The Highway to Peace:  
Or, A DIRECTION set forth for the composing of those unhappy differences betwixt King, Parliament, Army, City, and Kingdoms:  
Showing the sad effects these distractions have brought upon the whole Island.  
Published for the honour and love he bears to his native Country,  
By Sir EDWARD PEYTON, Knight and Baronet.  
Patiar potior.  
Printed in the Year 1647.   

The Highway to Peace:  
AStonished with the present condition of the times, when all men's pens writ (unpunished) what they please, without serious contemplation of conveniency; after much amazement, I recollected my thoughts, and esteemed it a duty to add this drop to the Ocean of what hath been printed, with prayers first to the highest, to direct me to write a word or two, to induce an universal peace in this piece of ground, which hath no limits but sea, hearty wishing I were a wise Esculapius to express apples of gold, and pictures of silver; if it prove an antidote to cure the violent distempers, I shall be exceedingly glad, and if I labour in vain, I have discharged my conscience, though with much sorrow.  
The Physician can judge better of a Patient, by experience in others; as a distempered man is more sensible of folly, by seeing Bedlam; therefore I set before your eyes as in a glass to behold the pest ilent disease of great B●ittaine, what mortal cause was in the example, may be avoided in this Climate.  
While some make the whole body desperate by clandestine plots▪ and pamphlets unrecoverable, on purpose to make Parliamentary Authority despicable, that no physic can help the distemper; others as ambitious Solons, new model the State, or imitate the burner of a goodly Ephesian Temple to be famous in after stories, much like Quacksalvers, heal an ulcer by a sword thrust through the bowels, which may kill the body, and not cure the Tumour; and therefore in the serious view of present affairs, this age resembles the Roman Senate, tired with civil mutinies, groaning with burdens of several Armies, and new impositions, and torn in pieces by envy of subdivided factions, by which weakened in authority, fell weary of the intolerable weight, let the government by a strange dotage into the power of the boundless ambition of julius Caesar, who subdued the Senatorian greatness, by singling out particulars, whom joined he could not prejudice.  
For this Parliament (the best of all since the conquest) had power and opportunity to free the Nation from slavery; a sickness almost incurable, had not the physic of a just defensive war procured an incredible success.  
The first they did in the edifice, was to deface Hyerarchy, afore they could cleanse the Church from rubbish, and dross, sullied in time of Popery, weighing several forms in the balance of the Sanctuary, fixed upon Presbytery; but finding a great distaste from the severity in the people's pallet, mixed with the vinegar, sweet milk, to abate the sharpness, and mitigate popular discontent, with appeal from the Clergy to lay men more pleasing, than the reformed Churches of Europe used: Behold though there was analay, and their stomaches puked, and could not digest alteration of Bishops, notwithstanding Presbytery seemed Apostolical, because the words (without worldly pomp●) and Presbyter are Sunonymaes: So that a new tropic is turned, and the time is come, all Mountains to be abased, and obstacles taken a way; for the conqueror of hearts assails all our Parliamentary power to let into Great Britain a new light and sunshine against all humane power, for supposing one as lawful as the other.  
All this effected the high Counsel launching the ship of the S●a●e over many Parliamentary tempests, and various Rocks, God seemed to be displeased in the very frontispiece of that Fabric, with the Presbyterian pride, and insolent austerity of the Elders to their Superiors.  
For the great Lord of the universe raised some Syraphycall spirits to make a new discovery for ordering the Communion of Saints more agreeable to the word, then usually known in the world; a controversy I will not now discuss, the scope of my discourse tending another way; namely to desire a settled peace, and to show the great danger we run for reviving a new war by Salimandrine spirits, opposing each other without a mild dispute, and pleasing converse: For the people lissening to the Pastor's violence of spirit, are set on fire to quarrel with all that hold the contrary, who from scolding fall to blows, from buffets to swords and guns, by parties siding against parties, having a just ground, conceived to fall out about the breach of protestation, and brotherly, Covenant: they are engaged to the Scotch Nation, whom I heartily wish may have good satisfaction by making manifest, that the order to be used by the Ministers, approacheth nearer the holy Scripture than theirs, and differs only in form, not essence; so the binds of amity may be kept in unity of spirit; though divided in judgement and opinion, to the end the protestation, and Covenant made in the presence of the Almighty, rise not in judgement against us, to make us guilty of the crime of Laodislaus the Emperor, falsifying his faith with the Turk; who was slain in the battle and place where the agreement was solemnly taken, and broken; whilst some are for Apollo, and others for Caephas, yet both for Christ; the Scots partake with some faction here, to cause England swim in blood, and hinder the building of God's house, or be a Rrinora to the glory and felicity of the visible Church in the Martyrdom of many thousands.  
I fear therefore lest this great contestation between Independent and Presbyter cause a fatal Tragedy, as happened to the Clergy and Laiety about celebration of Easter such heart burning, and great persecution; for that, as a branch growing from that tree of division, sprang up the most horrible Arrian Heresy, which troubled the Church many years, till God raised a Counsel, dispelled the Egyptian darkness by distinguishing the words, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, which appeased the irreconcilable difference projected of two letters by Satan, to make a schism, and our Saviour's death for salvation invallid: so I trust God will raise Evangelicall spirits to bring that glorious woman out of the Wilderness (prophesied of in the Revelation) who may be Midwives to deliver her of the most ardent truth, to cure our frensicall part, that the fullness of the Gentiles may more speedily ensue, and consequently the remnant of the Jews be gathered.  
And certainly the Devil hath stirred up our heresies on purpose to break the neck of Parliaments by the instigation of divers foreign Jesuits come over, who add fuel to our flame, either by Sermons or Counsels, and consequently will endanger the Parliament, as did the Arminian in Holland.  
Surely we are in the same danger the States of Holland were, when Philip the second of Spain acknowledged them a free State; so as soon as it had life by the vigilancy of Grave Maurice (a brave and wise Soldier) the miracle was, it had not burial by the Artifices, and faction of Barnevelt, the chief of which he cut off with great celerity, and so dispersed the rabble who intended their ruin.  
The Parliament after a long and dangerous voyage, brought to a good pass by the war ended, there arose a difficulty to disperse and dispose the Army, long diverted from sending supplies into Ireland, by homebred troubles, because they had not paid the Soldier, who were unwilling to disband without their arrears: A wonder an Army so glorious (in the opinion of all) should be dismissed without salory: in consideration whereof the houses very well resented their worth and valour; yet found they wanted ready moneys, and therefore were forced to solicit the City (where they might command) to issue money on good security to reward the Soldiery; but their answer was, they would not till they were cashered, for some in London were contrary in faction to the armed forces, and the Army to the City, affirming (as it was just) in plain words they would not lay down their weapons till they received their pay in part, and security for the rest, fearing to be served as the reduced Officers, for a time without money, meat, and .  
So that there was a double Set to be played, one to get moneys, and another to disband; a discontented victorious Army, denied the one, and disappointed of the other; the Parliament was put to their trumps, and forced to play the game another way.  
By this time the great Counsel saw it impossible at one and the same time to satisfy the Soldier, and please the City, because some few discontented persons (that well ordered City is not without) growing imaged against the supreme Judges, sent a number of unruly Prentices to force their unjust demands (a precedent without pattern, and violence never heard of) this caused both the houses to have their own● guards, and not the Cities, of purpose to secure their persons, debate freely, prevent future molestation, and remedy repining mischiefs likely to invade the peace of the State.  
By this it may appear plainly the hindrance of our prosperity lies in the plots of malcontents, not in the Parliament nor Army the desi●e of the one is to send, and the willingness of the other speedily to be sent away, and not like a vulture to eat out the bowels of the Country by free quarter, a charge only for the people's just defence against foreign or domestic foes which might invade or disturb their quiet.  
Yet at the present there wanted not pestilent spirits would set a bone twixt Parliament and Army, and twixt both and Scotland; though our wise Senate labour with might and main to settle a common peace here, and in both Nations, as his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairefax, and Counsel of War endeavour to bring the Soldier to obedience, and give content to the Scot  
Whereupon the Soldier guarded the Parliament, and secured the Tower, that no tumults molest the Parliamen, nor infest the City.  
By this time the wisdom of the great Counsel hath retrived (by woeful experience) the haunt of those who slight their endeavours (though with much expense, toilsome labour of body, and danger of person) they continue, then continue to bring to pass the happy condition of Church and State, when others seek more their own ends, than God's glory, and good of the Kingdom.  
For such people it is impossible to please; for where inconstancy possesseth the heart (a long travel to bring felicity to perfection) is most irksome, never considering affairs of so great consequence cannot be effected, but with long labour, and much reluctancy.  
So that the people jealous of a new war, raised on the basis of their late payments are stirred up with an earnest desire to be rocked in two cradles, affected most to wit, ●ase with rest and peace, knowing full well war brings a consumption to a Kingdom how rich soever; especially the wise seeing some Countries without corn, others without stock, some without Tenants, others without money, some without Cattle, others burdened with free quarter, all concommitants of Civil War, which makes all long (like a woman with child) to be brought a bed of a well grounded peace; hoping as in that last seven years of our Henry the third, what mischief, and dissolation war had caused in almost thiry years ill government, was repaired by aprentiship of years, for which he was called the Justinian of his time.  
So now if the storm were passed, and seven years never so unfortunate, the Common weal may become in a short space fat and fair: So that nothing can be more cordial then to have no Army at all; for the people fear that power may become dangerous, when Land and Sea are invested in the person of one, that what is given to a servant, may be usurped as an absolute Master; as Henry the 7 made the right of his Queen his own, and so buried her title; not knowing where Religion is placest in the heart, there can be no treachery in the action, and what is lent for a time will be restored to the proprietor.  
Therefore I beseech all to consider, the cause of our danger is the wrath of God which hangs over our heads (as a dismal cloud) ready to discharge upon us for many horrid opinions, and blasphemies; as swearing, profanation of Sabbaths, drunkenness, fornication, adultery, will-worship, formality, hatred, malice and liberty to do what pleaseth sense, though never so contrary to the eternal Law, the least of which are heavy enough to pull down the greatest judgement, namely sin punished in committing of sin; O that we could (with jeremy) shed a fountain of tears!  
Certainly it is not the malignity of the air causeth the Plague, plotting and humane device, war, combining of the Grazier and Farmer, scarcity, but our grievous sins, and want of love bring upon us these evils; wherefore let us leave our transgressions, and be charitable one to the other; for hatred bringeth division, distraction, mutinies, opposition, and armed forces; let us have care especially of tender consciences, which will be sooner convinced by sweetness then severity; let not Presbyter hate Independent, Independent Presbyter, Protestant Papist, Papist Protestant, Brownist Anabaptist, nor Anabaptist Brownist; but let all reason together▪ with mildness, the best still to confute error, and fittest means to work out truth, as the steel gently strikes out of the flint, fire falling upon tinder of good desires, kindles the match of pious affections, and so lights the candle of knowledge to show the beaten way God hath appointed to walk in, if not a new yet a brighter way: so shall the noon day of understanding be cleared, and no twilight of error and mistake.  
For swavity causeth japhet to dwell in the Tents of Sem, fulfilling the divine Prophecy of these latter times, 11 Esay. 6 78 9.10.11. The Wolf shall dwell with the Lamb, the Leopard lie down with the Kid, and the Lion, and the Fatling together, and they shall not hurt nor destroy, saith God, in all my holy Mountain: this plainly insinuateth that all severity and harshness should be banished from God's people, and love in sweetness be towards one another, for the Wolf, Leopard, and Lion are cruel beasts of prey, which devour the Lamb, Kid, and Fatling are innocent creatures; so that if the cruel, and innocent shall agree in all God's Mountainer, by which is meant his Church: Then tender consciences ought not to be forced, nor private duties in Families prohibited, that God may bless this State, that piety may abound, and Parliament and City not oppose each other; for severity causeth distractions, where Magistrares have no power, nor Nobility and Gentry respect, holding all things in common: And if severity of Presbyters rage's over weak consciences, they may usurp the temporal power over persons, estates, and purses, and become as Antichristian as the Popes of Rome, and worse than our late Bishops; for when the Clergy rules over the consciences of people, temporal power may out face, never govern, and so by insensible degrees become humblers of States, a course contrary to Apostolical Doctrine which prohibits to Lord over God's heritage when no man can know the conscience but a Deity, no more than the heart unless they had the infallibility of the spirit; so by this they trod the beaten path of the Roman Church when the Popes raised the mount of Supremacy over Kings, and Potentates, a pride would not be pulled down, though assayed by many Emperors and Princes.  
If Parliament and Army are at a distance, the one hath no power to command, nor the other will to obey.  
When the Parliament is against the City, the City's Charter may be questioned, Monopolies and Impositions will be on Merchandise, and manufactures to overthrow Merchants and tradesman, and the Parliament shall not have the Citizen's purses at their command with their will and ability as they ought; for if the Physician and Patient should fall together by the ears, the Physic may be as well poison as wholesome, for the high Senate purgeth Monopolies, and vomits up Impositions that trade and merchandise may flourish.  
The City and Country bring branches from the tree of one root, aught to accord as loving brothers, and are then happy; but if they fall at variance, and disturb each others precious peace, what a world of mischief will ensue? Besides bloodshed; how can the City vent their foreign commodities? When the Country may live of their homebread; or how can the Country sell their broad , stuffs, fustians, cheese, wheat, malt, or cattle, with divers others (too long) to recite?  
If City and Army stand at a distance, and oppose each other, the one may starve the other, stopping provisions by Land and Water, nor the Army have pay, but from the Magazine of the City to maintain their forces.  
Lastly if England and Scotland have a war, they will never be reconciled, but become goads in one another sides, revive deadly feud, and (which is worse for us) Scotland will batch a portal to let in foreign enemies, as French, Dutch, Spaniard, and Dane, to cause the seat of the war to be here, more advantageous to the invader, than the invaded; and more over meet here with a strong Presbyterian Party to assist them, made angry and revengeful against others by Pulpits.  
On the contrary side, the Scots shall find us hardy, resolute, valiant, and encounter with an invincible Army, whom God hath blessed, and I hope will: and certainly I do not see what colour the Scots have to invade us covenanting solemnly to assist us; for when they side with a party, they will ruin themselves to destroy us; for they shall add fuel to make a flame, when they should quench the fire.  
They cannot come on our English ground, till our Parliament vote them; or if they shall invade us without our consent, they are to be reputed enemies, violators of peace, plunderers of our Country, to enrich themselves by our poverty; let them know, their intrusion without command of Parliament revives the noble tenure of Escuage, which many of the Kingdom hold by, to serve against them with horse and foot, till they be beaten out, the number of those who hold by that service (by ancient survey) have been computed forty thousand horse and foot, and if such Tenants shall refuse they forfeit their estates.  
Do they conceive King Charles will protect a Nation that sold him? Or those that prised him more than gold? Moreover every wise man will rather join with rich then with poor, his Majesty's revenues being yearly a Million here, not there a hundred thousand pounds. I have spoke this because they threaten us with Declarations; yet I honour the Nation, and desire they may have satisfaction to a tittle; but if they shall persist, and nothing shall satisfy them but blood, they will lose their arrears, get nothing but blows, and set up their rest upon one battle (out of their power to raise another;) nor do I see what safe retreats they have, but what is gotten by blood, and so make the adage true, they come for nought but our goods, not to right our wrongs, but to fight with us, not to settle religion, but for lucre and gain.  
O foolish England, will ye nourish serpents in your bosoms, ambitious to be Lords of your estates? Will you aid and assist those that will ruin your Kingdom? And will you become traitors to your own Country? I assure you the Law of England will make you so; this I have spoken rather to deter their illegal invasion, then provoke them: for the force of all my mind shall carry itself to persuade brothers to agree in unity, and to assist one another wi●h hearts, lives, and fortunes in a just and pious war desired of both; for I honour the Nation, and should be grieved, people of one Island should be cut in two pieces, brothers in Christ should become mortal enemies, who (jointly) are able to vanquish France, or Spain. I humbly beseech God to reconcile us together; let the lamentable example of us, and Ireland be before our eyes, a back door to let in a foreign enemy subjects of the same Sovereign, though opposite in religion, as in their minds, of whom it hath been said, that they were good servants; but when they got the key of power into their hands are bad Masters, governed by one, (indeed) no Law, witness the unnatural bloodshed there, how can barbarous cruelty be revenged, as long as we have civil war?  
Moreover an Army divided cannot stand, therefore my humble suit to the General, Council of war, Agitators, and Common Soldier is, to hold together, who joined are a sheaf of arrows, but disjoined may sheathe their swords in one another's bowels, or be vanquished; for then martial law will be of no force & validity; how often have the Roman Cohorts, and Turkish Jannisaries, chose new Emperors, killed their Commanders, and Generals, and at last they ruined one another? the sword is a good servant, but a bad Master.  
Or if the Soldier and Country jangle together, the Army will become odious, and none willing to harbour them, much less give free quarter.  
Likewise if the Parliament be divided (as a house) it cannot stand, the Rights of Parliaments and Subjects will be destroyed, and they utterly vanquished, as the Roman Senate by Caesar, then shall all wickedness go scotfree and unpunished.  
Certainly, Monarchy must not infringe the liberty of the people, nor people destroy Monarchy.  
For the composition of our government is partly monarchial, partly Aristocratical, and will not admit of a dominion solely in the people, as it appeared plainly in the 15 year of Edw. 3. when they fell at variance in the choice of great Officers of State, they turned the course from the people into the royal channel; the Philosophers stone may turn iron and brass into gold and silver; but not gold and silver into base metals, no more can the Sovereign power be transferred on the people, nor the right of the people converted to the Sovereign; for then Kings (without Law) may do what they list, have power of life at their pleasure; on the other side if power were in the ordinary sort there would be Anarchy, and total confusion, therefore are the Laws, that Kings may govern their Subjects with equity and justice, as the Subject obey the Sovereign, and the King love and preserve the Subjects lives and estates, by a legal way not fancy or pleasure: for the Laws are Judges betwixt King and Subject, and Subject and Subject, otherwise the Kingdom will perish, rich tread down the poor, widow and fatherless will lose their right, people be oppressed? property utterly lost, and Religion will turn Atheism.  
The Commonwealth is a body (wherein are head and members) and King and Subjects, who ought to have a sympathy and fellow feeling one of another's wants, and communicate to each other all the good they can; all degrees (as notes in music) make a harmony of love, depend on, and sweetly relate to others; as the stars in the firmament of several magnitudes agree in quality and nature with the seven Planets, or as the heavens, where God is supreme, are Archangels, and Angels, ministringto each other.  
Wherefore my thrice humble suit is to King, Parliament, City, Country, Army, and Scotland, to unite in love, and join together against foreign and domestic enemies of the State, that riches may merease, the Kingdom may be well governed, Religion flourish, and God be honoured, otherwise we shall be like a great animal, as the Duke of Rohan saith, which doth nothing but destroy itself, when two so brave Kingdoms shall lay violent hands and murder one another.  
Especially my humble prayer to my native Country, is to live in amity amongst themselves. A people have been the glory of Europe, conquerors of France, vanquishers of Palestina from the Saracens, defenders of the Protestant Religion▪ who (I faith) have set the Crown of France on the head of Hen. 4. at the expense of that Famous Queen Eliz. the glory of her sex) and by the prowess of our brave Norrice, and the English Cavalry, opposed Spain in all her glory, and at last brought her upon her knees, have been the greatest Antagonists of Rome, Protectors of the 15 Provinces, a safe sanctuary for the exiled Protestants, and inferior to no Country in valour.  
God give th●s Counsel above a command; let us embrace it, and love one another with due respect, duty to whom duty, and love to all, that future proof may not turn discourses into a sanguine die, nor peace into bloody war; so shall our swords be turned into plowshares, spades, and instruments of husbandry, and right trodden down, shill be revived.  
And I humbly entreat you not to look so much to errors past, as forwards; carry yourselves like wise, and brave men, for fear while we look to punish others, we receive a blow shall take away power of punishment, and life itself: And when a calm comes you may lock upon Delinquents with a severe face of justice; and after every man may have distributed to him the dole of his due birthright; therefore let not the quarrelling Knave win a Catastrophe in our State, but the best of cards prevail for order, peace, and piety. Amen.  Gloria Patri, Filio & Spiritui sancto, maximam pacem Ecclesiae & Republicae toto cord & animo opto. 
FINIS.