To the Reader.  
THere is nothing of more moment for the happiness of a kingdom then that the Prince and People should know each other. For where this is not, there can be no confidence, but iealousy takes place on both sides, and all actions are subject to double, and so to doubtful interpretation. That the Prince therefore should know the People, all men think it a thing fit; he cannot otherwise manage them aright, no more then a skilful Horseman, before he find the mouth of his Courser, whether hard and headstrong or soft and gentle. But some judge it not fit that the people should know their Prince, for fear of contempt( known things being contemned) or I wot not for what other danger; and these Machiuilians I suppose, using or abusing this comparison, would make the Prince beleeue( if they could) that his people were Horses in dead, and that there were the same odds betwixt him and them, as there is betwixt the Rider and his Hackney. Wise Princes know the difference, though they use the comparison; and even Horses will know the Rider by his feeding dressing, hand seat, and managing or let him know they understand their own strength to his trouble. Reason & Religion are the rains of this Bridle which govern the inferior as long as they be kept in the hand of the superior; but being neglected by the one, they are strait rejected by the other, and the Rider exposed to the danger of an uncertain course and a loose seat.  
Now the way for the Prince to know his people is by their words or actions: and the same way is left open for the People to know their Prince.  
But it is objected, that Salomon saith or the seruants of Hezekiah 
Pr. 25. 3.  from him, that The heart of Kings is unsearchable.  
Yet God knows the heart of Salomon himself, though never so deep, and man may know it also by words & works rightly observed; for by these God himself reveals his own heart.  
The Lord to all in general, makes himself & his power known by his works of Creation, providence, and Iustice; but to his Church( who are his peculiar flock, his kingdom) he makes his mind known by his word and therein reveals his grace and mercy, and the entire affection of his heart to man, still making it good with his works.  
But do the words & works of God then differ or speak a strange language that each other understand not, because he speaks to all by his works, to his Elect by his word? God forbid. He speaks to all by his works; That is, all see but all understand not what they see: but he speaks to his Church by his word; that is, he expounds to his own the meaning of his works. His works are but the echo of his word, He 
Ps. 33. 9  spake and it was done; He commanded and it stood fast. But because oftentimes he suffers outward crosses to befall the rightreous for some inward evil, and outward comforts to be fall the wicked, for some shadow of good unwise men who see not the hidden causes, imagine falsely that Gods works do contradict his word, and so judge God not so just in his promises to his own▪ & in his threatenings to his enemies, as his word proclaims him to be. For this cause the mouths of the malignant are opened to blaspheme; but it is no matter for them, they do but begin to exercise & practise here, what they shall act eternally hereafter, with the divell and his angels. Yet God hath a fatherly care to satisfy his own Elect vessels of honour; to whom, lest they should mistake, he communicates his Spirit, thereby to acquaint them, with the course of his secret counsels and intents so far as concerns their particulars, or the elect in general, by which they see how out of the worst, all things work together for 
Rom. ● 28.  the best, to those that are Gods, called according to his purpose.  
Kings are like Gods, their hearts are deep & unsearchable, by reason of the variable ways they are forced to walk for the weal of their people; their eyes being in every corner of the State, where no single man can pursue them; and yet there are buckets to draw out their intents, though never so deep, close and profound. Their actions speak to all the world, & tell their power, to protect their own within, and correct their enemies without. And if their words & works seem to differ, it is to those who ought to be held in suspense. But to their own, their words & works speak one language, and they strive to resemble him whose substitutes they are, Who spake & it was done: So should they not only look to haue all that they command obayd, but to do & perform to the full, yea, to make good to the uttermost of their power, whatsoever they haue spoken or promised. Nor can they expect to be otherwise judged then by their words and works, and the concordance of these in outward apparance; because they are men having the Spirit but in measure, not in sufficient fullness to communicate it to others, thereby to acquaint them with inward intents when outward actions seem repugnant; nor can they confer spiritual graces, for outward humiliations; nor enrich us with heaven, having once deprived us, of the riches of Earth; nor give us eternal life, in exchange of temporal; nor restore temporal life, if once they haue taken it away.  
Whereas therfore his most excellent majesty hath referred us, his poor subiects, to the reading of his books for the sincerity of his heart in point of Religion; because some actions of his, either did( as he heard) or might( as he thought) give occasion of suspicion and iealousy to some, who looked as it   

VOX REGIS.  
WHAT I HAUE FORmerly written in that Treatise called Vox Dei as it hath been most properly applied to the honor of his majesty, the gracious Prince of Wales, the illustrious, Duke of Buckingham and the happy earl of holderness, with other worthies, who haue in this late time of extreme necessity stepped forth for the rescue of our laws, lives, religion, and State from imminent danger; so it may serve either wholly to excuse, or at least to extenuate a fact of mine, which some are pleased to term a fault.  
For not long since beholding with grief the increase of popery in the Land, and the causes thereof, together with the great danger of the State thereby:( of all which I had been made sensible by the provisions, cautions, edicts, and laws of the State, framed, and published, and sometimes executed against them with much greater care and circumspection, then those of former Kings, for the destruction of wolves) I supposed it my duty, by all means to join with the State, in disclosing the nests and coverts of these. And therefore observing herewith the general fears, discontents, and grievances of the best affencted in the State, by reason of infinite disorders, which like weeds ouergrew all the good flowers of the garden, and gave shelter and relief, to hid, and shadow these from the eye of Iustice; I collected such Passages of State, as obuiously presented themselves; together with the peoples censure and comment made vpon them; with intention, that they might come to his majesties sight: Because I thought( as the King himself hath since professed publicly in Parliament) that all those mischiefs grew up in darkness, whilst they were not seen by supreme Authority; and would( with the basilisk) die, assoon as they were discovered by sovereign providence. According to that of Salomon. A King that sitteth in the 
Pro. 20. 8.  Throne of Iudgement, chaseth away all evil with his eyes.  
But whilst I thus thought, and thus did, the difficulty appeared greater then at first; and I saw no ready means how I might safely convey this Mirror of the Multitude into his majesties hands: Because the things were so monstrous and deformed, and of such nature, and concerned such membres, as they could not safely be discovered, and very hardly cured by any, except by him onely, who hath power to cure the Kings evil. Besides, I considered, that perhaps all the Guards placed about Princes, are not ever intended for their personal security, but that sometime they are more carefully guarded from their friends, and from truth, then from their enemies, and from falsehood.  
Whilst therefore thus I delayed, and drove away much time, by reason of the danger; at length Necessity prest me forward, when I beholded all things in such a height of extremity, as( in my iudgement) without speedy remedy, stood ready for combustion, and next to ruin.  
Then ashamed to haue over loved my personal liberty so long, that for it I should neglect the liberty of my conscience and of my country, I gave way to the publishing of that Pamphlet, which passeth under the name 
Pro. 21. 2●  of Vox populi; as containing the common-peoples private and retired discourses.  
Against this,( even as I feared not onely goliath and the philistines, enemies of the State, but the Israelites themselves; yea, my brethren, of one Faith; my friends familiars, acquaintance, opposed themselves, with a violent censure, and passionate pursuit of the unknown Author. Whilst his majesty( as I haue credibly heard related) beholded it more indifferently, as one that doubted( perhaps) much of it might be true. And therefore began to inquire, as Philip of Macedon in another case, whether it was Nicanors fault that he spake evil or whether Nicanor had just cause so to speak. But whilst these things were maturely debating, and poor I, labouring to hid myself from the enemy, behold the philistines found 
judge. 14. 11.  my heifer, and so unfolded my Riddle. assoon as I was seen, it was no need to bid me run,( as they say) for life; expecially when by a dream I was warned of the danger, and willed to make hast; and lead, as it were, by the hand, like Lot out of sodom. Then I found it true, which Elihu saith to job; God speaketh once and twice, 
job. 33. 14.  and one seeth it not, in dreams and visions of the night, when sleep falleth vpon men, and they sleep vpon their beds. Then he openeth the ears of men, even by their corrections which he had sealed, That he might cause man to turn away from his enterprise, and that he might hid the pride of man, and keep back his soul from the pit, and that his life should not pass by the sword. Thus it pleased God to deal with me, giuing me warning by a dream,( in observation whereof, as I would not be superstitious; so in the neglect thereof, I would not be presumptuous) four or five times iterated the same night to rise and be gone; for there were such as sought after me for evil, and I must give way to the present time. Whilst I rose up, and was musing of this strange and importunate dream, a more certain warning seconded the first; and with David, I heard them knock at the door, who willed to make hast. 
1. Sam. 19. 12.   
I fled not from his majesty; for whither should I fly on earth, to a more merciful Throne? Let others appeal to Caesar and to Rome, I will not. I fled not for fear of guilt; as one that thought I had deserved evil: but I fled for fear of a violent and potent Aduersaire, who goeth about 
1. Pet. 5. 8.  like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; and hath many adherents little less cruel then himself.  
What a State might do vpon a sudden; and whether I should be thought any bettet then dust to be wiped off, I knew not. Of my enemies hate I was resolved; of their general combination to all bloody purposes; even sealing such contracts of perdition, with the Sacrament of 
Pro. 27. 4. Act. 23. 12  Christs blood, that seal of salvation, experience had taught me not to doubt, and I had some secret hints in this particular to assure it, whether any friend would show themselves for me in a storm, where they use to leave better men; and whether, if they would haue appeared, they had been able to do me good or no at that instant, I had some cause to fear. I looked vpon my right hand, 
Ps. 142. 4.  and beholded, but there was none that would know me, refuge failed me: no man cared for my soul. wherefore I made a virtue of necessity, and God being my guide, I escaped for the present, to give time to second cogitations.  
Since that time I understand a various Censure hath past vpon what I did, according to the various disposition of the Censurers.  
I pass by with contempt the aspersions of such as spit 
Pro. 30. 14 revel. 63. 4.  venyme: I expect no better from the brood of Vipers.  
Locusts that are bread in the smoke of darkness and superstition by blind devotion, may sting( having the same power with Scorpions) but not unto death, that effect is restrained, where they find Gods seal on the forthed. The causeless curse fals on the curser. I know the Dragon 
revel. 12. 1, 2, 3, 4.  hunts the woman and all hers, and so me: our saviour could not scape his assault. If he attemted the head, what shall the body, what shall the heel, what shall a hair of the body expect? This troubles me not; nay, this comforts me rather. But that which most afflicts me is, that men, who say they love the King, and honour him as I do, that love his royal issue, and honour them as I do, that love the Common-wealth, and wish it as well as I do; that love the Reformed and true Religion, and would as willingly fight and die for it, as I profess readiness to do: that these( I say) notwithstanding all this, disliked what I had written, and censured me for so doing. I could not therefoore choose, but be sensible of a friends stroke, & with Caesar in the capitol cry out, Et tu Brute?  
Such objections as I haue met withall, I here labour to answer: If any more strong, lye more close to take me at advantage, long may they so lie and rest, never to rise again to charge me with reproof.  
The first objection is, That I haue been forgetful of the Kings honour in some Passages. Alas! so am I of Gods honour in all, who yet pardons me from day to day. But I cannot expect this from mortal man, though never so merciful: I trembled therefore, when I heard this objected. I sought first mine own bosom diligently, to see if there were any secret treason lurking, or any other thing that might look like it. I found nothing but plain truth and duty there: Yet I sighed to think, that perhaps these( as they had wont) might be called Treason in some places, by some persons, and then it was enough to condemn them. Then I examined the book curiously and diligently, which( for ought I could see) was as innocent as my heart. Vicious eyes may bring the disease with them. For jealousy, envy, and Pride, haue the Iaundies, and all things which they see, looks of their own colour and complexion. As wee find in every wall such fancies as are before drawn in the imagination: so here Vox populi must needs, like another filius populi, speak Treason, because prejudice, Imagination, and Detraction are pleased to say so, or wilfully mistake the person of the speaker, whom notwithstanding I haue feigned to speak English as modestly, as the roman catholic tongue would admit. But for mine own part, if therein I haue justly offended, I will do execution vpon myself, and with Mutius, burn off my hand, for daring to hit, where it should hid and defend, as he did his, for missing where he would haue had it hit. Whilst my heart is free, I am the more confident, but withall must crave pardon, if whilst I undertake to personate the most bitter and malicious enemies, I speak not in all terms as the most modest friend could wish. Those which know any thing, know what they haue printed in Louane, and playcd at brussels and antwerp, and prated at London, and through all the Land with safety: so that whilst I for giuing intelligence of this, am in peril, they that do this, are in safety, and perhaps none of the least persons, whose censure I am afraid of.  
A second objection is, That vain-glory moved me to writ. Surely so to do, had been vain glory indeed: and I had been as vain in doing what I did, vpon such a ground, as they vainly object this against me without shadow of a ground. The concealing of my name, the hiding of myself, even whilst others would haue taken the title vpon them, and when there appeared no cause of keeping close, might witness for me, that I was loth to be seen, loth to be known. And is this the customary carriage of vain-glorious men? I trow not. The Pamphlet lay long by me in silence, and had still slept, if necessity had not awaked both me and it. But thus it is easy for envy to traduce the most free and innocent conception. And those that say thus by me, are as ready, perhaps, to cast the like aspersion vpon such worthy Commonwealths-men, as with his majesties good liking, the peoples general applause, to Gods glory, the States good, and their own personal honours, haue liberally and freely laid open the grievances of all good men, and with solid arguments inveighed against the Abuses of the Time, presented to their censure and correction, in the high Court of Parliament. But may this Land be still blessed with the happiness to haue such as dare do thus in the Pulpit, in council, at Court, and in the country; neglecting in the mean time, whether these Dogges bark and snarl, or fawn, and wag their tails. It is all one to virtue, what envy and 'vice imagineth; since their praise is a punishment; their reproaches, honourable badges. The more arrows they shoot, the better it is for armed Innocence, who walks and fights under their shadow, as under a cloud or a canopy in the scorching heat of the day.  
And yet as all human actions haue their mixture of imperfections; so I neither arrogate to myself, or to that which I did, any immunity from Ignorance and Error: but must, and do freely confess mine own folly and frailty, magnifying in the mean time, the power and goodness of God, who was pleased to use so poor an instrument in so great a work. And I see his goodness towards me, in that my errors are not past by either without observation, or some small correction. For as it was impossible to flesh and blood, but I should mingle some pride of heart, proper to my nature, with that which was Gods, and proper unto him: and so either touch vpon spleen, or vainglory, or imagination in some particular, and involve the general in suspicion: so God hath chastised me with a temporary banishment, and turned the favour of his majesty and the State from me for the present, which otherwise( doubtless) would haue looked towards me for good. And yet that neither I( nor others by my example) should be wholly discouraged from good intentions, God hath stirred up mine enemies to inquire after my name, that so, though I would, I cannot lye hide, nor lose that reward which follows him that flies from it; the honour to bee known a faithful seruant to God and my country. Wherein my poor example is used, to stir up and check the backwardness of others in the Church and Common-wealth, who having greater ability to undertake such a work, haue neither dared to lead me the way, nor yet to follow me leading them; nor once to lend a hand to rescue me from the present danger the pursues me, but rather made hast to pursue me themselves with reproaches.  
A third objection was, The Danger of the State, because I bewrayed the weaknesse thereof to the enemy: as if our strength consisted in being hide. Alas! hath our state any more intelligent persons, then such as are ill affencted to Religion, and so as ill as Spies and Intelligencers to Rome? Are not many of these employed in great place? cannot every woman, every boy point at them, whilst men dare not? & whilst we see them, do not you think they see us? Besides, is not such a person employed here for foreign affairs, as is culled and picked out amongst a million for that purpose? And because he could not be matched, was returned the second time, rewarded with an addition of Honour for the first service? That thus he might be sure to understand more in our State, then any of our natives, as his multiplicity, and certainty, and excellency of choice Intelligence exceeds theirs? They which doubt either our Enemies wit to find out and observe advantages, or their wealth to unlock and open secrets, or their dexterity to pursue Plots, may oversee the true and substantial cause, and invent a false and seeming one. woodcocks onely think themselves safe, when their heads are hidden: but wise-men then onely are secure, when they clearly see their enemies strength and fullness, and their own wants and weakness. do no secret 
Eccl. 8. 18.  thing before a stranger( saith Siracides) for thou canst not tell what be goeth about.  
A fourth objection is, That the Plot or Frame was a fiction, and therefore deserved censure. Why, who professed otherwise? was there any that published it for a certain truth? Was it not called Vox populi, to note it onely probable, and possible, and likely, not historical?( I mean, for so much as concerned the Plot.) And might I not borrow a Spanish name or two, as well as French, or Italian, to grace this comedy with stately Actors? Or must they onely be reserved for Kingly Tragedies? why not Gondomar, as well as Hieronymo, or Duke d'Alva? And why not Philip, as well as Peter, or Alfonso, or Caesar? Or why might not I make as bold with them, as they with our black Prince, or Henry the eighth, or Edward the sixth, or queen Elizabeth, or King james, or the King and queen of Bohemia? If this be censurable for being a fiction, it is surely for lack of a fool, which( they say) Comedies should not be without: and for a need, this witty Obiector may supply the place, if he envy me the honour to become a fool alone, lest some of our Stage-keepers should be thought capable of that part, and forced by necessity to furnish it at their own cost. The truth is, those that understand any thing of Spanish affairs, know such a course is observed vpon return of ambassadors,( if we may credit Histories or travelers) and perhaps thus it was: or worse: I pray God the success prove it a fiction, and not to be too true.  
A fift objection is, That I wrote nothing but stale and common things, what every one saw, and spake of. I hope one of these objections will answer another, and save me a labour: for if this that they say be true,( as indeed it is for the matter therein delivered) then what cause is there of displeasure? Am I worthy to be punished for informing the State, of that which every man thinks, and speaks in their ordinary discourse? I never professed to publish any singular conception of mine own. The Plot or Frame of the Discourse I borrowed out of spain, it was not mine own: though I wish with all my heart the practise thereof, so far as concerns the account of ambassadors, and other Officers, were translated into England. The Matter contained within, was, what all the people spake,( whether roman or Reformed catholics) as one man: neither was this mine own. If all should be punished that are guilty with me, and none but the innocent in this kind should punish me, I suppose there should none be left to throw a ston at me, but I should be quit by the censure of my accusers.  
sixthly, it is objected, That I meddled with a foreign ambassador, which I should not haue done. To this I answer, First, that I did not touch an ambassador present, but one that had been: for all that I said, was of the time past, when he was gone( God be praised) from England, and returned to spain, giuing up the account of his embassage past: So that then he was no ambassador. again, suppose he were then an ambassador, yet I did not meddle with him as with an ambassador, but as an incrocher vpon the laws and Liberties of State, which exclude foreigners. For whilst an ambassador intrudes himself into things that concern not his Commission; such as are, the government of our State, Church and people; the disposition of Offices, and the like: he becomes in these things private, and makes himself at least subject to the censure of all men, who are wronged by his encroaching: though his person be sacred and safe from punishment, in regard of his Master, whom he represents in public Actions, though not in private vndertakeings.  
When that Donation of the Crown of England made by king John to the Pope, is prest by the Romish champions, His majesty answers. A king neither may in right, nor can 
Defence of the right of Kings. fol. 265.  by power trans-nature his crown, impair the majesty of his kingdom, or leave his royal dignity less free to his heir apparent, or next successor, then he received the same of his predecessor. Much less, by any dishonourable capitulations, by any unworthy contracts, can he degrade his posterity, & bring his people under the grievous burden of tributes & taxes to a foreign Prince. Kings then cannot dispose of their crowns without their peers & peoples consent: and therefore that gift or resignation is void. And as they cannot dispose of their Crowns, so not of their liberties: and therefore the Parliament makes free-Denizens, and incorporates members into the State by public Acts, and not the King alone. But where an ambassador intrudes himself, having neither the allowance of that state, nor the king( but out of a presumption of his own faction, and the greatness of his Master) is it not time for such as love their King & country to oppose him what they may, by giuing notice? as Dogges bark at strangers in the night, though all be not Theeues that come to our Houses, and knock at our doors. And whilst I see Ambassadors haue been spies, and haue bread much mischief: and that Dauids were suspected to be such of the Philistines, why may not 
2 Sam. 10. 3, 4.  our david much rather justly suspect theirs; & though not clip their coats, yet clip their Courts and chapels somewhat shorter?  
seventhly, it is objected, I haue meddled with a King, with whom we haue league. I suppose, if I haue done this at all, it is very sparing, and in things notorious to all: and yet if I had been bolder, Truth might haue born me out. For it is the same King, that listened to practices 
Sir Walter Raleigh.  against our King and State, if we may say, what all see, and what some confess against themselves. It is the same King in the house, I might say, the head and heart of whose ambassador, that ban of the Emperours against the Kings Children, was bread hatched, and published. And the like may be said of the, Nation, that it is the same Nation, who hath often sought to swallow 
Deductio Nullitatum, fol. 14  us by secret practices, and open invasions. It is the same Nation, that we haue been taught and trained up from our youths to beware of. It is the same Nation, whose ambitions to satisfy, the East and West Indies are not sufficient, nor all Europe: but all the earth must become slaves to their pride, and the prey of their cruelties, as if all other men and places had been made for them. For, so they compass what they seek, they care not by what means they get it, hold it they will: their wils must be the rule of Iustice, their lusts, the catholic rule of honour to all others.  
Eightly, it is objected, I haue meddled with the marriage of the Prince, which concerns not the subject. concerns it not the subject to pray, that the wife of his sovereign may be of the same Religion with her Lord? If I may pray thus, wish thus, may I not endeavour to haue it thus? & show the inconveniences( that I may not say mischiefs) which are likely to fall, if it be not thus? Princes are married to the common-wealth; & the wife hath power of the husbands body, as the 
1 Cor. 7. 4.  husband of hers. The Common-wealth then hath power of the Prince in this point. Their wives ought to be as Mothers to every subject. And were not he a fool, that would not desire a natural Mother, rather then a Step-Mother? queens ought to be nursing Mothers to the Church: Who then would seek a dry-Nurse, that might haue another?  
again, the Prince is to be considered as a public and private person: As a private person, he may choose for his private affection, and match where he list; provided, he neglect not the public part, which is the principal, but elects with the love and liking of his people: Because betwixt them, love is reciprocal; yet so, as it begins in the superior, who is an Image of God; and we love God, 
1 joh. 4. 19  because he first loved vs. So we love the Prince, when we discern he loues us; and he cannot manifest his love more, then when we see he doth all for our good; and respects the general good so much, as for it he neglects his private affection, and chooseth for our affections; because he knows That love which is restrained from the womb, will hardly be yielded to the fruit of the womb; or from them again flow as it ought, vpon the poor members of the Common-wealth.  
But must Princes then be tied to please every particular subject in their choice? God forbid: Their case then were miserable. The consent of the State representative( that is, the Parliament) is only necessary; wherein the consent of every subject is included. This hath been done, and( I suppose and desire, pardon me if I be in an error; and rather afford me instruction, then correction) this should be done; and this, I trust, shall be done.  
The ninth objection is, That I wanted a lawful vocation to warrant this work of mine: and that I follow extraordinary examples, which are no safe nor sufficient presidents. To the first I answer, That every mans vocation binds him to prevent evil▪ and to do good. So that whensoever I haue opportunity to do it, I haue a calling to do it. For the general calling of a subject, and of a Christian, warrants any particular action, which I do for the benefit of the State and Church, whereof I am a member; or for any part thereof, though my particular calling affords me no such Commission. For instance, the public Officer hath onely a calling to execute the Law; yet I am bound by my general calling, as a subject, to assist him; and in his absence or neglect, to execute his Office, and to keep the Peace. So the Minister hath onely warrant to teach publicly; yet every man is bound by his general calling, as a member of the Church, to teach his erring and ignorant Brother. Yea, the King will demand the life of his subject, and God the soul of his Seruant, at the hand of his Neighbour, by whose neglect he perished, though he had no particular calling to look to him.  
And for such as say, That the examples which either are or may be brought to countenance this course of mine, are extraordinary, and therefore not safe to follow: I answer, That therefore they are to be followed, because they are extraordinary: For such examples fit extraordinary times and occasions best. And this is my comfort, that I haue God and my conscience to witness for me, that no sinister aim excited me to the work: And therefore I dare say with the Apostle, even in this respect, I hope I haue the Spirit of God also.  
The last objection, that I hear of, or can imagine, is, That I wrote not like a divine, but like a fabulous Poet or an Historian, too full of conjectures. To writ otherwise had been proper indeed for me, unproper for the subject; and withall, the next way to reveal myself, when I laboured the contrary. I was not to exhort, but to inform; and the sight of these things would persuade enough, without a slander by, to show every property of the motion, or by a punctual application, to work the affection farther. That part I left to my superiors; supposing it my part and duty only to set forth in lively colours, things that might be, and things that were most likely to be, in one Table with such things as certainly were, and were usually accompanied with the like connexion and coherence of circumstances and effects.: knowing well, it would be too late to admonish of the danger, when they came to haue their working; as it would haue been too late to give warning of the Powder plot,( with Garnet) when the Match had kist the Powder.  
These and many other objections may be brought against me,( as dust raised by the feet of a drove of beasts) but they are all as easily wiped off, as cast on: Nothing sticks fast, but what Power and authority is pleased to inflict: and that may be strict and severe, cannot be unjust; whilst the will of the State,( that is, the Lawe) is the rule of Iustice in all matters, but Religion.  
And therefore, as I will be silent, and humbly submit myself justly and patiently to suffer, if it shall so judge me worthy, and not open my mouth to defend that for innocency, which it shall condemn for error: So to all others whomsoever, I oppose myself with confidence of victory, whatsoever giants they be, whatsoever artificial weapons they bring, whilst my integrity is armed 
1. Sam. 17. 37.  with that staff and sling, and pebble of Dauids. The Lord that delivered me out of the jaw of that roaring lion the divell, and out of the Paw of that deformed Antichristian bear, Idolatry and error, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And all this assembly shall know, that the Lord saveth not with Sword and spear( for the Battle is the Lords) and he will give his strongest enemies into the hands of his weakest seruants.  
I know well, whatsoever I can say; though their were a window in my heart, yet some would take exceptions against me: especially now, in an age of such contrariety and contradiction, where men seek advantages and occasions of contention. I know some men may condemn me to be pragmatical in other mens affairs, or proud and self-conceited of some shadow of worth in myself; or envious, to detract from the worth of other men, whilst I seem to press into their places, without a vocation, or without a cause of necessity prouokeing my vndertakeing. To all these I make the same answer, that david made to his Brother, mentioned in the former Treatise: What haue I now done? Is there not a cause? 
1. Sam. 17. 29.  Notwithstanding all which, if any being either invincibly blind by ignorance, cannot; or wilfully blind otherwise( as gifts and interest do blind the eyes of the wise) will not see the cause of my writing, I pass by their incurable maladies, without care or hope of recovery: But for others that would gladly see the cause, out of a purpose to examine it; and so to condemn or approve my action vpon that ground of iudgement: to such I willingly apply myself, and freely deliver the causes and motives of my undertaking this business: desiring such as read what I writ, to lay by prejudice a while, and imagine themselves to be what I am; and then to judge whether or no they would haue done as I did.  
I suppose it not perilous now to point at that, which the whole State hath taken notice of, and worthily reformed. I spake before, that there might be notice taken of the necessity, and laws made to redress enormities: for this I prayed to God and the King. I speak now, because there are laws made: for this I praise God, who hath opened the heart of our King, peers, Prelates, and People, uniting them in one, for a general reformation of all. To paint out now, what was then, and what compelled me then to writ, is to paint out the glory of that which now is; and to celebrate the honour of his majesty, the Prince, and this Parliament to all posterity: by whose wisdom, zeal, and diligence( next under God) it is, as it is.  
The cause of penning the book, the book itself delivers; which were the general grievances of the Church and State, and their farther fears. This I might well see, being a Member of the Multitude: my Office also being to see, to watch, to speak, to blow the Trumpet, to give warning both of the sin, and of the punishment for sin. Truth comes sometimes amongst the vulgar, with whom I conversed. And as Famine is felt first by the poor; and as Frost strikes the Valleys, when higher grounds scape free: So even the Commons are they, where the disorders of a State, & the mischiefs approaching, are first felt, and soonest discerned. As Kings are for these, so Kings from these may gather the best and most certain intelligence of their domestic affairs: which hath made some Princes to disguise themselves, and come amongst these, to hear how all things stood: and made me disguise myself, to let his majesty hear and see by the Market-folke( who ever talk freely and feelingly of their own affairs) how the Market went. I shall not need to recapitulate what there I delivered, but to show the cause why there I delivered it. For I must truly confess( though to mine own shane) that notwithstanding all that evil which I saw, and felt, and feared; part whereof I collected; that collection had still slept by me, and I with the lazy crowd( stupefied with a lethargy of cowardice and baseness) had contented myself to become a Galley-Slaue, or to kiss the Inquisition, for fear of present danger, for fear of censure, for fear of misconstruction; for fear of that lion in the way, which deterres Salomons Sluggard from action, if a greater necessity 
Prou. 22. 13.  then personal respect, had not called me out.  
But when I saw iniquity to abound, and the love of many to wax could; and all sorts and sexes declining from their first love, and inclining to a general defection. When I saw the man of sin grow stronger and stronger, and the men of God, even the strongest of them stagger, as persons put to the worst, thrust down into the channel. When I beholded the civil Magistrate busy in suppressing Ale-houses, because they were the nurseries of idleness, thievery, beggary, and Bawdry: and saw Houses of spiritual fornication increase; which robbed God of souls, the King of Subiects; which made men slaves to Beggarly rudiments, and trained them up in idle 
Gal. 4. 9.  and a pish Superstitions. Yea, when I saw a public and open stews of Idolatry kept and tolerated, which bread more Papists in one or two yeeres, then all the Priests and Iesuites had done, or could do before in twenty. Was it not then a time to speak? Was there not a cause?  
When I saw diverse( heretofore called moderate men) go from our Church, and cleave to the Romish; in hope of that which all good Subiects feared. And such as professed themselves roman catholics grow insolent and bold, even to the provoking of others to impatience; still boasting of their giant, and attributing every success to him and his wisdom; and promising themselves every day better and better; and threatening worse and worse to us, whereby they increased and heartened their own party, and discouraged, and diminished ours. When I saw such to be weak and unprovided of arms, whom the Law armed to withstand foreign Force: and such only to be the armed men, and chief Commanders and directors in military affairs, whom the Law disarmed; as jealous and suspicious of their inclinations and affections. Was it not then a time to speak? Was there not a cause?  
When I saw them disfurnish our Maritime towns and Coasts of the ablest Mariners and Sea-men, to furnish and secure their own: to defend them against the turk at our cost and charges, whilst they in the mean time proved worse to the Kings Children, and to us, then Turkes could do. When I saw them cast in scruples betwixt us and our surest friends, to make us fall out, that whilst we wrangle for the Sea, they might get the whole Land. When I saw them sow schisms in the Church, to alienate our hearts from each other: so that whilst we strive and dispute about Free-will, they might make us slaves to their own wills without controversy. When I saw it was counted no injustice in them to oppress all the World; but injustice in others to free themselves from their oppressions. Was it not then a time to speak? Was there not a cause?  
When I saw them place and displace Officers of State at home and abroad; or at least give out that they did it. And that his majesty might not whisper any thing in council, but an exact account must be yielded them; and by them again published, to the honour of their Champion, the witness of their strength, the increase of their host, and to the general satisfaction of their whole Faction. When I saw in the greatest business of State concerning all christendom, the eyes of all men diverted from that object, by unseasonable projects and devises of inferior nature; and our timely supplies otherways prevented, and taken up by matter of pleasure or compliment. When I saw the general combination of roman catholics, both at home and abroad, against the Kings Children: and the foreign enemies violent and bloody pursuit of all advantages against them, and such as profess the Reformed Religion. So that abroad all went to wrack, and at home no remedy was thought vpon: Whilst Spinola with speed enters, and possesseth the Palatinate with an army; and we seek to dispossess him onely with persuasive Arguments of amity and iustice. When at home I beholded all roman catholics bold to declare themselves for the Emperour against the Kings children, and to hinder the benevolence of the country by all politic and possible means: endeavouring, that either it might not be granted at all, or given sparing, and with a niggardly hand, or gathered too late, and so to no purpose. When I saw it was made an infallible note of a puritan, and so consequently of an ill subject, to speak on the behalf of the Kings Children: and a certain proof of a good Protestant or a discreet and moderate man, to plead against them for the Emperour, and King of spain, who are ever linked and interested together in one cause. Was it not then a time to speak? Was there not a cause?  
When I saw Romanists labour to breed new discontents betwixt the King and his Subiects, and to continue the old: that so the subject might be drained, and made either unable or unwilling to supply his majesties necessary desires; and the King put vpon hard streights, either to endure things unfit for his dignity, and cross to his free disposition, or to furnish himself by falling vpon their side. When I saw them endeavour, by wringing the nose hard, to press out blood, hoping thus to be armed in his majesties colourable defence, and to haue opportunity to draw in foreign powers on their party. When I saw them help forward with art and industry the grievances of the Common-wealth; that whilst the State of britain was busy in reforming and settling those domestic disorders, the general State of the Christian-Common-wealth disperse thorough all Nations, might in the mean time be neglected, and left in their hands to ruin. Whilst to this end I beholded a dangerous Faction show itself at home, and another breeding abroad; many English marching under the command of Spinola, to encounter the English under his excellency; that Banner might be against Banner, the Seminarie of a civil war. When I saw a foreign ambassador give Passes and Licences continually to Romish catholics, to go out of England, to serve the King of spain in his warres in the Low-countreys; and, like a Pope, dispensing with the oaths of supremacy and allegiance; which were made vpon such good ground, by the wisdom of our State, and haue been hitherto continued in practise with happy success, for the defence and safeguard of the Kings person, the Church and State. When by this means, I saw the matter would be of dangerous consequence in a small time, whether they were there employed against our friends, or reuerted home vpon ourselves: since all of them being interested in one case, and bound together by a mis-led conscience and blind devotion, would pursue their Plots with constancy, & endure all difficulties with resolution, so they might effect it: whilst ours( I mean, the common soldier) being, for the most part, the off-scouring of our Nation, was lead to the war more by covetousness to the wages, then by conscience to the work. Was it not then a time to speak? Was there not a cause?  
When I saw the Common-wealth hunted like a dear to death, and now at a stand ready to fall: whilst every man with a seruall project sought his private profit, as Hounds after the Chase expect their relief. When I saw the poor Commons silently groaning underneath these pressures, and no man either willing, or daring to make them known to him, whom it most concerned, and who only had power to remedy these mischiefs. Yea, when I heard a general despair close up the hearts of all men, that they should never see Parliament again( which Court was the onely absolute, certain and speedy discoverer, and remoouer of all such mighty enormities; and in defect whereof, these had presumptuously shot up, & overspread the Church and State in a short time) I could not choose( the zeal of God, the love of my country, duty to my King and his Children, and indignation to behold the enemies of all these triumphing, presenting themselves to my consideration, as to a man distracted with sorrow and astonishment) but at length break silence, with the resolution of Hester, If I perish, I perish. 
Hest. 4 16.  For was there not a time to speak? Was there not a cause?  
The blessed Apostles are in a Ship with our saviour, 
Mar. 4. 38.  the winds roar, the Sea rageth, the Ship is tost like a Tennis-ball with the storm, and filled half full with water ready to sink; the whilst our saviour seems to sleep. The Apostles affrighted, awake him with this acclamation( I might say, obiurgation) Master, carest thou not that we perish? And yet they are not for this challenged of treason or disobedience. I hear the winds chidden, and enjoined silence, the waves suppressed, and commanded to be calm: I see the enemies that disturbed the Church and State reproved: the Apostles are onely taught and admonished to haue more Faith.  
This Ship is the Church, is the State: the winds, the waves, the rocks, the Sands, and( more then all these) professed Pirates assault it. It concerns us all to look about us, even from the Master to the Ship-boy. Nor shall it( I hope) be a capital crime in me to awake the Supreme governor, the Defender of the Faith, with the peoples voice, Master, carest thou not that we perish?  
david, or some other holy Prophet, is bolder yet with almighty God, then the Apostles were here with our saviour; and in the name of the whole Church, with the voice of the people, doth as it were upbraid God, saying, In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy Name for 
Psal. 44.  ever & ever. But thou hast cast us off, and put us to shane, and goest not forth with our Armies. Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy, and they that bait us spoil for themselves. Thou hast given us as sheep appointed for meat, and hast scattered us among the Heathen. Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price. Thou makest us a reproach unto our Neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about vs. Thou makest us a by-word among the Heathen: a shaking of the head among the people &c. Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? Arise, cast us not off for ever. Wherefore hidest thou thy face and forgettest our affliction and oppression? For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the Earth. Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies sake, &c. Thus they expostulate the case with God, as if he had forgot himself: whilst notwithstanding, we do not hear their Faith reprehended for this, but rather commended to our imitation. And yet should a subject so deal with a sovereign, one man with another( though there were just cause of the complaint) What a traitor should he be thought? What a severe censure should he undergo? Whilst flattery with tickling and scratching the itching humors of men, hath made the ears so tender, as we cannot endure the least 
2 Tim. 4. 3  rough touch of Faith and Truth.  
Behold me, in the same state that david describes himself to be, in the 39 psalm, where he saith: I thought I 
Ps. 39.  will take heed to my ways, that I offend not with my tongue. I will keep my mouth bridled, whilst the wicked is in my sight. I was dumb and spake nothing: I kept silence even from good, and my sorrow was more stirred. Mine heart was hot within me, and I spake with my tongue. And like ieremy, I said, I will not make mention of him, 
jer. 20. 9.  nor speak any more in his Name, but his Word was in my heart like burning fire, shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay: for I had heard the railing of many, and fear came on every side.  
And undoubtedly whatsoever could blood may moderately think, or stoical Atheists( who haue quenched the Spirit in themselves) resolve and do, whilst they judge it frenzy or distemperature in other men( as Festus judged 
Act. 26 24  of Paul) to haue living affections: yet assuredly when God fills the heart, the mouth must run over. I believed, 
Ps. 116. 10.  therefore I spake, saith the Psalmist. Infidels may easily be silent, for it concerns them not to speak on Gods behalf, with whom they haue nothing to do. But Truth will haue vent, or break the vessel that contains it: for God fills it, to haue it uttered, and not bottelled or barreled up in silence. The lion hath roared▪ who will not 
Amos 3. 8.  hear? The Lord hath spoken, who can but prophecy? We cannot but speak the things which we haue seen and 
Act. 4. 20.  heard, say the Apostles. And of S. Paul it is recorded, that while he waited for Sylas and Timotheus at Athens, his Spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to Idolatry. God brought him thither to see and to hear; and stayed him there, that he might haue his heart stirred: So that from the abundance of his heart, his 
Mat. 12. 34  mouth might speak what he knew.  
I may say, this was my case in some sort: I did not see all the City, but a great part given to Idolatry: I did not see all the kingdom, but a great part returning toward Babylon, even of those that had made a faire progress before towards jerusalem. My heart was stirred when I beholded this; and I hope stirred by the Spirit of God: as the Apostle saith in another place, I think I haue the Spirit 
1 Cor. 7. 40  also.  
But some may say, I ought to haue attended the leisure of my superiors, Elders, and betters. Alas, so I did, till I was weary with waiting, having no hope of help. So that I might well say with Elihu, I am young in yeeres▪ and 
job 32. 6.  ye are ancient; therefore I doubted and was afraid to show mine opinion. For I said, the dayes shall speak, and the multitude of yeeres shall teach wisdom. Surely there is a Spirit in man, but the inspiration of the almighty giveth understanding. Great men are not alway wise, neither do the aged alway understand iudgement. Therefore I say, hear me, and I will show also my opinion. Behold, I did wait vpon your words, and hearkned unto your knowledge, whilst you sought out reasons, &c.  
But when I perceived no reason would come forth, I would not let Truth receive prejudice by my silence: but then I answered in my turn, and shewed my opinion. For I am full of matter, and the Spirit within me compelled me. Behold, my belly is as the Wine which hath no vent, and like the new bottles which brast. Therefore will I speak, that I may take breath: I will open my lips and answer. I will not now accept the person of man, neither will I give Titles to man: for I may not give Titles, lest my Maker should take me away suddenly. And why so? Surely because herein to forbear speech in regard of man, had been to honour man more then God. And yet I must truly confess, I was as much perplexed and troubled in this business, as Daniel was, when commanded by King 
Dan. 4. 19.  nabuchadnezzar to interpret his dream; the Text saith, He held his peace for the space of an hour, and his thoughts troubled him. doubtless, he did not study so long to find out the truth, which God revealed to him; but how to deliver that truth safely, because it concerned the King and State. For Truth hath ever almost been called Treason at Court, and banished the chapel there long 
Amos 7. 11, 12.  since, in the time of Amazia: yea, in those dayes they hated him that rebuked in the Gate; and they abhorred him 
Am. 5. 10. Am. 5. 13.  that spake uprightly. Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time, for it is an evil time. And I know of old, that when truth is there spoken where it toucheth the quick, it is time for the speaker to flee; yea sometimes 
2 Chr. 16. 10.  from the presence of good Princes, till they come to themselves again: For nemo omnibus horis sapit. And the reason hereof is, because Satan knows it concerns Princes especially to know truth; for that their example and command is a great means to promote it. Therefore he labours to banish it from their presence; and to this end entertains and arms his Pensioners( Flatterers, those tame Beasts, toothless traitors) to staue it off with many pretty pretences, colourable enough, being dyed deep in hypocrisy, policy, and Court-craft. So we see all men, especially Princes, love to be praised; and never suspect such as flatter them, though they would, if they should counsel them. An example we haue in 
come. lib. 2 ca. 13. li. 5. cap. 6.  Charles, the great Duke of burgundy, who suspected the King of France, Lewes the eleventh, when he gave him good counsel: but when he praised his valour, and flattered him grossly to his face, then he liked him very well, and thought all to be truth that he said.  
Now as it is not ever safe therefore to speak truth to greatness, though linked with personal goodness: so it is never safe to breath it in the ears of the wicked: whose 
Sap. 2 12.  mercy is cruelty, and whose hearts God doth harden, that they shall not attend or give credit to good counsel, by whomsoever it be brought: but they shall willingly entertain evil counsel whosoever gives it; because God hath determined to destroy them, and root them up. 
1 King. 12. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. 2 Chr. 25. 16.  So that as we see when sick men haue lost their hearing, and sight, and feeling, their friends begin to provide them of blacks, because these are the symptoms of weakness preceding, and of death presently ensuing: So assuredly a State whose ears are stopped, be it with 
* Cotton the Iesuite was the Kings confessor, and so had opportunity to know the Kings counsels, & to stop his ears by virtue of his Office from all honest and wholesome information.  Cotton( as the ears of henry the fourth of France were) or be it with any other stuff; that State is at the last gasp, and ripe towards rottenness. For if good counsel from God cannot enter into the ears, by the tongue of the faithful, which is Gods Instrument to that end: then assuredly evil counsel shall haue power to enter into the heart, by Satans Instrument, the hand of a traitor, and perhaps find the nearest way thither. For such Ministers of death and destruction, are their Crafts-masters in the art of murder: first, murdering the soul by flattery and falsehood, and then the body by the hand of some parricide. Thus it is said of Iuda, That the Lord God of their Fathers sent to them by his Messengers, rising early and sending: for he 
2 Chr. 36. 15, 16.  had compassion of his people, and on his habitation. But they mocked the Messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his Prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, and till there was no remedy. So when it comes to this pass, that men will not hear, then we see there is no remedy, but they must feel. And to this end Salomon saith, A man that hardeneth his neck 
Prou. 29. 1  when he is admonished, shall suddenly be destroyed, and cannot be cured. And to this end One saith well; That 
History of the world. fol. 442.  good success issuing from bad counsel, is more to be feared, then calamity: inasmuch as the one breeds a foolish confidence, the other teacheth men to be wary. Commines hath 
come. lib. 1 cap. 12.  observed this long since in his great Duke of burgundy, who having once good lucke by following his own way and will, against the opinion of all the rest of his councillors, did then learn such a resty trick, as he would never after be ruled or advised; but like a head-strong Horse, ran away wilfully with the Bit in his mouth, till he cast the rider. But good and wise Princes are far otherwise; their ears are open, though their hearts be locked close. And doubtless, a Land is happy that hath such: and then it is another happiness to them that are such, to haue good, wise, faithful, and bold Seruants; that both will out of love, and can out of knowledge, and dare out of courage( the true ground of ancient nobility, and for which Kings vouchsafed to call them Comites, Companions; and Cognatos, Kinsmen; to embolden and assure their faith and familiarities) aduise boldly and truly vpon every occasion. Of such as these Ezekias was destitute, when he vainly shewed his Treasure to the Ambassadors of Babylon, who came to congratulate his recovery: So that it is said of him, That in the business of the ambassadors 
2 Chr. 32. 31.  of the Princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the Land, God left him to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. God meant to humble him, and therefore bereft him of council, or a heart to follow it. And by this means did discover his personal disability and weakness, not onely to himself, but to others; that the wisdom of God might be onely magnified, and foolish man might not rely vpon Princes. Of such as these also the King of France was scanted in his journey to Italy; of whom Commines saith, That he lacked a bold and faithful 
come. lib. 8 cap. 3.  counsellor, to tell him of the danger he stood in. Is it not fearful, that a Prince should be in danger, and none about him dare tell him so? Indeed he can fall into no greater danger then he is in already, who converseth with such, as either cannot, or will not, or dare not speak truth, for fear of losing the place they hold, or the favour they enjoy, or the next svit they look for. Therefore Siracides adviseth Princes to seek counsel, and command it, where men are nice to give it freely; and that they should take all occasions to inform themselves of necessary truths: 
Pro. 28. 26  as wise men for want of a Looking-glasse, will make shift 
Pro. 27. 19  to dress themselves by a pail of clear water. Thus no intelligence is to be slighted; nay, oftentimes both the counsel and intelligence of mean persons is more profitable, then of wiser and better men; because these speak freely; the other, with reference to favour, and their own fortune. Roma ubi Publicolas, Aemilios, Fabritios, Curios, 
Pol. Virg. de invent. rerum. l. 2. cap. 3.  Scipiones, Scauros, paupertatis, continentiaeque amantissimos, Imperatores sibi deligebat( saith Polidore Virgil) incredibile memoratu est, quàm brevi cresceret, quantumque cum ipsa praeclarè ageretur: è contrario, ubi Senator censu legebatur, judex fiebat Censu, Magistratum Ducémque nile magis exornabat quàm census, captatio in questu fertilissimo, ac sola gaudia impossidendo erant pessum adeò ire caepit, vt nusquam ejus status consistere potuerit. This observation all times and States haue approved for true; and found, that together with this corruption, all other mischiefs rush in at the same door, to the undoing and confounding of all. And perhaps it is from hence, that men say, They must go into the country to hear the news of the Court: because in the Court men dare not speak what they know, and what they ought, for fear of losing that preferment, which the countryman looks not after. And thus there is such a general conspiracy against plainness in such places, by reason of the necessary dependency that one man hath of another; the inferior of his superior, and all of the highest, that it is impossible, that Truth which is known to the lowest, should ever arrive at the ears of the highest, though the knowledge of all, concerns him above all. Therefore intelligence is to be taken any way, every way; and the man of wisdom can make good use of all: according to that of Micah, If the Lords voice crieth unto the city, the man of wisdom 
Mich. 6. 9.  shall see thy Name, hear thy Rod, and who hath appointed it. The man of wisdom sees God in all, and seeks for him in all; as david sees him even in railing Shemi. And as a witty Gentleman once said, That he could pick some good thing out of every Ballad: so a wise man finds preservatives in poison; and precious Stones, or that which exceeds them, plenty, and fertility in a dunghill.  
Now then suppose there were no other use of that which I haue written, yet it sets forth truly the disposition of the Commons; a Beast( if they list to call it so, and count it so, and make it so) that is not to be contemned: for if it hath many heads, it hath more hands. And I never yet could read of Prince, who contemned his peoples affections, and wilfully contradicted their general desires, without great peril; at least without some prejudice. This( that we look no nearer) see in Rehoboam, of whom 
1 King 12. 15. Eccl. 47. 23.  it is said, That by the counsel of young men, who counseled for themselves, the King harkened not to his people: for it was the ordinance of God, &c. And when the people saw that the King regarded them not, the people answered the King thus, saying; What portion haue we in david? We haue no inheritance in the son of Ishai. To your Tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house david. So Israel departed unto their Tents, &c. And had it not been better those exactions should haue been taken off, rather then kept on, to the vexing of the subject, and the loss of their loues and loyalties? They required not to haue their yoke taken away; they would be yoked still: but onely to haue their yoke lined, made more fit, light, easy, &c. yet this courtesy could not be granted them. For the young councillors would none of that: because perhaps it concerned them, and they had from thence the principal maintenance of their superfluities. Thus on both sides they seemed to haue forgot their duties: The King his, to respect and tender them; the People theirs, to obey him. For the duty of Prince and people are reciprocal: and though no man will or can excuse a people, or justify their disobedience( their obedience being of absolute necessity) yet there may be causes to provoke them to disobedience, which all wise Princes haue ever shunned carefully; desiring to give them contentment; though in giuing it, they crost their own judgements. So we see, though Achish loues david well, & desired to haue him stay in the army; yet because it likes not his 
1 Sam. 29. 6. 7.  peers and people, he sends him back from the Field. And david again, at the admonition of joab( a bold counsellor, and a happy in that) puts off his mourning 
2 Sam. 19. 5, 6, 7, 8.  habit, after the loss of his best beloved son, and courts his people in public like a Triumpher, much against his own mind. And see the issue hereof set down in the fourteenth Verse: So( that is, by this wise temporising, as I may say, of his, and humoring of the people) he bowed the hearts of all the men of Iuda as one man: Therefore they sent to the King, saying, return thou with all thy Seruants, &c. Whilst he bent to them, he bent them: as a Bow of steel, which bends to the string, since the string cannot be stretched to it. david may safely and easily yield the people what they desire, because it proceeds from their love. And therefore joab is bold to say, Thou 
2 Sam. 19. 5.  hast shamed this day the faces of all thy Seruants, which this day haue saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy Daughters; and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy Concubines; In that thou lovest thy enemies, and hatest thy friends: for thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither thy Princes nor Seruants: therefore this day I perceive that if Absalon had lived and we had all dyed this day, that then it should haue pleased thee well. Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy Seruants: for I swear by the Lord if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night, and that will be worse unto thee then all the evil which befell thee from thy youth until now.  
Surely, this was bold, but happy counsel. It might haue been delivered in better terms, after a more reverent manner; but the counsel itself is never the worse for lack of some circumstances. And had it been given by a simplo levite, or a poor doorkeeper, as it was by a principal captain, the counsel had been never the worse, nor the King counted less wise for listening to it. For we see that which joab did here of himself, for lack of another convenient instrument, he performs happily in another place, by the help of a poor woman of Tekoah. 
2 Sam. 14.  Neither was it counted a fault in her, that both her person and speech was borrowed and feigned, since the intention was good, and the success happy. We see sometimes Kings are content in plays and masks to be admonished of diuers things: ye suffer fools willingly( saith 
2 Cor. 11. 19.  the Apostle) and great reason sometime: for fools and Children will often speak truth( and therefore such as speak so are counted fools or Children) they know no more how to flatter( except they be taught) then Zenophons Horse; which therefore makes his Prince a good Horse-man. The weaker the information be, the greater strength of iudgement doth he show, that can make good use of it: as good physicians behold the state of the sick patient, in his urine or Excrements.  
Now then may not I cry out with joab, or the woman of Tekoah, What is this that I haue done which causeth david to be incensed against me? Did I tell thee, thy people were grieved? I know by this time thou knowest it to be true. Did I tell thee, they were ready to depart? I told thee nothing but truth: there was nothing stayed them but Religion; which, as it strings them to each other, so it ties them strongly to thee. wear them as Bracelets on thy arms, and as a royal chain vpon thy neck( O sovereign.) No Prince hath such a people; nor can all the Romane-Catholike kingdoms in the World boast of so much loyalty. Let me be bold to ask, What is it that thy people seek? Is it not thy good, as well as their own, and thy safety, as well as theirs? Are they not ready to do thee all possible service? Nay, art not thou forced to restrain them from spending their goods and bloods for thee and thine? Haue they rebelled against thee, or seemed disobedient to thee in any thing, but in loving thee more then some think meet, who call their zeal a fault? Or haue they sought thy destruction, or conspired to blow-vp thy Person and posterity? Or is it because some of those that would do thus to thee and thine, labour to persuade thee that they love thy Children too well, to love thee as they ought? And thus seek to divide thee from us, from thine own Flesh, from thyself: that they might wholly possess thee; that they might engross thy Power and reign; that they might effect what they seek, the ruin of thee; and in thee, the ruin of Religion? Who wonders not, that it should be wisdom, for four and forty yeeres together to restrain them; and now wisdom to enlarge their Tents? That in the year 1605 the King and whole State should join, to ordain perpetual laws against them; and a memorable repetition of the almost incredible cause; and now in so short a time, the same wisdom should silence those laws, and pull down that Pillar of Salt set up for an admonition to all posterity; as if they would persuade the world that the foul fact had not been true, but feigned, and therefore now the Law was repealed or silenced as an Act of injustice? And yet is your majesty, out of your diamond clemency, disposed to spare them? Why who withstands it, nay who desires it not, if the Truth might yet be safe? Who pities not the error of their Consciences? Who loues not their persons? Who prays not for them, whilst they curse us? Who would not bear with many things for their sakes, and for unities, if they would be quiet, if they might be trusted? But whilst we see they make no conscience to massacre us where they haue power; to invade us, where they can borrow or procure it; to blow us up by trains and treason, where they haue no open ability to effect their desires: When we see they hold no faith with us, but onely for their own advantage, can you blame us, if we wish you and yours out of their arms; and are jealous of your life and safety, whilst we are assured of their hate and malice?  
Thus I might expostulate the case with his majesty, but I intend not to follow a course which may be any way distasteful or doubtful. Those times are too old and too good to be presidents to these; besides, the inequality of the persons affords me small freedom. What david heard with patience, binds not others: What joab the general did, is no warrant for me. I therefore to avoid all occasion or suspicion of arrogancy, fly to his majesties Words and works for my warrant, from whence I fetch proof to manifest; First, the desperate estate of things, and the tickle points, and nice terms whereupon they stood when I first did writ: Secondly, the necessity of speedy reformation: Thirdly, the good office of such as gave the Information; without which, the mischief would haue broken our past remedy, before the disease could haue been discovered. And the course that I intend to take and follow herein, is to speak of the State at home & abroad, and of Religion respectively in all parts; because these are intermixed and woven together, and participate of prosperity and adversity, and partake all passions of ioy and sorrow, with each other in common.  
To this end, behold in the first place that most worthy speech which his majesty made to the Parliament on monday, the 26 of March, 1621: as if a Father had spoken to his Children, wherein he acknowledgeth the grievances of the Common wealth, saying; I do assure you in the heart of an honest man and by the Faith of a Christian King( which both ye, and all the World know me to be) had these things been complained of unto me, before the Parliament, I would haue done the Office of a just King; and out of Parliament haue punished them as severely; and peradventure more, then ye haue intended to do.  
Now then what did I but complain in the voice of the People, that their grievances might come to his majesties ears? Whom I believed to be such, as his words and actions testify: ready to take information of truths, and to redress them; but that the voice and cry of his oppressed Subiects was kept from his ears, by such as oppressed them; as wolves howl and bark, that the vigilant shepherd may not hear the worried lambs bleat.  
But it may be objected, There was no cause of this cry in general, but of one or two particulars. hear then his majesty farther taking notice of the general clamour, presently after in the same Speech, saying: I confess I am ashamed( these things proving so, as they generally are reported to be) that it was not my good fortune to be the only author of the reformation, and punishment of them, by some ordinary Courts of Iustice.  
Is his majesty ashamed, that such things are done under his nose( as they say) without his knowledge? O shameless wretches, who did that, which caused this shane in his royal majesty. Are not you ashamed to do it, whilst he is ashamed to hear it to be done? Shall it be a shane and sin in me to admonish him of it, when he is ashamed not to haue known it before? Is he sorry it was not his good fortune to be the only author of the reformation; and shall I be sorry, that it was my good fortune to be one of the first that complained on the behalf of others( being safe myself) so that he might hear and reform? I trow not.  
But it may again be objected, That his majesty had diuers near about him, who could & would better inform him of these things, then myself. I doubt not the truth of this, that he had many about him, that would, if they could: but many of these not conversing with the people, were not sensible of their sufferings, nor could haue been induced to beleeue half of that to be true, which now they see manifestly. Others could, but would not, either because themselves, or their friends were interested in the business. Others both could and would, but these were not ever the greatest in number, or greatest of power: they were unable to meet that mighty opposition, which they beholded prepared and armed ever at hand to bear them down: they were loth to be accounted singular persons, or malcontents: they were afraid of losing their own Liberties, Offices, and livings, whilst they endeavoured to do good Offices for the life and liberties of others. Otherwise it had been impossible these disorders in so short a time, should haue gotten such roote and head, and grown up to such an height.  
O happy Parliament therefore; and( as his majesty styled it) likely then to be the happiest Parliament that ever was in England. happy to reveal this, happy to reform this, and happy to me also, to approve with their wisdom much of the matter of my complaint;( if not the manner of delivery) had there not been a general despair of seeing a Parliament again, I had not written at all, but stayed and expected their leisure and pleasure. But when I had written, and saw there was offence taken, and no credit given to my report, I gave way to the time; praising God, who moved his majesties heart to summon a Parliament; by whom I knew he should be informed of the truth beyond my report, and so my supposed error made known to be good service. happy therefore am I in them: and happy are they being justified by such as they haue censured and condemned. hear then the late Lord chancellor accuse the times, justify the parliamentary proceedings, & helping to excuse me, whilst he saith: In the midst of a State of as great affliction, as I think, a mortal man can endure( honour being above life) I shall begin with the professing of gladness in some things; The first is, that hereafter the greatness of a judge or Magistrate will be no sanctuary or protection of guiltiness, which in few words is the beginning of a Golden world. Thus He: And who knew more in these things then he? Who could say more to purpose then he? So that it seems before it was otherwise, and that was the effect of an Ironage; when greatness might be evil with security, and do evil with warrant. But hear from the same person another cause of ioy: The next is( saith he) that after this example, it is likely the Iudges will flee from any thing, that is in the likeness of Corruption( though it were at a great distance) as from a Serpent: which tendeth to the purging of Courts of Iustice, and reducing them to their true honour and splendour. Thus He. And this I note from him, that Corruption was a Companion to Courts; and Bribes were not shunned, but taken from Satan in shape of a Wife, or Friend, or Child, or Seruant, as evah and Adam took the Apple from the Serpent without suspecting the success.  
It is hard with the whole Body, when the Stomach that should feed all, and concoct nourishment, is foul and distempered: when the liver which should water all, is smitten with infection: and it is hard with the sick Patient, when the physician is distempered: yet this was our case by the confession of the chief physician himself; who saith, The Courts which should purge all, lacked purging themselves; and they which should reduce all things to right, and give 'vice the due punishment, and virtue the due honour it deserveth, stood in need of others to reduce them to that honour and splendour from which they were fallen. What is this but that which God saith, Ezech. 22. 27, 28. Her Princes in the midst thereof are like wolves, ravening the Prey, to  shed blood, and to destroy souls for their own lukre. And her Prophets haue daubed them with untempered Mortar, seeing vanities, and deuining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord God, when the Lord had not spoken. And Esay, 10. 1, 2. Woe unto them that decree wicked Decrees, and writ grievous things, to keep back the poor from iudgement, and to take away the iudgement of the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may spoil the fatherless. What will ye do now in the day of your visitation and destruction which shall come from far? To whom will ye flee for help? And where will you leave your glory? And Ierem. 17. 11. As the partridge gathereth the young which she hath not brought forth: So he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his dayes, and at his end shall be a fool. And Ierem. 22. 15. Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in Cedar? Did not thy Father eat, and drink, and prosper, when he executed iudgement and iustice? Surely all this, and much more to this purpose contained in the book of God, was well known to this great man, who was able to teach others both in divinity, and morality, and policy. But either the height of prosperity so amazeth the eyes of men, as it makes them vertiginous, unable to remember where they are, what they were, and to consider what they may be, before they may be precipitated to ruin: or else the voice of poor men beneath cannot reach so high, except they strain themselves to sing Placentia. For they contemn all that is under them, and whilst they know all that the poor Minister knows, and more too, and can speak as well as he, and much better, they think scorn to be admonished of the least error or danger by them, forgetting their vocation, and how they may be directed by God to them, as Nathan was to david. I doubt not david knew all that Nathan knew, and more too, and could speak as well as Nathan or perhaps much better: but this did not hinder him from entertaining the embassage of God, and from taking occasion hereby to see, confess, and come out of his sin, that so he might avoid the iudgement of God. Yet I am persuaded, he that in the time of this Great mans prosperity, should haue boldly and honestly brought these things home, and applied them to him by way of admonition, should perhaps haue been as much regarded, as now the like would be at the hand of his like, who think they cannot fall no more then he thought, and arm themselves against all errors, but that wherein God will haue their wisedoms taken. Nay, it were well, if they onely slighted his Message, and counted him a mad-fellow( as the Courtiers and the Captaines in Iehues time counted the Prophets) that should 
2 Kin. 9. 11  so plainly deal with them: but perhaps he should fall into a kind of Inquisition, and be committed to prison, and presented to some Court of censure, to be undone for his good will. For this is sure, many Courts had wont to be( for I hope they are now mended) like S. Winifrids Needle in Rippon; you cannot pass through, till you be naked, and free from all impediments; and stripped you must be, for therefore came you thither; and till you be stripped, you may be innocent, but you cannot appear to be so. This is that which Siracides saith: If a rich man offend he hath 
Ecc. 13. 22 23.  many helpers; he speaketh proud words, and yet men justify him: but if a poor man fail they rebuk him; and though he speak wisely yet can he haue no place. When the rich man speaketh, every man holdeth his tongue; and look what he saith, they praise it unto the Clouds: but if the poor man speak they say, What fellow is this? and if he do amiss they will destroy him.  
And yet truly it had been easy to haue foretold these things before, by observing the times, the manners, the actions of men, and the judgements of God threatened vpon such. For God is not a God only near hand, and not 
●er. 23. 23.  afar off also: What he threatens he will do; be it to Priest, or Prince, or People. And thus it were no difficult matter to prophecy, that is, to foretell the certain judgements of God for certain sins, by comparing times and things wisely together. For repentance and mercy may divert the execution of Gods iudgement publicly declared, nothing else can. And in this sense also, I doubt not is preaching in the Gospel called prophesying; with respect to the Law, and to the judgements therein denounced, observing times and comparing like sins and punishments together. And would to God this kind of prophesying were more used, and better believed, that Preachers might be more respected, or left at liberty to be taught by God, without limitation of man, and to say what God hath done lately, as well as what God hath done long since: But we haue no such custom, no such 
1 Cor. 11. 16.  freedom, nor the present Churches of God. Yet david could say in his time, and we see it true in ours; When 
Ps. 141. 6.  their Iudges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words, for they are sweet. When these things are come to pass, and they feel the smart of their folly, then they are content to hear of it: But who hath believed 
Es. 53. 1.  our report before? Or to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?  
As for that which some say, of giuing information of those Vices of the time( as that learned Lord calls them) 
Vitia temporis.  by an ordinary course: I answer, ordinary courses are for ordinary crimes: but that ordinary course failing( as here it did) and extraordinary crimes arising, and extraordinary practices appearing, and extraordinary fears provoking every man, necessity drove me to seek out an extraordinary means of remedy; as Nature being costive, betakes herself to vomit. For I beholded what would be the issue of these things, if no body stepped up to give the onset: As Mathias and his friends debate the 
Macc. 2. 40  case with each other, vpon that Massacre, or Sicilian Euen-Song, or Powder-plot, which fell among them: If we all do as our brethren haue done( say they) and fight not against the Heathen for our lives, and for our laws, then shall they incontinently destroy us out of the Earth: And if we look not about us( might I then haue said) and bestir us nimbly, either our Friends will eat us up at home by suits and projects; or our Enemies abroad, by Plots and practices: Some therefore must break the Ice, to show others the danger: for to wait and stay then for a Rule or Law to warrant my Fact, had been to run mad with Reason, and to seek physic for a dead man. All subordinate Courts are to take information by ordinary and regular courses: Kings are the extremest circled; Lines are drawn from the Center to them, and information must come to them by any means. Their ears are long, and touch vpon every Subiects tongue; and great reason: for they are those that must reform the Iudges themselves; and above them there is no judge but God. We are then to flee to them in necessity, and not before; and this was my case, and this I did.  
Now because I could not come to speak; or if I had, the particulars had been too many to deliver at an instant; and my danger in this modest, bashful, and religious age( which makes nice onely to hear that evil reported and reproved, which it makes not nice, but glories to commit) had been greater then my strength could withstand: Therefore I took that course which God commands to Esay, Chap. 30. Vers. 8. I wrote it in a book: By which means I had hope it should arrive at his majesties hand more safely then by any other passage: And so( as I hear) it did; and since that all foreign actions haue concurred to make good my conjectures; or rather the vulgar voice and opinion of the people delivered by my Pen. And time will yet make it more clear( I fear) to the cost of us, and of our friends; except God take the cause in hand: And at home that most high and honourable Court of Parliament, hath so opened the whole mystery of iniquity, that none need doubt the truth of any thing I wrote, but rather wonder that I wrote no more.  
For confirmation of this, hear his majesty in his own words to that short-liued Parliament, Anno 1621, most elegantly clearing this point, whilst he acknowledgeth the Face of the Common-wealth was shewed him faire and fat, but the Body hidden, which was in a Consumption. They put on the best pretences of all things, and made it their daily care, by art and industry, to keep his majesty from seeing or hearing the truth. hear what he saith: And now I confess, that when I looked before vpon the Face of the government, I thought( as every man would haue done) that the people were never so happy as in my time: For even as at diverse times I haue looked vpon diverse of my Coppices, riding about them, and they appeared on the outside very thick, and well grown unto me; but when I entred into the midst of them, I found them all bitten within, and full of plains and bare spots( like an Apple or pear, faire and smooth without, but when ye claue it asunder, ye find it rotten at the heart) even so this kingdom, the external government being as good as ever it was, and I am sure as learned Iudges as ever it had( and I hope as honest) administering Iustice within it: And for Peace both at home and abroad, I may truly say more settled, and longer lasting then ever any before; together with as great plenty as ever: so as it was to be thought, that every man might sit in safety under his own Vine, and under his own Fig-tree: Yet I am ashamed, and it makes my hair stand upright to consider, how in this time, my people haue been vexed and polled, by the vile execution of projects, Patents, and bills of conformity, and such like; which besides the trouble of my people, haue more exhausted their Purses, then Subsidies would haue done.  
observe this well, and you shall see no man can say more then his majesty hath done, to set forth the misery of a State, which seemeth to flourish like a green Baytree. His majesty saw the Face, he did not see the Body; but thought the body in as good plight as the face; as any man in dead would haue done. He thought the people never so happy as in his time; and great reason he had so to think: but now he sees it otherwise; and must needs grieve, because it is so. The Common-wealth was as his Coppices flourishing & thick without, within not suitable. You know where the fault lies: The Woodreeues, Suruayers, Rangers, and other Officers, that should preserve it, are those that spoil for themselves, by a mutual connivency, and general conspiracy: and so it is in the State, it seems a faire Apple, but it is rotten at the heart. The external government was never better the Iudges never more learned: Where then is the fault? His majesty resolves you: private projects, and Monopolies rob the Commonwealth, disturb Order, frustrate laws, discourage endeavour, spoil all. First, needy persons having wasted and run out their own estates in all wild and wicked courses, then invent means how to work out a living from the industry of other men. These run to persons in favour at Court, and they beg the penalties of laws, and to provide, that whilst they keep no laws themselves, they will not suffer any to be kept. To know this, his majesty saith, He is ashamed, it makes his hair stand upright, as at the sight of evil Spirits: and yet these divels do it without blushing, nay, with boldness they command it to be done, and with rigour exact a penalty of such as do omit it: dealing here for the King with his loyal people, as Persecutors do with the Saints and Seruants of God, whom they spoil, torture, and put to death, supposing therein they do God good service: Or as if all men were born to labour that they might live idly, and wast their bodies in riot and licentiousness, their estates in pride, drunkenness, and prodigality, and the whole Commonwealth by their disordered lives and dissolute examples.  
Thus far that faire-promising Parliament discovered, and proceeded in a plausible and profitable course of reformation, but here our hopes on a sudden were overcast with a Cloud, and our calm day became stormy. For his majesty, having in the beginning of that Parliament received the greatest testimony of love and loyalty from the subject, that ever Prince had of his People, and giuing such public and plausible testimony thereof to the honour, praise, and encouragement of his people, as never Prince did before him; and the course of this Current running smooth a long time, without suspicion of the least mutation, at last something was unhappily or unseasonably touched vpon which was tender, and being handled with too rough a hand for so sore and sensible a part to suffer and endure, gave occasion to evil Instruments, then trembling under the Rod of severe reformation, to take and follow the advantage offered, so home to the head, as thereby the Parliament was suddenly and abruptly broken up, with the ruin of all our hopes.  
Then we had time enough to see how much more easy it was for a few, who had the Kings ear, to hinder, then for many, though they had the Kings heart, to help; and we began to observe, it was not good seeing of all faults at once; lest, making the offenders more & stronger then the Reformers, faction should combine and unite the guilty, and give them courage, out of despair of pardon, to break with violence, through all the Copweb toils, that were set to ensnare them. Here began our calamity, and lycentiousnesse breaking loose, raged the more for former restraints; as we see a Bow starts right forth and flies out of the hand of him that shoots, when ouerbent, and ouerdrawne, it breaks the hard-twisted string asunder. unequal conditions of grace, which carry the countenance of constraint, are delivered with frowns, and hold no longer then that obedience from the subject which is persuaded by penalty, and exacted by tyranny. For Nullum violentum perpetuum; the superior and inferiors also, must work freely, if faithfully.  
Our evils grew great and swelled higher and higher every tide; as wave follows wave, so woe followed woe one vpon the neck of another, even so far, and in such extremes, as nothing of Alexanders portion ( Hope) was left vs. The particulars, What, and circumstances, How, being pointed at in my former Treatise, are not so pleasant, as that they require or admit repetition: Nay rather, Quis temperet a lachrymis, who can abstain from tears that remembers them? I hasten therefore forward, to a more comfortable and acceptable report, being glad at the heart, that in such a storm, I descry Land so near me. For here, whilst our Ship tost aloft, as high as the clouds, saw nothing but rocks of ruin to light on, and we poor Passengers expected death, and in death what Fish would swallow us & vouchsafe to be our grave, tomb, and the Monument of our misery, behold a calm, and the sweet sound of that Trumpet, which bad our hopes, and a new Parliament, arise together from the dead. This day seemed then a shadow of the Last, when the archangel and trump shall proclaim a general Resurrection, and summon the guilty to appear at the bar of Iustice, reviving the faithful, to lift up their heads towards glory.  
Accordingly the Parliament began, february the 19, 1623 Stilo Anglicano: Where his majesty, by a most gracious Speech, reconciled himself to his people, as a loving Husband to his too-iealous Wife. He acknowledged the proper use and extent of a Parliament, in these or the like golden Words, which before he seemed to haue abridged almost to nothing, as a body not only long since dead, but now also turned to Dust, Earth, and Ashes. See the difference betwixt power incensed, and appeased.  
The proper use of a Parliament ( saith his most excellent majesty) is according to the Writ, Nobiscum supper arduis negotijs tractare, & consilium vestrum impendere. To confer with the King as governor of the kingdom, and to give their advice in matters of greatest importance, concerning the King and the State, and defence of the King, kingdom, and Church.  
Accordingly his majesty declared, how much he had been wronged and deluded, by dallying Treaties; when all his true-hearted Subiects saw he would, prayed he might, and praised God he was so profitably abused. He professeth to awake as a man out of a sweet dream, whose wants are doubled by the delusion. He desired their 
Es. 25.  council & assistance, promising to be ruled by them, and to do no weighty business without them; he entreated( who might command) their speed, since delays were dangerous, and the spinning out of time unprofitable; his deare-bought experience had taught him that Lesson. To trust any longer vpon promises & hopes, he intended not, but cast himself wholly vpon God and his people.  
Is not this wonderful? do not these words, if we had them, and could so set them down as they were delivered, deserve to be lodged in every Subiects heart? Nay doth not this manifest the truth of that which Salomon saith, that The Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, as 
Prou. 21. 1  the Riuers of Water; he turneth it whithersoever be will? Before this change none could move him, all human applications were as if men set their shoulders to a Rock: Nay all endeavour this way, procured more violent and resolute opposition: But now his heart is moved by God, it moves him, and he moves them, who would but could not move him before, wils them to make hast, and to be swift in their motion, thereby to make amends for former delays. This shows the King is the same to the body politic, that the heart is to the body natural, the seat and fountain of Motion, and so of Action.  
The Parliament consult, and resolve with all speed, that both the Treaties with spain, concerning the Prince his marriage with the Infanta Maria, and the restitution of the Palatinate, should be broken off presently; and this they give in humbly for their hearty resolution. The King congratulates their speedy and happy council, in a Speech made the eighth of March, in words to this purpose:  
My Lords and Gentlemen all, I haue cause first to thank God with my heart and all the faculties of my mind, that my Speech which I delivered in Parliament, hath taken so good effect amongst you, as that with an vnamine consent, you haue freely and speedily given me your advice in this great business for which I also thank you all as hearty as I can, &c. And so proceeding to propound some difficulties, which, like a wise Prince, he desired might be considered, cleared, and removed by their council, he concluds thus, Your kind carriage gives me much contentment, and that comforts me, which my Lord of canterbury said, That there was not a contrary voice amongst you all; Like the Seuentie Interpreters who were lead by the breath of God. I am so desirous to forget all rents in former Parliaments, that it shall not be in my default if I be not in love with Parliaments, and call them often, and desire to end my life in that enter course between me and my people, for the making of good laws, reforming of such abuses as I cannot well be informed of but in Parliament, and in maintaining the good government of the Common-wealth. Therefore go on cheerfully and aduise of these points, and my resolution shall then be declared.  
Now the chief of those points whereof his majesty would haue them aduise, was matter of money, the sum and the means to raise it; which is the Sinew, yea the very soul of war, and must be provided for before any work could be undertaken.  
And because there was something in this Speech of his majesties mistasted( perhaps by mistaking) his majesty was graciously pleased to expound and explain himself more clearly & fully by Letter, the seventeenth of March, wherein he shows:  
That he was resolved both in Conscience and Honour to make an instant war.  
That he did desire to confer with the House for the manner of the war, Places, and Persons.  
That he did refuse to demand any present subsidy for his debts, but desired that his former demands of one subsidy and two fifteens might be added to the great business of the war.  
Hereupon as a glad echo to such a gracious and musical explanation, the whole House of Commons resound this harmonious close and consent.  
Most gracious sovereign, We your most humble and loyal Subiects, the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, do first render unto your Sacred majesty our most dutiful thankes, for that( to our unspeakable comfort) you haue vouchsafed to express yourself so well satisfied with our late declaration, made to your majesty of our general resolution in pursuit of our humble aduise, to assist your majesty in a parliamentary way, with our persons and abilities. And whereas your majesty, in your great wisdom and iudgement foreseing that it would make a deeper impression both in the Enemies of that cause, and in your Friends and Allies, if they should not only hear of the cheerful offers, but also see the real performance of your Subiects towards so great a work, your majesty was pleased to descend to a particular proposition, for the aduancement of this great business. We in all humbleness most really willing to give your majesty and the whole World an ample testimony of our sincere and dutiful intentions herein, haue vpon mature advice and deliberation as well of the weight and importance of this great affair, as of the present estate of this your kingdom, the weal and safety whereof, is in our judgements apparently threatened, if your majesties resolution for dissolving of the Treaties now in question be longer deferred, and that provision for defence of the realm, and of your Friends and Allies be not seasonably made, haue with a cheerful consent of all your Commons( no one dissenting) and with a full and cheerful consent of all the Lords resolved, that vpon your majesties public declaration for the utter dissolution and discharge of the two Treaties, of the marriage, and the Palatinate, in pursuit of our advice therein, and towards, the support of the war which is like to ensue, and more particularly for those four points proposed by your majesty namely. The defence of this Realm; securing of Ireland; the assistance of your Neighbours the States of the united provinces, and other your Friends and Allies; and for the setting forth of your royal navy; We will grant for the present the greatest aid that ever was granted in Parliament, to be levied in so short a time: that is, Three entier Subsidies, and three fifteens, to be all paid within the compass of one whole year, after your majesty shall be pleased to make the said declaration; the Money to be paid into the hands, & expended by the direction, of such Committees, & Commissioners as hereafter shall be agreed in this present Session of Parliament.  
And we most humbly beseech your majesty, graciously to accept of this first Fruits of our hearty Oblation, dedicated to that work, which we in sincerity desire may prosper and be advanced: And for the future to rest confidently assured, that if you shall be engaged in a real war, We your loyal and loving Subiects will never fail to assist your majesty in a parliamentary way in so royal a design, wherein your own honour, and the honour of your most noble son the Prince, the ancient renoumne of this Nation, the well fare and very subsistence of your noble and onely Daughter, and her Consort, and their posterity, the safety of your own kingdoms and People, and the prosperity of your Neighbours and Allies, are so deeply engaged.  
Now their ready consent, shewed their unity; their bounty, shewed their good affection to the cause; and their provision and caution, to give it by a parliamentary way, shewed their wisdom; who, by looking backward and seeing how all things are drawn into President, and how power lets not go what it gets howsoever it be given, did, for the good of the Ages to come, provide there should not be a new form of raising Moneys, invented and added to those that are already settled and in practise. But as they were ready to part with all to his majesty for the good of his Person and posterity, to be expended in defence of the Church and State; so they would give it By a parliamentary way, that the gift might be known to be theirs, and to be given freely, vpon good and mature aduise and deliberation. Which his majesty well observing and approving, knowing he dealt with a people well managed to his hand, free, faithful, and withall intelligent of all grace that was done them, close and reserved where they saw any conveyance in the Clouds, and open-hearted and open-handed, where they beholded open dealing; He makes a free and public declaration of his royal resolution, the 23 of March, whereof before he seemed, to some of his plain-meaning and plain-dealing Subiects, a little too reserved, who could no● look so far as he himself did, into those respects of State which moved him to it.  
In this Speech, after he had repeated somethings in a former Discourse of his, and shewed his Reasons why he propounded the difficulties there mentioned, not to discourage his People, or encourage the enemy, by pleading his cause, and alleging advantages for him, and disaduantages for us; to animate his pride and oppression, by representing his strength; and deter us, by a reflection of our weakness: but, like a wise Prince, casting and foreseing the worst, and desiring to be armed both with Money and means sufficient, and with men resolved to overcome all these difficulties, hough the worst should fall out that could be objected or suspected, he proceeds to give them thankes for their general offer, in which they did engage themselves, their lives, & estates, to second his resolutions for war, which he graciously acknowledged to be more then forty Subsides, and more worth then a kingdom: For ( quoth he) the strength of a King stands( next under the protection of God) in the hearts of his People. And I must needs say in this particular, it is without example that ever any Parliament for a beginning gave a King so great a supply, in so short a time to be levied. This may well serve for a preparation. And for my part, first considering your general offer, which is ten times more to me then all Subsidies; and next, considering that all these particulars coming from you, be as much as the people are able to pay in so short a time, being within a year, and as much as may be well expended; Therefore with as much love, and as great thankes as a loving and kind King can give to so loving and dutiful a people, I thank you for your offer, and do accept it. I told you before that I would never haue craved your advice to reject it, and so put a scorn vpon you; think me not that man. It is true that I think no wise King can undertake so great a bargain, but he must well bethink himself beforehand; and I hold better that a King aduise well before he take a resolution, then aduise rashly, and after repent it. Therefore my Lords and Gentlemen, I declare unto you, as I am willing to follow your advice in the anulling and breach of these two Treaties, both for the Match and the Palatinate, so on the other part, I assure myself you will make good what you haue said, that in what you aduise me to, you will assist me with your wisdom, and council, and Forces, if need be. I pray you haue a charitable opinion of me, as you are to haue of a King who hath so long ruled and governed you( and I may well vaunt myself with Iustice and Peace) that as I told you before all my forbearance hath been for the sparing of the effusion of Christian blood, and as the most easy and probable way for recovering the Palatinate for my Children, which now it is high time I take in hand and perform. I haue been so long delayed and paid with generals, that I dare not trust longer unto them; which made me enjoin Buckingham to make a particular relation to you of all that business( and I am sure that such an account was never before given in Parliament) that thereby you may know what to trust unto. I could, in this case, haue resolved myself, but I thought it could not be but a strength and honour both to me, to haue the aduise of my people.  
My Lords, in the latter Parliament I then declared unto you, that I was resolved without respect of Friendship, or Match, or whatsoever, to haue the Palatinate one way or other; and I hope you all remember it. God is my judge and saviour, I never had other end and it is pity I should ever live to haue other end: and for my part, except, by such means as God may put into my hand I may recover the Palatinate, I could wish never to haue been born. I am old, but my onely son is young; and I will promise for myself and him both, that no means shall be unused for the recovery of it. And this I dare say, as old as I am, if it might do good for the business I would go in mine own person, and think my travell and pains well bestowed, though I should end my dayes there. For if I should spare any means for the recovery of it then let me not be thought worthy to reign over you. And in good faith I never resolved to live with other mind; nay, I will say more, there was never any enemy of my Son-in-lawes, with whom I talked of that business, or any other that I ever spake with on that side, which did not say and confess that I had reason to haue the Palatinate, one way or othrr. And when they say so, it is a good reason that they themselves allow; and it was a good spur to me to think vpon it.  
My Lords & Gentlemen all, thus far assure yourselves, that I will go cheerfully about to prepare all things possible for it. And as you haue given the means so I will employ them towards it. And in the next degree I hope you will think on me. But this I leave to your own counsels & considerations: but I protest to God, a penny of this money shall not be bestowed but on this work, & by your own Committees; and I assure myself you will think on me for a double reason; my customs are like to fall by occasion of the war, yet I must go through with it one way or other, though I sell jewels and all. In the next Session you will consider how this hath been husbanded, and according to it, think what is next to be done, and how far, and it will stir you the more to enable me for the rest.  
And here I will clear you in some things, concerning doubts arising from my last speech▪ because I will not deal in any thing with you but freely & clearly as a King; and seeing I haue broken the necks of diverse Parliaments together, I hope to deserve so well of you, and you of me, that this shall be a happy Parliament, and make me greater and happier then any King of England ever was.  
In my last speech I promised, if I did accept your offer, I would follow your advice, & would not after harken to any treaty of peace, but would acquaint you with it, & require your advice. And I likewise promised nothing should be spent of those moneys, but by your own Committees. But I desire you to understand I must haue a faithful and secret council of war, that must not be ordered by a multitude, for so my designs might be discovered beforehand: a penny of this money shall not be bestowed but in the sight of your Committees; but whether I shall sand 2000 or 10000, whether by Sea or by Land, North or South, by diversion or otherways by invasion vpon the bavarian or the Emperor, or elsewhere, you must leave that to the king. Assure yourselves my delay hitherto was in hope to haue gotten it without a war. I held it by a hair hoping to recover it by entreaty; but since I see it cannot be had that way, I hope that God that hath put it into your hearts thus to aduise me, and into my heart to follow your advice will so bless it▪ that I shall clear my reputation from Obloquj, & in despite of the devil, show that I never had but an honest heart. And I desire that God would bless our Labours for happy restitution of my Children. And whosoever did the wrong, I deserved better at their hand.  
The next business they fell vpon, was for repressing the increase and insolency of Papists within this Land: For doubtless they saw, that from this root, much of that mischief, which had befallen the Kings Children, first sprung, and was since continued. And what they and Religion in them had suffered abroad, from these and those of their Faction, would follow necessary vpon themselves, and the Church at home, by this means, except their wisedoms did speedily prevent it. Neither did they post-pone Religion, as if the former point handled and concluded, had been merely a civil business: But they preferred that first, both in respect it concerned the Kings Children, and was the ground of all the rest, as also because it was a mixed cause involved with Religion, and concerned the whole Commonwealth of christendom deeply and directly; being therefore to be preferred, as the whole before a part. Now then in the second place, they descend to matter of Religion and State at home: For so the Popes intrusion and the Iesuites policy haue mixed or rather confounded them, as they cannot be distinguished really and actually, though vocally and verbally they may. Shortly after therefore the House gave up this Petition following to his majesty.  
May it please your most excellent majesty, we your majesties humble & loyal Subiects the Commons of this present parliament assembled, having to our singular comfort received your Princely resolution vpon our humble petition to dissolve the two Treaties of the Match & the Palatinat, & having on our parts with all alacrity & readiness humbly offered our assistance to your majesty, to maintain the war which may ensue thereupon; yet withal sensibly finding what seditious & traitorous positions those Incendiaries of Rome and professed Ingineers of spain, the Priests & Iesuites, infuse into your natural born subiects; What numbers they haue seduced, & do daily labour to make, their dependence on the Pope of Rome, and King of spain, contrary to their allegiance to your majesty their liege Lord; what daily resort of Priests and Iesuites into this your kingdom; What concourse of Popish Recusants( more then usual) are now in & about the city of London; what boldness & insolence they haue discovered, out of the opinion conceived of the foreign patronage; what public resort to mass, & other exercises of the roman religion, in the houses of foreign Ambassadors there is daily, to the offence of your good Subiects; What preparations are made in spain fit for an invasion, the bent whereof is as probable to be vpon some part of your majesties kingdoms, as vpon any other place; what encouragement it may be to our enemies and the enemies of your crown, to haue a party, or but the opinion of a party within your own kingdoms, who daily increase & combine themselves together for that purpose; what disheartening to your good and loving Subiects, when they shall see more cause of fear from their false-hearted countrymen at home, then their professed enemies abroad; What apparent dangers by Gods providence and your majesties wisdom & goodness, they haue very lately escaped with the no longer continuance of those Treaties vpon such unfit conditions, by your ill-affected Subiects drawn vpon your majesty and vpon your Estate; they in all humbleness offer unto your most sacred majesty these humble petitions following.  
First, that all Iesuites & Seminarie Priests, & all others, having taken orders by any authority derived from the Sea of Rome, by your majesties proclamation, be forthwith commanded out of this realm, & all others your majesties Dominions, and neither they nor any other to return or come hither again vpon pain of the severest penalties of the laws now in force against them; and that all your majesties subiects may thereby also be admonished, not to receive, entertain, comfort, or relieve any of that viperous brood, vpon the penalty and for feiture which by the laws may be imposed vpon them.  
Secondly, That your majesty would be pleased to give strength and speedy charge to the Iustices of Peace in all the parts of this kingdom, that according to laws in that behalf made, and the Orders taken by your majesties privy council heretofore for policy of State, they do take from all papists, recusants legaly convicted or justly suspected, al such armour, gunpowder & munition of any kind, as they or any of them, haue either in their own hands or in the hands of any other for them; & to see the same safly kept & disposed of according to the law leaving them for the necessary defence of their houses & persons, so much as is by the law prescribed.  
Thirdly▪ That your majesty will please to command all Popish Recusants, and all others who by any Law or Statute are forbidden to come to the Kings Court, forthwith vpon pain of your majesties heavy displeasure, and the severe execution of the laws against them to retire themselves, their wives and Families from about London to their several dwellings or places by your laws appointed, there to remain and to be confined within five miles, according to the laws of this your realm; and for that purpose to discharge all the Post-licences granted unto them for their repair hither; and that they presume not hereafter to repair to London, or within ten miles of London, or to the King or Princes Court wheresoever.  
Fourthly, That your majesty would forbid and restrain the great resort and concourse of your own Subiects for the hearing of mass, and for other exercises of the roman Religion, to the Houses of foreign Ambassadors or Agents residing here for the service of their several Princes or States.  
Fifthly, That whereas of late in several Counties of this realm, some haue been trusted in the place of Lord Lieutenants, of deputy Lieutenants, Commissioners of Oyre and Terminer, Iustices of Peace, and Captaines in their Countreys, which are either Popish Recusants, or Non-communicants, by the space of a year now past, or do not usually resort to the Church to hear divine service, nor can bring good certificat hereof, that your majesty will be pleased to discharge them of their Places of trust, by which they haue power in the country where they live, which is not fit to put into the hands of persons so affencted.  
Sixthly, That your majesty would be pleased generally to put in execution all the laws made against Recusants, and that all Iudges, Iustices, and other Ministers of Iustice, to whose care all these things are committed, may be commanded to do their duty therein.  
seventhly Seeing we are thus happily delivered from the dangers which those Treaties now dissolved, and that use which your ill-affected Subiects made thereof, would certainly haue drawn vpon us, and cannot but of force fear lest the like may hereafter happen, which will bring much peril to your majesties kingdoms: We are most humble Suitors to your majesty to secure the hearts of your Subiects by the engagement of your royal Word unto them, that vpon no occasion of marriage, or treaty, or other request in that behalf from any foreign Prince or State who●soeuer, you will take away or slacken the execution of your laws against the Popish Recusants; to which their humble Petitions proceeding from their most loyal and dutiful affections towards your majesty, the care of their Countreys good, and their confident assurance that they will much advance the glory of almighty God, and the everlasting honour of your majesty.  
They humbly beseech your majesty to vouchsafe your majesties answer.  
Accordingly his majesty returns this gracious answer to their petition, the 23 of April following, in these or the like words.  
My Lords and Gentlemen of both Houses, although I cannot but commend your zeal in offering this petition unto me, yet on the other side I cannot but hold myself unfortunate, that I should be thought to need a spur to do that, which my conscience & duty binds me to. What Religion I am of, my books declare, my profession, and behaviour do show. I hope in God I shall never live to be thought otherwise, surely I shall never deserve it. And for my part, I wish that it might be written in Marble and remain to posterity as a 

Whether or no every Religion increase by persecution, is a question. It is true that Sanguis Martyrum est seemen Ecclesiae: but his majesty must not be understood as if he thought the Martyrs of Rome( such as Garnet & Faux were & the rest are) to be true Martyrs, and that the blood of such is the seed of the Church; It may be the seed of Satans Sinogogue, & of Antichrists Empire, but not of the true Church of Christ. The true Religion thrives indeed by persecution, because it is of God: this was seen by us in the daies of queen MARY, and in France by the Massacre, and in germany by old and late cruelties used against the reformed catholics: but the Church of Rome is not the true Church; for it doth not thrive by persecution, but by persecuting others: The Inquisition upholds it in all places where it stands upright; and that it doth not thrive by persecution, but by the contrary, the reign of queen ELIZABETH, and of his majesty, doth manifest.  
queen ELIZABETH was persecuted by them, & did persecute, or rather prosecute Iustice against them; whereby they decreased both at home & abroad. Our present sovereign, as his majesty confesseth, and as we haue seen with sorrow, hath been and is persecuted by them in his Person, Profession, and posterity, but he hath not persecuted them, nor prosecuted the Law against them, but rather the contrary; whereby they increase at home & abroad; and now, Exitus acta proba●. The effect shows the cause.   mark vpon me, when I should serve from my religion. For he that doth dissemble with God is not to be trusted of men.  
My Lords, for my part, I protest before God my heart hath bled when as I haue heard of the increase of popery: and I take God to be my judge, that it hath been such a great grief unto me, that it hath been as thorns in my eyes, and pricks in my sides so far haue I ever been and shall be from turning another way.  
And my Lords and Gentlemen, you all shall be my Confessors, that one way or other it hath been my desire to hinder the growth of popery: and I could not be an honest man if I should haue done otherwise; And this I may say farther, that if I be not a Martyr, I am sure I am a Confessor: and in some sense, I may be called a Martyr also, As in the Scripture isaac was persecuted by Ismaell by mocking words. For never King suffered more by evil tongues, then I haue done, and that I am sure for no other cause, and yet I haue been far from persecution. For I haue ever thought, that no way more increaseth any religion, then persecution, according to the saying, Sanguis Martyrum est seemen Ecclesiae.  
Now my Lords and Gentlemen for your petition, I will not onely grant the substance of what you craved, but add something more of mine own. For the two Treaties being already annulled, as I haue declared them to be, that necessary followeth of itself which you desire. And therefore it needeth no more but that I do declare by Proclamation( which I am ready to do) that the Iesuites and Priests do depart by a day: but it cannot be as you desire by one Proclamation to be out of all my Dominions. For a Proclamation here, extends but to this kingdom. This I will do, and more, I will command all my Iudges when they go their Circuits, to keep the same course for putting all the laws against Recusants in execution, which they were wont to do before these Treaties. For the laws be still in force, and were never dispensed with by me, and God is my judge, they were never intended so to be dispensed with by me. But as I told you in the beginning of the Parliament, you must give me leave as a good Horse-man, sometimes to use the rains, and not always to use the spur. So now there needs nothing but my declaration. And for the disarming of them, it is already done by the laws, and it shall be done as you desire it, and more.  
I will take order for preventing that shameful disorder of the resorting of mine own Subiects to all foreign ambassadors. And of these I will aduise with my council, how they may be best reformed. It is true that the Houses of Ambassadors are privileged places; and though they cannot take them out from their Houses, yet the Lord Maior, and M. Recorder of London, may take them as they come from thence, and make some of them examples.  
An other point I will add concerning the education of their Children, of which I haue had a principal care, as my Lord of canterbury, and the Bishop of Winchester, and other Lords of my council, and indeed all my council can bear me witness, with whom I haue advised concerning this business. For in good faith, it is a shane that their Children should be so bread here as if they were bread up in Madrid, and at Rome. So I do grant not only your desire, but more.  
I am sorry that I was not the first mover of it unto you; but if that you had not moved this to me, yet I would haue done it of myself. Now for the last part of your petition, you haue herein given me the best advice in the world. For it is against the rule of wisdom, that a King should suffer any of his Subiects, to be beholding and to depend vpon, any other then himself; And what hath any King to do with the laws and Subiects of another kingdom?  
And therefore assure yourselves, that by the grace of God, I will be careful that no such conditions be foisted in vpon any other treaty whatsoever. For it is fit that my Subiects should stand or fall to their own Lord.  
This great business of Religion, which is the foundation of all, being thus settled according to the votes of Parliament, and his majesties vows and promises, and all men secured from marrying any foreign Religion under the coverture of fraudulent conditions, foisted in, as his majesty saith, vpon a new treaty. They then proceed to inquire into the rents & reptures of the Common-wealth. And as in the Parliament before, they reformed the Court of Conscience, and censured the Lord Chancellor, as hath been related; So now they look into the Exchequer, the Court of Treasure, and there their eyes were fastened vpon the supremest Officer, the Lord Treasurer, whose speedy growth, from a mediocrity to that height and greatness, both of place and employment, gave him no time to make use of former Presidents and examples, to teach him to beware; so that he fell before he could well assure himself that he was up. An Artificer that hath been used from Childhood to climb every day, and trained by degrees to acquaint himself with distances of altitude, can, without giddiness, keep sure footing, though the Stages be never so high: It is not so with the unexperienced, though their brains be never so strong and steady, if they, being hoodwinked, be mounted aloft, not seeing the ways they came up, and so unacquainted with the steps and degrees, it is odds but they fall when their Bumble is taken from them. This was his fortune; his fault was that common error of great Officers, who think they can be good Seruants to the King, though they be injurious to the kingdom; yea, that they are the better to the one, the worse they are to the other; when assuredly, they must be good to both, or to neither. That improvement is a benefit to both, which is brought in to the Land, and added to the common Treasure and stock of the State, in Bullion or any other necessary supply, or invented here to better our homebred commodity, and thereby to draw in treasure from without: but that which is gotten through incrochings made by either of these vpon the other, is as if the Father should rob the Child, the Child the Father; the Husband should rob the Wife, the Wife the Husband; or as if the burghers in a town besieged, should sally vpon their own Souldiers in the outworks, or the Souldiers set to defend a place, should revert vpon their own entertainers. They which take from the lawful liberty of the subject, to eke out the prerogative, weaken the sovereign power, which consisteth in the Peoples love, and makes the life of it more troublesone, painful, subject to diseases, and of no certain continuance: they again who pull the proper and natural Feathers from the Princely prerogative, to enlarge the Peoples liberty, do thereby open a door to all manner of evil, which( together with licentiousness and disobedience) do rush into the Common-wealth, and do also make that great body of sovereignty vnproportionable, uncomely, and not glorious enough; yea, altogether unserviceable to move itself, either for the restraint of 'vice, the encouragement of virtue, the execution of laws, or the uniting of Inward power against foreign Force and invasion; which are the ends of royal institution.  
A Parliament therefore, where Prince and People meet and join in consultation, is fit only for that weihgtie and important work, in whose even balancing, the weal of a State doth consist. And without this council, the greatest peer or Officer, yea, the greatest professed Enginere in State stratagems, may easily err vpon either hand, many degrees from good government, and so fall into an Anarchy or tyranny. And this large Point, was lost in his too narrow compass; and no wonder, for never any single man, no not Salomon himself, could sinned it.  
Yet his majesty would not take him from the censure of his peers and People( as unjust Princes would haue done, who having need of bad Instruments, must therefore uphold them, and not suffer them to be made examples of Iustice, lest they should deter others from the like employments, and so when they haue wills to be wicked, and to do wrong, want means to effect it) but as a loving Master, to show himself worthy of a better Seruant, he pleads for mercy where he might command it, yet will not deny it to all, to give it to one, but when all is done, refers him to the unsuspected equity of that Court, willing that he should suffer, though never so great, though never so beloved, rather then the whole State.  
And in this Act, he taught all Officers, even from the Porters Lodge to the Bed Chamber, to see that they haue no protection for wrong from his power, and that there is no sure standing aloft, but by personal innocency and integrity.  
The Conclusion of the Parliament was answerable to these happy proceedings, where those laws made against blasphemy and drunkenness do sanctify and season the rest, assuring us, that though our sins be great and general, yea, such as deserve the punishment of sodom: yet God hath not altogether left us, but these are witnesses of his presence, as the cloudy and fiery Pillars to the host of Israel; We shall not be blown up till these be blotted out, nor dare the Amalekites venture to assault our Coasts, as long as these two Hands of Moses, be held up over us, in 
Exod. 17  prayer and practise. O that we might haue been so happy to cry out also concerning the sabbath with Nehemiah, 
Neh. 13. 22.  Remember us( O our God) concerning this also, and spare us according to the greatness of thy mercy.  
Thus I haue shewed from the Petitions of the Parliament, and his majesties gracious acknowledgement, that what I wrote in that little Pamphlet called Vox Populi, was as far short in effect of what his majesty now knows to be true, as the shadow is of the substance it vshereth, or the paper stopper is of the Shot which followeth. That which I did, was to the end that his majesty might haue known thus much before; which if he had, I know he would then haue given a speedy remedy as well as now. And now in doing this, I hope I haue not shown any disloyalty to his majesty, nor done injury to any true and loyal Seruant or subject of his: except( as the Apostle saith) in this, That I haue not been slothful to your hindrance: 
2 Cor. 12 15.  forgive me this wrong. Nor do I repent me of this; for( as the same Apostle there saith) I will most gladly bestow, and will be bestowed for your souls; though the more I love you, the less I am loved.  
Yet it must needs grieve me to see the Popish Priests and Iesuites, whom the Law calls Traytors, walk freely in the Streets, and press into the Court, and to his majesties presence, when such as oppose these, and show their dangerous intrusions, are for this, in danger and disgrace, shut up, or shut out, from enjoying the benefit of subiects, consisting chiefly in his majesties protection and favour. Nay when these, after a solemn and public Proclamation procured by Petition of Parliament, where the Head and body joined, and commanded their departure under capital penalties, dare notwithstanding stay and tempt the Magistrate to do his worst, knowing well the worst is but to live in a Prison, better in all respects then they can in a Cloister, in any place out of the Land: Such true Subiects, as transported, perhaps, with a little too much zeal, haue erred onely, or at lest offended the ears of their Superiors, with a little too severe and sharp, and perhaps undiscreet or unseasonable admonition, do feel the heaviest censures of arbitrary Law to their utter undoing. The cause of this cannot be to woe the Romanists to reform by clemency; for, alas, after too many trials they are found to be obstinately hardened in their sin: but the true reason is, men are more zealous for superstition, then for true Religion, and more valiant for lies, then for truth. When Elias flees, the Priests of baal offer themselves to the sword, or shun it not when it is offered. And besides this personal valour in the superstitious, nourished by an opinion of merit, which satisfieth the sincerest sort, and a promise of Canonization, which pricks forward the ambitious and vainglorious, if( meeting death in their attempts) they should miss temporal preferment, or shoot short of the papacy, which is the general mark in their eye, yea, the But of their ambitions; The laic or common professor also, is much more forward in their ways of error, then ours are in the ways of God. So that, if any of their clergy come in question, Lords and Ladies become their advocates, and do not onely, vpon their knees, importune their inflexible Idols to hear and help, if they could, but knock at all doors, and give not over knocking, till they obtain what they desire; yea, rather then they will return empty, they empty their purses to this end; because their merit is no less in saving life, then the others should be in suffering death. Whereas, if any of ours be in question, all men shun them, as if they were infected: Oh, they are dangerous, factious, & seditious fellowes; and let their opinions, or affections, or actions be what they will, so they be questioned, the Brand of puritanism set once vpon their backs by power or policy, all men flee from them, as from rocks at Sea, and leave them to perish; yea, rather then fail, will add the weight of their authorities, to sink them in the common Current of displeasure and disgrace. Nor is this the custom of profane persons only, who serve for nothing but to serve times & purposes, & to second the sentence of their Superiors with soothing; but even some of those that will be counted forward Professors, are very Cowards in the cause of Christ, and seek not to rectify iudgement, as the Elders of Iuda did by argument; nor to rescue mistaken innocence, as Ahikam did in the case of jeremiah, Ierem. 26. but desert and misknow their innocent friends if once they be accused, and deliver them up to their angry accusers, as if they were guilty. Assuredly, were they of Rome as faint as we are, or were we as faithful and sure to each other as they are, these strong and dangerous approaches had never been made vpon us at home or abroad, to the hazard of our lives and liberties. This is their advantage, and our disadvantage, that they dare do any thing for the good of their Religion, though the laws, and King, and God be against them; and we dare do nothing for ours, though both Law, and King, & God be with vs.  
To these my timorous & effeminate Friends therefore, who tell me still what I know, that it is good sleeping in a whole skin, I say as job did to his miserable Comforters, Ye are all physicians of no value, Hold your peace, let me 
job 13. 4 13.  alone that I may speak, and let come on me what will.  
To my domestic Enemies or back-friends also, whose ill wills I never deserved, except by wishing them well, and praying for them, I say with Zophar the Naamathite, I haue heard the rumour of my reproach; therefore the Spirit 
job 20. 3  of my understanding causeth me to answer. And with job, Behold now, if I prepare me to iudgement, I know that I shal 
job 13. 18, 19 job 31. 35, 36.  be justified. Who is he that will pled with me? For if I now hold my tongue, I die. O that One would hear me! Behold my sign, that the almighty will witness for me; though my Aduersaries would writ a book against me, would not I take it vpon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown unto me?  
And for foreign Enemies( if I haue any that will do me so much honour as to oppose me) I must remember them