THE FAMERS FAMED OR AN ANSWER, To two Seditious Pamphlets, the one Entitled THE JUST MAN IN BONDS, the other A PEARL IN A DUNGHILL, written in the behalf of that notorious Liar, and Libeler JOHN LILBURNE. Also a full reply, with a confutation of certain objections devised by the Traitorous Author of a Seditious and unparraled libel, Entitled A REMONSTRANCE of many Thousand citizens, and other free borne people of England, to their own House of COMMONS, etc. Wherein the wickedness of the Authors, and their Abettors, the destructive courses of the Sectaries, and their Adherors is amply discovered. So that all (not wilfully blind) may clearly see, that they are men stirred up by man's Enemy, the Devil, as to ruin themselves, so this poor Nation, that yet lies Bedrid of her wounds lately received. And aught to be avoided as Serpents, to be contemned as Abjects, and to be delivered over to Satan, as Blasphemers and Reprobates. Likewise also these filthy Dreamers defile the flesh, despise Dominion and speak evil of Dignities, Judas ver. 8. But these speak evil of these things which they know not, but what they know naturally, as bruit beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves ver. 10. Omnium malorum Stultitia est Mater. Cicero. Quid tam impium est quod mortalium Vulgus non admittat? Demosthenes. Written by S. SHEPHEARD. London, Printed for john Hardesty, at the Sign of the black-spread Eagle in Duke-Lane, 1646. To The Right Honourable the house of Peers, Assembled in PARLIAMENT. Right Honourable, YOu whose names are graven so deeply on the Beadrole of Fame, that the rust of all devouring time, shall never be able to eat or diminists a Letter; Adulation, and my nature are odds, and I have the least to answer for that, of all my Crimes; yet it becomes the just to be thankful, and those that will not honour the Instruments of God's Glory, detract from their Maker. First, therefore all thanks be rendered to your honours for your constant fidelity to your Country, that you would not degenerate, but choose rather to be afflicted with God's people, then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for aseason, that you would be pleased to under go calumnies, and the * Traitors. Brand of infamy; the subjects of this Kingdom cannot choose but mutually join with me, as once the women in the dance, andsay, many Peers have done worthy deeds for the good of the people, but ye have exceeded them all, undergoing the frown of Majesty, which who so looks on sees a Basilisk, and seldom escapeth Death; venturing your Estates, wherein some men place their Summum Bonum, and many of you your lives to purchase Freedom for a people, altogether ungrateful (I say not so) but some men furnished with corrupted minds, whom satan hath filled with the spirit of Enmity, and Detraction, to the grief of my soul, and of all the least virtuous, with their pens, like so many sharpened Pikes, as Saul, once to David his Preserver, they stab at their deliverers: men that are as unconstant as the wind, more foolish than Claudius, more wicked than Stajus, who place their felicity in that to be avoided City-racer Mutability, some of whose seurrilous Empty Pamphlets, coming to my hands, I conceived I was bound in honour to my Maker, and in thankfulness to your Honours, to Reply to the said Pamphlets; for these ravenous Fowls the People, are naturally inclined, with greediness to swallow whole Gobbets of such carrion, though they surfeit themselves thereby, and are often forced for it, to be let blood. Thus desiring that great God, who hath greatly assisted your Honours hithereto, to keep you for ever untouched by your Enemies, I cease, and shall ever remain, Your Honour's most humble Servant. S. S. THE FAMERS FAMED. IF a Commander do faithful service for a space, and afterward revolteth and fighteth against that cause which erst he maintained, must the memory of his former Service hinder the course of Justice? surely no; if Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne, sometime an obscure Apprentice in London, have formerly done Acts for his Country, worthy acceptance, though it may be evidently proved, the main reason why he accepted of the Parliaments Service, was not so much out of an affection he bore to the Parliament and their cause, as to protect himself against his creditor's Arrests, I say is he therefore to be excused, if he degenerate, and become an open and professed Enemy to that state, whose cause, he erst seemed so stiffly to maintain? Was there ever Papist, Malignant, Royalist, or Cavalier did demean himself so libellously, slanderously, contemptuously, and ungratefully to the Parliament as this Lilburne hath done? and indeed the man understandeth not what he speaketh, nor whereof he affirms, he hath erred from the truth, and is now turned unto vain janglings, not knowing the end of the Commandment is love, 1 Tim. Chapter 1. Which commands him not to Rail on Dignities, and speak evil of Governments; this is the man, and that, the first, that findeth fault, and proclaimeth it a breach of Magna Charta, which himself had yet never Law enough to understand, because he was cited to come before Authority, before he was acquainted with his Accuser, or accusation, whereas the meanest capacities know, that there is nothing more usual then for Judges, Justices, and all superior, or inferior Offices, or Courts of the Realm, upon credible information, not only to Summon, but to Attach men by Constables, and other Officers, to appear before them to answer such matters as shall be objected against them; and this none ever deemed (Lilburne excepted) to be illegal, or contrary to Magna Charta, or the Subject's Liberty; and shall not the Parliament, the Supremest of all Courts, claim and have the same Privilege, that under and inferior Courts enjoy, this superbious, most egregious, malapert, upstart Lilburne, whom Satan so often as he listeth inciteth, and prompteth, to compile seditious Pamphlets, destructive to the Peace of the Kingdom, this man out of his private spleen to Colonel Edward King, a man under whom once he served, wrote a scandalous Pamphlet wherein he taxeth the said King for a betrayer of the trust reposed in him by the Parliament, that through his default, many Towns of worth became a prey to the Enemy, with divers other, which were notoriously known to be false and suborned; in the same Pamphlet, he raileth against the Laws, terming them Norman Innovations, with many other strange, and unparreleld speeches, all which he sent to Judge Reeve, who himself, or some other for him, made a complaint to the Lords; who Immediately summoned the Libeler before them; their warrant this Die Mercurii, 10 june 16. 1646. It is this day ordered by the Lords, in Parliament Assembled, that Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne, shall forth with upon sight hereof, appear before the Lords in Parliament; to answer such things, as he stands charged with before their Lordships, concerning a Pamphlet, Entitled The just man's justification or a Letter by way of Plea in Bar, and here of he shall not fail, as he will answer the contrary at his peril. john Browne Cler. Parl. To the Gentleman usher attending the House, or his Deputy. Lilburne having received this Warrant by the Officer, raged and after his wont manner, bewailed the breach of Magna Charta, and denied to appear; but on better consideration he resolved to obey, and coming to Westminster, and being brought to the Bar of the Lords House, he carried himself before them, in a most contemptuous, and vile manner, and being demanded, by the Earl of Manchester their speaker (who, caused Master Smith to draw forth his Libel, whether or no, he did not leave that Pamphlet at Judge Reeves his House, for the Judge himself; he would not deign to answer to that, but with erected Front, and like a wily Sophister, demanded, if they had any formal or legal charge against him; if they had, he desired to see it, and then he would answer to their question; to whom the Earl of Manchester said, Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne, the Lords Command you to answer positively to the question; to whom Lilburne replied, my Lord, the paper in Ma●ter Smith's hand is my answer to the question and no other answer will I give you, whereupon he was Commanded to go forth, upon the perusal of which paper full of reproachful speeches, and lying vanities before unheard of, he was by the Honourable House of Lords, again committed to Newgate, by virtue of this Order. Die jovis 11. june 1646. It is this day ordered by the Lords in Parliament assembled, that Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne, shall stand committed, to the Prison of Newgate, for exhibiting to this House a scandalous, and contemptious Paper it being delivered by himself, at the Bar this day; and that the Keeper of the said Prison shall keep himsafely, until the pleasure of this House be further signified, and this to be a sufficient Warrant, on that behalf. john Browne Cler. Parl. To the Gentleman Usher of this House or his Deputy. Since those that sit at the stern of Government, the Right Honourable Lords Assembled in Parliament, cannot keep themselves from the obloquys, of such as owe their lives unto them, for their care and watchfulness for their good, we that are of low degree, ought not to account our condition deplorable, when we are scandalised and contemned, when we see even our Magistrates, and chief Rulers of the Kingdom, not only in talk, but even in Printed Pamphlets, traduced by the seditious and vile slanderers, of whom one of our modern Poet's faith truly. Where they desire to enter, there's no Fence; No Ancient Title, no Inheritance Can serve for Plea, for these men wrist the Law, Keep Magistrates, and Officers in awe; They pluck the Balance from fair justice fist, And make her Ministers do what they list. But to the matter in hand, on the 22. of june 1646. the Lords sent an order, to the Keeper of Newgate to bring Lilburne before them, now such was the obstinacy and Rebellion; of this * Such a despiser and contemner of authority as himself was never known. Lilburne, that he not only Railed afresh against the Lords, but keeping his Chamber looked, utterly refused to obey the Order, whereupon the Officers broke open his door and took the Libeler with them to Westminster, where being arrived he was called into the House of Lords, and commanded to kneel at their Bar, which * Liburne, tho● sometime mentionedst Scripture to confirm thee in ill, couldst thou not then have thought of one place of Scripture, where thou are commanded even by Chris himself, to give Honour, to whom Honour is due: but thou and thy fellow Sectaries, agree with the Papist in this, in that ye allow of the Scriptures no farther than they by you wrested will maintain your Schism and Faction. he utterly refused to do; after some urging, and his constant denial, the Earl of Manchester demanded a reason, why he refused to kneel, to which our Simplicius, answered, that he had learned both better Religion and manners then to kneel to any humane, or mortal Power, how great soever, with many other peremptory, and unbeseeming speeches, which none save Lilburne durst have uttered, for which he was again returned to Newgate by a stricter Order than before. Die Martis, 23. junii 1646. Ordered by the Lords in Parliament Assembled that john Lilburne shall stand committed close Prisoner, in the Prison of Newgate, and that he be not permitted, to have Pen, Ink, or Paper; and none shall have access to him in any kind, but his Keeper, until this Court do take further order. john Browne Cler. Parl. Exam. per me Rec, Briscoe (Cler. de Newgate.) To the Keeper of Newgate, Deputy, or Deputies. During the Imprisonment of this transcendent jyar and Libeler Lilburne, who ought by the Ancient Laws of this Land to have his tongue cut out; for * this it runs, that the Author and spreader See the Laws of King Al●ed Chap. 28. See Bracton, 2. Tit. decri●ine l●s● Ma●statis. ●ee Stamford's pleas De co●nes l 2. ●l. 110. of False Rumours among the people, had his tongue cut out if he redeemed it not with the price of his head; that at the common * Law before and since Magna Charta, it was High Treason, for any man to Assist, or give consent to any thing tending to Sedition, in Realm or Army; which what more surely or speedier causeth then Seditious Libels? of which whether Lilburne be guilty or no, I appeal to all that have Read his Answer to nine Arguments, His England's Birthright, etc. I say during the Imprisonment of this Lilburne, without Licence or name, there have come forth two Printed Pamphlets; the Authors taking upon them to vindicate their Brother john Lilburne, throughout almost their whole Pamphlets, vent nothing, but Railing Accusations, against the ever honoured House of Peers, the first whereof I intent first to answer, and after God willing the other; I shall begin within his own words verbatim, as they were by him published. An Answer to a seditious Pamphlet, lately published in Print, entitled the JUST MAN IN BONDS. SInce this worthy Gentleman's case is * Lilburn. mine, and every man●, who though we be at liberty to day, may be in Newgate tomorrow, if the * Only 〈◊〉 own and 〈◊〉 complices. house of Lords so please, doth it not equally and alike concern all the people of England, to lay it to their heart and either fit both our minds, and necks to Endure Siavery, or otherwise think of some speedy and effectual means, to free ourselves and our posterity therefrom? Mark I beseech you how, (prophetically) the Pamphleter gins and fortelleth his own dole, that though he be at liberty to day, he may be in prison to morrow; and good reason Sir; for the doers and assisters are all one, and ought be alike punished; yet though it may be and is your due, yet not every man's; for I hope there will never be a general declaring; for than we might expect a total destruction; therefore it is enough and one too many, that yourself, according as you seem to fear, commit such vile crimes, whereby you are made capable of imprisonment; and whereas you as it were in scorn say, if the Lords please, know Sir it is the pleasure of God the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, that such achan's as you and your brother Lilburne should be brought to condign punishment, and therefore if the Lords should neglect so necessary a duty, as is the punishing of such wretches, they would be guilty of heinous sin before God, and be the occasioners of their own contempt by men; but see he taketh in hand, by way of insinuation, to cause the people to think themselves vassalized, because Justice is executed, and exhorteth them to resolve to be slaved, or to take some speedy course to free themselves; the malevolent, and wicked spirit of the Author, under pretence of enlightening the eyes of the subject, would put them out clean, for except the Lords stick to the Commons, and the Commons to the Lords, there will never be peace or joy in England; but I make no doubt but the subjects of this Kingdom respect more the glory of God and their own welfare, then to give ear to this wicked incendiary. The Pamphleter proceeds. The power of the Lords is * A proof simile. like a shallow uneven water more in noise then substance; if we could distinguish between what is theirs of right, and what by encroachment, we should find that they have decked themselves with the Commoners Feathers, which being reassumed, they would appear no better arrayed then other men, even equal by Law, inferior in uprightness and honesty of conversation. See here the ignorance of the Pamphleter, the power of the Lords, saith he, is like 〈◊〉 and uneven Water, whereas the power of the Lords may be rather resembled to a deep Sea, whose force (out that themselves graciously limit it were able to sink and overwhelm the libeler Lilburne, and this lying Pamphleter, with their complices, even to Abyss, they being in the nature of a body Aristocratical, and indeed the strongest prop the people have. But to proceed, if faith he) we could distinguish; I but it being beyond your reach, you show great simplicity to meddle with those things you know not, and it appears you cannot distinguish by the ensuing words, we should find that they b●ue decked themselves with the Commoners feathers; very pretty, doth the King receive his Honour from the Subject, or the Subject from Him? surely all Honours flow from Him the most Honoured, and He advanceth and setteth up; and as he by God Reigns, so they by Him Rule; therefore you ignorantly err in saying, That they are decked with borrowed Feathers. Again, whereas you say, that if every Bird had one feather, they would appear no better arrayed then other men, I answer, that who so goeth about to unplume them, and instead of Reverence doth use Violence, sinneth against his own soul, by disobeying the Commandment of God by the mouth of Paul, who writing to certain overseers of the Church, chargeth them to put the people in mind to OBEY RULERS; nor would they be equal with the Commons, were they stripped of all, for there is an innate heroiek nature residing in all descending of Noble blood; so that they affect nothing but that which is Noble and high; and for that you basely allege, They would be inferior in honesty and uprightness of conversation, it is a gross and manifest lie; the whole Kingdom may judge how faithfully, valiantly and piously they have borne themselves, in going in and out before the people, since this war; and by the past we may judge of the future. But see more insolences. We should find that they are but P●inted properties, Dagons that our superstition and ignorance have erected, no natural Issues of the Laws, the ex●ube●ences and Mushrooms of Prerogative, the We●s of just Government, putting the body of the people to pain, as well as occasioning deformity; sons of conquest they are and usurpation, not of choice and election, intruded upon us by power; (not constituted by consent) etc. The power of the Lords, as aforesaid; is essential, as deriving their power from him who hath it from God, and though it be very true that the Commons have in them Ignorance and Superstition enough, yet their wisdom or true belief could never have erected * The first i● stituted Lord them, by reason that many headed Beast the Commons, seldom abide constant in one Faith, and retain for the general little or no wisdom, save sufficient perhaps to buy and sell and get gain. The Lords are constituted and ordained by the Laws of our Land, which hath forever been guided by King, Lords, and Commons in Parliament assembled. They are so fare from being the wens of just government, or putting the people to pain, that they are the sovereign Balm, and preserving Antodote thereof; example, the Earl of Essex, one of those famous Peers whom you malign, who first sounded the depth of a dangerous Sea, and gave notice of those whirlpooles which else perhaps might have swallowed his successor, now a triumphant conqueror, they are not occasion of the least deformity, but rather of lustre and glory to the Commonwealth, appearing like so many joshuahs' with their Swords drawn, ready to lead the people forth, against God's enemies, or to govern them at home in peace and happiness. They are not usurpers, for they claim not in the least respect any of the people's right, but what they have they enjoy, as being the sons of their glorious Fathers, who merited more honour than was heaped on them, it being but a Recompense in some nieasure for the good that through their means, as God's instruments, the people enjoyed; nor accepted they their honour at first without consent of the people, for that which is not gainsaid, is assented to. Lay to heart I beseech you, O you House of Commons, that neither yourselves nor children can plead any immunity or security from this oruelty of the House of Lords, if now you be slack or negligent, but that you may justly expect, and feel the smart thereof upon you and your prosperity, as well as we upon us and ours, at least after you are dissolved, and dis●sissed from your Authorities; is not this one of the main points for which ●● have put yourselves and us, and so many of this Nation as stand for your defence, to the effusion of so much blood, and multitude of estates? Behold the libelers Masterpiece; here he goeth about to raise discord betwixt the Lords and Commons, persuading them because * they have justify punished a seditious and infamous person, ●he Lords. according to their duties, and the Laws of the Kingdom, that therefore the Lords entrench on the liberties of the Commons, and intent to bring the subjects of this Kingdom into bondage, the SECTARIES and their Abettors are so enraged, that they have not in all things their swinge and sway, that they could wish out of vengeance, the Kingdom were on fire, while they warmed themselves by the light on't: and therefore they leave no projects unattempted, no Falsities unsaid, to raise Discord and Division. And to make his argument invincible, as he supposeth, he insinuateth that main ground of this more than unnatural War, was to abolish illegal and tyrannical power, which is most true; but doth it therefore follow, that we having cut the throat of Innovation, should forsake the worship of God? or that 'cause we have crushed to pieces Aristocratical or Tyrannical power, we should not now make use either of Law or Justice? GOD FORBIDDEN. If ye did intent to expose this Kingdom to the miseries of war, for no other end, but that one kind of Arbitrary government, Star-obamber Chamber, and High-commission power might be abolished, and others of that kind established over us; why would ye not tell us, that we might have both spared our lives and estates? Now steers the Pamphleter another course more irregular than before; now he exclaimeth on the house of Commons, that they did not give advertisement; that having pulled down one Arbitrary power, they would erect another; the rancorous and evil mind of the Pamphleter, how many ways trieth he to work contention and confusion, because Lilburne is not countenanced in his pernicious ways, as he hath been formerly too too much? now they are nettled to the purpose, and they care not what they affirm; and therefore forsooth the House of Commons, 'cause they not opposed the House of Lords, in their legal trial and just censure of Lilburne, are taxed; that though they have abolished one kind of Arbitrary power, they are props of another: and therefore the traitorous Pamphleter seemeth to lament, that they had not more timely notice, thereby to have prevented the great effussion of blood, and loss of their estates. All these questions and affirmations had not been thought on, had JOHN LILBURNE been walking abroad. But if ye would either free yourselves from suspicion, or us of these just fears, then show yourselves such Worthies as do truly deserve the title, by using this happy opportunity, which God hath put into your hands, and making us Free men, it being the main cause for which we used, and entrusted you; and as a present sign of your fidelity and magnanimity, let all your real intentions in the general appear, by the exactness and speediness of your delivery of your own and his Country's saithful servant JOHN LILBURNE, from prison with all due reparations. I told you before the cause of all this trouble in print was for * Namely Lilburnes b● sound ch● said for his orbitancy, his slander and lies, 〈◊〉 stir●ing up people both words and 〈◊〉, to Rebellion against PARLIAMENT, 〈◊〉 God 〈◊〉 preservers. Lilburnes imprisonment, which here the Pamphleter plainly confesseth, and saith, that if they will clear themselves of the fears, the Pamphleter and his complices hath, that then they should set at liberty Lieut. Col. LILBURNE, And then all Acts for the good of the Subject are ratified and confirmed, and then they shall truly deserve the title of Worthies, and be Worthies indeed. Into what a further labyrinth of misery were poor England involved, if the Parliament should allow and take the advice of these malevolent Idiots; certainly, although we are greatly impoverished, and brought low, than we should not fail to become the most wretched and abject people in the world; which evil, God divert. An answer to a seditious Pamphlet lately in print entitled, * A PEARL IN A DUNGHILL. Written in Defence of that famous Libeler, Li●ut. Col. LILBURNE. SUre the Author of that Dunghill * piece before answered, was ●he just man ●onds. the Author also of this scurrilous Pamphlet entitled (A Pearl in a Dunghill) save that this is a little more finely spun then the other, He begins thus: ●o be 〈◊〉 in an ill se is wo●s●●n cower. Although most States and Statesmen be of late turned upside down, like a wheel●; yet this worthy, * valiant and public spirited Gentleman, unto whom this Nation is as much bound to, at least, as unto any one, all things considered, is the very same man both in principles and practice, Rom● wa● 〈◊〉. whom the Bishops so long imprisoned in the Fleet, by a most cruel and barbarous censure, caused to be weary of his life; which censure they procured in the Star-chamber against him, and so he was whipped, gauged, and pinioned, and in his close imprisonment, almost famished, and murdered. This, this is the man that thinketh he indeed hath proved, and that with one Argument of Lilburnes quondam sufferings, that he hath been faithful to God and his Country to the death, in times past, and in the same steadfastness remaineth to this day; now therefore that his Country may see and know how deeply they stand engaged to the said Lilburne, let us search diligently, and show, First, the eminency of the party, the sufferer. Secondly, the cause of his so suffering. Thirdly, the quality of the pain suffered. The discovery hereof I know he will exclaim against, and say, it is a breach of MAGNA CHARTA, according to his wont manner. First then, for the eminency of his person, we must know, that it is even JOHN LILBURNE, during his minority an Apprentice of London, and being of an insinuating spirit, he endeared himself and won the love of some silly Schismatics, who for his strange yet empty expressions, deemed him one inspired. So that by that time he came out of his time, and had served his apprenticeship, who but Lilburne of note amongst the Sectaries, his approbation desired, and his counsels followed in all things. Secondly, the cause of his suffering, during the imprisonment of Doctor Bastwicke by the rigorous censure of the Prelates, divers persons affecting the said Doctor, out of their love resorting to him; amongst the rest, one of them took John Lilburne with him as his associate: after plenty of cheer Dr Bastwick to solace his guests, read to them his merry * A Book● laying 〈◊〉 the pride, 〈◊〉 lechery, 〈◊〉 abominal 〈◊〉 acts of the 〈◊〉 ●●ts in 〈◊〉 Lettany, which highly pleased them all. Lilburne also hearing the said Lettany read, and knowing that Whatsoever was written in defiance of that power, then generally hated, would be very acceptable, he desired of Dr Bastwick to have a copy of one of them, with which he would travel beyond Sea, and cause it to be printed, not doubting to be enriched by it; the wind of this fancy transported him over Sea, accompanied with a fellow whose fidelity he doubted not; there he printed many Books, and by them got much money, selling them even at what rates he pleased; afterwards coming into England, bringing with him many Books, hoping to have a new Mart, the fellow that accompanied him was his betrayer, who gave information to the then * William 〈◊〉 Archshop of Canterbury, both where Lilburne and his Libels were, who immediately dispatched a Pursuivant with plenary authority, who attached Lilburne, and seized on his Books, which were all consumed with fire. So much for the cause of his suffering. Thirdly, for the quality of the pain suffered, it was no less than pillorying, whipping, gagging, and to say truth most wicked abusing of his person. Here I beseech the Reader to take notice, that not only this Pamphleter, Lilburnes vindicator but himself also in all his seditious Pamphlets maketh it an argument infallible, because of his cruel handling by the Bishops, to prove his extraordinary zeal to God, and his Country, when it was his affection to attain riches, and the desire of gain that brought those calamities upon him; for had he sat at home, and not transported himself beyond the Seas to have printed that L●ttany, or if being there he had stayed; or else, if coming over had left behind him those instruments of his destruction, Dr Bastwicks' Books, he had not now been reputed so famous a sufferer for God, and his Country: but had remained, as he still is, in the account of all wise and truly religious men, a * MECHANIC, FACTIOUS, SLANDEROUS, LYING LIBELER. ●LBURNS ARACTER His Defender goes on, And now if you will begin to think how a * man so faithful in all his ways, should be so liable to trouble, as he hath been, for he hath been divers Woe unto ●e, saith Prophet, ●● call bl●ck ●ite, & wh●●e 〈◊〉. times in Pursuivants hands, and so committed by Committees, if you shall consider how this Pearl comes to be cast upon this Dunghill, you will find the faithfulness of his heart towards God, and all good people, the ☞ freeness of his tongue, against all kind of injustice, or unworthiness, in whom soever, is the only cause and no other. The lying Pamphleter having before told you that the sufferings of Lilburne in the Prelate's days, was only for God, and his Country, which egregious and monstrous lie I have already canvasd; now he proposeth a Riddle, and asketh how it should come to pass, that a man so faithful in all his ways, etc. I answer, giving my judgement what might be the reason thereof, perhaps one reason might be, for that he the said Lilburne wrote and divulged a seandalous Pamphlet, entitled, An answer to NINE ARGUMENTS, wherein he intolerably rails against our Church, Ministers, Worship, Government, reporting them to be Antichristian and Diabolical; or perhaps it might be for his seditious and base Libel, entitled, MARTIN'S ECHO, or for his malicious and traitorous Libel, entitled, ENGLAND'S BIRTHRIGHT, with many other seditious and scandalous Libels, for which he ought, though his punishment were then mitigated, to have suffered condign punishment, and that after a severe manner, by Statutes at Westminster, first made 3 Edward 1. c. 33. 2 R. 2. c. 5. 12, etc. and Eliz. c. 7. it is enacted and streighly defended, upon grievous pain, That from henceforth none shall be so hardy to contrive, speak, or set forth any false news, lies, or tales, of Prelates, Earls, Dukes, Barons, Nobles, or great men of the Realm, whereby debates, discords, or slanders may arise, between the King and His People, and the Lords, Nobles, and Commons, whereof great peril and mischief might come to all the Realm, and quick destruction, if remedy were not provided: and he that shall offend herein, shall be kept in prison until he hath brought him forth in Court, that first did speak and report the same, and if he cannot bring him forth, than He shall be grievously punished according to the nature of the Offence, by the Council; and all Justices of the Peace, throughout every Shire, City and Town Corporate, are enabled to hear, examine, and determine the said causes, and enjoined to put these Laws in the due execution, that from henceforth condign punishment be not deferred from such, Offenders. But now the Pamphleter explaineth his Riddle himself, and saith, you find the cause of his trouble, to be (the faithfulness of his heart) o Sir, you injure him greatly to charge him with that * The cause o● lilburn's troubles. whereof he is not the least conscious; but contrary the baseness and treachery of his heart, against God, and his Rulers, BLASPHEMING the one, and CALUMNIATING the other, the freeness of his tongue according to your own phrase, in reviling his Lord the KING, of whom he ought not to think an evil thought, is the cause that brought his former, and present calamities upon him, and maketh his name become audible to all virtuous; but let us traverse the Pamphleter. And if you seriously weigh things, you will confess, that it would grieve any good man's heart, that Treachery, Cowardice, Cruelty, Plundering, and Covetousness, have been very slenderly punished, and faithfulness so many ways discouraged, and that it is a very sad thing, in a time so zealously pretending REFORMATION, that any quiet people should be punished and reproached for worshipping, and serving God * A Dom●sti●● Phrase. according to their Conscience: and that TROUBLE-HOUSE CONFORMITY, as much cried up, as in the Bishop's times. All wise men will seriously weigh and consider things as they are, and as they may be carried, that men in Authority may rule over the bodies of men, but not over their minds, and therefore not able to prevent Treachery, Cowardice, or Cruelty, the committers whereof often escape unpunished contrary to their will, which if so neglected, ought not to be charged on them; & again that it is not always seasonable to punish crimes, though never so heinous, and that is when the offenders are * For so the cure may prove worse than the Disease. potent, able to withstand, and perhaps (Their Arm of Flesh considered) overpower their Judges: but it is evident to all the world that since the si●ting of this PARLIAMENT, they have not been partial in the least regard, witness the two * The Father and the Son, ●ho both lost their heads on ●ower Hill for betraying the ●ust was repoed in them. hotham's, & never was faithfulness better rewarded then by them who have on the meanest subject bestowed honour's, if found faithful, and have rewarded each Officer fight for them according to his Degree, and this is no sad thing in a time of Reformation, but a glorious Animation to the Just: nor are the quiet people punished or reproached, for serving God, those Disturbers of Zions Peace, the Sectaries, are only opposed, their errors being opposite to God, & destructive to the Peace of the Kingdom, who if they should be suffered, would be an occasion of the inevitable Ruin and Destruction of this Nation; for as long as there were divers Sects, there would be Division, and a Kingdom divided cannot stand: God himself hath pronounced it, and that without which God cannot be zealously served, nor the Commonwealth possibly preserved in peace and tranquillity, which you contemptuously and wickedly call ‖ The Author of the just man ●n bonds. TROUBLE-HOUSE CONFORMITTE is cried up, for the Reason's aforesaid and no other. The Imprisonment of Lilburn you must know, is a sore corrasive to the Pamphleter, as erst to his ‖ Predecessor, and therefore he also will have a fling at the House of Lords, thus: And why presume ye, O ye Lords, thus against us, set forth your merit before the people, and say for this good it is, that we will Reign over you? Remember yourselves; or shall we remember you? which of you before this Parliament, minded any thing so much as your Pleasures, Plays, Masques, Hunt, Feast, Gamings, with the Appurtenances? If you owed any man money, or abused any man, what Law was to be had against you, what Patents and Projects did you suppress, or so much as move against, nay had not an hand in? What fearful enemies were you to Ship-money, & to the proceed of the High Commission, Star Chamber and Council Board? indeed your goodness was unexpressible, and undiscernible, before this Parliament. The audacious and impudent Pamphleter, not considering the Lords * Thou shalt ●ot speak evil of the Ruler of ●y people. commandment, chargeth the honourable House of Peers with an heap of known falsities, he taketh in hand to show, that before this Parliament began, they were no other than persons giving themselves over wholly to pleasure, and that they played Rex over the people, doing with them as they listed, that in stead of suppressing, they caused to be extorted those unknown vast lones of money levied by the term of Ship-money, that they were the upholders of those tyrannising Courts, the High Commi●●ion, the lively Effigies of the Spanish Inquisition, Star-Chamber, and Counsel board, etc. It is known to all men, not wilfully blind; for there is a sort of men that see, and will not; such is this our Pamphleter and his Complices, that the Lords in general, I mean those now assembled in Parliament, were ere this Parliament was thought on, men renowned through the world, men singularly virtuous, men fearing God and eschewing evil: and what though they beheld Masques, do not all wise men know, that a Moral Masque is profitable to see? and though to the unlearned, who may refrain the sight of them, they seem Riddles, and Nulls, yet to the knowing, who are able to explain the sense and meaning, and to crack the shell, they find a sweet and pleasant kernel: and whereas you tax the use of Hawking, Hunting, and such like Princely sports, it were a sin for them to refrain; but to use them, no sin at all, the whole scope of their Intentions, using the said Games, being for the Recreation of their bodies, by which they become lively, and are more apt and able to serve their Maker, and to manage the Public Affairs to which the Lord hath called them. And it is also very well known, that the Lords now Assembled in Parliament, were the happy Instruments of procuring a grant for a Parliament; their Inventions in so doing, wholly out of zeal towards God, and love to their Country, that the worship of the one, than too much corrupted, might be purified and refined, and the burdens under which the other groaned to be taken off; and is this their Reward, o ye unstable, ungrateful, and giddy Sectaries, whose tongues are set on fire of hell, to malign and vilify those that are the most upright, and for whom ye ought to bless the Lord, as being, part of those Instruments to get for you, with the hazard of their lives and states, the worship of God, according to the purity thereof, that Liberty and Freedom which your Forefathers have sighing wished for, but could never attain? but oh the wickedness, wilfulness, and pride of heart that is in some, that they rather than lose one jot of their new fancied Liberty, (indeed a slavery, would they duly consider it) choose to be guilty, both of their own, and an whole Nations fall; Besides, are there not Thousands, whose * The Royal party. vanquished Persons live in hope, to see the second part of the destruction of Germany acted in England. And that the hatred now betwixt the Independents and Presbyterians, will prove as fatal, as whilom that bloody * The occasion whereof was two Germane Brethren, the one whereof mantained the Pope's honour to be above the Emperors, the other averred the Emperor's dignity exceeded the Popes; whereupon they fought, and the one slew the other. Their quarrel was spread through out all Italy. Diffention betwixt the Guelphs and Gibellines: the enormities that attend DISSENSION, the most excellent Poet VIRGIL admirably describeth, where he maketh juno seek to Allecto. Aeneidos' lib. 7. saying, Tu potes unanimes armare in Praelia Fratres, Atque odiis versare Domos, tu verbera tectis, Funereasque infer faces; tibi nomina mille, Mille nocendi Artes, Faecundum concute pectus, Disjice compositam pacem, fere crimina Belli, Arma velit poscatque, simul rapiatque juventus. Englished. Thou canst beloved Brethren, force to jar, And overturn whole Families by War, And cast from house to house, combustious fire, Take thee a thousand shapes, false names acquire, And thou a thousand Fallacies canst use, Then search thy full swollen breast, turn to abuse Their Peace agreed on, sow tho● seeds of Ill, Their youths do long each others blood to spill, etc. But we have yet more of the devil's language, who no doubt Dictated to the Pamphleter, as he hath often done to Lilburne, and his complices, and it is worth your observation that Satan by his Delusions maketh them to be the props, and stays of his now tottering Kingdom; for he perceiveth, and gnasheth his teeth for ire, that the power of those, whose Innovations set up, caused many thousands to fall, who ere they could recover themselves, were plunged in the depth of Abyss; and that now the spirit of truth so prevaileth, that God's true worship is like to be erected, according to the original purity; He now therefore, the power of Hell assisting him, tryeth all the ways, to hinder and impede so glorious a work; he therefore hath dispatched his Agents abroad, giving them commission to enter into the hearts of all, void of the Spirit of grace, and to cause them both by writing, and speaking to calumniate, and as fare as in them lieth, make audible the persons of those who are the chiefest Instruments of God's glory; and then without doubt their Persons hated, their Performances will not be acceptable, this will cause contention, and, Divide & Impera, according to Machiavil, Divide, and prevail. But thou that rulest Behemoth, who laughest at the strength of man, put thy hook in his nostrils, and save thy people by thy strong Arme. Now the Pamphleter citeth an Adage comparatively. It was wont to be said, when a thing was spoiled, that the Bishop's foot had been in it: and if the Lords mend not, it will be said so of them, and justly too. It was wont to be said (A Fool's Bolt is soon shot.) And, what other have the Lords ever been, than a Clog to the House of Commons, in all their Proceed? How many necessary things have they obstructed, how many evil things promoted? what devices have they had of prudentials, and expedients, to delay and pervert what is good; and subtle Policies to introduce things evil? It hath ever been the custom of Libelers, and calumniators, when they groundlessly slander, to cite things by the whole, not bringing proof of any one thing: so here the lying Pamphleter taxeth the Lords, & nameth not when, where, or how they deserved; the reason you may guess, (he cannot) & indeed envy itself cannot challenge the honoured Lords of the least corruption; I mean, in the way of hindering any one Act for the good of the Subject; nay rather have they not, ere since the time of their fitting, and passing through this fiery Furnace, as I may so say, of their opposing the Royal party, been the Agents to procure many Orders for the good of the Subject? can any say that they have held back, or refused to subscribe to any one paper tending to the good of the Subject? and for their introducing of evil, which the Railing Pamphleter taxeth them of, the meanest capacity may perceive; and all Loyal subjects will hisse at so impudent a Lie. Now you must know the Pamphleter, in his own conceit having sufficiently vindicated Lilburne; he flieth high, and hyperbolically saith, Thou dost well, o England, to give up thy first borne Lilburne, the son of thy strength, and high Resolution for Freedom, If thou intendest to become a Bondslave to either King, Lords, or any others; for he will never submit either body or mind to any kind of slavery. Lilburne in prison, hinc Dolour, hinc Lachrymae; and therefore to incite the Commons, if it might be, to rise against his Judges, he maketh them interessed in his cause; Alas Sir this will not do, the dearly beloved inimitable unparallelled Libeler, must have the reward of his merits. While England will sit still and see, not the Son of her Strength, but the Son of her Shame, and Sorrow, brought to condign punishment; nor doth she fear that thereby Her bondage will be aggravated, knowing that such are the Bands that tie her hands & feet, not suffering her to achieve that which would prove to her everlasting Benefit, and honour: and she knoweth rightwell, that he that hath already submitted himself, and is become a Bondslave to the devil, to put in Act what ever he shall whisper to him, cannot be the Agent to procure her Enfranchisement, Liberty, she fits and beholds with joy the unequalled proceed of her two Houses of Parliament, and having the spirit of discerning, lamenteth the errors, heresies, blasphemies of the time, taking into consideration those * A lively description of these times. verses of the Poet, that, Now for truths matters, there is much ado, Some this, some that, some none of both will have. And yet they all do restless Fortune woe To yield to neither, yet do either crave In world's behalf, or Flesh's fixed thereto, They all in show do seek the truth to save. And all seem, to solicit Zions cause, Which they would have confirmed by the Laws. Some say they lie, that only truth do teach, Some envy them that live by teaching so, And at their lives and live seem to reach, Which they forgive, but will not so forgo: " Some tongues defend the Truth which they doepreach, " Whose Actions give her many a bitter blow: " Some live as Dying, while they seek to live, " And some die living, yet do most relieve. Some * Independent. Liars do call carnal liberty, The glorious liberty of Truth's dear Sons. And her they urge to prove that verity; But Truth's betrayed by such untrusty ones, That Sacrilege do gild with sanctity, Yet for that look for high promotions. " O' 'tis a world of mischief, when pretence, " Doth shroud a world of Inconvenience! But whereas the Pamphleter saith that Lilburn will never submit either body or mind to slavery, he insinuateth that some are slaved: O the incorrigibleness of some, if they may not do what, say what, attempt what they list, they cry out they are vassalized and trod on, Magna Charta is slighted, & the liberty of the Subject infringed! But sure the time will come, that these men, that do and say what they list, and should not, shall be forced to undergo what they ought, and would not: and now the Pamphleter having railed sufficiently on the Lords, whose innocency is above his calumnies, he insinuateth with the Commons, promising himself that, which were a wonder to see. But certainly those Worthies in the House of Commons, that consider what the people have done, and suffered for their liberties, will never suffer so foul a deed: it cannot be, but they intent the uttermost * Just freedom is so fare as is consistent with the fundamental Laws of this Kingdom: which prohibiteth toleration of crimes under pretence of liberty. of just Freedom to the people, and love those best that most know and affect true Liberty, and are greatest opposers of exorbitant power, in whomsoever, and consequently cannot, but instantly deliver all just men, and henceforth reduce the Lords Condition, suitable to the Freedom of the People. To fill up his measure of evil, he concludeth his Pamphlet with confidence, that the House of Commons will entrench upon the Privilege of the Lords, and deliver him whom they have caged: but Sir, your hopes deceive you, for the Honourable House of Commons will not but maintain, as they ought, the Privilege of the House of Peers, even as they have hitherto, both Houses having mutually and unanimously proceeded without the least perturbation. For should those happy workmen disagree, that glorious and solid Fabric, which with so much cost and pain hath been erected, would not only be left unfinished, but also would be in danger to be utterly demolished; But the Highest divert so great a mischief, and let not o Lord our many and crying sins pull down so heavy and fatal a judgement! The P●idiculous Pamphleter proceedeth in his madness, and holdeth it convenient the Lords should be reduced: but his combustible matter I have so moistened, that it shall never be able to take fire. The mouth of the just shall be fruitful in Wisdom, but the tongue of the froward shall be cut out, Prov. chap. 10. An answer to a Libel ENTITLED A Remonstrance of many thousand Citizens, and other freeborn people of England, to their own House of Commons. THis REMONSTRANCE was not penned by L●●burn, but whoever he be that penned the same, * his † Lilburne. spirit was doubled upon him, and it may fitly be termed the master piece of wickedness, and the very quintessence of baseness, the contents whereof is able to infect the unsettled, and to cause the plague of Dissension to reign, as hot as ever before: but I shall make known a sovereign Antidote, that if any be already infected, they may by reading my lines, God willing, receive present and perfect cure, and it will be a preservative also to prevent the further spreading and increase thereof. Hear the Libeler. We are well assured, and ye cannot forget, that our choosing you to be● Parliament Men, was to deliver us from all kind of bondage, and to preserve the Commonwealth in Peace and Happiness, for effecting whereof, we possessed you with the same power, that was in ourselves, to have done the same, for we might have done it ourselves without you, if we bade thought so convenient, choosing you as persons whom we thought fitly qualified, and faithful, for avoiding some inconveniences. What hath bereft you of your former confidence, the wickedness of your own spirits will not suffer you to participate of that good which is providing: the men ye have chosen, have not failed to perform their duty in a Parliamentary way: and God hath so aided them, that they have outdone example: the bondage, were it a bondage, you so sorely exclaim against, is taken off, and the peace and happiness you seem to desire, there is great hopes to enjoy had it not been for your own cursed Proceed, Lying, and Slandering the Authors of your Good, you might have now been in better state than you are, and ye have showed yourselves unworthy of that Good, got and gaining for you, by your continual Debates and Dangerous speeches, and as if you were weary of mercies by threatening, That if you have not all, even to a tittle, that your erring Fancies desire, you will by your own strength procure it. Now, whereas you Boast, that had you thought it convenient, ye yourselves could have accomplished your wish. Vain men, though it be possible, you may be of Ability sufficient to measure Cloth, and to keep a Book, your sums being vast, and unknown, yet with BAKERS Aid you can subtract and multiply, and give the Summa totalis; yet to manage the Affairs of a Kingdom is too high for you, and had not the HIGH-COMMISSION COURT been suppressed till by you, we might still have been cited before a Judge, bearing both Swords as before: it hath always been the custom of wicked and ungrateful men, such as yourselves, the good once attained, to slight the procurers thereof; did you want that you now have? O how acceptable would the least of those mercies be, of which ye now surfeit! and ye ought to know, that mercies abused are often by the Almighty turned into scourges, for the smart of the wicked and ungrateful. But, how ye have dealt with us, we shall now let you know, and * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let the Righteous GOD Judge betmixt you and us, the continual oppressors of this Nation have been Kings which 〈◊〉 so evident that you cannot deny it. Did you as you ought, you would let them know, how they had dealt with you by presenting yourselves to them in all Humility, and acknowledge with all Thankfulness, that They have under God been the preserve●● both of your lives and states: but ye are an unstable wavering-minded people, never contented in one state; self-conceited you are, and lea●e so much upon that broken staff of Reed, your wit, that it will be a means at length, even to pierce you through; Rash you are, and your Ignorance sputting you on, ye affect Things Inconvenient, and DESTRUCTIVE TO yours SELVES. And whereas you say the continual oppressors of this, Nation have been KINGS, I answer, you commit a grievous sin, to aver aught contrary to your knowledge: if ye have Read the Chronicles of this Kingdom you will find that the * & 〈◊〉 Kings of this Isle, and that for the major part, have been nursing Fathers and Mothers, under whose peaceable and happy Government, the people of this Land have sat each man under his fig tree, praising God, and praying for their King: If ye shall Ask what were the names of those KINGS, so good and Gracious, I answer, before the Conquest many, as EDMUND, EDGAR, ATHELSTANE, etc. Since the Conquest, Henry the third, Henry the fifth, Henry the seaventh, and his Son; Henry the eighth, Edward the sixth, gracious * Queen Elizabeth, King JAMES, with divers others, whom ●egina. inarum. for brevity's sake I omit, some of Them having augmented the Bounds of their Kingdom, striving to make Their Nation glorious and great; others have striven to maintain what your forefathers have got, executing Justice and Judgement: and in truth, never no Nation had more cause to boast, of the Valour, Piety, and good Government of their Kings then the English Nation; nor hath our DREAD SOVEREIGN LORD KING CHARLES, been Inferior to His Pious Predeceslours in the least respect, who for the space of 17 years, ere seduced by some pernicious and vile A Spencers, Governed His People in Peace, and under Him They ●lluding ●he Father the Son, ●t Edward second so ●dly affect●● that he ●ooke the tinsel of Counsel●ts, and was ●lly Ruled ●heir gid●ancies, to unspeaks trouble ● vexation ●he whole ●lme. Enjoyed much Felicity, and so may again, this Prodigious and terrible storm o'erblown; but let us return to the Libeler. And yet ye cannot fight for our Liberties, but it must be in the name of KING and PARLIAMENT, and He, that speaks of His cruelties, must be thrust out of your House, your Preachers must pray for him, as He had not deserved to be Excommunicated all Christian society, or, as if you, or They, thought that GOD were a Respecter of Persons in Judgement. The Honourable Hcuses of Parliament esteem it not a point of Liberty to Fight the King's Battles, and except His name; the Royal Party having persuaded the King to Destructive courses, he, ruled by them, fought against His PARLIAMENT; His Parliament, to maintain the Liberty of the Subject, their own Rights & Privileges, and to Restore His Majesty to that honour and state He was in, are seduced, fight against those their opposers; and is it not convenient for Them then, He being the Head, they the Members, to have His name mentioned, for whose honour They fight, as for Their own Rights? King's are but men, and have Their passions and failings as well as others: and moreover, a great and weighty Burden lies on Their shoulders, which Subjects do not conceive; and according to the Poet, Crowns are but hives, where stinging cares do swarms, Pompes but the whites, where at fell envy shoots, Which are as Trees, whence grow their owner's harm, Harms are the fruit, Crowns, Flowers, & Kingdom's Root. The Arm of flesh is but a feeble Arm, And in such strong extremes it little Boots: He knows not yet the Nature of a Crown, That knows not Kings may be by strength o'ret hrowne. And forasmuch as we are persuaded, that those evil Counselors were the only cause and Fountain whence our sorrows have slowed, and that we know, and have cause to believe, considering His Majesty's frequent and pithy expressions, His hearty desire of Compliance with His Parliament, & of settling a firm & wel-grounded Peace: Is it fit that any should speak lightly, or Revile our Lord, whose after-Reigne, we hope, will prove more glorious than H is former? Why should we Doubt, the Evil being taken away, but H is Throne shall be established in Peace? Why should not the Ministers of God, Nay, have they not ample Reason therefore, as they prayed once for H is Conversion, now to give thanks for H is being Converted? And though God, its true, be no Respecter of Persons in Judgement, it followeth not that we should imitate our Maker in that, for he commandeth by his Apostle, saying; FEAR GOD, HONOUR THE KING. And have ye shaken this Kingdom like an Earthquake, to produce no more than this for us? Is it for this that ye have made so free use, and been bold with our Estates? And do you, because of our Readiness to comply with you in All Things, esteem us so sottish as to be contented: with such unworthy Returns of our trust and love? No, it's high time to be plain with you: We ARE not, SHALL not be so contented: We do expect in the first place, that you should Declare and set forth KING CHARLES His wickedness openly before the world, and withal, to show the Intolerable inconvenience of Kingly Government, from the constant evil Practices of those of this Nation, and to Declare KING CHARLES an enemy, and to publish your Resolution never to have any more, but to Acquit us of so great a Charge and trouble for ever, & to convert the great Revenues of the Crown to the public treasure, to make good the injuries and injustices done hereofore, and of late by those that have possessed the same; and till this he done, we shall not think ourselves well Dealt withal in this original of all oppressions, to wit, KINGS. That this Nation hath of late been sorely shaken it is most true; and had not God's mercy surpassed England's Deserts, it had been shaken to pieces: but this ungrateful Libeler Asketh, (And is it for this?) for what your forefathers would have sacrificed Their Lives with Joy: Had they but hoped Their Posterity after Them should have gained those rare Immunities and Freedoms which yourselves now do, and are like to Enjoy; the Government by Prelates Abolished, the High-Commission, Star-Chamber, all Courts grinding the Faces of the poor suppressed, the Fears of a Combination with Foreign States taken away, by the Disposing of the Militia into trusty hands, such as the Commons shall conside in, with many other Remarkable privileges; and are ye so unthankful yet to say (IS IT FOR THIS?) And whereas you menacing Boast, That you ARE not, nor SHALL not be so contented, your Estate is to be Deplored, that you are so void of. grace and Reason, than the Sword hath yet a hope to be handled by you: and is it not sufficient for you to Ruin yourselves, but you must also seek the Destruction of the whole Nation? For you propose, that King CHARLES should be Proclaimed an Enemy; could we acquit ourselves of our Oaths, and the Fidelity we own to our Sovereign, yet policy would per suade us to work more Discreetly, (and not involve in a new war, a Nation almost Despoiled) for we must know, that the Princes of the Royal blood will not sit still and see Themselves Rob of their Birthright; neither cometh, I am sure, so vile a thought into the heart of any Member of Parliament, whose frequent expressions have been, and still are, in all meekness and Humility, to desire the King, the spirit of Disaffection abandoned, to Return to His Charge, and by Their means, God assisting, become a greater, a more glorious and Potent Prince then before; all wish I hope, to see effected, to the rejoicing of all Verru●us and to the shame and consounding of countenance of all Malevolent wicked Sectaries, that King and Subjects may Rejoice in each other, the one seeking nothing but the others welfare, and all, that All Fears and Jealousies laid aside the Subjects of this Kingdoms, each man following the works of his calling, submitting themselves, as they are desired by S. Paul, and that for the Lords sake, not denying to yield Caeser his lawful tribute, following the example of their Saviour, knowing, The more he hath, the better he shall be enabled to withstand his and their enemies: To this purpose, one of our modern Poets saith excellently; For thine and mine, and mine and thine, are things, Not for to be 'twixt Subjects and their Kings; Princes; like the Sun, should from the earth exhale The wealth they raise therein, and let it fall In every place, as they have cause, a share, And not consume it like the wanton Heir; Their full Exchequers must like Conduits be, Open to all, to rich and poor like free: And Subjects should, like Fields be full of Springs, And naturally should fall towards their Kings: The Common wealth should always be in motion, Seas fall to Brooks, and Brooks should to the Ocean: Such Royal, and such Loyal community, Keep King and Subjects still in unity. And whereas you desire the House of Commons to publish their Resolution, never to have Kings more; what spirits of Debate filleth your breasts, and with what suries are you enraged, that you dare be so bold, to propose a matter of high concernment. which if but for civil respects as aforesaid, ought not to be harkened to? your peremptoriness ought to be punished severely, that instigated by Satan, go about to disturb now our almost settled people, who desire to live in subjection to God and their King, as they are bound by Oath and Convenant; and till your rebellious and destructive desires are accomplished, you threaten, that you shall not be contented; why then remain in your obstinacy, until the road that you have gathered, lash you severely, while ye shall be reputed of all wise and loyal men, a sort of Traitors, Blasphemers, and cursed persons. But ye have listened to any counsels, rather than to the voice of us that trusted you; why is it that ye have stopped the Press, but that ye would have nothing but pleasing and ●lattering Discourses, and go on to make yourselves partakers of the Lordship over us, without hearing any thing to the contrary? The Pamphlet swelleth more and more with * Alluding the place where the Prophet David, speaking of the wick● say of h● enemies, sai●● The person of Asps is und● their ups. poison and here it bursteeths forth, able to infect the air: have the House of Commons harkened to any counsels, but what given amongst themselves, the effect and issue of their counsels and consulations, we see and aught to rejoice at; but O, here's the cut that divideth the very hearts of the Sectaries, the Press is stopped, they cannot print Pamphlets, the contents whereof is more full of lies then a Dog of pleas; they cannot blaspheme God, and revile their Sovereign in Print, as they would; and because the Commons (in Parliament) have done this, to wit, SHUT UP THE PRESS: They have not harkened to their counsels, but go on to make themselves Lords over them; I● SATAN CASTANNA OUT SATAN, HOW SHALL HIS KINGDOM STAND; see the simplicity of the Libeler: should the COMMONS GO ABOUT TO ABRIDGE THE COMMONS LIBERTY? should they not thereby limit themselves, and go about to procure their own bondage? Reason will persuade all men the contrary; but let us still trace the Libeler, who now is arrived at the height of impudency. You have now sat full five years, which is four longer than we intended, for we could c●use you but at most for one year; and now we wish you would publish to the world the good you have done for us, the liberty ye have brought us unto, if you could excuse yourselves, as you use to do (it hath been a time of War) for when the war in the beginning might have been prevented, if ye had drawn a little more blood from the right vein, and might often ere this have been ended. Now the House of Commons, as the Remonstrators promise in the * Thus cal●g those ●eir Commissioners in parliament to 〈◊〉 account, ●●w they since ●e beginning 〈◊〉 their Sessi● to the pre●nt, have dis●arged their ●●●ties to the ●liver sality the people. title of their Libel, are called to an account, THE COURSE OF ORDER IS CLEAN PERVERTED, WHEN THE SUBJECT SHALL CENSURE THE MAGISTRATE; yet such is the pride and impudence of some, that they dare do it; see here, the House of Commons are taxed, that they have sat five years, just four more than was intended: why then it should seem, that these men thought at once to throw down, and set up, to extirpate and Reform in one day, or at least in one year, as here they seem to intimate; whereas it is and will be recorded, a wonder to posterity, that so glorious a Reformation, being so strongly and fervently opposed, should be gained, confirmed, and setting up, and in the space of six years. But it is desired, they should publish to the world the good they have done, the Liberty they have gained: Doth not your consciences inform you, that that is gained for you, which some years since ye durst not wish to attain; and whereas you affirm, that if a right course at first had been taken the war had e●e this been ended, and you give your judgement, by what means it might have been accomplished, viz. if a little blood more had been drawn from the right vein. At the beginning of this War blood was drawn, and too much if it might have been saved with safety; and though DESPERATE WOUNDS ask a DESPERATE CURE, yet to be too sanguine is not good; and if some were spared that deserved death, LENITY shall be rewarded, if used with a good intent: but I see your choler rageth within you, that one was exempted, of which thing I tremble to think. For sake and utterly renounce all crafty and subtle intentions, hid not your thoughts from us, and give us encouragement to be open-breasted unto you; Proclaim beforehand what you intent to do, establishing any thing for the future, and hear all things that can be spoken with or against the same. Now is held forth in each hand full cups both of sweet water and bitter, first the House of Commons is advised to renounce all crafty and subtle intentions; I told you before, whatsoever they conclude on to the prejudice of the Subject, they surely detract from themselves; and then insinuation is used, and the utter ruin of Parliaments desired, to wit, when they wish the House not to hid their thoughts from them, but to give them encouragement to be open-breasted to them, meaning, that they should in all matters use their advice; which thing, if assented to, what prejudice it would be, what inconveniencies would thereby be occasioned, let the Reader judge? And without doubt the penner of this REMONSTRANCE was an ANABAPTIST, as may appear by the ensuing words; Proclaim beforehand what ye intent to do, establishing any thing for the future, ☞ and hear any thing that can be spoken with o● against the same: What hurly-burly would be amongst the multitude of Weavers and Mechanics, sitting in counsel together, about State affairs, while they argue pro and con; O madness! shall the supreme Council, Decree, Order, and Ratify, and then come and desire your advice; Doth not your folly shame you, and your ignorance cause you to blush? Now if you shall conscionably perform your trust, than we shall not doubt to be made * You know not wherein freedom co●sists. Freemen, and become a Just, Plenteous, and Powerful Nation, all that is lost will be forgotten; and we shall yet have cause to rejoice, in your Wisdoms and Fidelities. Ye are a people, that if a Fly fall in your dish, you will unadvisedly cast away the whole mess of meat, though for hunger ye afterwards pine: It is apparent to all the world, that the PARLIAMENT have conscionably performed their duty; now perform ye yours also, which is, first to give thanks to God for his great mercies, and then to show your affection and hearty love to the Instruments of his Glory: And whereas you say, that if your desires were fulfilled, then being absolute Freemen, you should in time become a Just, Plenteous; and powerful Nation: You intimate in saying (we) the desires of the whole Nation, wherey your unparalleled presumption is manifest; How dare ye, being but a part of a part, if a part at all, tax, direct, and advise the High Court of Parliament? and not contented to express your ungratefulness to your preservers, you would involve the whole Kingdom also in your Labyrinth of errors; and for your own parts, had ye your wish in all things. it were impossible thereby that ye should become plenteous, or potent; for if in a time of trouble and calamity, when ye expected each day to be ruinated, ye demeaned yourselves wickedly against God and your Magistrates, would ye not be fare worse. having your wish, and living at ease? man's nature being more apt to be * ensnared by the fruits of Prosperity and joy, then by the Maris ecelice temperiem ●rbincs tem●statesque com●endant, habe●●●s vices con●tio, mortali●●●t adversa cundis, & versis secur●● nascantur-●cultat utro-●mque semina ●●eus & ple●mque bono●m & malo●m cause sub versa specie ●ent. Flin. in 〈◊〉 Trajan. Adversity. frowns of * sorrow. The Author of this Libel concludeth like a Saint, having railed before like a Furey, and for their more powerful efficacy, he useth the words of Samuel. PROSCRIPT. Moreover, as for me, God forbidden that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing: to pray for you, but I would teach you the good, and the right way, only fear the Lord and serve him in truth, with all your heart, consider what great things he hath done for you, but if ye still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your King. But know Sir, That the righteousness of the upright shall deliver them but transgressors shall be taken in their own snare, PROV. Imprimatur, JOH. DOWNAME.