Plain Dealing WITH ENGLAND IN Matter of Conscience, BETWEEN The KING and PARLIAMENT. I. Concerning the Kings most excellent Majesty. II. Concerning the Parliament. III. Concerning the grand Reformers. iv Concerning the Parliaments Army. V Concerning those called Malignants. VI Concerning the Cavaliers. Chrysost. Hom. 8. ad Pop. Antioch. ●rah pater Abrahae fuit Idolorum cultor, sed in hoc mundo DOMINUS ●impietatis poenas non dedit, & meritò: nam si DEUS praeveniens ●radicem praescidisset, unde tantus fidei fructus exortus fuisset? LONDON, Printed for Tho. Griffin. 1643 Plain Dealing with England, in matter of Conscience. AS the actions of the English demonstrate the inclination of their hearts, so were their hearts veiled only with a Chirstall, each man's intention would be better known; And the representative body of the State, who are careful to Cure the present malady would purge the distempered humours to save the much gangred body by cutting of some rotten and some putrified members which infect, infested and in vade the republic. Their profound sighs and earnest prayers might quicken my ingeny, better than the sound of excellent instruments can revive the spirits: to deal plainly with England in matter of conscience concerning the present wars this kingdom groans under, submitting myself modestly to both the head, and body thereof: And if those streams of tears, and sweet presumes make not my pen fruitful, and pleasant, pardon my rudeness, and consider the state we are now in. I. Concerning the King's Majesty. I FOr his Regal power, he is (by specall Prerogative) the Lords anointed, the head and sole governor of the Kingdom, established by the law of God, and we his subjects the body, (next under God:) are bound in obedience to him alone. 2. For his parts and virtues, they are rare, surpassing other Princes, of fare that their imitation of his Majesty's splendour would not only veil their imperfections, but preserve their lives: make his judgement O God as clear as the sun to reduce the general capacity to an influence of justice, peace, Religion, and liberity; and make him a rich and potent king. II. Concerning the Parliament. TWO THe Parliament is as one body, and the chief, or head of this body is the King, and with this agreed all our books. Dyer, Fol. 60. a. 2. saith the state of Parliament consists of three parts, viz. of the King, as the chief head, and of the Lords, the chief and principal members of the body, and of the Commons, Knights Citizens and Burgesses, the inferior Member, and these make the body of the Parliament. So that it must needs follow, that the King is the Head of this great Body, not divided in law, though he be in distance, for if so, it must needs be, that the body would be destroyed, be cause it cannot subsist without an Head: Neither do they usurp any power to themselves more then by the law is due, to style themselves the Parliament, whose ordinances are published in the King's name, and under his protecton. The Parliament is the representative Body of the kingdom, and their judgement is our judgement, and they that oppose the judgement of the Parliament, oppose their own judgement, for we have bound our ●…lves by our contents and election, to stand to their Judgement, and determination, so that although the miserable condition and imminent danger, be not manifest to the universal Body yet the Parliament being the most proper Judges, seeing the wrinkles put on the brow of rui●…ed affairs, aught to be the only Judges of it. And indeed the law which is above a ●law ●s S. Ius Populi; the safety of the people, to their law all aught to subscribe, and therefore the Parliament have done that which is agreeable both to law, and reason in preferring of the public safety. III. concerning the grand reformers III THose who labour hard: and take great pains to procure a Reformation have their warrant out of God's word, (for whatsoever is dissonant from that, however it may bear a pretence of reformation will rather deform then beautify the Church of God;) but a Reformation according to God's word ought to be laboured for; and much desired of all the people of God; And as all rivers return to the ocean, so may the labyrnith of this be by help of wise Ariadne's escaped, and the golden Fleece, continuance of the Gospel in purity, justice, peace and downy tranquillity, procured and preserved, with the help of those godly Medea's, who would make the Church of England (that hath so long connived at the papists, and born with them till now they are risen against her to cut her children's throats) to be henceforward more wise, and become a glorious Church; not by being made naked like their peace offerings to the golden calf; as too many would betray us to the Romish whore, aiming therein at the overthrow of the fundamental laws, the change of Religion; and by fire and sword to force us to Idolatry. But by becoming a true reformed protestant church, advansing the Kingdom of jesus Christ, that he may rule in the purity of his Ordinances above all the traditions of men. iv Concerning the Parliaments Army. COncerning the Militia, I conceive it is warrantable by Law: 1. Because of the necessity of it, Bracton fol. 227. a. 10. Rep. fol. 61. a. And secondly in respect of reason, for it doth stand with reason, Pl. Com. fol. 13. b. Thirdly, it concerns the Commonwealth, Dyer 29. H. 8. E. 4.23.13. H. 8.16. And fourthly, in respect of the favourable construction it beareth, 9 H. 3. c. 29. alib. 5. Because of the King's Charter, Bracton fol. 34. where he saith, De Chartis Regis & faclis Regum, non debent; nec possunt justitiarii, nec privatae prisonae disputar●: that is, of the King's Charters, and his deeds, neither Justice nor private persons may or aught to dispute: It is a rule in the Law, that Judges ought always to make such construction of the deeds of men, and of their Grants, ut nec res magis valeat quàm pereat: that is, that they should rather take effect, then perish: so I say, it may well be taken for a rule, that the Judges should not so construe the Law, that the Law should destroy itself; which will necessarily follow in the destruction of the Commonwealth, if they should not so interpret it, ut respublica magis valeat & floreat, quàm p●reat & destruatur● that the Commonwealth should rather flourish, than peri●h and be destroyed. V Concerning those called Malignants. V THose who are called Malignants, are of two sorts. 1. Evil Councillors; 2. Evil actors; both burning in their fury against the happy peace, and tranquillity of the Church and Kingdom, seeking the blasting of the Reputation of the State, O God suffer not ill counsellors to be as a bad spleen, to swell to such a bigness, as shall make lean the Common wealth, that our empty purses, be not killed with blood, though with tears. These would take away the lives of our Worthies; as it was plotted against six at one Clap; these would overthrow our laws, and rob us of our Religion, take away the property of our goods, and compel us to an Arbitrary way of government; that justice may be bought and sold again; but oh what misery, what sad event would ensue; when the Judges shall affirmest legal, the Clergy wrongfully in their pulpits teach it; and the Cabinet Council authorise the convenience for matter of State. The States of Venice, jealous of any their members, confederating with enemies, cause them to be strangled, and hanged up between columns confiscate their goods, and estates; banish their children, and make them incapable of government. In the 18. and 21. of King james, the whole house adjudged it treason to alienate the hearts of the subjects, from the Sovereign, which hath been the continual practice of evil counsellors, and malignants; I humbly desire God to bless his Majesty; but Oh! that he would be pleased to suffer the Parliament to expiate the distractions of the land with the oblation of the troublers of England, who hinder both his, their, and our peace. VI Concerning the Cavaliers. IN my discourse concerning the Cavaliers I shallbe somewhat large, because in them (indeed) is the intent of this discourse; and in speaking of them observe, 1. What kind of men they are: 2. What their practice hath been, and then you may the better judge what it is to trust them. 1 Observe what kind of men they are, and that for nation, religion, and estate. 1 For nation: they are a mixed Army, some from Holland, of the Dutch; others from France, On●ale, and others of the Irish, etc. besides the English Cavaliers; which may prove of dangerous consequence, in case that any of those foreign nations should come against us with a foreign Army. They have not only amongst them many Irish Rebels, but many women that are come over with them, who kill, rob and pillage worse than the men, and are more bloody and cruel, and at the end of a skirmish, use to pillage the dead corpse, and many times finding them wounded, but not dead, with knives that they have for the purpose they cut out their throats, and abuse and launch them in most woeful manner: good Lord rid us of them. 2 For their religion: there are, no doubt, some Protestants, but Papists, Neuters, and Atheists good store: we are in danger of the Popish Cavaliers, that if they should prevail, than we must look for fire and faggot again, as it was in Q Mary's days, if not worse. The Newters they are ready for any design; and the Atheists, I will give you notice of some of their practices: 1. By their blasphemies against heaven; by these and the like words: We will drink, and be drunk, whore, and be damned, and will not be beholden to God to save us; we had rather be in hell together, then in heaven with the Roundheads: the devil that made me, damn and ram into the mouth of a Canon, and shoot me nine miles into hell. They make Proclamtion amongst themselves, that he that can invent some new oath to damn and destroy Pym and his adherents, shall have a sum of money given him. 2 By their action they appear to be many of them no better but plain Atheists; they drink healths to King Charles, in whom they live, and move, and have their being: but amongst other things, it is credibly reported, that when they came towards London with the King, hoping to get an opportunity of pillaging the City, though His Majesty knew not their intents; His Majesty was asleep one morning when they had a desire to be marching for London, who hearing that His Majesty was asleep, they wished that he might not awake in a whole fortnight, and drunk healths to his confusion, and to the confusion of our blessed Lord jesus Christ and his Gospel, as also the confusion of the Lord Kimbolton, Sir Arthur Hazzlerig, M. Denzill Hollis, M. john Pym, M. Strode, M. john Hampden, Sir john Hotham, the Earl of Essex, the Earl of Warwick, Alderman Pennington Major, Sargeant Major General Skippon, Colonel john Venus, Alderman Fulke, Colonel Manwaring. Oh Lord! what a miserable condition were we in, if we should expose ourselves to their mercy. 3. What they are in their estates: Oneale was a prisoner that broke out of the Tower; many of them are Delinquents to the Parliament, many Malignants, many Irish Rebels, that hope for better pillage here then there; many soldiers from other places, whose livelihood is service in the wars, from one country to another, many of them are such as have spent their means which their father left them, and now are glad of so convenient an opportunity, hoping to raise themselves on the ruins of others. 2 What the practice of the Cavaliers is, we may judge, by considering what it hath been; and that sha●l be declared briefly by their extreme boldness with His Majesty, 1. By urging him to undergo all dangers with them; or if His Majesty ever comply with the Parliament, to assure them of a pardon. 2. To grant them the pillage for their pains. 3. That His Majesty would give way for some of the Irish Rebels to come over to assist him, etc. a boldness of an infinite height, God bring His Majesty safe home from amongst them. 2 Lastly, their cruelty in their practices gives us most cause of all to beware of them, for that hath been most cruel and bloody, besides their common plundering and pillaging. 1 One jane White of Leicester, a woman great with child, they came into her house, the goodwoman little thinking that they would have wronged her, but because she did not please them with discourse, they shot her clean through the belly with a brace of bullets, and she died. 2. After they had plundered Sir Edward Rhodes his house in Yorkshire, they slew his servant that kept the house. 3. One William Wright of Abbington, before the Cavaliers came thither, gave counsel, and advice to the rest of the Inhabitants, to stand upon their guard, and oppose them, and thereby to keep the said town from violence and oppression, and that the Ammunition of the town might be secured. By the special Command of Prince Rupert he was condemned by martial law, and hanged up at his own door. 4. Two gentlemen of good repute travelling from London, were met at Hounslow at the sign of the Catharine wheel; The Cavaliers hearing 〈◊〉 were Citizens, broke violently in upon them; took their horse's 〈◊〉 the stables, and tied them to other horses and carried them away like slav●… these men were carried to P. Rupert, and set in a smoky chimney where th●… were almost choked and Prince Rrupert being to march to Hounsloe, th●… were driven before, and the Cavaliers followed, threatening every mome●… to shoot them, not permitting them to eat, nor so much as to lap w●… and were ready to starve for cold, and hunger. 5. They executed martial law on Captain Blake. 6. They cut in pieces the Ministers of Cicester after the skirmish wa●… over. 7. A gentleman was hanged in a with upon a tree for saying that he w●… for the King and Parliament, and no man was suffered to cut him down 〈◊〉 so much as to cover his face. 8. Master Bray of Isleworth, because he said that he was for the Kin●… and Parliament, they cut off his ears, and gave him thirty wounds i●… 〈◊〉 body besides, and when they had done, they tauntingly throw him ●…on a dungill, with this most unchristian scoff, saying, let the Dog's l●… him whole. 9 Another in the same town they tied by the feet, and when they ha● drawn him up and down many streets in the town till they were we●… they shot him to death. 10. They pistolled one Francis of Vxbrige for saying that he was 〈◊〉 the King and Parliament as he was coming out of an Inn to go to 〈◊〉 wife, and children. 11. M. Pierce his wife at Brainford, A woman that had lain in the●… but one week; they drove her out of the house in her smock with the chil● in her Arms which cost her her own and her child's life. 12. Many more such like cruelties, plunderings and Robberies are done by the bloody Cavaliers; the Lord cease their power and fury and send 〈◊〉 peace to his glory. Amen. FINIS.