Rebellion in England, it would be too long to send up to the Council; but it might easily be suppressed by them; two of the Deputy-Lieutenants having power to suppress them, by rasing forces to oppose and subdue them,  
Whereupon, I remember there was a Rising against the Enclosures of Commons (so much irksome to the people) for in some places the people risen to pull them down, and were suppressed by the power of the Deputy-Lieutenants, and divers hanged up; but the Deputy-Lieutenants were after feign to get pardons; it being contrary to law. Likewise a Cutpurse being taken in Whitehall in the then presence, King James commanded the Lord Garret, the Knight-Marshal, presently to hang the Cutpurse; which was done instantly: but the Knight-Marshal was feign to get a pardon under seal. This shows plainly that no King can takeaway the life of any without a lawful trial by jury; ergo, he cannot murder his Subjects, nor raise a war during the sitting of the Parliament; for there he is to be in person; then the king is less, and the Parliament supreme. Now when the king takes his sword into his hand, and departs from the Parliament, he loseth his privilege of king in Parliament, and becomes an enemy to the State; and then justly his name as king ought to be put out in any Commission, and the Parliaments authority is to be used only.  
I am therefore persuaded, that the adoring of kings hath wrought this misprision and mistake of the power of kings, which by laws of God and man they have not; so that idolising them hath ruined the right of the people much; The Lawyers also for preferment and advancement, have given a greater prerogative to the sovereignty than was due.  
If we examine our Municipal laws, and all Civil Laws, they are no way justifiable, but as they are correspondent to the Judicial Laws of the Jews, which were set down by God, to be a pattern for all to be paterned by. I find no such power given by God.  
And where it may be objected, that God forewarned the Jews not to have a king over them, and expressed what inconveniences would follow of having kings according to the custom of Nations, what slavery they should be in; this was not to show that it was just so to do, but that their power and tyranny would force them to it.  
Another thing that increased the prerogative, and diminished the right of the people, was, that the printed Statutes were not according to the Records of Parliament; sometime there was added to, and sometime diminished from what was in the Roll of Parliament; and somewhat put in that might be advantageous to the kings; and put out was for the benefit of the Subject; as I have observed, by my comparing the printed book with the Record. And truly if there were a Committee to examine the Records, it should be necessary to see the right of the Subject.  
And in decimo octavo jacobi, king James sent and took what was done that Parliament, from Master Wright Clerk of the Parliament.  
So likewise the king by his power and the great Lords of Court, made Courtiers Burgesses, and sometime knight of the Shire by letters; who hindered much the proceed in Parliament by their vote, it being the policy of the Dukes of Cornwall in the Stannaries to have multitude of Burgesses, to make themselves potent in Parliament; which now the Parliament will prevent, by providing that the Representative may be equally chosen from all parts.  
Likewise it was usual for king James and King Charles, if any did speak in the behalf of the Commonalty in Parliament, against the prerogative, to make them Sheriffs, or impose other burdensome Offices on them; as myself and Sir Guy Palms were served, after that Parliament of 18 jacobi; or to be revenged on them some other way, for doing their duty in Parliament, as then was invented by projectors, as I could recite divers examples in my time.  
The Courtiers also laboured to make good patriots Courtiers, as Sir Dudley Digs was made a Courtier, and Master of the Rolls, who was faithful to the Parliament, and died before a Parliament came: this was to draw their affection from the multitude to the Sovereignty; so that by those means Tyranny was increased, and the right of the people waved; which now will be redressed and reform, by God's blessing, and prudence of the State.  
Now I will draw a short Landscape, by way of Epitome, to examine what good king james and King Charles have done since Anno Domini 1603.  
The seven year's Parliament was a sage and wise Parliament, and laboured to do much good for the then-kingdome: and as a new broom sweepeth clean at first, king james granted some good Laws: but the Court of Wards they endeavoured to pull down, which had ruined infinite families, upon offer to give the king two hundred thousand pound in deposito, and annually two hundred thousand pound; but it was opposed by Robert Earl of Salisbury (otherwise a very good Commonwealths-man) as too great a thing for the king to part with. And truly that Parliament took great pains to reform abuses in Church and State; but not much was done for the good of the Subject, but great sums granted, and a good Government hoped for, rather than in fruition. For king james spent much time in his pleasures, and much money in Embassies, to make himself great; so that there was some good for the Merchants; but Tonnage and poundage given by Parliament, was for Guarding the Seas, which was employed to the Royal purse only; so that although complained of, the Merchants were at a double charge in wafting their goods.  
After, king james wronged the fishermen and us much, by granting to his brother Henry the fourth, king of France, for his month to fish on our coast; who under that colour took away the very earth and spawn of the fish of Rotchet, Gurnet, Cunger, and Hadduck, to Deep; where they have abundance, and we want.  
King james granted the Hollanders to fish on our coasts; and for a small petty rate, the Island of Lewis in Scotland, and other Isles of Ireland, to dry their fish; by which they have enriched themselves above forty millions Sterling.  
In that Parliament of seven years, they laboured to reform abuses in Church and Commonwealth, and that the pious Ministers might not be tied to subscribe to the unlawful Ceremonies of the Bishops; which was not granted; but in nono jacobi at Hampton Court were divers pious men, as Reynolds, Kniwstabs, Clerk, and other reverend Divines, to dispute about ceremonies: but that the Divines had not freedom of speech; for all went on the Bishop's sides; a cause England in all parts after were deprived of pious men, which were silenced, imprisoned, and put out of their Lectures and live; so that want of teaching caused profaneness to get the pre-eminence.  
The Parliament of duodecimo jacobi was only for undertakers to raise money for king james: some Bishops were questioned, as Bilson, and others; but the Parliament dissolved without doing any thing.  
Then was the Parliament of 18 jacobi, where Heath was for the Commons; Sir Thomas Wentworth, and Christopher Wansford, and others, were for the king's side; where also Sir john Bennet, Sir Giles Mumpesson, and Sir john Mitchel, were condemned; and the Parliament so dissolved; in which Parliament, Sergeant Grimston called me out of the house, to the Earl of Bedford, the Earl of Westmoreland, and Sir Francis Vane dead, to the little Room in the Lobby, where they offered me ten thousand pound, or 500 a year, which I would choose, not to oppose the bill of the Fens in the house. I answered, no money nor estate would make me betray the country. This Parliament was made void, and 32 patents called in by king james, and so he pleased the people with a toy.  
Many and divers were convented by the Councel-table to pay certain sums, or to be imprisoned; whereof I was one, being brought before the Council when Sir Albert Morton waited.  
Then came the Parliament of 21 jacobi, a little afore king james his end; where were some good Laws enacted; the Lord Keeper Bacon and the Earl of Middlesex condemned for bribery.  
A little afore this, I being Custos Rotulorum of the County of Cambridge, by Buckingham was put out, and Sir john Cuts put in, when I had that Office under the broad seal; which could not legally be taken away from me, unless I had committed some fault, thereby to have forfeited the same.  
Now there remaineth no more for the Parliament to do, but faithfully to keep what they have justly gotten by God's Divine providence, and his will, in a valorous Conquest; to the end that when they have settled the building of the State upon a right and firm Basis, they may further enlarge the kingdom of the Lord Jesus, by their endeavours through Europe; which I am fully assured God hath appointed, and will certainly bring to pass, that all the world may see God's determination in every climate of this part of the world.  
After this new State is put into the cradle of ease and tranquillity, to make it have a full gtowth, there will be nothing to hinder the establishment thereof; no titles upon marriage, as in Monarchy, because the power is in the people, and they choose a Representative that shall govern, every two or three years making an election of Members of Parliament; that every one may Govern by vicissitude: and therefore there would be no need of a William the Conqueror to interrupt the proceed of the State, and dissettle it by establishing of new Laws; there will be no William Rufus in a hunting voyage to be slain; no king john to be poisoned at Swinsted Abbey by a Monk; nor there will be no beautiful Rosamonds to hinder a pious government; no Mortimer to entice to his bed and lust the wives of princes: there will be no unnatural mothers, like that French Lady, who killed her own son Edward the second in Pomfret Castle by the power of a French pride: there will be no Pearce Gaviston, nor Spencer's, to draw a mighty State into their own hands, by ruin of the people: there will be no Alice Pierce who sat at the pillow of King Edward the third, and kept a privy Council out, that should advise a king for the good of his people: there will be no wanton Courtesan to pass by the Court-chambers, and lose her garter, to be a means to settle an Order: there will be no john of Gant to deny the inheritance of his first children, and settle it upon his second wives: there will be no Richard the second, to send a number of the Nobility to be murdered at Calais, to satisfy the unsatiable desires of Princes; nor striving to ruin Parliaments, though it be to his own deposing; nor no Judges to counsel the Sovereign to ruin his people: there will be no factions betwixt the houses of York and Lancaster, to embroil the people in War; nor no Barons wars, to make a distraction in the Nations: there will be no working to have Burgesses in Stannaries by Dukes of Cornwall; nor no imprisonment of a Speaker Thorpe out of Parliaments; nor factions for their private interests to ruin the public: there will be no kill of Henry the sixth in a Chamber, as Richard the third did; no alluring of jane Shores to Princes lustful beds; no murdering of Princes, and smothering them, as was in the Tower; no empson's and Dudleys' to raise an Estate for kings, by the ruin of the people; no pretences to make a war to gather wealth, to peal and pole the subject, and after to compose the war, and keep the money in his own purse, as Henry the seventh did; nor pride to put down the right title of a wife, and set up his own first, that was after it; no Perkin Warbeck to be an Impostor, to put by a right title; no Henry the eighth to make void a Katherine's bed, to make way for another wife; no chopping off the heads of wives, to make way for other beauties for lust; nor no terrifying of Parliament, if they do not give way to pass an Act to enrich his Coffers, as Henry the eight did in the case of Abbeys; no Cardinal Woolseys to set up their Arms afore their Masters, to make way for a Popedom, and too too late repentance, that he had not served God so faithfully as his Master, by which he came to a Tragical end, to poison himself; no poisoning of Edward the sixth by great Northumberlands, to make way for the Diadem; not Leicester's to grow so potent, as to set up a school to vitiate Ladies: nor no drawing of Parliament men from their fidelity to their country, as hath been used in king james and king Charles his time; nor none so ambitious as to make themselves Darlings of the multitude, to make way for their own interests above the public; nor for kings to take favourites to overthrow their principals: none unworthy without merit shall be employed; none shall grow lawless by virtue of Prince's humours.  
Surely all kingdoms have a period, as the Babylonian, Medes and Persians, Grecian and Reman: look in the history of all these, and you shall understand that Ambition, oppression, Tyranny, and Injustice, have been the changers of Government to some other way or persons.  
It is probable that the determination of God is to destroy all Monarchy in Christendom: for if we begin with France, we shall find they have always adhered to the Romish Government, except a little handful of those they call Reform Protestants. How much have they wronged us in our title, which belongs truly to us! and though they seem to be Governed by a Salic Law; yet notwithstanding they have not kept the order thereof, which they ought to have done, but have foisted in some males, which ought to have been last, afore others which ought to have been first: and the Majors of the Palace at Paris have set up kings at their pleasure, and not respected the right of those that aught to have had it. The persecuting of the holy men of Towers, and the Albigenses, the true Apostolic descendants, who ever hated the Roman Heresies: that horrible and unheard- of massacre at Paris in Henry the thirds time of France, by the device of the house of Guise; and Queen Katherine, who was a Witch, and made Julips of young children snatched up in the night, to maintain her lust; as Comines doth testify: and Hen. 4. turning his Religion from the Protestant side, after God Almighty had blessed him with one and twenty Victories over the Popish League, Lewis the thirteenths making a war against the Protestants, to murder a number of them, though it was with the loss of five thousand of the Nobility of Erance. The Duke of Bovillon, the Duke Tremelly, and divers others, changing their Religion; and Cardinal Richeliu giving Authority and command in Arms, on purpose to destroy the Hugonots, though God blessed them to be the best Commanders in France. All these, I say, and many more I could repeat, will be a means to shower down God's vengeance to destroy that Monarchy.  
Let us therefore cease from wondering at God's works: for if a Sparrow falls not to the ground without his special providence, then much less is it wanting in turning topsy-turvy principalities and kingdoms: Certainly if this vicissitude were not, sin would have more abounded; piety, or at least morality, would be banished; and men would forget the end of their Creation, and think there were no God to punish sin, nor reward the righteous; but do as the great fishes, devour one another.  
This makes me affirm that it is not probable, that God can bless Charles the now supposed King of Scots from his predecessors, if we examine the mother's side: the Grandmother was proved by the Parliament of Paris to have made abortive her son's bed eleven times, by help of a Spanish Empiric; as by Will. Murreys' Embassy appeared; who returned this answer to King Charles: and therefore it was not convenient to yield that she should return into France: and also his Grandfather turned his Religion, and was killed like a Calf by Ravilliac: his mother, for too much familiarity with Buckingham, Holland, and Jermine; for the Duke, for fear the French Ladies should tell tales of George, often mounted on his steed, sent them into France contrary to the Articles of marriage; so that the Queen was shut up in the Chamber alone, not to behold their departure; and cut her fingers with the Glass windows, as Duplex the French Historiographer writes. And Charles the first, afore his marriage, had for a Mistress a great married Lady (it is probable the Prince would follow the same course after marriage) by whom she had a boy; and when he was Prince of Wales, bestowed on the Christening eight thousand pound: it is to be supposed he being so good an husband, and wise, would not lay out so much cost for nothing. When he kept a book, like Henry the seventh, what bribe's that he shared, he set down punctually; So much received for such an Office, Place, or Honour; and would be displeased if he had not his part agreed for with his servants. And likewise the French Queen, Grandmother of Charles the supposed second King of Scots, was so familiar with Marquis d'Ancre, whom she advanced to so high a command, that by his actions, and the government after in her Regency, France was almost overthrown, and the prime Nobility; and by her counsel to her daughter here, there was procured matters of dangerous consequence to England, since her arriving; who persuaded her daughter to draw King Charles to the Romish part (as by many affairs appeared) and got a Patent to transport leather into France, most prejudicial; which was condemned by this Parliament.  
Wherefore, on all sides, Charles the second from them may justly expect not to prosper, especially by his rebellious invading of England; for if he had any right, yet his invasion, and the Conquest, hath justly extinguished his title, especially king Charles and his mother playing fast and lose so often, that no issue from thence can either be legitimate or pious, from so ungodly a derivative.  
So that if the quantity of battles fought, so great a revolution of the State, the several qualities and persons interested, or the long continuance of broils, could render a war memorable, this the Parliament hath undergone, and the new General finished, is in the highest degree of God's miraculous deliverances; after more than twenty battles in three Nations, and above 300000 slain, and the State changed of face and Masters; multitudes of Forts taken and surrendered; so that the Victorious are but losers, till the State be brought to be (as the French proverb is) en bon point, in perfect health, after a war that hath continued almost nine years.  
The Subject came from king Charles, leaving his Parliament in the suds, and violently raising a destructive war to ruin three Nations. It had rather been wisdom in the king to apply to the people lenitives not corrosives: great wounds are to be fewed, not rend; which is the part of a good Chirurgeon; Restoratives are to be given, not Purges, to the patiented: so Kings ought to amend what was amiss, and not oppose them with violence; appease their fury, not exasperate them by a war: for this thunderbolt, by wicked Council was contrived, to break forth in fiery flashes at an instant in the three Nations, about the 23 of October 1642.  
Wherefore the Parliament now assembled aims at this end, that as in Grammar there can be no good construction nor coherence to make true Orthography, without the Substantive and Adjective conjoined, which is resembled to the Parliament the supreme authority, now settled by God's assistance, appointing the Council of State, who will bring mighty things to pass, & cause the annual Officers to nourish all the members in their several callings, that there may be a semblable endeavour of the well being of every good Citizen & inhabitant, as well as those in authority; that piety may be exalted and increased by the Lamps of the Sanctuary, endued with the Spirit of God; that the whole body may be governed Apostolically, whereof Christ is the Head, without whom nothing can be effected: for if Christ be not chiefest in our thoughts, no State can be durable, but like a sandy foundation will moulder away: That the Electors may love the Elected, and esteem and obey them, who spend their spirits to advance the common good, keep and defend the weal public in health and prosperity, that it be not hectical, meager, nor lean; nor too Saturnicall, nor too Jovial, but in a golden temper. These are wise Physicians, who cure the maladies, fevers, and destempers, that blood may run in every viene of the State to nourish the whole body, in justice, equity, and right, through the cava vena, cava porta, and smaller veins; the great Cities and Towns as well as the small; that the Officers and Magistrates have not a dog's appetite, to turn Judicature to a bad chylos, but to an equal distribution of right, that the heart, the courage of the People, may be fostered in good actions, without respect of persons, but with regrad to the right of the cause; that vice and sin may be punished, with a parenthesis of mercy; that the Republic may have foreign and native commodities; that the Land lie not freshforth, as the Lord terms it, but that there may be importation and exportation; that Manufacture may be maintained, to keep from the bane of idleness and debauchedness, that trade may dish out all things necessary for use, seemly ornament, and lawful Pleasure; that the Merchant, the Purveyors of the Nation, export and import all commodities for the good of the State; that just Impositions, Impost, Subsidy, and Excise may be paid, without corruption and defrauding the State; that Artificers may be able to maintain their families; that laws may be kept within the channel of God's rule and direction; that potency surround not the people's property, nor wink at the spoil of inferiors; that those in Authority regard more the public than their private interest; that the Orphan, widows, and fatherless, be relieved, the innocent freed, and the nocent escape not punishment; and that the Navy, the walls and bulworks, may be maintained in good equippage, for the honour and defence of the Nation.  
By this means, the wise and sage Council of State will undermine the enemy's plots, so that their malice hurt us not, by intelligencers in Foreign parts, employed to prevent mischief to the Commonwealth; wherein the Earl of Salisbury (dead) was vigilant, at the annual expense of 2000 pounds. And therefore I am confident the Parliament frames the State to this fashion, if time and repose, the midwives of all affairs, would give them leave to bring forth to action their contrived principles, in which hitherto they have been impeded, by the plots of malcontents, and by procuring provisions for subjugating Ireland and Scotland, the enemies of God and of this State.  
Consider, therefore, O England, that they do as wise Physicians are accustomed, afore the perfect remedy of patient's consumption, advise not to action, employment, and troubles in affairs, till restored to strength and vigour.  
Wherefore now I come to observe how miraculous it is that my Lord General, descended by his Mother by the male-stock of the Stuarts, should be a revenger, under God and the Parliament, of so many horrible murders and adulteries, oppressions, fearful and abominable wickedness, as I have raveled out the pieces, to wind up this bottom, in some special points; but have omitted many this Enchiridion is to able not contain; which, when God shall enable me, and the State enjoin, I shall willingly undergo.  
I observe likewise, by his Father, that this Conqueror is a male of that great Crumwell, the sole contriver of the dissolution of the Abbeys (under Cardinal Woolsey) those adulterous Seminaries of lust, gluttony, and idleness, that I saw with mine own eyes, when I went to school at Bury, fifty four years since, from a well brought up thousands of children's bones, which were murdered and cast in it, that the inchastity of of the Nuns and Friars might not be found out. And although Crumwell Earl of Essex by the malice of the Popish Clergy, was contrived to die, yet he was a Lord of transcendent parts, and a scourge to ruin those pestilent Abbeys; as if God would requite and revenge his death, by giving such an honour to his name and family in after-ages, to raise up a Crumwel to be God's instrument to destroy such a wicked stock, which nourished such irreligious houses, whose hands were imbrued so often in blood; And that amongst the three Generals God raised up this last, with a mind and body suitable to finish an absolute Conquest over the Royalty: a work in which the heavens (Gods creatures) appointed him to be a principal Coadjutor, under this present Parliamentary power; God dispensing so much sufficiency of wisdom, piety, and prowess, out of the treasury of nature, for an accomplishment; pointing with the finger to every one, Oliver Crumwell as a prodigy, to perform what the great Creator resolved to bring to pass in this Stuarticall Catastrophe; for which he is equal with Alexander the great; leaving him to shine as a Star placed by God amongst all the military Forces of Europe, under the Parliament and the supreme authority of the Commonwealth, to be a glorious Sun and a Prometheus for to bring in a heavenly light for all Europe to behold more clearly Gods will and determination, which will be more sensibly and visibly known after the next years great Eclipse, to enlighten not only the Cavaliers, but also Europe, what Gods purpose is to act in future ages; in which course it is behooveful for every Christian to observe, that he may manage his affairs accordingly, to the glory of God and his own safety. For so infallible is the will of God to take revenge of injuries done, not observing the presence of times when they were committed, but transferrring occasions from one season to another; he calleth the sinners into reckoning, when they have least memory of them: therefore God hath appointed this thrice honourable Parliament the instruments to punish all those Delinquents, who have raised this storm against the Commonwealth, to bring them on their knees to Petition for a composition for their estates personal and real, and others to forfeit their estates for their insupportable malignancy; who now begin to behold that peace is better than war, quietness then rebellion, and subjection than opposition: for it is not sufficient that the supreme authority of Nation do their duty; but as in the nourishing of the body, though the head be well disposed, yet it is also necessary all the members do their office in obeying the supreme authorities just Command with all possible diligence: so shall they be by the State's indulgence united, who were divided, and enjoy the same privileges with us; and we all may sit under our vines, and glorify the God of heaven, who will bless and prosper us.  
To conclude, I humbly beseech the supreme authority of England assembled in Parliament, to pardon my age, if I have not so punctually set them down in order as I desired, being shortened by time, and wanting a faithful, able Transcriber, to write cut this Remonstrance as I could wish: my intentions are only to manifest God's determination in abasing greatness which will not stoop to the Government of our Saviour Jesus Christ the second person in the Trinity, to whom God hath given all power in this sublunary world, for the good of his elect; To which I add a gentle admonition to all Princes of Europe, to give over tyranny, and submit to the power of the Redeemer and Saviour, who hath sacrificed his life to save wicked sinners; and so prevent a shower of God's vengeance impending, which is ready to dissolve and pour down upon their heads.   

O Ye Princes of Europe, that persecute inferiors by Tyranny and oppression, look on the works of God since the creation, and you shall see plainly the great Creator will dismount your glory and pride usurped over others, yea a power to hinder the Government of Christ, that the Kingdom of the Gentiles is stopped in the election of the Saints, by adhering to the great Whore of Babylon, and her Superstition; who takes upon her the Authority of the Son of God, and hinders the conversion of souls: turn your eyes back, and see, as in a glass, what great alteration God hath brought to pass since he made the world.  
The first great Change was in Enoch's time: when men were licentious, God turned the stream, and they began to fear him.  
The second was in the flood: when Noah had preached to the old world above an hundred years, and they would not be warned, God sent a general Deluge and destroyed all but eight persons.  
The third was an odd number, in the miraculous deliverance of his Church the Israelites out of Egypt.  
The fourth was in Salmanassers time, when the Jews cried to God in their banishment, and were reduced to Jerusalem from Captivity.  
The fifth was more worthy admiration, in sending a Saviour to save sinners.  
The sixth was in Charlemagne 's time, when Monarchy began to spread and surround the earth to a potency, by priding it over the People.  
But lo this last is Sabbattical, and gives a rest and quietness to all your pride and ambition.  
FINIS.