A Serious Advice To all the Honest PRESBYTERIANS within the City of LONDON. WHEREIN Many Reasons are laid down, wherefore they ought not to labour the disarming of those new Listed souldiers, under the Command of mayor Gen. SKIPPON. Printed in the year 1648. An Admonition. IF friends begin to jar, Contend, and disagree, Beware they do not War, To please their enemy. If a Contentious bone Betwixt you once be cast, Beware you let it alone, You'l hurt your teeth at last. Let not the glozing words Of Cavaliers us fill With rage, to draw our swords, Our Brethrens blood to spill. If we begin to fight, And one another quell: After that day, the night Tolls a Scicilian bell. HOw fearful am I, lest the Cavaliers juggling pretences, glozing words, and smoothed foreheads, should cause you to work your own downfall; God himself best knows, and my own soul and conscience beareth me witness. The care of the health, wealth, and prosperity both of you and yours, as I hope this ensuing Treatise will demonstrate in what a large dimension it extendeth itself, so it will persuade you favourably to accept of it, and Candidly to interpret it, as proceeding from an affection, zealous in the promoting and advancing of what may augment your felicities. I should not wish myself any longer to breath vital air, or tread upon this earth, then it might go well both with you and yours. I call God to witness, my own life shall never be esteemed dearer to me then yours, being willing to poure out my dearest blood, so it might be advantageous to you, in obtaining a much longed for, and expected prosperity. If herein I shall writ amiss, as supposing your affections otherways bent then indeed they be, I shall humbly crave pardon of you, which I hope will not be denied, considering pure love, and a heart ever devoted to your service, have extorted these ensuing considerations from me. I suppose your mayor Gen. was chosen by your consents and approbations, a man as valiant as faithful, religiously stout, & stoutly religous, one, whom formerly you have embraced, and honoured, who hath gallantly behaved himself in all undertakings for the welfare of this Kingdom; concerning whom, I cannot but wonder, how you should foster any suspicious jealousies, or any ways imagine what machinations may be conceived in his breast, tending to the least harm of any the Presbyterian Party. I am sure any such over suspicious thoughts will easily be vanquished by these ensuing Considerations, 1. The mayor general cannot attempt any thing prejudician to your safety, seeing he wholly laboureth the relief and supply of those who are your only friends, who repress the fury and Scarlet indignation of your Adversaries, I mean the Lord Gen. and his Army, whose constant care, and vigilancy for your safety, deserveth more at your hands, then a poor connivencie at the private supplies sent, and the secret levies made by mayor Gen. Skippon. 2. He hath Authority from the Parliament, and Countenance too, who, in all probability, know the utmost of his intentions to be bounded with plain honesty, ot●erwise they would not so stoutly support him ▪ and maintain him in his present undertakings; partly because they know you to be their friends, and therefore would not suffer any of their Ministers to damnify those, who for the defence of Religion and Liberty, are associated with you, are their fellows, and companions in Arms, for the support of this common quarrel. Partly, because if they had such a resolution to endanger your lives and livelihoods, yet for the present, it is improbable they would attempt any thing against you, by whose protection they sit quiet at Westminster from the tumultuous Commotions of the Cavaliers. Again, should the Parlia. of England intend any notorious harm, or injury to be acted against you now, the meanest Politician would easily deride their inconsiderate rashness, who having such a strong enemy in the field, would even then assault their friends, when the only wisdom were to gain and increase their friends. An injury which would relish equally with you, and all the Presbyterian Party now in Arms for them throughout the Kingdom of England. 3. There cannot be any danger from the Parliament, because there sitting so great a Party of the Presbyterians in the house, all would be revealed, if any thing were contrived to your damage: which, how foolish a thing were it for the Independents( if dishonesty transported them so far,) as to begin a fruitless Plot, without any hope of obtaining a happy conclusion? 4. There cannot be any danger from the Army: first, Having their hands full of action, both South and North, the Lord Gen. stoutly handled at Colchester, the Scottish invasion constraining the lye. Gen. to hasten a relief to his friends, and opposition to his enemies. And suppose they had occasion at the present to injure you,( I mean the Presbyterian Party) either it must be for an old discourtesy offered, or a new one incurred; not the first, for then, why did they not avenge themselves upon you in nine moneths space, when their Arm was not shortened, nor their Power abridged? If for the second, how can this be? seeing you have not acted any thing for the present, whereat they may be offended. If they intend to extort money, why not long before, when they had much power, more opportunity, and were the most pressed with necessities? Partly, because souldiers lying idle in their quarters, are more prove to mutinies for want of their pay. Partly for want of money to discharge the supernumeraries: whereas if they be in Action: Free-quarter, and some small Contributions of money from adjacent Counties ▪ together with what plunder the enemy pleaseth to bestow upon them, doth for the present abundantly content them. 5. The Armies Chieftains well know, that without the Presbyterian Party, they cannot sustain the brunt and fury of the Scottish and English Cavaliers; now if they should deal rigorously with you, would not this alien, and disoblige all the Presbyterian party, who have so unanimously resolved in the Northern parts, to give a check to the proceedings of the false lying Covenanters? 6. That any part of the Army ▪ or the whole, should, according to the false informations, march towards London, wanteth sense and reason to make it credible to judicious mens understandings: for how can it be supposed, that the Army forsaking their old and Armed Adversaries, will come to London to create a new Enemy? For although they intend an injury against you, yet they would for the present smother it, and conceal such a wrathful and malicious project, until opportunity of putting it in execution were conveniently offered. However, freely to declare my opinion concerning this business, it may be strongly suspected, the Army having received such notable affronts from the Cavaliers here in London, their Ammunition tumbled down Walbrook, their Carriages from Windsor forced to go wide from the City, fearing to be overturned by them in the streets: as also knowing so many thousands of men listed by them, furnish●d with all accommodations out of their purses, who sustained the Armies brunt at Maidstone, and Colchester, besides many gone to Pontefract, 800 with Buckingham, are resolved to force the Cavaliers benevolence to be equal●y extended towards them, which they perceiving, labour to work fears and jealousies in you, as though the blow were intended for your heads. And therefore hope to engage you in the same quarrel, in the suppressing of these new levies raised by your mayor G●n●rall, which if you d●, you shall know with what wisdom, if these subsequent Consid●rations be well pondered by you. 1. If you will suppress them, it must be either by yourselves alone, or by the Cavaliers alone, or by both jointly; if by yourselves, take heed of a Machiavillian snare, for if you destroy part of your friends, will not the Cavaliers rise against you? It is an old Trick, to procure two parties to fight, the one to quell the other, and a third Party to ruin the conquerors: If you join with the Cavaliers, the same misery oppresseth you. If the Cavaliers be sole Actors, you but Spectators, you shall close up the tragedy ▪ finish your began dissensions with a lamentable Catastrophe to you and your posterities: Simeon marched out of Jerusalem to destroy the Scythopolitans, to whom many thousands of jews were neighbors and fellow Citizens, these inconsiderately join with the Scythopolitans against their own country men, whom they inhumanly destroy and consume, almost to the last man, howbeit, when they had holpen strangers, they found a strangers reward; for the Scythopolitans put man, woman, and child to the sword, and plundered their houses, seized upon their possessions, fearing lest hereafter they might revolt, and join with their mo●tal enemy I will not make any application, only this I say, Remember the miserable Jews of Scythopolis. 2. Suppose the Independ●nts, which is improbable, had a design violently ●o oppress you, either in estates or liberties, whether were it better to fall into the hands of your old, yet discontented friends, or into the hands of your old, and yet enraged Adversaries? 3. By this action of suppressing the mayor General and his forces, you will in c●rre the hatred of both parties; of the Parliament, for this present wrong; of th● Cavaliers, for all bypassed injuries. 4. You will be Traitors, whosoever be Conquerors; if the Parliament, because you disobeyed their Ordinances and Injunctions; if the KING, because ye so strongly opposed him, and aided the Parliament in these civill Combustions. 5. If you commit this trespass, you must be sure to know of ability in yourselves, and aid and assistance from other friends abroad to withstand the force of both parties; unless you hope to ingratiate yourselves with his majesty by the betraying of the Parliament, but know this, Love the Treason, and hate the traitor, is a Spanish Rule; and I think King Charles was once a Courtier in that country where this Rule is embraced for a sound catholic Principle. As for the Cavaliers Intercession, it will prove a diabolical Accusation, whose stomacks and appe●ites must needs be glutted with your blood, and estates, whose only desire is, to overturn, overturn, overturn, both you and your Posterities. 6. Whether or no by this Action, it prove successful, you do not overthrow and destroy the Parliament, and so draw down ruin upon your heads, conjoined with perpetual infamy; for you cannot disarm these already Listed forces, without the Posse Civitatis, which must be a number of Cavaliers, who having effected this work, will second it by cutting the Parliaments throats: And then Quo res summa Loco Cives quam prendimus arcem? The Cavaliers would quickly be so numerous, that they would wrest your swords out of your hands, and pierce your bodies with your own Rapiers; they will quickly seize all the Arms and Ammunition ▪ distribute them amongst their companions, and so by degrees, engross the whole power of the City into their hands. 7. If this be committed by you ▪ a double danger will be incurred. First, A diffused grudge throughout the whole Kingdom betwixt the Presbyterians and Ind●pendents, who will begin to stand in fear and doubt one of another, never either to love or trust one another, it may be in the conclusion sheathe their swords in one anothers bowels. Secondly, It is to be feared, the Independent party, seeing themselves overi● mastered by your contrivances, and unwilling to sustain the heat of the day, when you pay them such wages at night, will procure liberty of conscience, and their pay from his Majesty, and leave you to his mercy. 8. Whether or no an utter ruin of the City be not subsequent to your undertakings, if they get the upper hand, no hope of mercy from the Ind●pendents; if you prevail, no hope of mercy from the Cavaliers: So that whethersoever obtaineth the Superiority, quacunque via data, you are sure of a Butchering. 9. Whether will not the Army, seeing themselves so strangely affronted, return from Coventry and Colchester, to be avenged on London? where, what danger you may run into by the sword, fire, and plundering, I leave it to your consideration. 10. If the Army should violently come to London, what hope to oppose them? Would you Confront them in the field? How hard a matte● to effect, Summer last will sufficiently instruct you: Will you contain yourselves within the City walls? You must leave the Suburbs to the mercy of wild-fire balls, and yourselves ru●ne the hazard of the great Morterpieces. 11. Whether or no this be not a policy of the Cavaliers, to labour the suppressing of the mayor general, so that no relief or supplies, may be sent to the Army now beleaguering Colchester, and they themselves will smoothly laugh you to scorn, having trimly persuaded, to expel your mayor general, who was a friend to your friends, an enemy to your enemies. 12. Suppose you should suppress these Levies by the Parliaments Authority, yet how would this secure you from their revenge, whom all the world would know, to be forced to this consent by your threats and menaces? And Compulsary means used ▪ against Kings, great States, and the chief Magistrates in a Commonwealth, ever proved fatal and disastrous to the users thereof, whose grants and yeeldings in such cases, having been extorted from them upon necessity, and unvoluntarily, they themselves have with much regret and rage of spirit revolved, vowing sudden revenge to the authors, and broachers of such indignities, and a making of them exemplary to future posterities. And the Chieftains of the Army,( though for the present being employed in more necessary af●aires they cannot attend upon such occasions) yet if Victorious, will scarcely prove your good Lords and Masters, when they ride in triumphant Chariots through the streets of London. 13. If any of the Presbyterian party have suffered indignities from the Army, Parliament, or both, yet I cannot foresee with what Policy they can join against the Parliament, especially if they consider what mischiefs and miseries they have brought upon the Cavaliers, & how deeply they have incensed his majesty; some of them have expugned the garrisons belonging to the King, routed his armies, taken and slain his souldiers, defended strong holds( to their eternal honour) against all his armed force and power; now that the King will forget all these offences, and receive them into grace and favour, because they have advanced to their utmost a personal Treaty; These reasons will nullify such groundless hopes, and empty expectations. 1. Every Prince, either obtaining a new principality, or recovering an old one, out of which he was formerly ejected, will labour to rid away the chief opposers in the first, and the grand instruments in the second, knowing full well, that unless he dispatch these,( though all the holds be in his power) yet his person can never be secure from Clandestine Conspiracics. As also, being willing to settle the crown fast upon the heads, not only of themselves, but of their successors, they cannot be ignorant, but the blood of such men, whom they deem their adversaries ▪ will be the best mortar, the most tenacious glue to fasten the crown upon their heads, and the heads of their posterities. Both the one and the other may be seen in the Actions of Agathocles the Scicilian Tyrant, and christian of D●nmarke, in his Stockholme banquet bestowed upon the Swedish Nobility. 2. Any matter of love and duty performed by a Subject, against whom the Prince is provoked, though it be for his Princes honour and safety, shall not be construed to proceed from an Affection full of Loyalty, but from an affection overtopped, and constrained by necessity, chiefly if by those who have formerly been his strong opposers, and at such a time when his party gr●w strong, and powerful, and able to withstand the adversary. Princes be thankless to those who break their heads, and then bestow plasters; whom they deem their enemies, they care not for their care and forwardness in promoting their Collapsed Regalities. 3. Those Subiects who once have been the causers of their Princes downfall into allow and abject Condition, though afterwards they restore him, and honour him as their sovereign, yet he will not forget to revenge the injury, so he have offered a faire opportunity. And they which think the party grieved, remembereth not the injury received, seem to have small experience of mens qualities and dispositions in these daies, wherein ordinarily men remember displeasures better then good turns. John Rata earl of Casarta his dealing with Manfredi the Sicilian Prince, and Nicholas Campo-bachio his Treacherous carriage towards Charles the bold of burgundy; L●vius Salinator his resolution for the injurious carriage of his Citizens, dalineate unto us wha● hea●ts ●rinces and great men carry Locked up in the Chests of their bodies; superiors always scornfully, never thankfully remembering Courtesies received from their inferiors, by which they have obtained their lost power and authority. Much less a Prince from inferiors, whom he looketh upon as enemies, with whom, how in the conclusion he will deal Let the Actions of Henry the third of France declare, for I will supersede only with this. That Qui puta● magnorum virorum inv●teratis odiis novis beneficiis oblivionem induci posse is Vehementer fallitur. These reasons I hope may persuade you to avoid any such desperate undertaking, wherein, whether Victors, or vanquished, your misery in the conclusion will not be diminished. The Cavaliers are willing to make you their drudges, and pack-horses, their Asaphi, to blunt the swords of your friends, not of your Enemies, whom if you be resolved to countenance and support, you do transport that old bloody Threatre out of holy Jerusalem, & Place it in London streets; re-act that bloody Tragedy, wherein Sk●ppon must seize the Tower, and personate Iehocanan; brown, Pauls, and act the part of Simeon; but some powerful Cavalier keep his Corps du gard at Westminster, and personate Eleazar. Then may I say, Venit summa dies & ineluctabile Tempus Dardanis, fuimus Troes, fuit Ilium, & ingens Gloria Teucrorum— However, I hope wisdom will favourablie indite what you ought to engrave upon the Tables of your heart, and will so direct you in things Concerning your felicity, as may rejoice not only your own hearts, but the hearts of every one of your well wishers. But know this for a certain; The Cavaliers only aims and prayers( I mean Curses) are for the extirpation of you and yours; which you cannot better facilitate, then by complying with them in any design, tending to the subversion of the Lord general and his Army, by which action you endeavour the betraying of him, them, and all the godly party in England, into the Lion-like paws of your unmerciful Enemies, and more then blood-sucking Murderers. FINIS.