A Letter of Advice, From a secluded Member of the House of Commons, To his Excellency, Thomas Lord Fairfax, TO Admonish him of the King's danger, his own duty, and the sad consequence of Oppression and Tyranny.  
All whose extremes are only to be avoided by His Majesty's Safety, and the defence of his Royal Person and Honor.  
Delivered on Saturday Decemb. 30.  
Printed in the Year 1649.   

SIR,  
IT is not only rumoured but remonstrated (you, as is supposed, forbidding it) that the King's life must shortly pass upon a dangerous unequal trial; that being (it seems) the hallowed prey which these unsanctified sons of the earth, reprobate to all Faith and Government, but what they pile up in their own wicked Imaginations, run greedily to seize upon: 'tis true this Land hath been twice polluted already with the blood of her Princes, but how the first violence was visited upon the actors with an implacable vengeance, and 200000. lives sacrificed by offended Justice, for a revenge of the second, our Chronicles have sufficiently witnessed.  
To kill a King the Lords Anointed, by private conspiracy, and for particular interests, is questionless an impiety deserving the extremes of hate and punishment, to be inflicted upon the Confederates; but for Subjects to solemnize their Sovereign's murder with a pretended legality, and usurp the power to be themselves his Judges, (than which nothing can be more ridiculous in sense, a greater enemy to reason, or more opposite to divine and humane Laws) must needs appear a very monstrous prodigy, & affrightful to every loyal contemplation: and the rather, because the act being by order, consent or connivency, made a national crime, will hardly be expiated without a national ruin.  
The power is now yours, you will be certain of the hearts of thousands, and the assurance of their hands to justify your resolutions if they be fervent, as is hoped, for the King's safety: and the means is likewise not wanting to make a timely prevention of the most execrable villainy that ever tainted any Christian Kingdom: Let not therefore so general an expectation relying (under God) upon yourself alone, be beguiled, but rouse yourself my Lord, to suppress these blasphemers, your design (in this particular) being encompassed with the Ordinances of God to guard it: His Angels to be your guide, and a just cause to make you triumphant, by which religious undertaking, your life will be made honourable, your memory renowned; whereas,  
If you slight this opportunity (whereof heaven and men invite you to so glorious a trial) and fashion yourself to behold your Sovereign's fall, with commanding, or indifferent eyes, what can you then expect, when the next danger shall look black upon yourself like a doom's day, but trembling from a divine wrath, & judgements that are due to such a guilty Aspirer: for though you strip Majesty naked, & rob him of all his regal State, and Ornaments, yet that will be your Epithere.  
Make (my Lord) Quintus Curtius your companion, but for a few hours, and he will offer you the full view of a famous Traitor, called Bessus, whose story be pleased to make so far your own, as by a wise anticipation of Loyalty, to decline both his fault and fortune: That Bactrian General would have no pity upon his woeful Lord, distressed Darius, a Prince whom for mer misfortunes had disarmed of all defence, and humbled him to the disdains and oppression of that his most wicked servant; who first finished his Lord's Tragedy with dishonourable wounds, saw himself next made King of Bactria, by a military Election. And lastly, in chains, within few months at the mercy of a just Alexander, who not only designed him to a deserved death, but appointed him the way to it by most exquisite torments for his presumption and treachery: Believe it my Lord, the Throne that was temperate to King Charles, will be (to you) a burning one.  
The rents in the Church; the Divisions among the People, with the violation of Laws, Liberties and Government, all carry your name, and you the burden of a general dislike, for allowing protection to such outrageous insolences as are acted daily; yourself not marking (so blind is Ambition) what lose earth the state of your own fortune stands upon; ready, by the removing of a few weak props, to sink under you at the pleasure only of your underminers, who (it is strongly fancied) are now digging your Lordship's grave.  
If any Peter's live about you, which having finally denied their Master, would tempt you Sir to the same infidelity, upon peril of your soul my Lord, bid that Satan avoid, and cast his charms behind you, it being certain that if his Majesty die by the means, as is projected, not only Religion, and the ancient honour of the Noble English Nation, (whereof your Lordship pretends to be the selected Champion) but your own peace of Conscience, and hope of heaven for ever, must die with him: for could Judas repent, after he had betrayed the innocent blood? you see it was impossible: yet judas was an Apostle, who it is believed wrought more miracles in a few months by the Word, than your Lordship shall ever be able to do by your sword, though the years of your life might be ten times doubled.  
The Message of pilate's wife to her husband, in the behalf of Gods most holy Son, will be the best conclusion and advertisement to your Lordship touching his Royal Lieutenant, and your dread Sovereign Charles: Have thou nothing to do with that just man: suffer any thing, sleeping or waking for his preservation, but let his life be the Jewel of your care, from that infallible and grounded Principle of David: Destroy him not, for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lords Anointed, and be innocent!  
Which is the humble Prayer not only of your Lordship's servant, but of all honest men, whose eyes now look upon you for the King's deliverance, E.S.  
FINIS.