PRIMA PARS. DE COMPARATIS Comparandis: Seu justificationis Regis Caroli, comparatè, contra Parliamentum.  
Or the first part of things compared: or of the justification of King Charles comparatively against the Parliament.  
Wherein is manifested, that by the cunning contrivance of a wicked party in the House of Commons, who by their fraud, and subtlety, deceive and seduce the major part of the House for their own ambitious ends, our oppressions have been made far more grievous, than they were in the King's days, the course of justice, and relief of grievances, is obstructed, and our troubles and pressures are still continued.  
With a relation of certain acts of injustice, deceit and treason, committed by some of them against the Kingdom, and certain persons and particular observations of the treasonable purpose, and designs of the same evil, and treacherous party to secure themselves from justice, and to get the Sovereign power into their own hands.  
With the names of the heads, of the usurping faction, and advice to all the free men of England, to beware of them, and to take a speedy course to remove and expel them, together with an intimation of a way to effect the same.  
Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that teachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal, thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, committest thou adultery? thou that abhorrest Idols, committest thou Sacrilege? thou that makest the boast of the Law through breaking of the Law, dishonourest thou God?  Rom. 2.21, 22, 23. 
Turpe est Doctori cum culpa redarguit ipsum.  
Parve nec invidio, sine me liber ibis in urbem,  
Hei mihi quòd Domino, non licet ire tuo.  
OXFORD, Printed in the Year, 1647.   

To the Reader. Vouchsafe to read, and then judge.  
TO avoid all misunderstanding: and lest I may seem in some weak men's apprehensions, by this unexpected Comparison, or Comparitive justification of the King, absolutely to justify the King, and condemn the whole Parliament. I conceive it expedient to prefix this Epistle for the information of all men, concerning myself, and my meaning in this matter. As I never hated my King, (which God forbids) So I always honoured, and adhered to the Parliament, as the supreme judicatory, and chief, conservatorie of the laws, rights, and liberties of the land. I am neither Priest, or Jesuit. Malignant, Delinquent or Papist: but one who have ever loved the truth, and the republic: and have exposed myself (as can be testified) as freely and as fare as any whatsoever, for the preservation and promotion of both under the Parliament. And this my Comparison doth no more justify the King de facto or condemn the Parliament, in toto; then Christ's upbraiding of Chorazin and Bethzaida, with Tyre and Zidon, and Capernaum, with Sodom and the Scribes, and Pharisees, with common Harlots, Publicans and Sinners, doth justify Tyre and Zidon, Sodom, and Common Harlots, Publicans and Sinners, and condemn Chorazin, and Bethzaida, Capernaum, the Scribes and Pharisees. For I am not ignorant, that there are a company (the which the Lord preserve and multiply) of faithful and upright men in the Parliament, (who ever shall have my heart and hand) whose ends and endeavours, are wholly to set up the Gospel in the power of it, to do right to their King, and to discharge their trust to the Kingdom, in seeing justice impartially executed, and our laws and liberties established according to their Oath taken at their entrance, the duty of their place, and the Protestation. But there is a party or faction in the House of Commons, (the heads of which I have named) of false, ambitious, deceitful, covetous, heady, high minded-men, whose ends are their own opulency and greatness, and our indigency, and vassalage, who like the sons of Zerviah are too hard for them: for these ill kind of men, by their cunning craftiness, do deceive and seduce the Mayor part of the House of Commons, to assist in their destructive counsels and votes, and by this means overpower the honest and upright in the discharge of their duties: but the Lord hath said, that he will reward the evil doer according to his wickedness, 2 Sam 3.39. And the discovery of these men's (the causers and contrivers of all our troubles) deep Hypocrisy and hateful treachery, to the too long oppressed and abused free people of England is all my scope and purpose, having principally therein, no other end of advantage than God's glory, the good of his people, and the preservation and freedom of my native Country, which at present is over whelmed in confusion and misery, that the secret and inward enemies thereof (as well as the open and public) which do now only impede the accomplishment of our settlement and tranquillity, may be detected, depressed and taken out of the way: that so the parliament may be rectified, and preserved entire and upright, in its Power the good therein strengthened and encouraged, and our laws and liberties established, and kept inviolate. So shall justice run down in our streets as streams, and righteousness as great waters. Read therefore considerately, consider seriously, judge impartially, and improve all thy power, interest and parts accordingly, for the suppressing the wickedness of the wicked, and advancing of righteousness and truth within this our land. In which I shall be ever willing and ready, who acknowledge myself Gods, and my Countries, and thine if thou art theirs.  
Amon Willbee.   

Prima Pars. De Comparatis Comparandis. Seu justificationis Regis Caroli, compara●è, contra Parliamentum.  
Or the first part of things compared.  
Hear Oye Country men, and hearken all ye free borne Commons of England, mark and mind seriously what I shall say: Do not read only, and so lay it by, but weight it also well in your minds, and fix it in your memories, let it affect your spirits, and work upon your judgements, lest ye suddenly perish. For I will relate no fictions but real truths: nor are my desires and intentions any other, then to discover unto you your dangers that ye may speedily apply yourselves, unto such means as God hath given and left you, to save and secure yourselves, and your posterities, your Estates, Laws, and Liberties, which are at this present in extreme hazard, and that ye yourselves may (by way of Comparison) discern and be Judges, whether the evils of government which we underwent in the days of the King, by his evil instruments, or these we now suffer under the Parliament, (which ought to be our sovereign help) be most grievous and in excusable, and whether our present condition be not much 〈◊〉 more perilous and intolerable, than it was in those times. And I will declare unto you, the chief Authors and promoters of these our evils, and of the obstructions of Justice and redress: Or who by their power and cunning crafty working, impose upon, and deceive the Mayor part of the House of Commons, whereby all acts for the good of the public are diverted, all settlement is protracted, the whole Kingdom and frame of government is endangered, and the power and authority of parliament is dishonoured, blemished and made contemptible.  
I do remember that after the King's return in 1641. from the Parliament in Scotland, divers jealousies did arise in the apprehension of this present Parliament in England, concerning a strong design by a Malignant Jesuited party, to divide the King and Parliament, and to deprive the people of the fruit of all the Parliaments earnest and faithful labours and endeavours (as they then affirmed, for the establishing the people in safety, peace and happiness. Whereupon they fall on declaring, and in Decemb. 1642. they publish a large Remonstrance to the whole kingdom, containing the roots, growth, means, obliqne and direct, together with the actors and promotors of this design for the subverting the fundamental laws and principles of this government, wherein after s●me matter of introduction) among other things as misprisions in the King's government, They complain of, charging the Kingdom with ●●●●●ting ● ldiers, and of a concomitant design of  Horse, that the land might either submit with fear, or be enforced with rigour to such arbitrary contributions as should be required of them. And I pray you fellow Commoners, stands not the Parliament guilty of this accusation, of billerting Soldiers on the Kingdom, even ever since they raised arms, and that in a more intolerable manner than that was in those times? For the Parliament by themselves and their distr ying Committees, and Commissions, have levied great taxes▪ and raised large sums of money in all parts (the which the King did not) with a pretence to pay the Soldiers, that they might in all places pay their quarters, yet was the Soldier never paid, but the Country were both assessed and exhausted, and also burdened with free quarterings, and nevertheless, if the people refused to pay their taxes, the Committees sent a party of horse, and either took the persons prisoners (as well friends as adversaries) or plunder them, the which I am sure was fully answerable to that Concommitant design, (which was then as themselves do say but intended) of German Horse: And I do wish there were not now in hard a design (by an ambitious party in the Parliament) for the establishment and making perpetual of this same inssaving practice of billitting Solders and German horse (as they call it) throughout the Kingdom, that thereby the people may either submit with fear, or be enforced with rigour to pay such arbitrary contributions as shall be exacted of them: But alas it is too manifest a man half blind may see it. But it will be said, the Parliament have been necessitated to this, there hath been I conteste a necessity of raising Soldiers, but not of billitting them without paying their quarters. For the Parliament and their Committees, have raised unspeakable sums to pa●●th. Soldiers, to the end they might pay their quarters the which they or their Committees (as is suspected) have put into their own purses, and never paid them but burdened the Country, notwithstanding with free quarters. They complain also of the Kings raising great sums by way of Privy Seals, proportionable to subsidies.  
And have not the Parliament done the self same thing, by way of public faith, and that much more abundant, Ask London, and a numberless multitude of all sorts of persons, and they will with no less than heavy sighs, testify this truth. And whether had ye rather a Privy Seal, or the public saith? Verum horum mavis accipe, many fear the last will prove the worst securities. They complain also, of an unjust and pernicious attempt to extort great payments from the Subject by way of Excise. This it seems was then but an Attempt, but the Parliament, have notwithstanding the injustice and perniciousness of it, really acted it, and so by their own terms they have herein exceeded the King, for injust and pernicious dealing. They complain also, that the Petition of Right, which was granted in full Parliament, was blasted by an illegal Declaration, and of the presumptuous injustice of such Ministers as durst break the laws, and suppress the liberties of the Kingdom. The Petition of Right was then (as themselves say) only blasted by an illegal Declaration: But have not they since blasted it, and made it also fruitless, by a multitude of illegal actions, as false imprisonments, and examining of men (after the manner of the Courts of Star Chamber, and High Commission) upon Interrogatories against themselves, and with many other like unjust practices, as herein after more plainly appears. And I appeal to all, if ever any manifested more presumption, in daring to break the laws, and suppress the liberties of this Kingdom, than many of themselves? They also complain of the illegal imprisonment (by the King) of some Members of the House of Commons at the breaking up of the Parliament 40. Car. detaining them close prisoners, etc. not permitting their wives to come unto them. etc. and so keeping them in this oppressed condition, by reason of which their cruel and harsh imprisonment some have died, whose blood (as they say) cries for vengeance or repentance of the Ministers, of State, who at once obstructed both the course of his Majesty's justice and mercy. I will not here discuss the imprisonning of Sir Ra. Hopton▪ and Mr. Martin, two of their own Members, for speaking their minds freein in the House of Commons, albeit without question, one if not both the commitments (for the causes were contrary) were illegal, and contrary to the law and custom of Parliament: but it is certain they have in all respects justified this act of the Kings, by inflicting the same measure of injustice and cruelty upon divers of their fellow Members of the body politic (as on L. C. John Lilburn, Mr. Musgrave, Mr. Rich. Overton, and his wife, both Mr. Larners servants and others) which they so much condemn in his Majesty and his Ministers. But the house of Commons will happily say, that they were committed and thus used by the House of Lords. Not all, and besides, there is an old rule, qui non vetat peccare, cum potest jubet. He who hinders not an evil when it is in his power, commands it. And moreover this is certain, that many poor prisoners for debt, and others their fellow Subjects (as I shall herein plainly demonstrate) who have petitioned them more than these 5. years for redress, have through their neglect, by the cruelty & inhuman usage of Gaolers (Sir I. L. of the King's Bench Henry Wollaston of Newgate, such monsters and others,) been miserably destroyed, and perished in prison: whose blood without doubt cries loud in the ears of the Lord of Hosts, for vengeance (without repentance) upon tha heads and hearts of them the ministers of State, who have been entrusted for the preservation of the Nation, and notwithstanding all petitioning, have neither done justice nor showed mercy. No, nor cannot, either by preaching, praying, petitioning, speaking, or any peaceable means, be induced unto it. They are not so just as the unjust judge, for he relieved the poor widow because he was importuned, On ye unrighteous men, whereunto do ye trust, and what will ye do in the end?  
Then they complain, that upon the dissolution of the Parliaments untrue and scandalous Declarations were published, to asperse their proceed, and some of their members unjustly to make them odious, and colour the violence which was used against them. Proclamations set out to the same purpose, to the great dejecting of the hearts of the people, forbidding them even to speak of Parliaments. Even as their our enemies then in those days served them, so have a wicked party among them most unjustly and maliciously now served their best friends and favourers, for on the 30. of March last, they hearing of a Petition intended to be presented to them by the Army under his Excellency Sir T. Fairfax, for certain just and reasonable things, as appears by the Petition published in print, viz. For an Ordinance to save them harmless, that they might have their accounts audited, etc. an unjust party in the house (having not so much as seen the petition) caused them most falsely to be declared against as mutinous enemies to the State, and disturbers of the public peace and that in as stately terms of royalty, to wit, their high dislike, as if they were already set in their throne) as ever the King used: Thus endeavouring to asperse that Army, which hath done them all the work and gained them all the honour, and to render them and their friends odious, by ill representations, whose fidelity, obedience, good order, and unity, hath been always admired, even by the public adversary: Besides their daily making of destructive Ordinances, and Orders to persecute and oppress them and all the Commons of England, and their continual projects and plottings to destroy them and all those, who are contrary to their tyrannical counsels and courses, to the dejecting and discomforting generally of all sorts of people: and as the King and his instruments to colour their violence, did set our Declarations. So hath this evil party by the published Protestation, Vow, Solemn league and Covenant, and manifold falsified Declarations, Hypocritical Fasts and Humiliations, coloured and countenanced their abominable irreligion, injustice, oppression, violence, deceit, rapine, cruelty, ambition and treason: in so much, that the name of Parliament, which throughout past generations, hath been so joyous and delectable, so respected and honourable within this Kingdom, is now become an odium, detestable and contemptible, and it is to be feared will for time to come, not be accounted a thing so much .  
After the breaking up of which Parliament, (say they) injustice, oppression and violence, broke in upon us without any restraint or moderation. And truly we may say, that since the King's departure from us, injustice, oppression and violence and all manner of mischief, hath by the means of a company of faithless perfidious men in Parliament been let in, like a sudden inundation of mighty waters, upon us, without any true care of restraint, or sincere endeavour to prevent.  
Then they complain of exacting great sums through the whole kingdom, for defauls of Knighthood, that tonnage and poundage was received without any colour or pretence of Law, many other heavy impositions continued against law, that such as would not submit to their illegal & unreasonable payments, were vexed and oppressed above measure: and the ordinary course of justice, the common birthright of every Subject in England wholly obstructed unto them, and that although all this was taken upon pretence of guarding the Seas, yet a new tax of Ship-money was charged upon the Subject of near 70000. l. some years, and yet the seas were left so naked to the violence of turkish Pirates, that many ships and Subjects were taken by them, and do still remain in miserable slavery. And hath the Parliament exacted no sums of money of the Kingdom? Yes more, and fare greater than ever was paid for Knight hood, yet then in leiu thereof there was an offer of honour, but lo here there hath not been so much as thanks: and to what better use do the parliament put the tonnage and poundage, which they now receive by pretence of Law, than the King did when he received it without pretence of Law, and what more benefit hath the Kingdom had by it, where, and who is he that can tell? but by what pretence or colour of law (friends and fellow Commoners) do these men (who were so zealous for Law) receive the mighty sums imposed upon us by way of Excise, and weekly assessment, and still continue them upon us per force? and such as will not submit to their illegal, unreasonable payments are (as themselves heretofore complained) vexed and oppressed above measure. And I appeal to the whole Kingdom, whether the ordinary course of i●stice, the Common Birthright (as themselves by chance, are so just to confess) of every Subject of England, was ever more generally and totally obstructed, then now? For the Parliament the Fountain, and supreme Court of Justice, being so grisly corrupted, how can the streams, the subordinate and inferior Courts be clear? and woe unto us for if the eye be dark, how great then is that darkness? but there must be some timely means used to purge them, lest the humours prove pestilential and so endanger the whole Nation. And as for the Ship-money, it was indeed illegal; nor could the King justify it: yet it was but light in comparison of the vast sums, and never ceasing impositions the Parliament have laid and do still lay upon us contribution, twentith and fifth parts, Excise, weekly assessments, (penance pence) allowance (I mean) for our fastings, Sequestrations of Houses, lands, goods, moneys, jewels, cattles, , and what not, unless wives and children, the which (like the greedy tithe taking Priests) they will neither pity nor take care for, and notwithstanding all this, and all the customs the which they receive purposely to guard the Seas, and all the King's revenues. The Navy hath been worse maintained and ordered, and the Seas have been worse guarded then in the worst of the King's days, and many taken Captives, yea, the other day a ship which was bound with provisions for distressed Ireland, was t ken upon our own coasts (as I may say) from under our own walls and carried pr●z● into France, well looked to Green Bence, vassal, and the rest of the Committee, ye have more care to rake money then to look to the Sea, or care for the Navy. And I much marvel (fellow Commoners) that the Parliament which as ye read seemed when they did remonstrate to be so sensible of their fellow Subjects, being taken Captives being made slaves by the Turks and Moors, should notwithstanding an act passed by the King this present Parliament for their release, and relief, never take any course unto this day for to redeem those poor souls out of slavery. Where and what is become of all those moneys, which (as I remember) were raised and collected for that good Christian work; received and disposed, (as the most of the rest as is supposed) into private pockets, and to particular uses?  
Then they complain of the enlargement of Forests, contrary to Charta Foresta, this was not so bad in the King as the enlargement of privileges is in the Parliament: that was injurious but to some persons in special this is to all in general. For the privileges of Parliament, are grown like the rules of King's Bench prison, without limits, for if ye do but present, nay only prepare a petition contrary to the humours of the prevalent malevolent party; be it never so legal and necessary, demand justice, or tell any of them of their shameless injustice, it is presently voted a breach of their privilege, but they themselves may threaten, and revile persons, check and reproach, yea imprison witnesses, and affront and assault men contrary to the law, and the nature of their places, take them by the collar and pull them by the throat, (and that only because they are advertised of their evil (as haughty Mr. Hollis did lately Major Tulidah, in a word, according to the expression of some of them, they may do what they list, and some of them do accordingly act all manner of violence and injustice by virtue of their privileges. O admirable privileges, whose uncircumcised bounds are so absolutely destructive to our laws, rights and liberties. Then they tell you of exacting Coat and Conduct money, and divers other military charge,; and of a desperate design of engrossing all the Gunpowder into one hand, and keeping it in the Tower of London, and of the taking away the Arms of the Trained bands of divers Counties, etc. Though the Parliament have not exacted money under the notion of Coat and Conduct, yet they have exacted (and still do exact of you) large sums of money to pay their Armies, and for other military charges, and though they have not taken away the Arms of your Trained bands, yet they have taken away your servants, and caused you to find both men and Arms, to do them service, yea & they have contrary to law sent forth your Trained bands and their Arms, to the hazard of the places from whence they went, (especially of London City, but the disceived fools did not see (the which the King never did, as for the design of engrossing all the Gun powder into one hand, it was not so bad as is the design of some men in the Parliament, of engrossing the stock of all the monies, power, and privileges of the whole land into their hands, by which means the people shall be utterly impoverished and made slaves.  
Then they complain of selling the King's timber, the taking away of men's right under colour of the King's title to land, between high and low water marks. Of the Monopolies of Soap, Salt, etc. the restraint of the liberties of the Subjects in their habitation, trades, and other interest. And who had more right to sell the King's timber than himself, they cannot say he sold any but his own, and what he had a lawful right and interest in: but many of the Parliament have destroyed other men's timber, and sold abundance both of woods and goods, since these fatal wars and put the moneys (I believe into their own purses, whereunto they had neither title or interest, and (to omit those who have indeed been Delinquents) how many men's rights, even whole estates, have these wicked men of the Parliament taken away, under colour of Delinquency (the (right) between high and low water mark●) the owners whereof have been no Delinquents. I need not instance examples, too many of their own friends can testify against them. Only one or two for a proof, as Mr. Antrobus an honest pious Minister of the Gospel in Cumberland, one who hath both paid to them and suffered for them, and for his fidelity is entrusted as a Commissioner with Mr. Musgrave by his country, to solicit the House for redress of their grievances, had his benefice to the value of a 100 l. yearly, and his estate the other day adjudgd to be sequestered & taken away for Delinquency, to no disadvantage I hope, of the Earl of Northumb. and Mr. Barwis, a Member of the House of Commons (of whom more hereafter) one of the Common wealths deceitful servants and false friends. In like manner (as I have heard) was the Vicar of the rich Viccarage of Wiggen in Lancashire served, who afterwards died in the Parliament service & quarrel, yet this was done that one Mr. Case a covetous Priest, might be put in. I have indeed observed that since the Parliament got the power into their own hands, there hath not been a more sure token of Delinquency in the eyes of some Parliament men, and covetous Priests, than a fair house richly furnished, a pleasant seat well wooded, a good office, and a fat benefice, or a flock well wooled, (and sometime a desire of revenge) might witness Sir Garret kemp of Slindon, near Chichester in Sussex, a man of peaceable demeanour and conversation, and aged near 80. years having many children and grand children, and an estate upwards, of 2000 l. per annum well wooded and a great personal estate was totally sequestered to his damage of near 20000. l. for denying to send his horses to Chichester to assist Sheriff Ford against the Parliament, and afterwards upon a second warrant sent from them by Ford upon pain of death, he being told by his servants the said Sheriff had declared he must have them, Sir Garret replied, if they must have them let them have them, upon proof of which words learned Mr. Sam. Brown, and the rest of the reverend Committee of Lords and Commons for sequestration, did adjudge and declare the confirmation of the Sequestration of his estate, and 10000 l. worth of Beech, (some of 500 year's growth) because beech cannot be supposed by them to be timber, hath felled and disposed of although he hewed within 4. mile of the enemy's Garrison, and 20. mile distant of the Parliament fo●ces. As for the restraint of the liberties of the Subject in their habitations. I say restraint in a man's habitation, is far better, more comfortable and tolerable, then to be restrained in a noisome Gaol or prison, where he can have no free communion with his wife, children, family or friends, and is exposed to the tyranny of Gaolers, and all manner of oppressive charges. But why talk these men of restraint of the liberties of the Subjects in their habitations, when as they restrain the King (their sovesaign Lord and ours, of liberty in his own house, and that in such a manner as is worse than a prison? for commonly and legally, men in prison may receive and right letters touching their own affairs, and commune, discourse, walk and talk, with any visitant, friend or stranger, without prohibition, inspection, incivill question, or restriction: but so cannot Charles our King. A sad and strange condition. We say that by law a man ought not to be kept close prisoner, and by the Petition of Right: it is declared, to be contrary to law, to imprison a man without cause showed or expressed. Yet is our King, and if they date deal so presumptuously with the King (their Sovereign Lord) contrary to law: do you think (country men) they will if they can choose allow you law? no, no, be not deceived. But ye shall find more concerning this man our King, and this matter, and this treacherous parties (as they conceive) their undiscerned abuses of him, and of the whole Kingdom through him, and their designs upon him and us by him, elsewhere following, as for Monopolies, though they have taken away some yet they continue others, witness among divers the Monopoly of 
* And a n●●● Monopoli● lately gra●●●● by them t● 〈◊〉 Crew, another's of t●●● Norway t●●  Merchant adventurers, to the spoiling and destroying of the trade and lively hood of thousands, who subsist by that stable trade of Clothing And for the restraint of the liberty of the Subject in other interest. I can tell you how they have by an illegal Ordinance, restrained on Mr. Markham a Citizen of good repute in London, the true and lawful Executer of one Mr. Gamble deceased▪ from receiving or meddling with the estate and debts of the said Gamble, and have appointed and authorised, Mr. Maud, and Mr. Bettison two other Citizens, who were but Overseers, to receive and dispose of the same, and nevertheless they leave Mr. Markam the Executer open and liable to pay all the testatours debts, Legacies, and duties, and to be accountable for the Estate. Is this an Act (my friends) befitting a Parliament, that would be accounted the preserver of the Laws, proprieties, and liberties of the free men of England? If this be that law, liberty, interest and propriety, they seem so zealous and swear so hard for, and declare so vehemently to maintain, I had rather be one of the Turks Vassals, than one of England's free Commons. They proceed and tell you of vexation and oppression by Purveyors, Clerks of the Market, and Saltpetre men, the sale of pretended nuzances, as buildings, in and about London, depopulation etc. all which drew many Millions out of the Subject's purses, without any considerable profit to his Majesty. Doth not the vexation and oppression of the Parliament by their conscience less Committee men and their Clerks, their sequestrators and their substitutes, Collectors, Receivers, Porsevants, Messengers and their deputies and assistants, Informers, and a multitude of Excise Cater pillars, (Publicans and Sinners) a rabble indeed of I know not what destroying officers, wholike the locusts of Egypt, overspread the whole Kingdom, trancendantly exceed these other businesses of Purveyors, Clerks of the market, etc. and what benefit profit or advantage at all have we had of all those many millions of moneys the Parliament hath dreigned and screwed from us, and how have they disposed of it? for they are but our Stewards, and it is very meet and just, that we should have an account, but I fear they intent no such matter if they can prevent it. And for the depopulation, which is the turning of ●rrable land, that is common fields, into pasture. I would this had been the worst that had been done, for have not there been divers acts of Parliament provided against it, and did not they justly deserve to be deeply fined, who for their own pride and unreasonable lucre that (as the Scripture speaks) they might live Lord like alo●e in the midst of the Earth, would destroy whole towns of tillage, where time out of mind there had been, many good houses kept by the plough, for the entertainment of the stranger, and relief of the poor, where there had been so many Farms occupied by husbandry, to the sustaining of many poor samilies by day's labour, and many able farmers had lived, that had yielded aid and subsidies, to his Majesty for the service of the Kingdom, whereas now in most of these places, the towns being depopulated and destroyed, and the people that be left beggared, and all the common fields and ploughland enclosed and turned into pasture ye shall find nothing for comfort or entertainment, but a poote Shepherd living (happily) in the midst of a multitude of grounds, in a poor sheepcote▪ standing as a Cottage in the midst of a Vineyard. But let such men be assured that Lordlikenesse contracted by such accursed means, will never continue, and he that thinks the poor and mean man, unworthy to live in the earth by him, may in due time either him or his posterity be to seek a habitation, if not beg their bread. And for certain some of our Parliament men, were and are guilty of this impoverishing destroying practice, and because they were deservedly punished for it, did therefore complain, though more of malice, then just cause.  
Then they complain, that large quantities of common and several grounds have been taken from the subject by colour of the statute of improvement &c and are not the sam● Commons and grounds detained still unto this day, and no redress or remedy ministered, and who is in fault but Parliament? and that not only private interest but also public faith had been broken and is not the like daily done, and shamefully continued by the Parliament, (the complainers of these abuses) themselves? and they say that the whole Kingdom was like to have been rob by an abominable project of Brafle money. It seems it was but a like, I will not say a— yet had they never lied, we had never been deceived. But ye may be sure (friends) and ye will find it certain, if ye be not watchful, and do not take courage; and prevent them, that some of them have an abominable, treasonable project to rob the whole Kingdom (if they can) not only of their moneys, but of that also which is more precious, their birthrights, and their liberties, and that at once suddenly. Then they tell you, that a great number of his Majesty's Subjects, for refusing those unlawful charges, have been vexed by long and expensive suits, some fined, some censured, imprisoned, &c that others have had their houses broke up, th●ir goods seized, and been restrained from their callings, with many other assertions, not answetable to those grievous pressures we now feel. And have not great numbers not only of Delinquents, but also of their own friends, for refusing (because perhaps not able) to pay their unlawful and unreasonable taxes and charges, been vexed with long tedious and expensive, attendances, on themselves, and their shameless Committees, every way equivolent to long suits? have not some had their Horses and Cartell taken and driven away, some been imprisoned and plundered, and others had their houses broken up; or forceably entered, and their goods seized, and made a pray on to their utter undoing? And whereas they say, that the Star Chamber did abound in extravagent censures, not only for the maintenance, and improvement of Monopolies and other unlawful taxes, but for divers other causes where there hath been no offence or very small, etc. Whether any Court or Counsel that ever was within the memory of man, in this Kingdom, did ever more abound (I Will not only say) with extravagent, but with wild, wicked▪ contradictory, distracted, unjust, illegal, unreasonable and uncolourable Votes, Sentences, say, Ordinances, Orders and Censutes, than this present Parliament, and their Committees, (and all through the subtil●y of the same evil party.) I appeal not only to the whole land, but all the world, and those not only for the maintenance and improvement of their unjust, unreasonable, and merciless sequestrations, and others their like insupportable taxes, and charges, things more grievous, then precedent Monopolies, but for other causes, worse and more unrighteous; and that generally where the offence hath been very small or none at all. As the Committing of Major Tulidah, and Mr. Tew, do verify whereby his Majesty's Subjects, they say have been oppressed, not more then at this present I am certain, by grievous Fines, imprisonments, Stigmatizing, mutilation, etc. these acts were then grievous to them it seems. yet now their finger's itch to be exercising them upon others, if they had but opportunity, what means else that Declaration of the 31. of Decemb. last, but I hope that as God did then, so he will now, by his overruling providence, give an interruption to the prevailing power and counsel of those who are the Authors and Promoters of such peremptory and heady courses.  
There they complain also, that Judges have been put out of their places for refusing to do against their oaths, etc. men they were it seeme● more conscionable than themselves, and now by their usurped authority Judges are made and put into places. who are glad to observe and serum their wills. For it is not meet nor good manners for these judges to oppose or contradict, Glyn, Maynard, Prideaux, Brown, wild, or any other of their masters, in any thing they plead or move before them, and so ye plainly see, that our grave judges are still in effect but Durante bene placit● Lawyers, they say, have been checked for being faithful to their Clients Solicitours and Attorneys, have been threatened and some punished so following law suits, and that by this means all the approaches of justice were forecluded. If Lawyers, Solicitours and Attorneys be not now