THE REFVSERS OF PEACE UNEXCUSABLE.  
IN ANSWER TO A libel AGAINST HIS majesties LATE MESSAGES FOR PEACE.  
OXFORD, Printed by Leonard Lichfield, Printer to the university. 1645.   

THE REFUSERS OF PEACE VNEXCVSABLE.  
In Answer to a libel against His MAjESTIES late Messages for PEACE.  
WHen I red His Majesties late gracious Messages for a safe Conduct, for some few Persons of Honour and integrity, to go up to London with Propositions for the Peace of this kingdom, Methought in this Conjuncture of time, nothing could be more seasonable; for it seemed to me a point of time, that had freed all those Persons of Jealousies and fears, who at first, as well had them as pretended them. Nor could I doubt that they that had so often sworn Allegiance to, and professed so long they endeavoured nothing, but a good understanding with their sovereign, should now decline it, when they were thus fairly offered so hopeful a means to attain it. But th ugh I understand of Answers to those Messages, which fall far short of my belief as well as hope; yet I will give no censure upon them, because I see, they are still in agitation betwixt His Majesty and the two Houses: And that His Majesty by later Messages( wherein he offers( being secured) to go up to London, and Treat with His English and Scotch Subjects there, and to secure all men by granting, an equal Militia, to give satisfaction concerning the business of Ireland, to have consideration of the public debts to the Scots, city of London, and others,) Outdoes all example, that he might divert the present felt, and threatening miseries of this kingdom. So as I had been silent, had nor some Scandalous Pamphlets made it their aim to deface those Actions, which so lively express His Majesties tender and Fatherly care of His kingdoms, nay, to defame His Person by it.  
Did I think that this venom came only from the heart and putrefied entrails of him that belches it out, I should neglect it, but looking upon him only as the pits mouth, that breaths out the infectious and killing air, which the deadly mineral of the soil evaporates; I cannot but warn all persons that are given over to believe a lie, to draw far off from this contagion. When he says so disloyally, as well as unmannerly C. R. is come to town again. He knows what it is to bring a Kings Person or Writing in contempt: if he can but gain you to make slight of so sober a Subject, he hath half won you to swallow down all his inconsequent and fallatious arguments. Next to this( O shane that in a Christian Common-wealth it should be permitted) He can tell you, There is talk of Conscience, and Bloodshed, and dreadful day of Judgement, and Peace at Oxford,( which he says,) is not so much there as dreamed on: Nay at first he seems to have the modesty to decline the application thereof personally to the King, for he expresses it, They at Oxford never dream of these things, and yet( without playing the Pharisee, as to brag) from my Consciences I aver it; most there, are of those, that are both faithful and peaceable in the Land, and if martyrdom be to be their crown, for it will not decline it; yet presently with one breath he is at this.  
do you think C. R. dreamed of a day of Judgement, when the merciful Commission past the seal for Ireland?  
Yes, He did: for you know, the means of maintaining that war being diverted for the raising this; in how desperate and deplorable condition, His Protestant Subjects were there; And how this was represented to him, by all the Persons entrusted with that government,( and such as had no tincture of complying with the Rebells) before He made any Cessation.  
do you think he dreamed of a day of Judgement, when the deep Protestations were sent abroad from york?  
Yes, He did: And for that you know, he sent you the hands of some Lords now among you, who with the rest endeavoured to assure you the same, and are grown as bad as yourself, if they will not declare in their Conscience they believed it.  
do you think &c. When the Standard first flourished at Nottingham?  
Yes, He did: Can you remember that time, and not what equal and Peaceable Propositions you then rejected, which if then accepted, had saved all this blood-shed. Was not the Standard then effered to be taken down, and Proclamations that gave some their due appellations of Traitors, to be called in, if you would have done the like, and the King upon this to return to you?  
do you think &c, When the Mock-Treaty was so hotly pursued at Uxbridge?  
Yes, sure He did. For did not His Majesty give an unlimited and concluding power to his Commissioners, whilst yours confessed they had none? Did He not make great condescensions and offers, whilst you met Him in nothing? Did He not desire to prolong the Treaty, whilst you made as much hast to break it off? Did He not publish His proceedings therein to all the World, in so plain a way, being all matter of Fact, that when the avenger of blood shall make Inquisition, it will be found you have been guilty of all that hath been spilled? And did not this convince you? yes, sure it did, for you never answered the same, though now almost twelve months since it was written.  
I have in all these particulars given you not above one instance, because in several Tracts with many serious Arguments, His Majesties Actions have been manifested and justified against all Opposers, for me thinks a little pains may discover the falsities of your arguments: For truly I would not slight them, not mistake them willingly; But in earnest, I do, if this be not the whole reasoning( I'll not say railing) that is in them.  
The King would never condescend wholly to all the two Houses offored him,( I will not now question the nature of the Propositions, whether good or bad) Therefore He never intended a Peace.  
Now take the Reverse, and turn this Argument as it is true in Fact.  
The King and the two Houses differed upon divers new( remember that) things, which tended to the alteration of the present Government; And to compose this, the King was ever willing to a Treaty, The Houses but sometimes; The King would ever have prolonged the time of Treating, The Houses not; The King made many considerable condescensions and Complyings, The Houses none: Let any man make the Conclusion, which of these two most truly sought the Peace of the kingdom.  
To all this add, The King never desired a new thing, The Houses scarce any thing that was not an Innovation in the State; The King never denied any part of Old Magna Charta,( indeed it was become as much His Security as the Subjects) The two Houses, without they might have a Power over King, laws, and People, would not be content: The King, though He had granted more then all His Predecessors, desired not to retract any one Law, but to confirm all; whilst the Houses with an hydropicall humour, ask more, because they had obtained much: The King never unwilling to Treat with them upon any of their demands, Nay, willing to condescend to any thing more then He had already granted, if in Reason and Conscience He could;( For do but remember how He extended His former Graces, by His new Offers to your Nineteen Propositions) And the Houses would not be content, unless He unmanned himself, to agree to that which in reason He could not; He un-Christianned himself, to act that, which in Conscience He could not; unless He dethroned himself, and wholly to transfer that Power to others, which God had placed in himself: And because they were made for His Helpers, therefore they must be admitted to be Sole Rulers, or make a war.  
You talk of a tribunal, but think now, how dreadful that place will be to you, and all your Disciples, that thus Slander, or give credit to the Slanders, cast upon the Lords anointed.  
I have done with this Railer, The Lord convert, or rebuk him, and turn his counsel into folly, for I look upon his Spirit( let it dwell in him, or in others, and he only the Pipe to convey it) like that of Achitophels; The whole design being to make the breach so great, Absalom and David, the King and his People, may never meet. But God that defeated that counsel, will. I doubt not, this, and so prosper his faithful, though afflicted Servant, the King, That the King shall return, nay that Israel, shall be angry they fetched him not in first.  
I have spun this Discourse longer then I intended; but however before I conclude, I desire all Persons, that have power to contribute to a good Intelligence betwixt the King and His People, would consider, whether there be not likely to be such a disunion in Opinion in your new intended form of Government, both in Church and State, as if the present were destroyed, would not create a new war: Whether, if it can be so tempered at present, that Lot and Abraham may set forth in journing together, for the diversity and multitude of opinions, their herdsmen are not soon like to be quarreling: Whether, if Ireland should be forced to give itself over to a foreigner, the youth and wealth of this kingdom may not too likely be butted there: Nay, whether thi● their subjection to a foreigner, may not introduce a foreign war into this kingdom, which is so far spent already by a Civill: Whether all these differences are not likelier to be composed by an obedience to the King, according to the ancient laws of the Land, in whose Authority all differing interests do concernter, then in any new form or usurpation: Consider whether Zimri had Peace, that slay his Master; whether to destroy our Head, be our way to make our Body thrive. At least, I warn all disinteressed Persons, not to suck in this poysenous Doctrine, That success is the seal, God marks His with, when Christs distinction of his Flock is Affliction; For thus we may prefer Mahomet before Christ, since the turk thrives even at present against the Christians. I profess I desire my Portion rather out of the Cup of Persecution, then the intoxicating liquour of a fortunate Rebellion, which is only so termed, because the men of the present Age, seem to have the Lordship over their Opposers, and the fat of the spoil: But how fatal such successses were to Gods, and hath been to all People in their Posterity, all Histories both holy and profane do testify. Nor do you know any people, that were driven to practise it, and who took it up for their remedy, that are not enforced to a constant war; And to pay yearly twenty times more out of their annual Revenue, then ever you paid to a King of England. Call to mind this kingdoms burdens this last five yeares. Well, whatever is the Intention of the best Patriots, it is not in the wisdom of any of them to foresee the sad disorders of such an absolute change they endeavour. Consider, whether it be possible to admit such a Change, and that there is not an equal necessity to have all secured by constant Garrisons and Squadrons of Horse in every County, to rule( as I may say) a new Conquered People, for so are you, when old laws are changed by Force; And whether five yeares since, though some then murmured, the Christian world accounted you not a free, rich, and happy People; And whether, upon the Government by the present laws of this kingdom, you were not so, successively 500. yeares together, some usual intertuptions admitted. It is not likely, but the fear of the Invasion of a Stranger, or imbred differences, will keep you in a constant servitude to your new Militia & Rulers. No remedy against any part of this, but Reunion with our Head the King, so may every man return to his own Vineyard; And without this, so uncertain will your Peace be, That he will be least likely to reap the Fruit who sows the Seed. God therefore give a blessing, to what His Majesty hath so graciously proposed: And let the mouth of all Slanderers and detractors be stopped, That we may no longer  shed the blood of war in the time of Peace.  
FINIS.