PROPOSITIONS FOR PEACE BY An union of Interests, OR A Memento to the Kings Party; BEING The present quarrel stated, and several effectual remedies propounded, for universal satisfaction of all Parties, that desire a speedy composure, a lasting Peace, and a prevention of the destroying War, and approaching desolation, which now threaten the Nation.  
red, Judge, Prosecute.  
Printed for I. N. and M. S. in the year 1648.   

A Memento TO The KINGS Party.  
HOnourable Gentlemen, and worthy Free men of England, for so ye are by birth, and ought to be all your life long; free from all exorbitant, arbitrary power; a condition certainly, that no man in this Nation ever grudged you, however the late unhappy differences have befallen; and when they begun, it was the opinion of divers, that you also wished no worse to any, the oppression before this Parliament having fallen as heavy upon you, as upon any other, if not more heavy: For who suffered more then you in Knighthood-money, in the Royal loan, or in the execution of Forrest-law? except some few Courtiers, sprinkled here and there, it is known you suffered more then any: Or which of you, though never so high in honour or birth, was free from the malice of the Faction, or new raised ruling party of Lords and Bishops in star-chamber, High-Commission, or at council-table? No question ye can remember many vexatious proceedings, to break the spirits of the old English Nobility, and Gentry: Which of you could have justice in any Court, if at least ye were known to frown upon the injustice of the times? Were not many of you, and your Predecessors tired, and worn out of ancient inheritances, by long and chargeable suits in Law? And when patents and Projects overspread the Land, did not your purses pay as much as any, in every commodity you bought or used, and if any of you opened your mouths against them, had you not an ill turn certainly attending you? In your Bed-chambers nor at your Tables were you free, but lay at the mercy of your servants; what viler bondage? Who by countenance of the Court, were as so many Informers, to betray their Masters; it being made the common Road to advancement  
Did not shipmoney fall as heavy upon you as any? and if ye were favouted, it was not for affection, but to corrupt you, that you might either help to oppress others, or silently allow thereof: You cannot but know, if ye consider, that all your breeding tended to incline you to favour tyranny, and to neglect, if not betray your Native liberties: False doctrines both civill and religious, were devised purposely to corrupt your understandings, that you should not be able to discern what freedom was, what liberties ye were born to: no preferment of any nature to be attained, but by abusing the People in one kind or other; and though all sorts of true Englishmen placed their hopes of redress in Parliaments, yet none were respected, but those that bent their endeavours to destroy them, or abused their trust in them.  
You had seen Parliaments for many yeares omitted contrary to Law, and suddenly dissolved, contrary to all reason: nay to mention a Parliament was made criminal: And could there be greater injuries offered to a Free People? Indeed, what freedom is there, where negative voices are perpetually claimed and insisted on.  
You had seen palpable superstitions, innovations brought into the Church, by an Arbitrary power; and multitudes of honest People persecuted for non-conformity, which bread ill blood in the Common-wealth; and shortly after a War was made with Scotland, without advice of Parliament, and for no other cause but refusing a new Service book.  
And was it not evident, by the attempt to engage the northern army, and the Scots also, against this Parliament; by the surprise of the five Members, by the queens going beyond Sea, and the lodaine match of the princess with the young Prince of Orange; by the Guard put upon the Parliament by the Cavalier at Whitehall, and the Kings for saking his usual abode there; was it not evident by all these, and the Kings endeavour at Nottingham, and in the North, to raise Forces; that his assent to an Act for abolishing the star-chamber, and High Commission, and for a Trieniall Parliament, was all yielded unto merely to work upon you, and to gain a party.  
Can you believe that Ireland was not wrought upon from hence, or that a War was not in design? How speedy was the queens operation for arms, and for sending over Prince Rupert, and Prince Maurice, and how bloodily and furiously did they carry on the War, to the slaughter of abundance of resolute Englishmen on both sides.  
In the managing whereof, what other councils were ye governed by, but merely a Court council, the very same, or nothing differing from that which had brought the former mischiefs upon you: whereas, had those amongst you that really minded the freedom of the Nation, interposed their own understandings, before things grew to a height, and had considered all Parties, gently, and without prejudice, and taken pains by converse and treaties with them; doubtless you had thereby preserved many noble perons and families; you had prevented the slaughter and misery of thousands of People.  
Yea certainly, had you engaged your understandings, and enterested yourselves in the councils( as you adventured your lives and fortunes) with endeavours for a right understanding, and a reconciliation, you had prevented most of that prejudice that is come unto the King, his queen, and children, and those abundant inconveniences whreinto the Parliament hath since fallen, and the great prejudice is come to the People thereby: the greatest whereof is, that Parliaments, the very fountain of liberty, are become odious and hateful unto them, and if they should either go on as they have done, and end either in corruption, or by violence, it is much to be feared, Parliaments will ever be strangers in England, and then farewell all freedom for ever.  
And up then goes the Court as high as ever, and down then must go the true English liberties of Nobility, Gentry, and Commons, even of those that help them up, though somewhat later then others.  
O therefore all ye that have honours, estates, families, honest callings and professions, and delight not to fish in troubled waters, before it be to late, lay to heart into what a desperate condition ye are again casting the Common wealth: consider for whom ye do it, and see whether it be for the King and his nearest relations; or for yourself and yours; and whether it be not through impatience at the present injuries and affronts ye have received by the present ruling party: see, and judge impartially, whether in this way of violence( you now threat) with all the force and friends ye can make, ye are likely to compass your desires; and if ye should prevail against your present opposers, yet whether it is likely to end there: See if you can guess where it may end.  
And on the other side, see, and judge, whether by Treaties with all Parties freely and impartially, without dis-esteem or undervalluing any, you may not without one drop of blood, without Tumults, or the hazardous and uncertain help of foreigners, compass all your desires that are reasonable.  
Consider whether now as things are, by violence and Tumults, you are not more likely to fail of your desires, then any otherway.  
For as concerning the King, you know multitudes have so opposed him, that they were as good still persist, and hazard their lives against his violent restoring, as to stand still, and have him set up in such a manner, as themselves, their Wives, Children, and adherents should lie at his mercy; and how divided soever you may imagine them, you will find they will be united sufficiently to prevent, or put by all such purposes: Now is any thing more likely to endanger the Kings life and Crown, then these rumultuous appearances; for it may make men take desperate resolutions: besides, you cannot be ignorant of the designs of our no small ones, to lay bie the Father, and to take the youngest son, the Duke of gloucester, and under that shadow, to govern by such a council as derby House, the present Parliament, and present Army, or at least by the Rulers of both; yea, so resolved they are of some such course, that they wish the Surrey men, or any other had forced the House; which had but made way for this design; which rather then fail, they will under the Notion of purging, do themselves, and then is derby House the only visible authority; and if this design fail, it will be by the prevalence of another party, as bad, if not more destructive to the common wealth.  
Whereas if you mind the good of the King, yourselves, and the quietness and prosperity of the Nation, you are patiently to consider, how much is good for the King; what he may have that is consistant with your freedoms, and with the freedom and safety of all those that have opposed him; which upon debate and conference with ingenious men of all Parties, and judgements, you might possibly find, to include no less then his return with honour, free one, and safety, to himself and his, if that rightly understood will suffice; for what ever some men may sear, it is possible for a King to be happy, and the People both safe and free; the difference between you and your opposers in the reality of things being not so great as is imagined; Indeed if affronts, sufferings, loss of goods and friends, with other particular injuries come into the account, it raiseth the reckoning on all parts: But since what is past, cannot b● undone, a little wisdom on all hands can pass them over; especially sidce there can be no end without it; and certainly, few are so unwise or so uncharitable, as not to desire a peaceable and speedy conclusion.  
There is certainly in reason enough to satisfy all Parties, all just interests; and there wants only a meeting of ingenious men of all Parties and interests, to divide to every one a due portion, and having done it, to persuade the acceptance, of which there would be no doubt or question.  
But the great hindrance hereunto is, that this work will onely be expected to have its rise from either the present Parliament, Army, and other authority; and it were happy that it should be so: but it can never be so, for these are all become distinct new interests, and cannot consist with this work of a general composure, f●r of all things nothing is so avoided by the Ruling party of these, as an end of this Parliament, or the disbanding so great a part of this Army as should render it a servant, as it ought to be, and not a master as it is  
And how is it possible it should be otherwise; for is there not very many in the Parliament, and Army, that enjoy great offices, and revenues, that formerly lived very meanly? Have not many of them purchased Delinquents estates, and Bishops lands to a great value? Is there not Lawyers, formerly of small practise, that now drive all Courts and Committees before them? Have not some thousands, and some hundreds per annum, given them as gratuities, and great sums of money in the Excise, to be received in time with interest? And are any of these, whether in the Army, Houses, or elsewhere, fit Judges when the Parliament shall end? What assurance can be given them, that the next Parliament will rat●ifie and confirm these things unto them? Till then it is vain to hope upon these.  
Yet this hinders not but that this work may go on; for it is not as of late it was: The Ruling part in those are not now so powerful in the Common wealth, their self respects are discerned by all, they are of little power, being beloved of few; So that if a meeting were had by ingenious persons of every party, that all reasons might be heard, and patiently considered; and what should be so agreed upon, afterward persuaded in their several Relations, it would have such an influence upon those corrupt Designers in Parliament, army, city, and Countries, that it would find no considerable opposition.  
And certainly if ever there were a season to begin and prosper in such a work, now is the time, for all Parties long to see a period of their troubles, and are generally sensible that they must either condescend to each other, or be perpetually turmoiled with warres and miseries.  
But if this be begun well, and rightly, it must be by your endeavours; for most do judge your Party so disdainful of all others, that they cannot believe you can give ear with patience and moderation, to your opposers: And therefore as your wisdom and goodness will break through this opinion, so no doubt, when you shall consider your work, you will not only appoint the fittest persons, but will carefully avoid all undervalluing of men, or parties, that being the bane of all public works, or good effects.  
No question, in the time of Your late suppression, You have found much harshness from Committees, and officious busy Informers; abundance of very course natured persons having been employed, which cannot but have heated and vexed many of You; but Reason and Consideration will persuade, that these things are not to be imputed to the whole Party that opposed You; for all things being purely weighed, ye have had in the general no extreme hard measure, the War having been so violent as it was, and continuing so long as ye had any possibility: And however complaints may abound with you, yet losses and affronts are not made whole on the other side: Besides possibly you may imagine how you should have dealt with your opposers, in case You had prevailed; and if it should have been as most men believe, and that from expressions from no small ones of Yours; you have far less cause to disquiet yourselves for what you now suffer.  
And truly it may be convenient also to remember you, how when time was, that ye were in prosperity, ye suffered divers good Families, and very many People of the Popish Religion, to lie under extreme oppressive laws, without any mercy, or consideration, though there had never passed so long bloody Warres betwixt you, as you have had with those of whom you now complain. Nor seemed you to be moved with the least compulsion, at the unjust and cruel suffering of Doctor Leighton, Doctor Bastwick,, Master Pryne, and Master Lilburne; So that if ye consider the provident disposing hand of God in making good his word upon you, Whatsoever measure ye meat unto others, shall be measured unto you again, ye will find that this correction as yet, hath been more like unto a loving Father then a severe Judge, and ye are with patience to bear what is brought upon you; and wherein ye have suffered wrong not to seek revenge, but to leave that to God, and to walk wisely in these things for the time to come, and to do as ye would be done unto, making every mans case in judgement as your own, and not to deal more severely with others, then ye would judgeequall if the case were yours.  
As for the help ye now of late have been put upon, seeming to rely much upon the general appearance of the multitude in all places; crying up God and King Charles; ye cannot conceive the danger in making use thereof, for if the King should be brought in so, many of you Gentlemen, by whose persuasions your meaner neighbours, tenants, and servants rise, will in short time find your lives and estates to be at the mercy of mere Courtiers: Parliaments, and laws will be of little force in one seven yeares, and then you will grieve and vex yourselves without hope of remedy.  
Besides, do you know what use may be made of the multitude when once they are up? You have real and personal estates, baits that are rempting to men that live as most of them do. red our Histories, and remember what Popular theames have been made use of upon occasion of public commotions. And do ye think there will be wanting to spread such motions in such discursive times as these are? No And if ye love yourselves, and desire the quiet of the Nation, awake not a sleeping lion, nor raise a fury which will be out of your power to lay again. Let this word to the wise be sufficient; for to have laid this more open to you, is not safe, in respect of others, who by too palpable caution might have been instructed  
Another main thing ye are to beware of, is the craft and policy of such as are mere Statesmen, who make it their trade to divide the People; and for that cause have ever heightened the quarrel between Papist and Protestant, and between them both and the Puritan, and now of late have sub-divided the Puritan into divers factions, by favouring one more then others, pretending that they esteem one more Orthodox, and right in the Worship and Service of God, then the other; whereas in truth they bear affection to none at all; but by this means keep men so divided, that they seldom or never agree in any thing, for their own good, or to preserve themselves from those common oppressions which Statesmen for their own ends only, bring upon them: And as this was evident formerly,( which ye cannot but know) so is it now. For who is there that doth not groan under the most unjust oppression that ever was, viz. A long Parliament, and the innumerable evil fruits thereof, Excise, Taxes, imperious Officers in an Army, most abominable Committees, and Arbitrary imprisonments, yet by this Strattagem of division they are secure, and in hope( if you and others be not wise, and diligent very speedily, will prevail) to keep them upon us from generation to generation.  
But if ye once rightly consider, you will find your Peace and happiness depends not upon the council and advice ye receive from Statesmen, or great ones, or upon Kings or Parliaments; You may be freemen under both, and you may be slaves under both, or either, even as you will yourselves; for if ye will exercise those abilities of understanding and discretion which God hath given you, in holding union with all sorts of serious, peaceable People; you will then be able to keep all authority( which is made by, and for you, and not you for it) within its due bounds, and to its just end, which is the safety and well-being of the whole People. Be ye therefore resolved to preserve your Birthright, which is freedom; and what government soever ye have, or whomsoever ye trust with any Authority, be sure to see Reason rule, and let every man know what he is to trust to. Be no longer upon uncertainties, but know what is trusted to a King, to Lords, to Commons, to all Judges, and Magistrates; above all ascertain the supreme Authority, the want whereof as it hath been, so will it ever be the occasion of contentions & warres. But whatever is in doing, be careful your freedoms be not infringed, and that you take not a shadow for a substance, a Scorpion for a Fish; for all Arts are at work to deceive you, as personal Treaties, Hampton Court Propositions, which include bondage; Let not old customs or opinions of Government make too deep impression in you, you have as much power of right to better your Estate of freedom in Covernment, as your forefathers had, and are not to be limited by their understandings no more then they were by heir fore-fathers: let all the world know what you trust to those you choose into authority, and see that severe punish ments be annexed to the bre●ch of trust; and to Arbitrary innovation in government, that the highest may fear and stand in awe; otherwise you must not look long to continue Freemen.  
But all rests upon your union with all sorts of well-meaning men, and upon your conjunction in council with them, discourse and reasoning being the author of all great and good effects; therefore prejudge nothing, nor fear impossibilities; but by your wisdom, gentleness, and condescension, make your enemies your friends; and then by joint advice and debate, do as God shall direct and inform your consciences, for the peace and prosperity of the whole Nation,  
FINIS.