A Just and Modest VINDICATION of the many Thousand Loyal Apprentices that presented an humble Address to the Lord Mayor of London: in which is manifested the Reason, Why They engaged themselves in such an Affair: And, That they have so great a Veneration and Esteem for PARLIAMENTS, because They are the Wisest, Best and Safest Counsellors any Prince can Consult and confided in, for Redressing the Grievances of the Nation, and to make himself and his Kingdom happy: as is clearly though briefly Evinced in the following Discourse.  
WE seriously pondering the Folly and Ignominy we were exposed unto, by reason of the impertinent and unseasonable Actions of some few in our own Station: thought it our Duty and Interest to vindicate ourselves from the many Defamations and vile Aspersions that are cast upon us by some few detracting Momus's, who, like  Zoilus are Linx-ey'd, and can quickly find, Something to carp at, but their Words are Wind. 
And by those that continually vilify and defame any that are upright in Life and Conversation, though they are endowed with the greatest Loyalty imaginable: and by such that delight to render honest Designs odious, that their own deeds of Darkness may not appear, and be the less suspected  — Da justum sanctumque videri, Nictem Peccatis& Fraudibus objice Nubem. 

If that their Deeds of Darkness may  
Be wrapped in Clouds as black as they?  
If being ugly, they may paint,  
O Then they are brave true new Saints.   
In the first place, 'twill be very requisite, to satisfy the public, by giving some tolerable Reasons Why we engaged ourselves in such an Affair, and to inform the whole World, That it was not out of Ambition to be Knighted, nor to obtain the most sumptuous Treats, that others have immerito met with.  
Secondly, To vindicate the Method by which we have proceeded.  
To the first Question, Why we concerned ourselves, in Things not properly belonging to us, considering we are Apprentices? We answer, Why were some in our Station encouraged( by such who would be fain accounted WISE MEN) to intermeddle with State Affairs, that are infinitely above any of their Degree or Competency of judgement? thereby giving an Ill Example to others, whose thoughts and inclinations were otherways bent; till they had gotten an ill Precedent, which by the Influence and Instigation of some soft-headed Gentlemen, they were prevaled upon to Imitate.  
BUT Our chiefest Reason was to manifest our Loyalty to his Majesty, and our Veneration for parliaments, notwithstanding some Thrasonical Parasites, would have all men believe, That they Omne tulerunt Punctum, and were the only Loyal Apprentices, when in Reality, their number was Insignificant, their Civility little, and their Loyalty least of all.  

Though they great Boasters are, deluding some  
With vaunting Words, yet when to proof they come,  
And men expect like Actions, They appear  
So vain, they Merit nothing but a jeer.   
For, what they did, it was not out of a Principle of Loyalty, but primarily to advance themselves: and for the sake of some sordid Lucre, They may justly be compared to the Wolf in the Fable, which promised to keep the young the Sow had just pigg'd, not out of any Love to the Sow; but in hopes to obtain them as a prey to himself. And many subscribed it, to gratify their own Friends, and their Masters Customers; as several of them have since( to the great dishonour of their Proceedings) voluntarily Confessed. And its well known, That many of them have recanted for being so foolish as to gratify any of their Friends; or Masters Customers by rendering themselves ridiculous, in meddling with things beyond their sphere or Concernment.  
But whilst we are accusing Others as culpable, least any should condemn us; we declare to all whether near or remote, That it was not out of any factious Design, to disturb the Peace, or cause more Divisions amongst ourselves; for, ah alas! our Breaches are too wide already: but mearly to manifest our Innocency, and how amiable a life of tranquillity is to us, and how little pleasure we take in meddling with State Affairs, because they are things of too great a Sublimity for our flender Capacities to aspire unto: Though we can( thanks be to God) affirm our Judgments and Discretions are as intelligent and Comprehensive as any of theirs. And to demonstrate, that altho many of us, that red their Address, did not subscribe it, because we feared it might seem of a tendency dishonourable to Parliaments: yet we will not be behind any of our fellow-Apprentices in Demonstration of Loyalty even to the last drop of our Blood( to his Sacred Majesty, whenever his service shall require it, against any Trators or Rebels whatsoever. Which Demonstration, we can't but admire, that any one that is Compos mentis, or truly Loyal, should condemn, vilify and reproach it; since the thing is so honest and full of the highest Expressions of Loyalty imaginable. But what can we say or do, since the world abounds with too many that Arcem ex Cloacâ facient, that will make a Mountain of a Molehill, that care not to call Light Darkness, and true Loyalty to Kings, and Veneration for Parliaments, Rebellion and Faction: whose chiefest Aims are to Advance themselves in honour and wealth; who to obtain Preferment and forbid Lucre, will freely pawn their Souls and Bodies.  

Who are such Graceless, idle, foolish Knaves,  
To make their Souls and Bodies always slaves;  
For love of sordid Lucre and base Gain,  
And pleasures with vain honors to obtain.   
Oh! That they who so much pretend to the true Protestant Religion, that they Compel their fellow- Protestants to join with them in giving their Assent and Consent to such things as they themselves acknowledge indifferent, and what the Scripture no where warrants, would act like Q Elisabeth's Protestants; in desiring, That more faithful labourers should be added to Gods Vineyard, than that they should be suppressed: and that they would put on those Bowels of Mercy, Compassion, Moderation and Charity, as becometh true Protestants: and that they would put as candid a Construction on all their Actions as they justly merit: and when they do declare, protest and perspicuously manifest the sincerity and integrity of all their Enterprises: and their Loyalty in the Superlative Degree. They would not asperse them with notorious Falsities and unchristian-like Scandals, when their Civility, Innocency and Integrity of Life merit otherwise.  
Secondly, We proceeded by such a Method, as but few will or can take just exceptions at, unless they will Nodum in Scirpo quaerere, seek a knot in a bulrush) when they are rightly informed of it, which was as followeth; When we met together, we consulted the best means we could device for the carrying of it on; We advised all that we knew concerned in it, to behave themselves civilly to all, and to procure Subscriptions without any Riot or Disturbance of the Peace; and it has been carried on with great Prudence and civility, notwithstanding the numerous Affronts and Provocations we have met with by some rude, idle and impertinent Fellows in tearing our Address: Yea, though we have lost 5000 hands, yet there has been no illegal Proceedings against any of them. We entreated all to get Subscriptions in a decent manner, and not by Compulsion, or forcing any one beyond his own voluntary Consent, but to red it over to all that were willing to Subscribe it, if they approved of it, and when it was red, if they made any Objections ( as few did) then we satisfied them with suitable Answers, and informed them the chief design and tendency of it; we also  told them our Loyalty to His Majesty should not be wanting; and as we would always be Obedient unto him, so we would as far as in us lay, give Parliaments their due esteem and respect; because they are an essential part of the Government, and best Counsellors a Prince can consult. Plautus saith, Nemo solus sapit, and since Council is absolutely necessary in Government, they are the fittest Persons to inform their Prince of, and to advice Him in redressing the Grievances of the Nation, who are as so many Spectators of the Indigencies and woeful Misery it groans under. For as Creon in Euripidem in Phaenisses, says, {αβγδ}, Unus vir non vidit omnia, no man sees all things; Plus enim vident oculi quam oculus, and as they are the best Counsellors and wisest Senators, so they are the most potent to assist him in securing us from all Foreign and domestic Enemies, and in a word, to make the King and Kingdom happy.  
We have so great a veneration for Parliaments, That we abhor and utterly detest to see them depraved of their Ancient Rights and privileges; And when their Aims and Actions are only to secure the King, His Subjects and the Protestant Religion, that an Ill Construction should undeservedly be put upon them, and they trampled upon, aspersed and defamed; and that any derogation from their undoubted Power and privileges should be suffered to proceed from any Popish Observator, or brazen-faced Heraclitus, or any Debauc'd, Whoring, Damning, Tantivy Massmonger whatsoever.  
The wisest Persons are of Opinion, That a happy Union of King and Parliament, is the only means to heal our Breaches and compose our Differences in Church and State; and we red, That the wisest Princes became both Happy and Potent by consulting their Senates and most skilful Lawyers: We shall instance several that were egregious for Wisdom and Power, viz. Aurelius Antonius Philosophus, who( as our Author says) ut Princeps per omnia Moderatissimus, ita Fortissimus fuit Imperator, Qui praeter alia Hoc, tulit Elogium, quod Dion.& Suidas refert. {αβγδ}. Quod sui semper similis in omnibus fuerit, neque ullam re unquam variabilis, aut mutabilis: revera bonus Vir, nequicquam habens simulati. Is vero Tantus etiam prudens Imperator, nec Imbecilis Rebus, nec in civilibus negotjis, quicquam agere solitus fuit sine Consilio Senatûs,& Jurisperitorum. Quam ob causam a quopiam Reprehensus, quod nimio plus tribueret Amicorum Concilijs: Quanto( inquit) aequius est me tot,& tales amicos omnes; meam unius sequi voluntatem? Sentiens nimirum cum, qui de suâ unius sententia omnia gerit, supper bum magis, quam sapientem judicandum esse. This valiant wise Prince would act nothing of Moment without the advice of the Senate and most skilful Lawyers, for which a certain person reproved him, for overmuch compliance with the Counsel of his Friends, to whom he very humbly replied, It is much more reasonable that I alone follow the Opinion of so great a number of my good and faithful Friends as ye are; than that so many Wise menshould follow the Opinion of ME alone: Thinking he that Acts all things according to his own judgement, should be accounted a man full of Pride rather than Wisdom; For the Poet saith, Consilio Quicunque suo sapit, haud sapit ille. Consilio Alterius, qui sapit, ille sapit. And as our Author says, Things determined and resolved by many Brains are always wiser, safer and better ordered, than by the Resolution of one man. And Solomon says, In the midst of Council there is safety.  
We see also that the Ancient Romans and Commonwealths well governed, have always followed and observd, that which by plurality of wise mens voices was concluded and determined, and truly, the wiser a Prince is, the more he will suspect his own Opinion, for the same Wisdom which is in him will persuade him not to credit himself too much, and to suspect his own judgement, in his own case, and so to suffer himself to be governed by his Council. Our Authors say further, If a Prince be not endowed with much Wisdom, yet if he resolves to Govern by Council, his Affairs will be better managed than they could be by his own Head. In all cases presupposing that his Council be compounded of good and capable men, which have always before their Eyes, the service and utillity of their Prince, which is no other but the Commonwealth.  
Charles the VIII. of France, though he was a King of no great understanding of wisdom, yet the Estates that were Assembled at Tours gave him good council, which they choose of fit and capable persons, 
Annals of frankford. 1484.  by which Counsel the Kingdom was well governed, and under Alexander Severus the Affairs of the Common-wealth were well Governed by means of good Counsellors.  
We hope these our moderate reasons why we have so great an Esteem and Respect for Parliaments, will be Candidly accepred by those that may red them: And now having clearly evinced the Benefits which attend the King and Kingdom by reason of Parliaments, we admire that any Persons can pretend to Loyalty, and to respect the King and Government, who are at the same time labouring manibus pedibusque Tooth and Nail to subvert an essential part of it, and to persuade him to lay afide his best Friends and Wisest Counsellors( we mean Parliaments) whose Advice and Assistance is the wisest, best and safest, for the making any King not only Rich and Potent, but also him and his Subjects always happy, as we have undeniably proved before. And since Parliaments are a considerable part of the Government; We think Th. R, and the Authors of Heraclitus, who contrary to Law, defame and villify them, and render them as odious and contemptible as any base Fellows whatsoever; ought to suffer the greatest and severest punishments the Laws will allow, for the notorious impudence and detraction they are guilty of: most people know what Sordid, Popish Mercenary Fellows they are, and tis the desire of all good Protestants that {αβγδ} in time their deeds of Darkness may be made more manifest. As for that old, mercenary, carping Zoilus R. he is sufficiently known as to his Debauched and Unchaste Life, wicked Principles and Popish Designs, insomuch that many say,  

Dost think the King and Kingdom do not see,  
And know that nothing good can come from thee,  
Can Swine yield sweet Perfumes, can Swans breed Crows?  
Can Flattering Rogues have but dissembling shows?  
Can Health he hidden in the Plogue or Pox?  
Can men take Pride in Fetters, Bonds or Stocks?  
And more impossible than are all these,  
It is that thou shouldst any good man please,  
Except it be a flash, a spark, a spirt,  
Soon in, soon out, and then so sweet as Dirt:  
Or like a Candles Snuff for pleasing scent,  
Thou leavest them deeply pleased with Discontent,  
For thou like stinking Fish art grown so stale,  
Thy whole days work's not worth a pot of Ale.   
Therefore we amicably advice Mr. Proteus, who would by all means( whether fair or foul) be accounted a great Loyallist ( Woen as his Service to the King is such As Atheists unto God, and scarce so much.) Not to decieve himself, by fancying that by such intolerable Actions he shall be the Mark of the Kings Favour, lest Haman like without thinking, a Halter should choke his Ambition, for certainly no Prince will deem that persons Loyalty good or true, whose chiefest aims and endeavours are to make him out of Love with his People, and consequently they defective in Allegiance to him; thereby causing perilous differences to arise between Him and His Subjects. And if our merciful King and his People should ever disagree( which God forbid,) it must only be imputed to such Rascally politics, who foment Differences by pressing both sides to extremities. Were it worth while to Answer the Carpings of this temporising Popish Factor, we might lay him open in his proper Colour, and clear ourselves from the inveterate Mercenary Pen of this common Hackney scribbler, but since his Tongue is no Slander, we shall imitate Horses and great Beasts, which pass by Barking curs with Contempt,  

And shan't be moved when false Aspersions grow,  
Lest false Untruths like Verities should show.   
Candid Reader, we entreat thy Pardon for this long deviation, for we assure thee we should not have troubled ourselves so much with him, had it not been absolutely necessary to inform many unintelligent persons, what Debauched, Mercenary Popish Tories, our Accusers and Abusers are; that they may not any more be imposed upon by such Papistical Parasites.  
And having manifestly evinced the Innocency and Loyalty of us Addressors, the goodness of the Address, and with what Decency, civilly and Prudence it has been managed aboro usque ad mala, from first to last; and though our number of Subscribers are very many, yet none of them were obtained by such pitiful means as Pots of Ale, nor the Threats or Allurements of any Person whatsoever; but it was our own voluntary Act and dead, not to obtain Bucks or Sumptuous Treats, or in hopes to be young Knights of the Craving Fobb, but( as we have said before) to manifest our Innocence and Loyalty, and the great esteem we have for Parliaments.  
Having now( as we hope) satisfied any honest rational man with sufficient Reasons why we engaged ourselves in such an Affair, we shall at present forbear to writ, till our Opponents shall think fit to reassault us; and shall cast any more is merited false Aspersions on our Proceedings.   

LONDON, Printed for R. Goodfellow. 1681.