A REMONSTRANCE Concerning The Grievances, and Maladies of the Kingdom of ENGLAND: RIGHTLY Stated in X POSITIONS.  
With Remedies prescribed for the speedy help of each of them: VIZ. 

The King,  
The Parliament,  
The Army,  
The Assembly of Divines.  
The Citizens of London,  
The People in General.  
The Apostate Roundheads  
The Newters,  
The Cavaliers,  
The Scots.    
Licenced and Entered according to Order.  
LONDON, Printed for John Hickman, 1648.   

Maladies and Remedies.  

1.  
THE Scots (to dispatch them first, because they have furthest home) are a people that would be thought more wise than honest, and yet, because it is no wisdom to renounce honesty, none therefore are greater pretenders to it. They are singular School men in State-matters, and can distinguish to a bristles breadth, for instance; They can break their Faith and keep their Covenant, come like Brethren to help the English, and never strike stroke for them, but at Newcastle and Cannon Froome, the one to keep it, the other to leave it, because it was worth no more; and yet hate with perfect hatred, those that did better service, because they did so. The old Model and they whilst it was on foot, were then scarce Brethren, but now they and the Old Model men against the Army, are sworn Sisters. They Marched to Hereford and back again, and all the way coming and going, took the wind of the Enemy's Garrisons, as if the plague had been in them. If the Parliament wished them advance Southward, they retreated Northward by a Scotch figure, because the North of England, is the South of Scotland, And lay just so long before Newark, till by private confabulation, the King came to their Leaguer, and then and there broke their word (but kept Covenant with the Parliaments Commissioners, against their promise carrying away the King to Newcastl●, in all post haste, as if they had meant to have invited him to Edinburgh, in freedom, honour, and safety, but no such matter my Lord, touching the King's dignity and greatness, the Covenant only binds on this side Tweed, for beyond it he's little enough, but it seems they have bargained with him like the two Tribes and half, so they may have all beyond Jordan, they'll see him in safe possession of Canaan, therefore for that end must there needs be a personal Treaty, and an invitation of him (whom they'll here invite into Scotland) to London, in honour, safety, and freedom, the Kings own words, fiddle and stick, which makes Pragmaticus (the Court jester) ready to leap out of his skin for joy to hear this tune played upon the Scotch Bagpipes, so that he'll go near to want a Theme, to rhyme upon next week, being reconciled to this loyal faternity. But they tell you the reason (and for my part I believe them) why they would have the King entertained at our cost, because they say their happiness is in him, for you must consider the two great wheels of the Scotch engine is now in perpetual motion, the one to make England Scotland in matters Ecclesiastical, so that It is, and It is not so, in Scotland, were urged in the Assembly like ipse dixit in the Schools: the other is to make Scotland England in things civil, and though an English man in Scotland must not untie the King's shoe latchet, yet they stick not to propose to have the third part of offices about him here. They cry out of the abuse offered a single Commissioner at Hampton-Court, and that no repair is made, the whilst they sanctuary Knox, and nose us with Cheesley those arch incendiaries, that in whole volumes abused the whole state of England, with breach of privilege of Parliament to boot, which by Covenant is to be maintained, and they punished, but a trick at maw will help that, for they can in their printed Papers (those Scotch spectacles to blind English men) take the Covenant in pieces and quote it in abstract Propositions leaving out the principal verb still, the conditionate coherence of one thing with another, so that the reason why they so cry up themselves (wherein they have an excellent faculty) for transcendent Covenanters, is, because they do by the Covenant, as some sectaries of these times do by the scriptures, bring their sense to it, and not take sense from it. And for most part what is their religion? Presbytery, they do by it as the jews did by the Temple, worship it instead of God, and though swearing lying & dissembling, be even national vices amongst them, yet by virtue of this bare badge they cry up themselves for the people of the Lord, as if heaven also could be caught by craft, but forma dat esse is a maxim undeniable with them, they are the best Christians and Covenanters because the best Presbyterians, which they make their staulking-horse to catch city and country, and the Assembly also, and their screen to be-spatter the English Parliament, except the eleven Members, whose devotion to Presbytery and the old Model, prefers them in favour above the rest. From State Presbyters, Libera nos.  

The Remedy.  
Let us do them all good Offices, and keep them at all due distances mix not interests, keep Covenant in the entire plain English sense of it, avoid their tedious Harans, pond speeches, and voluminous Papers, which they only speak to the Parliament first, to the end that after they may speak them in print to the People, which they know so great a body as the Parliament, pressed with infinite and weighty businesses cannot suddenly answer, and so think to carry the cause by cajoling the vulgar, and to divide betwixt the body real and representative, and then the town's their own; too much Serpentine wisdom to stand with the innocency of Doves. Think not the worse of Presbytery because they Idolise it, but let power of godliness and purity of worship go hand in hand. Let (in a word) the Parliament be true to their trust, and England to itself    

TWO,  
Next Vous-avez, Cavaliers, 'tis fit these two should go together since Pragmaticus says the Scots are turned Royalists) these degenerate English men, that fight to be slaves, but had more wit than to stand to it. For the ingenuousest of them say, that if the King had got the better, the Kingdom had been undone, they see so fare now into his disposition, and yet they in hope to be sprinkled with Court holy water, are content to sell their birthright, which their Progenitors nobly purchased with their blood, and they as ignobly sell it with theirs. They complain of compounding, which yet is a Cheaper tenure to hold by then disseising, which had fallen to our share if they had been paramount, as themselves stick not to say, and threaten to try us all for Traitors at the Kings-Bench bar, where proud Banks and pricket Heath must have given sentence, and then there had been old work for new Tyburn. The two German Princes must have been denizoned with the Estates of Northumberland and Pembroke and their blue Ribbons to boot; as judging most fit, that they should ride on horseback that fought for St. George.  

The Remedy.  
Though the Cavaliers be overcome, yet let them have what they ●ought for, viz. slavery and bondage. Those of them whose Ancestors gained their Honours by fight for their Country, let them now lose theirs for fight against it, a doom which their own forefathers would pass upon them, were they alive, to see such degenerate stems grow out of such Noble stocks, for Nobility and Gentry ought not to descend by propagation without derivation, not by blood but by virtue. And those of them who Citizen like bought their Arms and Honours, let them all be reversed till they renew their Patents at the old rate, and compound at Herald's Hall for their forfeited honours, by shameful deserting their Country, more worth than all the Kings in Christendom.    

III.  
The next that takes the Stage is the Neuter, that long tailed vermin which is not begotten, but engendered, of fear and converousnesse, that like the Drawer at Saint Dunstance bids all welcome, and is indeed now for the Parliament, and damn him anon for the King, like the picture that sideways hath two faces, but forthright none; He is one that asks leave of the Cavaliers Garrison to lend a small sum to the Parliament, the better unsuspected to befriend them with intelligence, and yet brings his money by stealth too, as if he were afraid of Overseers, when as he hath made his peace beforehand, and there pays in a little, with a great deal of perjured protestations, and ever after takes himself for a friend to the Cause, and is ready to bind any man to his good behaviour that thinks otherways of him, confidently pretending to all those Parliament Declarations that promise reparation, as if his name were in them, intitling himself to future indemnity for his little goodwill, in his fourpenny friendship.  

The Remedy.  
Let these half-faced groats, be for ever reckoned amongst clipped silver, and never go for currant coin that are so light in the balance, there is as much difference between cyphers and figures, as between something and nothing. Lay no weight upon them, for they'll deceive you at a dead lift, I wish there be not too many such in the Parliament, that hunt with the Hound and run with the Hare, that factor for the King, by virtue of the Commonwealth's trust, throw such Jonasses overboard, or they'll sink the ship. The Minorite Cavaliers, that but lived in the Enemy's Garrisons, did less hurt than some Newters that lived out of them, therefore I know not why they also should not compound, or at least pay double Excize, as well for Neutrality as the other for bare Malignancy; being equally hurtful, let them both go for Delinquents in Concreto. I mean Verb Newters, that can stand in construction without a Nominative case, men of note and name, that have talents of estate, reputation, etc. to use, and hid them in Napkins. Who therefore, as they are not much richer, so nor much poorer for the times, at least, not for their good wills.    

iv  
In the arse of these, follows the Apostate Round head, dow baked Patriot, a weed that grows up and down, both among people and Parliament: A sort of men that out of private and personal dis-satisfaction, misprision, and jealousy, have lost their first love, and received circumcision, because they see the Parliaments Road will never bring them to Mahomet's Paradise, for instead of liberty, and property, they looked for pleasure and plenty, and failing thereof they desert the Cause, being like them that followed Christ for loaves. State-Arminians, that dreaming of an universal redemption, at first came flying into the flock, with the wings of freewill and common grace, which in this Sunshine of recess being melted, Icarus-like, they are fall'n from heaven to earth, totally, if not finally, opening their mouths against the Parliament and Army, like hounds upon a stop, having no way else to cover their shame, whose principles founder with long travel, and they like jades tyre before they come to their journeys end.  

The Remedy.  
Of all men these aught to be branded in the forehead never to be confided in, such murmuring spies that wanting faith to go thorow-stitch, endeavour to set the people in a mutiny at the skirts of Canaan, that their Carcases may fall in the wilderness, These should do well to repent (if possible this sin may be forgiven them) and do their first works. for salvation will come some other way to England, but they and their father's house shall perish.    

V  
Now to consider the People in general, under no other notion then as English men. These are too little sensible of the good they have gained. Because they have not all they would, therefore they despise all they have, thinking that reformation may be done in a day (though it was many years undoing) and without charge, both which are impossible, the Jews found it so when they came out of Babylon, the Samaritans will not let the work go on smoothly either of the Temple or City, Church or Commonwealth: think you the devil lies dead in a ditch? nothing less, his strong opposition is the hopefullest argument of a happy settlement, and reformation though the times and means too, be both in the hands of God. They listen too much to reports against their best friends and believe them too easily, not discerning the times, nor the guise of men, who now being put by other shifts, make lies their refuge.  

The Remedy.  
Believe it is the Lords work, as once you did in the days of thanksgiving, and that therefore it's fit to stay the Lords leisure, for faith (especially joined with hope) makes not haste, murmur not against Moses and Aaron, who can neither make more haste not better speed than God gives leave, such wilderness sins in the people have been no small impediment to the Parliament, weakening their hands and hearts. Own your representative body (though not every member of it) notwithstanding the Scots insinuations in their printed papers, or Preg … icus his scurrility in his printed Pamphlets: Put not impossibilities upon the Parliament, nor expect them not from them. Value safety above profit, and therefore force them not to disband the Army, against their own reason, and to your apparent ruin, for whensoever it is disbanded, and the Parliament ended, for which the King bid stair, then hath England scene her best days, until things be much more securely settled, then appears at present in the face of affairs or dispositions of people, principally the Cavaliers, whose tongues betrays their hearts, by whose folly I hope we shall learn to be wise.    

VI  
After the people of England, if that be their proper place, who had almost been above and before them, come the Citizens of London, a place it cannot be denied considerable, and a people that when time was, did good service, but of late some were about to play Tadgell good cow, and had struck all down with her foot but for her tyeband: purseproud they are, and insolent withal, vying it with the Parliament, inferior in nothing but petitioning, and hardly in that, for therein they were so remonstrative, as if the Sword had indicted them, the Mace penned them, and the Cap of maintenance delivered them, demanding from the Parliament what they had commanded from them. Insomuch as that great land-Leviathan, The Lord Major, Aldermen and Common-council in Common-council assembled, had almost swallowed up the three estates of the Kingdom, but that England's Army came to the rescue, whereby the supreme power is yet preserved at Westminster which had else been translated to London, for less than a petty Principality will not content them, they must not only command within, but without their liberties, even the whole line of communication, and so consequently our Legislators: Westminster and Southwark lackeying by his Lordship's horse as worthy no higher promotion in the Militia. They entertain treaty with foreign agents instead of factors, and look as if they meant to set up for themselves and trade alone. Our brethren the Scots court them with letters and long speeches, as the only rising Sun: And his Majesty temporiseth too, granting them all their Propositions without ifs, or and's, but none of those that appertain to the Kingdom in general, as being not so much in favour.  

The Remedy.  
Do not affront the whole Kingdom in despising their Parliament, whether if I be not deceived, you also send your Burgesses like other Corporations. Be contented with your membership in the body, exalt not yourselves above your brethren, take (if you will) the highest place under the head, but strive not to be above it, for so your footing will be too slippery to stand firm. Every star moves best in its proper orb. Swell not till you break, by labouring to bring the supreme powel under your civil sword, it's neither consonant to rules of discretion, nor laws of hospitality to conquer those you ought to protect. Let not your mutability be recorded in the history of this age as in former, where you are called Weathercock Citizens; persevere to the end, lose not your reward, he not ambitious like the great Earl of Warwick, to do and undo, lest at last you undo yourselves; what assurance can you have in the King that never kept his word with the Commonwealth. I tell you betime, lest you repent too late, when you are engaged in unextricable difficulties, massacres, and exactions. Find him not money to disband the Army, nor power or force to dissolve the Parliament, for then good night at noon. I know neither of these counsels please you because you are prejudiced against both; but when you put on your goons, lay aside pride and passion, which are therefore the worst counsellors, because the greatest flatterers. Please not yourselves to your own ruin and the Kingdoms, Court holy-water will soon dry up. If you were better read in story, you would be better taught then to desire the King amongst you in freedom, honour, and safety, much less upon his own terms, or so much to countenance those that do so. Grasp not more than you can hold, let Naboth enjoy his vineyard, an enforced subordination amongst equals is nothing so firm a ●ye as a voluntary association, especially in Militia's. Put not your worst affected Citizens in offices of greatest trust. Enviously quarrel not the Parliament for every hundred or thousand pound they bestow, though upon their own Members, either in recompense of their service, or repair of their losses, who have ventured their lives, lost their estates, born the brunt and heat of the day in a seven years hard service to maintain your freedoms and the Kingdoms, banished from their own homes, wives and children, when as you enjoy yours all this while, and yet I deny you not your share in the honour and success of the war, nor do you grudge them theirs, who for the public suffer not a little in their own private condition. I mean those of them that intent their trust more than design, which I know many do, and some do not, eating worse meat, and in a worse manner than their very servants were wont to do at home, where also they had elbow room, that now are fain to keep house in a Chamber.    

VII.  
As touching the Assembly of Divines they are better read in books than men, and in this age of different opinions, they do like those at the confusion of languages, sort themselves with whosoever they be that jump with them in judgement, and think them honest and infallible in all things else that his right in Presbytery though they but pretend to it, for such there are that are neither Presbyterrians, nor Independents, but cry up the one, because it cries down the other, and consequently the Army that new model, which they hate for their virtues, not for their vices, their victories, not their tenets, But the greatest Clerks are not always the wisest men, nor see not the furthest into a millstone. Some men read Matchiavell to do him, but they to undo him. There are Protestant Jesuits of the short robe, that can so disguise themselves as to cousin them of the long, and draw them (by an erroneous credulity) to be really theirs, by but seeming that they are not.  

The Remedy.  
All's not gold that glisters, nor all true Englishmen or Patriots that are friends to Presbytery, or foes to the Army. Believe it, there are many Lay Lord-bishops still alive, that go disguised in Presbyterian visors, because they know it is in vain to strive against the stream, until the wind blow right for them. Who ever he is that is an Englishman, and entrusted for the Commonwealth, if he factor for the King, he holds his principles as well Ecclesiastical as civil, and intends the Prerogatives of both, time will tell you so, though they do not; if God deceive them not, they will deceive you; but hitherto they have miss their mark, traveled with iniquity, conceived mischief, and brought forth a lie, and so I am confident will ever do. Only take you heed of partaking in other men's sins, call not evil good, nor good evil, but distinguish; Cry down error, but not the Army, lest you change the actors, but not the tragedy, and cry up Presbytery, but not all Presbyterians, lest as wise as you are, at last you conclude with a non putarem.    

VIII.  
The Army are men probatum est, and that both in their effects and defects, and Englishmen also, the Kingdom have cause to say so, though too many are loath to speak out their commendations for fear of discommending themselves. Emulation as it tends towards imitation is a virtue, but as to envy a vice. In the way of their profession they have done rare things, both as good Soldiers and true Patriots, in overcoming open enemies, and disappointing secret ones; but they are nothing so good at book-worke, as at sword-play; it cannot be denied but they make foul work with Scripture and Pulpits, we never read of Centurion preachers, and yet one built a Synagogue, and had so great a faith that Christ himself marvelled at it, but he had deep humility withal▪ and yet a great Commander, moving in his sphere as a Soldier, and not out of it. The other is renowned for a devout man, fearing God with all his house (there indeed it seems he taught as a pater familias) a giver of alms and frequent in prayer, but neither before nor after Peter came to him, do we read that he took upon him to preach: It seems though they were both gracious men, yet neither of them was a Gifted Brother. They abound in Victories, and so they do in Errors, it is pity they should do so, that they who have been the Lords Host, and fought his Battles, should now be the Devils seeds-men and sow his Tares.  

The Remedy.  
Be not so bitter against the Assembly, and the rest of those that are reverend and godly Ministers in the Land, because of Ordination, you know not what spirits ye are of, nor whose Design you drive therein; they have the same Seal for their Ministry that Paul had for his Apostleship, 1 Cor. 9.2. they have by it converted not a few to Christ, and that too as the truth is in Jesus, which we do not find to be the property of Antichrist or his Ministers. An orderly call adds both beauty and efficacy to the Word preached. Take h●ed by disparaging them or their Function in the eyes or ears of their People, you weaken not their hands in the Lords work, for which they ought to be had in estimation, or of being an occasion of putting out such lights, who have shaken the kingdom of Darkness, and by the blessing of God upon their labours have made England famous for powerful Preaching and professing in all the Christian World, and those of you that are sons and not bastards, I am confident under God have had them for your fathers. Beware of a spirit of Antichrist amongst yourselves, it is he that 〈◊〉 to both Swords, and whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness, viz. false Doctrine and Error, and the reason is rendered, because they receive not the love of the truth, which is not then so light a matter as you take it for, when as the Gospel of peace (if it understand itself aright) bids us contend for it, against men of heretical judgements. Dote not so much upon the word gifted Brethren, it is a proud word since extraordinaries ceased, and makes grace a younger brother, those of you that are gracious, communicate your graces and spiritual experiences unto edification as fellow-members and private Christians, and be not many Masters in opinion, do not the work of an Office in the Church (I speak not of cases extraordinary, which have their extraordinary privileges and dispensations) without being an Officer of the Church, one of those that Christ hath ordained. Gifts no more entitle men to public Offices in the Church than in the Commonwealth or Army without a call. An outward call is not nothing. Study not confusion, God is not at all the God of it, and least of all in his Church. There is no better nor no worse argument against you th' … that of Christ. The tree is known by its fruits. Some of your Converts shave soon and talked with, full of opinion, but very empty of grace and the vital Principles of Religion, put them upon dispute 〈…〉 but upon Christian communion, and they have not a word to say. The good old 〈◊〉 that is not ashamed of faith and repentance is the man of sulstance, your proselytes must ●eeds be strange creatures, that are strangers to the sincere milk of the Word, borne and bred amongst foolish janglings, for your Sermons which tends to singularity and plurality of opinions, conduce not to devotion but to disputation, which old M. Dod (whose very name is precious for his practical piety) was wont to say, made his heart the worse a long time after. And indeed a practical hearted Christian loves not to hear Truth doubted, for that makes faith take wind, and the whole Soul consequently far the worse, but knows they are ordained to other use, viz. to be a whetstone to our graces not to our wits. Such preaching disputants hatch addle eggs, fill empty hearts with empty notions. How forcible are right words, but what doth your arguing avail? but to distune the soul. Opinion begets pride, and that keeps out every thing but itself. If you will needs preach, then preach Truth and not Error, as you will answer it at the dreadful day of judgement, and gather the sense of Scripture from its scope and drift, comparing spiritual things with spiritual; and not incoherently making it speak what it never meant. You have been victorious over Error, therefore let not Error at last get victory over you, like the Israelites that having conquered Idolaters, worshipped their Idols. Cry not up liberty of Conscience to the loss of conscience, and countenancing licentiousness of opinion, see ye not how his Majesty himself pretends deeply to it, for the setting up Prerogative and Episcopacy, what Snake may not lie bid under that herb? when once it's grown a word in fashion. Liberty of conscience will be as common, as not guilty at the Assizes, and of equal credit. Divine Truth is always the same, of an inflexible nature, varies not according to men's judgements, shall the judgement of a man be the rule of God's unerring Truth? Truth is truth, and error error, whether ●en think it to be so or no▪ principles of nature vary not like languages, and if they be inviolable; and indispensible, much more is Divinity, for the known will of God is obliging, which way soever it be revealed, whether by nature, or by the word, though against nature, as when Abraham was commanded to kill his son; or 〈◊〉 nature, as in the union of the two natures in one person, or the being of three persons in one Godbead, nay, of the two, the word it the more forcible and binding, because nature is so much defaced; therefore was the Law given to the Israelites the more obliging, and their sins▪ the more provoking. Opinion ought not to be the rule of things, but the nature of the thing itself. There is a Truth of God, and that but one, which we must maintain in the death (else the Martyrs died in vain, if for but opposing another's lawful liberty) not only in resisting impiety, but in oppugning heresy. Thus saith the Lord, Jer. 6.16. Stand ye in the ways, and see, ask for the old paths, where is the good way and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.    

IX.  
The Parliament, I mean those of them which are true to their trust, are unhappy in taking so much pains for a thankless people; whilst they were unanimous touching Church and Commonwealth, they had men's hearts, hands, and purses, but divisions and designs of men of different judgements, and sinister ends amongst them broke their credits, and the good and bad are ever since reckoned alike by people once prejudiced, that walk by opinion and report more than by judgement, apt to turn with every wind, and pick quarrels with their best friends, as well as their worst, without discerning or difference-making, looking at every slip or failing through a multiplying-glass, and are so taken up with faultfinding, that they forget to pray for them, either making them Idols or dunghills, vilipending the state and stay of the Kingdom, who indeed are justly punished, but unjustly neglected and deserted.  

The Remedy.  
Adjourn as soon as possibly You can with conveniency and safety, for there is as much need of Parliament and Patriots in the Country as in the Houses. Rid Your hands of all supernumerary business, that either is not worthy the supreme cognizance, or necessary in its own nature to be transacted; both for your ease, reputation, and the better dispatch of greater matters, much prejudiced by interposition of lesser. Make the Laws more intelligible and less captious, and their administration with more ease and less charge. But be sure you make Laws amongst yourselves, as well within doors as without. Let each Member have his Shihholeth, those that aught to be for the Commonwealth and are for the King, brand and eject them; such as oppose good, and pr●move bad motions. But you will say, every man must have liberty of speech by privilege of Parliament.  
Answ. That is an abused Maxim, like that, The King can do no wrong. which is much to the Subjects advantage, as all Law ought to be, if rightly understood, which is thus: The King of England hath no absolute, arbitrary, personal power of will, whereby to oppress his Subjects, or violate their right, but only a power of office, he must dispense his government legally, and juridically for the public and private weal of his people▪ else what he does is void. But by Court Logic, it's turned to the Law-language of the Medes & Persians, That its right for him to do what he will, and that therefore what he does is right. So touching freedom of speech in Parliament, the true genuine sense of it is. That the Subject there, as in a sacred Sanctuary, in the discharge of his public trust, may speak with liberty, for, and not against it, question, dispute, condemn the irregularities of whomsoever, or in what office soever, for reducement or punishment, as the wisdom and justice of the Parliament see most fit and necessary; but it (as the other) is wrested to a quite contrary meaning, viz. that Parliament-men may in Parliament with open face factor for the King against the Commen-wealth, and no man must say, Why do you so? As the end of all Government is common good and not hurt, so is it the Parliaments and their privileges most of all, else whilist the People fight against destructive Prerogative they fight for destructive Privileges, which doubtless was never the intent of the Covenant, nor them that either made it or took it. Those Members therefore that plead for a Negative Voice, and a regal Militia, and such like, tending to absoluteness, heterogenian to the frame of public policy, and their particular trust, throw them over the Bar like knavish Attorneys that betray their Client's cause either for hope of favour, or fear of dis-favor thinking to scape well enough with you because they are of you, & with the King because they are for him, who knows an Oliver from a Rowland Let an Oath be administered upon a solemn Fast to the whole Houses, at the beginning of each Parliament and Session, in stead of those of Allegiance and Supremacy; that no man shall directly or indirectly move or debate any thing, but according to his best judgement and conscience for the public good and according to his trust, and not against it, (for such liberty tends to slavery, which is a solecism in reason and nature) without fear or flattery, prejudice or partiality, both in Parliament and Committees, and let it be read over every Monday morning before prayer, but trust men never the more, for though it may awe some to be honest, yet it will perhaps set others more at liberty to be dishonest therefore be not charmed into security by it, but second it with Parliamentary Laws and Rules of proceeding which being transgressed, punishment may ensue; for whilst all Members (quatenus Members) are alike honest, trusty, and faithful, and so must be counted under breach of privilege; the eye of reason and the Commonwealth is put out: Again, own your friends that have fought for you and stood to you, study not too much winning your Enemies by fair compliance, who do but jeer you for it, and impute it not to your goodness but pusillanimity, still taking as much thought how to cut your throats as ever, do not only punish these Traitors to God and their Country in their purses but also in their Honours; for justice and example sake reverse some Scutcheons, let no Commander on the King's side wear the Title of his Military Place or Office. Let somewhat of honour be conferred upon your deserving Partisans, for posterity to take notice of, and be encouraged by, valour and virtue was wont to make Gentlemen: in this Age of Reformation revive it, bestow both Arms and Honours on those that have merited them, else you will have all Tradesmen or Courtiers and no Soldiers or Common-wee althsmen, when they fee money and favour can only prefer them; honourable rewards to some spirits are wore pleasing than pecuniary, and to you more profitable. Study all just ways how to keep your friends and win more, for you must look for after-claps, and if deserving men be not in some good measure rewarded and regarded for what is past, they will hardly come upon a new score, for a man that is privy to his own merits, shall have much to do patiently to put up with the utter neglect of them, even the nobliest spirits, do hardliest brook it. Self denial is one of the graces, none of the virtues.    

X.  
The King having long since pawned both the word of a King and a Gentleman, and never yet redeemed them (for Peter Martyr observes, That at Rome it's a maxim that Merchants, not Kings are to keep their words, and Popery and he have been long bedfellows) how to charm our English credulities, in his papers he calls God to witness, another state stratagem (it seems he is not witness to oaths and promises) for nothing must be left unsaid or unassaid, and vouches conscience for the continuing of Archbishops, Bishops and their lands, because of the great Charter, and the curse of the superstitions donors. So that the Ecclesiastical part of Magna Charta may not be violated, nor Popish Episcopal lands alienated, but the civil or secular part of it may without offence, his people's liberty, property, and estates too sans scruple. Rare Chemistry, in conscience, that can distinguish without a difference, whereas indeed the root of the matter grows out of that old rotten maxim, No Bishop, no King. He that can break his word when he will, and make conscience but of what he will, well he may ruin me, but he shall never deceive me, whose nature is so apparently disagreeing to his office, and the duties belonging thereunto.  
From the Bishops, whose abolition he tells you in his message from the Isle of Wight, he cannot consent to, he falls down to the Militia, and does as unclearly consent to that, as he clearly dissented from the other; for first having laid a firm foundation of it to be inherent in the Crown (as if the interest of the King were divers from that of the Kingdom, and the Crown or Court to be preferred to the Commonwealth and its safety) by a strong assertion, though he can neither press men, nor raise moneys; and therefore cannot give his consent to alienate it from the Crown, and that because of his trust, which he is careful to keep, but not to perform. Yea so tender is he of the Commonwealth, that he will not part with the Militia no not to itself; but to give an infallible evidence of his intentions, he will and he will not as to himself departed with it during his reign, for first he says, he will consent to an act that the whole power of the Militia shall during that time be ordered and disposed by the two Houses, and after he comes with a mental reservation, and saith, that neither his Majesty, nor any other (by any authority derived only from him) shall execute, etc. also that patents and commissions must go as formerly, viz. in his name, which to grant, it seems in court construction, is to yield the right of the Militia to be in the Crown, the thing he mainly drives at, for thereby he gains more de jure, than he loses de facto, and therefore the more is it to be avoided, and the legal intentions of such forms of Law, and the terms thereof (bordering upon the Crown) both in this and other things of like nature ought to be made more explicate both to the vulgar people's better understanding and Kings also, who only talk of a trust to delude the people, and make it a stalking horse to compass their wills, and make themselves absolute, for what bears their image or superscription, it seems according to the Court-creed is believed to be absolutely and inseparably theirs, as if the Crown were neither from, nor for the people, upon these terms, in time, our monice will be pretended to as well as our Laws, if care be not taken to prevent it. All monopolies have legal pretences, specially prerogative the worst of all, wherewith his Majesty is so inpetuously principled, that he is not counsellable in things touching common and public good in a regular understanding of them according to the end and ordination of government. If the Militia be a flower of the Crown, pray, take it out, and stick a jewel i'th' room on't which is both of more Majesty and less danger. From the Militia h … passes to the Armies arrears, and in time proffers to pay them 400000. l. a great sum (it seems he hath been lustily promised, and well advised, during his abode at Hamptor-Court) but nothing to a willing mind, for so he hopes either to disband them (and then he knows how to re-inburse that money, and as much more as will pay his arrtars also) or to win them to himself when he himself becomes their paymaster. And though he cannot departed with the Militia from the Crown, yet with the Court of Wards be can, though that also is invested in the Crown for protection and that of Infants, but this he is content to have taken away if it seem grievous, not the other though it be so, to all. In the close he minds them of that which of all other must not be forgotten, The dissolving this Parliament to make way for another by due elections, that is, wherein his partisans, Cavaliers and malignants, may be both elected and electors, and so undo all that either is already or shall hereafter be done by this, and then we have span a long thread to little purpose, rare sophistry and Kingcraft. But I hope the people of England understand their interest better than thus to pull down their props, and being the house upon their heads, and that they will not take seem for Being's, not shadows for realities. Take heed of disguises and Court-masks, after so many blows and bullets; be not fooled with fair words, and false sires.  

The Remedy.  
Bele●ve yourself a Subject, as well as a Sovereign, and know that honesty is the best policy, stand not on your head and shake your heels against heaven. Take God more into your counsels and your people into your care: It hath ever been the fault of Kings to study and practice polity more than piety, which hath brought so great miseries on on many of them, and some to untimely ends and what came of then after God knows: what will it advantage you to gain the whole world (of power, and that power never so absolute) and lose your precious soul, you must die as well as other men and leave your Crown behind you when you go to the grave. Sure Kings either think they may sin cum privilegio, or that those things which are sins in other men, 〈◊〉 lying, dissembling, oppression, murder, rapine, swearing, forswearing, are not so in them. Play not with your conscience which one day will be serious with you, pretend not protection when you intent destruction, be not deceived, God will not be mocked. How can you expect to be believed that never kept your word till this Parliament, nor now if you could have broken it, the end 〈◊〉 whereof hath been the cause of all this Civil war and blood shed, besides, you still reta … the same principles, entertain the same counsellors, and adbere to the same friends. It's t … 〈◊〉 Kings are called Gods, so are Devils to, therefore hear not yourself upon that, as if there were no excellemy in God but power and Sovereignty, whereas he hath other attributes and properties besides that are honourable, and that he is to be honoured for, as goodness, mercy, 〈◊〉 protection, faithfulness imitate him in these, so shall you be Gods indeed, and though you must ●ye like men, yet shall you be as the Angels, for as ill Kings their condemnation is greater, so are good Kings their glorification higher by how much their talon and stewardship on earth is 〈◊〉 others.    
Im. G.M.  
FINIS.