I Confesse I am one of Queen Eliza­beths Protestants, being above my full age in her time, and now grown an old man, and in all my time we ever believed (notwithstanding the bold and desperate Treatises of some few enemies to Kings and Kingly power, to the contrary) that the Jura Regalia of Kings are holden of Heaven, and cannot for any cause escheate to their Subject; nor they for any cause make any positive or active for­cible resistance against them; but that we ought to yield to them passive obedience by suffering the pu­nishment, even though their commands are against the Law of God; and in such case Arma nostra sunt Preces nostrae, nec debemus aliter resistere: for who can lift up his hands against the Lords anointed, and be guiltless? so that in all my time it was conceived that the Jesuists and some Papists onely believed that the Pope had authority to depose and destroy Kings. But now some amongst our selves, who having the jaundies see all things yellow; have their eyes so dazled by looking after Reformation, which [Page 4]yet they know not cither what it is, or will be, through those crackt and broken spectacles of In­novation, and ambition of singularity and faction: that they think themselves should become stark blind, it they should but cast one good look upon the peace of the Kingdom, and not trample under foot Monarchy and Magistracy, and by flouds of popularity drown us in confusion and Anarchy: as if Imperium in Imperio quaerendum esset: this being the onely difference between those Papists and them; the former by Gun powder seeking to destroy both King and Parliament together; and the latter, first the King by Parliament, and then next both Parlia­ment and Kingdom by the People. For can it be doubted but time when Appeals are made to the People, and they imployed and set on work about publick actions, which ought hot to have been done, but by the hand of Authority, they will too soon learn their own strength, that summa potestas radica­tur in voluptatibus hominum, and that then Popularis potentia optimorum potentiam superat.

The Senate of Rome seared it upon a lesse occa­sion, when they recall'd their Edict, that Slaves should weare a certain Mark to discover them from Free­men, lest by comparing the multitude, of the one, by the paucity of the other, some like great danger might ensue to their Senate, and Republick. And in truth some fear that this Mysterie countenanced under the Title [King and Parliament] worketh by such hidden and secret influences, and insinuations, that Solons decree that every man that in a general commotion was of neither party, should be adjudg­ed infamous, would be now amongst us too severe [Page 5]and penal: for certainly there be some conscienti­ous men, who albeit in respect of their allegiance and love to their King on the one side, and the ho­nour and reverence they owe to Parliaments on the other side, they may seem to other to stand at gaze in this via bivia, conceiving it to be via nivea; yet are they nevertheless in truth of the number of those in Amos, Chap 5. Vers. 13. The prudent shall keep silence at that time, for it is an evil time. And how­soever there be divers others of better resolutions, as men both informed and perswaded: yet are there many more of a third sort (of an Ostrich digestion) that are perswaded before they arc informed, and now will not be informed, because they will not be perswaded.

By this confusion, became my thoughts distracted, and my self incountred with such and so many dif­ficulties in my way, which my apprehensions are too narrow to apprehend, or my knowledge to re­solve: and the more I strive to melt my brains into an invention of this allay, the more I find them like the Jewels of the Israelites, turn'd into a Calf, meer foolishness, and therefore so repute, and accept them, as from a distracted man, of a distracted subject, in a distracted time wherein we all now live, and labour sub universali quadam dementia, of which to exa­mine the causes, besides our sins of this Nation, would far exceed the slender capacity of a mean Subject, and is become a question too deep and dangerous, sithence the same already have long been, and yet are urged with more violent argu­ments, and sharper Syllogismes then by the weak weapons of Instruments made with paper, and with [Page 6]more forces and distinctions, then can proceed from any legall or logicall Engine. It is thou O God, that hast moved the Land and divided it, and hast shewed thy people heavy things, and hast given them a drink of Deadly Wine, lettest them to be eaten up like sheep, makest them to be rebuked of their Neighbours, to be laughed to scorn, and had in dirision of them that are round about them; the dead bodies of thy servants are given to be meate to the fowles of the Aire, and the flesh of thy Saints un­to the beasts of the land, and those that remaine thou hast smitten in the place of Dragons, and covered them with the Shadow of Death.

Our Fathers slaine by their own Sons, they by their own Brothers, they by their own Kindred and Allies, they by their Friends and neer Neighbours, and those by their own Nation, of their own House, of their own Faith, of their own Religion. Taci­tus reports that in the civill wars between Vitilli­us and Vespatian, it happened that a Souldier had kil­led his own Father which was of the Enemies Army, which thing was no sooner published, but every man begins to Abhor, Condemn and Exe­crate that War, the cause of such an unnaturall fact, though there might have been said, quare fremuerunt Gentes infidiles Romae, yet here it shall be said quare fremuerunt Gentis Christiani Angliae.

It is become a crime amongst us, to say, Nulla salus bello, pacem te poscimus omnes. When even all, on either part, or Inrolled, Proclaimed or Declared, either for Rebells, Delinquents or Malignants, though many of them (I am confident) fight with no other weapons, but precibus & lachrimis, on their [Page 7]bended knees to their offended and revenging God; incessantly praying for the peace of the Nation. One, that Numa's Temple dedicated to Janus, might not be still kept open; that the Dice of this civill uncivill war, may not still be running, which ever runs hazard on both sides, and drawes the heart blood as well of the innocent as nocent.

It is made an Aphorisme, or Generall Rule in Physick, that in the naturall bodies the longer they are in health, the more dangerous is the Disease when it cometh, and the longer in cuting, as having none of those humors spent, which by distemper gave sovent and force to the approaching Malady.

So in Politick bodies, when civill warre once seizeth upon a Country, rich in the plenty of a long peace, and full with the surfeits of a continuall ease; it never leaves purging those superfluities, till all be wasted and consumed, quae alia res civiles furores pe­perit, quam mini [...]a faelicitas, the Sinnes of our Peace brought upon us the miseries of man; and now we are denied the Blessing of Peace.

If a man disingaged and in his right wits, shall seriously ponder the printed passages between King and Parlament; and those hostile Proceedings, and Plunderings, Rapins and Ruines, Distractions & De­structions on both sides, and then demand unde haec dementia, his Genius cannot readily prompt him to find it out, unlesse by a Divine Scrutiny, for it is not to be found in this Embleme (as some perhaps do dreame of a mad conceipt of some of old,) that a huge Gyant beares up the Earth with his Shoulders, which he changeth every 30. yeares for ease. And that such Removall, causes Earthquakes; which [Page 8]they also observē for an Embleme of Kings; because the burthen of the whole world lies on the Shoul­diers of Soveraigne Authority. And then we mar­valle if they cannot say with King David, Ego su­stinco calumnas ejas, that we have such Earthquakes in their change, as turnes our braines into this Uni­versalem dementiam, for some in this turning of their braines, began to think in their fi [...]s, that because by the Law of the land, it is unlawfull for a King to give a way his Kingdom from his lawfull Heire; so that for a King to give power to hold not for a year, two or three, but a perpetuall Parlament, a power inse­perably incident to his Crown, had been inconsi­stent with Monarchy. And albeit that suprema po­testas seipsum dissolvere, yet ligari non potest, like as it is in the power of a man, to kill a man, but not in his power to make him alive, and yet to restaine him from breathing. But this new conceipt, I hold as mad as that before mentioned.

O▪ hers would have it in this, that the Soveraigne was too blame, too give, and the Subject too bold to ask the perpetuall Custody of that key, which shuts and opens the Cabinet of State, wherein all the parts of the Republick are lockt up from the ma­king too neer approches upon Royalty.

Solomon say they, upon a jealousie far more for­raigne, could deny the suite of his own Mother, for when Bathsheba desired a small petition of him, al­though he answered he could not say her nay; yet when she said, Let Abisha the Shunamite be given to Adonia [...] his Brother to Wife, he could not reply, why dost thou ask Abisha the Shunamite for Adoni­ah? ask for him the Kingdom also. And our Saviour [Page 9]Christs answer to the Mother of Zebedees Children, might (say they) have taught the King to have satisfied such a demand of his Subjects, for she with her Sons coming to Christ, and desiring a certain thing of him which was to grant, that those her two Sons might sit, the one at his right hand, and the other at his left in his Kingdom; they received this answer, ye know not what ye a k. And it is ob­servable, that even in this Kingdom, as the Soveraign hath seldome prospered, that trampled down the subjects just liberties, so the subjects as seldome pro­spered, that climbed up to lop off the Kings just Pre­rogative; for in Truth God so disposeth in Justice, both of King and Subject, that as that of the subjects liberties doth in his own hands breed a comfort to support him in his allegiance and loyalty to his King, yet doth the same in the hands of the King breed a Canker to eat him out of the love and affe­ction of his subjects.

So that if the Kings prerogative which in his own hands becomes a Scepter to protect us from ruine, yet doth the same in the hands of a Subject become a Spade to Grave us to death.

The truth is, that the best Princes being ever the least jealous, have sometimes for a just satisfa­ction to their People, been drawn to part with some of their Royal power to them; and the Peo­ple no doubt demanded the same of their Prince without any evil intent at first, which nevertheless being once obtained, through some after-error, either in the end or in the means, in the motion, or in the moderation thereof, have proved unto them little better then the stollen flesh from the Altar, which [Page 10]by the [...] that stuck unto it, consumed both her self and the yong ones, with the Nest it self.

We need not travel into aliena Republica, being not without E [...]samples here at home of this kinde; but now unseasonable, either for recital or application.

We know that God gave unto the Israelites Quailes and Manna, Angels food, when they lusted in the Wildernesse, yet withal sent leannesse into their souls, and it came out again at their nostrils, and was sowre unto some of them, for they, mur­mured against Moses their Prince. And it was not to be doubted but that this Act for the continuance of the Parliament was by both Houses at the first ge­nerally intended for the soveraign antidote to cure all diseases of the Kingdom. Yet observe its Omen in their Remonstrance of December 15. 1641. It is acknowledged that there seems to be in that Act some restraint of the Royal power, in dissolving of Parliaments, not to take it out of the Crown, but to suspend the execution of it, so then the power shall remain, onely the exercise of it is taken away; though some may object that Vdna est illa potentia, qua nunquam venit in actum. And it is also in that Remonstrance said, that without that Act they must have lest the then both Armies to disorder and confusion, and the whole Kingdom to Blood and Rapine: whereas the event hath wofully shewed, that upon confidence of that Act (for without it they had never been) are raised many more Armies, which hath already brought to disorder and confu­sion, to blood and rapine almost the whole King­dom. So that this Act intended to avoid civil war, hath proved the ready means so to kindle it, as that [Page 11]the flames thereof, are like to consume us all, ta [...] est haec universalis dementia. This Royall Slip, or Root of Monarchy became no sooner to be trans­planted into a Popular soyl; but from them have in a short time sprung forth all the feares, and jealousies, all the disturbances, and tumults raised by factious, and seditious spirits. The dividing of the King from the two Houses, of the Lords from the Lords, and of the Commons from the Commons, Remonstrances, Declarations, Protestations▪ and Covenants on either part; seizing on the Kings Forts, Revenues, Customes, Ammunition, and Navy; the Tenth part, Taxes, Seisures, Se­questrations, Plunderings, Excises, raising of great Armies of Souldiers, Milites Armati, Milites Litera­rii, & Milites Clerici, the whole Army marching in their several postures.

First, the Milites Literarii with their distinctions between Monarchy absolute, and limited; limited and mixed; between a Power Radically limited, and not onely in the use and exercise of it between a Mo­ral Power to resist, and an authoritative and civil power; between resistance of the King himself, and of his Agents, and Officers; between Resistance positive and active, negative and passive; between Jus Regiminis & Usurpationis, according to Gods Law and Mans Law. Also the resistance in such case, is not a resistance of Power, but of his Will; not fighting against the Magistrate, but against the Man: And the King not performing his duty, the Subjects are released from theirs, with many more ejusdem farinae, which (they interpret) is to fear God, and honour the King.

Nex [...] to them do march Milites Clerici, many of them armed with F [...]rebrands, Tongues of Sedition, having their very Pulpits made chaires of Juglers; entertaining the people with shameless Pasquils and Discourses grounded upon the malice of the time, and stuft with Schismes, Heresies, and Tyrannie; and they also becoming Trumpets to sound forth Quaerelas & ambigu [...]s de Principe Sermones, & quae­que alia turbamenta vulgi, having weekly to fol­low them, that no excrement be lost (that may averse and bring in odium Majesty and Go­vernment) the mendatious Mercuries, and Pamph­lets of the time.

And in the last rank do march the Milites arma­ti, who as the Sabeans and Chaldaeans did with Iob, have taken away our Oxen plowing, and Asses and Camells feeding, and have slain our Ser­vants with the edge of the sword. And as the Pro­phet complains, have spoyled our Houses, ravish­ed our Wives, Burned our Cities, Desolated our Countrey, and scattered abroad the inhabitants thereof, and still continue their battels with confused noise, and garments rowled in blood, & non est haec univer­salis Dementia?

But thou O God be merciful unto us, under the shadow of thy wings shall be our refuge untill this tyrannie be over-past, and before the morning they are not: this is the portion of those that rob us. But let no man think that the Parliament hath caused all these things, no surely, for (I am confident) the not being of Parliaments might perhaps bring the Monarch more power, but less glory; more Lords, but few Nobles; more slaves, but fewer subjects; [Page 13]and might perhaps make his Signiories more am­ple but less royal; and himself in all of them less prosperous and happy: whereas on the contrary, it cannot be denied by any honest English heart, that Englands Parliaments are unto her, her Philosophers stone, which turneth all it toucheth into gold▪ with which it cureth not onely the Disease of the Kings-evil, but also all other diseases, as well in Church as State: it cures Schismes, Heresies, Exhorbitances of Prelacie, and maintains the true and Orthodox Do­ctrine, and wholsom Discipline in the Church: It cures Tyrannie and Oppression, and maintains U­unity and Strength in the Monarchy, it cures Factions and Divisions, and maintains just Liber­ty and Respect of the common good in the De­mocracy.

Our Parliaments are the Hercules pillars to eve­ry one of our Herculesses, and Princes; and the ne plus amplius both to Aristocracy and Democracy. And in all, either their Excesses or Defects, redu­ceth them to their Golden Moderation, and just Temper: and such was this present Parlia­ment in its first beginning; Nay the President of all former Parliaments fall much short of what this then brought forth for the Soveraign, in point of Grace and Favour to his people, to whom he denied nothing which they challenge by Law.

But it is thought by some, that some former Parliaments having been unfortunately blasted, that thereupon the Crown had invaded both up­on the Subjects liberty and property; and that albeit they had then a little before obtained a Tri­ennial [Page 14]Parliament, and other Acts to redresse all their grievances, so to prevent the like pressures in the time to come; yet, that they finding that the King to be then under a cloud with the people, they the better to pay the debts of the Kingdom, and to discharge the then Armies before the Parliament should be ei­ther prorogued or dissolved; pressed for the Act of Continuance, by which (as a Member of the As­sembly of Divines in his Sermon Martii 27. 1644. imprinted by their order, and intituled A Prospective-Glass for England 's Case, tells and assures them) they are become fastened as Nail in a sure place. But yet hath it not wrought so kindly as both Parlia­ment and People did expect: and as by the fruits be­fore mentioned which it so plentifully and suddenly produced appeareth, for then as if some few new Statists, or reserved Polititians, who Honores quos quieta Republica desperant, perturbata consequise posse arbritrantur, and who are not alwayes the best ser­vants, either to King or Kingdom, but are in Novan­dis, quam in Gerendis rebus aptiores, had designed this perpetual Parliament to bear the name of that, which wrought wonders in King Richard the second's time. And in case that failed, then to bear the name of the mad Parliament, as a King Henry the thirds time; and to that end had introduced certain new Ordinances, and strains of Law, pretended Parlia­mentary, not understood of the people in this Age: and in truth Lex nostra Parliamenti est ab omnibus quaerenda, à multis Ignorantia, à paucis Cognita.

And yet some conceive it had been much better for those Statists and Engineers (if any such be) Ne­scire Centrum, quam non tenere Circulum: and thus [Page 15]to run in Meanders and Mazes into this universalem dementiam, whereby (as some think) they have sought to make the cause of the King, and who (sai h Iob) will say unto the King thou art wicked? And as Ecclesiasticus, Who shall say unto him, what dost thou? And as Solomon, He that provoketh him to anger, sin­neth against his own soul.

To moralize with that of the lion, who having lost his power and strength, then the Wolf pincheth him, and the Bull goars him, and the very Asse kicks at him, Nam Principis nomen habere, non est esse Prin­ceps, and whereby (some also think) they have made the cause of the people, whose disease was thought to have been a consumption of their properties and liberties.

First for care of properties, to let them blood, and purge them of their estates.

And next for cure of their liberties, to open a­nother vein, either by imprisonment or banishment of their persons, from their Wives and Children, and their own habitations; to let out a certain Malignant blood still remaining in them, for that they will not pay more then they are able, and so impossibilities in this reforming generation, non est haec universlis de­mentia. But admit this perpetuity of Parliaments hath wrought any such change or excesses, yet it is for Reformation in case of Religion, Et summa est Ratio qua pro Religione facit.

Besides it is a Rule, that the policy of Statebean-not admit any Law, or priviledge whatsoever ut in some particular or other (especially for Reformati­on in Religion) is necessarily broken. But hath it no other ends? what meaneth then the bleating of [Page 16]the sheep in mine Eare, and the lowing of Oxen I heare, and what meaneth th s that they have taken, and possessed to themselves, and given to others, se­verall Officer and places of honour, preferment and profit in the Common-wealth, which none but the King himself could lawfully give or dispose of?

But grant it were for Reformation; yet do we not know, that Reformation is a work of Medicine and Healing, and not of destruction and desolation; That Divine zeal is a benigne flame, giving light as well as heat; But an Erroneous zeal all Heate and no Light?

The Reformation wrought by the former is Re­formatio bellicosa, effected per Gladium oris; the latter is, Reformatio bellicosa done per os Gladii: And certainly true Religion, is rather a Setler then Stickler in Policy, and rather confirmes men in o­bedience to the Government established, then in­cites them to the erecting of a new, which they nei­ther do nor can know till it be discovered and de­clared; wherein our present Religion is Erroneous. And whether in Doctrine or Discipline, if it be not in Doctrine, but Discipline and matter of Ceremony onely of the Essence of our Religion, then whether w [...]ll the Reformation of it deserve the expence of so much Christian blood; and whether without the shed­ding of any blood at all, hath it not been gra­tiously offered, that no indifferent and unnecessary Ceremonie, should be pressed upon weak and tender consciences, and that both in that and other d ffe­rences in the Church and Synod of Orthodox and Learned Divines should be chosen and consulted with. Those Statists have done well to pull down [Page 17]Images, not so to set up Imaginations, and then make the Kings people to kill and murther one ano­ther, to uphold them before they can either know or approve them, non est haec universalis dementia? But yet those Statists have another Rule, that to yield to peace before a Victory, were again to trust in whom they cannot confide: Whereunto I answer, that we are to confide in whom the Law hath con­fided, and if we place Gaurdians over him, then whom shall we place over those Gaurdians?

And for Victory, should we have it, and have with it also what Lawes our selves please? though it be true, that Leges a victoribus dicuntur & accipientur a victis, yet for how long? for can we think but that Lawes, which have too much force in the making, do many times prove to have too little in the binding?

Doth all binding of a King, upon the advantage of necessities make the breach it self lawfull? No peace made by the water of Stix can be longer held inviolable, till that River be dryed up. And shall we then keep that River running, by drawing out all the blood of the Kingdom? Nay, think we, that Victories on either part will amend the matter? would they not be like those Victories of Pyrrhus against the Romanes; in the first they might Gloriari non Gandere; and in the second he himself said, if we over­come once more, we a e undone.

Besides, let us consider, he was a wise man that said, the Battaile is not of the strongest, nor yet the bread for the wise, nor Riches to men of understand­ing, nor favour to Men of knowledg. No King or Parlament can be saved by the multitude of an b [...]ast, neither is any mighty Man delive­red [Page 18]by much strength, why then will we prefer Force before Peace? shall we not see order till disorder shewes it, nor learn to do but by undoing? non est haec universalis dementia? It is said, that when King A­lexander the Great wrote to the Senate of Rome, ut se Deum facerent, and they denying it, one stood up and told them, videndum est, ne dum Coelum nimis custodirent, terram amitterent: Which caveat made them for the peace and safety of themselves and their Country, to decree, quonian Alexander Deus esse vult, Deus esto. But our Carolus desites not, ut­se Deum facerent, but ut se Restituerent, and that to no other Deity but that which both the Law of God, of Nature, and of our Nation hath bestowed upon him. Yet it seemes also to be denyed him, un­lesse he will admit some to be partners with him, or Gaurdians over him.

But certainly, if Valentian the Emperour (so cho­sen by the Souldiers) could say unto them, when they would have joyned another with him; no said he, it was indeed in your power to give me the Em­p [...]e whilst I had it not, but now I have it, it is not in your power to give me a partner.

Much more may our Emperour, for Rex est Impe­rator in regno suo, not as he by Election of the Soul­diers, but by the strongest Title of Succession, after more then twenty descents, demand that there be no sharers with him in the dispensation of his Regall power; but that we do trust him whom God hath trusted with it; the Bed and the Throne can abide no Rivalls.

Non bene cum sociis, regna venusque manent, but how then, shall those Statists and Men so active in [Page 19]this great work, stand in the displeasure of their King and dread Soveraign? why, who reades, unless with blood-shot eyes, the severall Expresses and Declara­tions published to the world, offering both the set­ling of our Religion, just Liberties of the Subjects, Priviledges of Parlament, and also the suppressing of Popery, and preventing of Tyranny, but hath not his Soul been amazed at the continuance of these distractions? Or that can have a thought that the head cannot think to live, where the body is in this great Consumption? but he will rather yield to the feet when they are grieved, (for they lying in fetters, the head cannot be free.)

If the hand offend the eye, or the tooth the tongue, in such case to punish, would not the head find that the revenge would make all the Members of the bo­dy to become, felo's dese, and then what kind of head will remain without a body? certainly Consiliarius ne­mo melior est, quam tempus, which do now if ever Councill Majesty, rather safetie then force, and ra­ther pardon then prescription, for Nullum stabile reg­num nisi benevolentia munitum. No King can long Raigne, who is not Walled and Gaurded about with the love of his Subjects. And it is a Rule infallible for a King of England to greaten himself, there is no way so assured as by the love of the People.

And for the Honorable City of London, (the Kings Chamber) who can doubt, but they shall re­maine honoured, both with all the Immunities, Charters and Priviledges, and still with more, be more and more honoured.

I am perswaded, that they even most desire to for­get their glorious Rule by Ordinances and Commit­tees, [Page 20]and will remember what Agesilaus answered a Cittizen of Sparta, who desired an alteration of Go­vernment, that that kind of Government which a man would disdaine in his own house, were very un­fit to govern great Regions by; and who is not of his mind that said he had rather live under one wise­man (though cruell) then under the barbarous cru­elty of the multitude? And for those in Parlament, are not all they, all those new Statists accepted so Just and Honorable, and the rest so Honest and Loy­all, that they will never habour in their Breasts such monstrous and unnaturall thoughts against their K [...]ng and Country? howbeit, some doe think that there are many of them of both Houses, which are used but as Codicils to a Testament, or as small Boates to great Ships, to which they be fastned, and from which they are let loose, at the pleasure of the Testator in the one case, and of the Pilot in the o­ther; but the Masse of the Esta [...]e is disposed of by the Testament; and the tall Masts, broad Sailes, Tackle and Furniture born by the greatest Ships, which having so fastned their Boates unto them, would enforce them (as some think) to adventure a Voyage to the Red Sea, rather then faile of their prizes, which those great Ships, these new Statists, so much labour for, though they even also as in Chari­ty I am bound to think) if when the Act for perpe­tuating this Parlament was to have been passed, they could have been informed (as Hazaell was by an E­lisha how thereby it would come to passe, that the strong holds of the Kingdom should be set on fire, and their young men slain with the Sword, and so many thousand of soules perish by Blood and Ra­pine, [Page 21]they would not then have answered with Ha­zaell, what are are we dogs, that we should do this great thing? Howbeit, since they making no medium inter praecipitia & summa, seem to take delight in that which before they had prosest to detest and abhor, & non est h ec universalis dementia?

But thou O Lord, stillest▪ the raging of the Sea, and the noise of the Waves▪ and the madnesse of the people, thou makest warrs to cease in all the world, thou breakest the Bow, and snappest the Spear in sunder, and burnest the Chariots in the fire.

But ye [...] it is safest trusting when we take from the King all means of breaking: we have our brethren the Scots with a great Army to assist us. And that Member in the Assembly of Divines in his Sermon 27 Martii 1644 before-mentioned, assures us that the cause is invincible, and that God had smitten the generality of the Land with Madnesse, Blindnesse, and Astonishment of Heart; and that it may be feared lest the Spanish, or Irish, or other Forraigners, may beg the whole Land of the King, and obtain it, alledging that the Nation is not Compos Mentis. And that this Work in hand is a Mysterie, a Parad x, a Riddle, a Secret that doth require a Revelati [...]n and that shallow headed, narrow hearted Carnalists are pusled in it. But yet I say there is a God that fru­strateth the tokens of the lyers, and maketh D [...]ines mad; that turneth wise men backwa d, and m keth their knowledge foolish, Isaiah 24.2. Th [...]ugh Ba­laam was hired to curse, yet he was [...]n [...]orced to say, that the shout of a King is amongst them, Numb. 23.21. And it is true that God by the assistance of our brethren, hath made us prevalent, and that hath [Page 22]also put into the Kings heart to trust him with his person, when we proclaimed it Treason to those here that should harbor or conceal him. And that hath also moved the Kings heart to do, and consent unto whatsoever the Parliament shall in reason require for the good of his people.

And do we yet hesitate? It seems that we having done we know not what, we now know not what to do: and is not this Universalis Dementia?

Oh my soul! come not thou into their secret, into their Assemblie, mine honour be not thou united, for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they digged down a wall: Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath for it was cruel.

But for those Worthies and the rest of the Parlia­ment, blesse God for their brethren, who he hath made the happy instruments for our happy peace, so neer at hand; if not hindered by those before men­tioned.

However I will rest assured that if this fail, that ne­verthelesse deliverance shall arise to our King from another place, and at another time.

I confesse that with God Dies hora momentum in evertendis omnibus sufficit, quae adamantinis radici­biu videntur esse fundata, and that Englands sins de­serve these plagues. It is God that changeth the times and the seasons, and removeth Kings and set­teth up Kings, it is the Lord, let him do what seem­eth him good. But yet in this if they should pre­vail, the best that shall be said of it concerning them­selves will be, that for some short time prosperum sce­lus vocatur virtus, but afterwards the rods them­selves shall be cast into the fire, in the mean this of the Poet may chance to be verified:

But these sad and melancholy considerations hath brought me so far into this Universalem Dementiam, that if I conclude not quickly, I must be committed to Bedlam into Bethlehem: yet who but a Nero can sit and sing when Rome burns? and who but a Faux mourns not at the destruction or his Countrey, for the transgression of the land?

Many are the Princes thereof by a man of under­standing and knewledge the state thereof shall be pro­longed.

My Son, fear thou the Lord, and the King, and meddle not with them that are given to change, for their calamity shall arise suddenly.

It is high time that in this great prease we hasten to come with the Woman in the Gospel, and touch the garment of our Saviour, and so have the foun­tain of blood dried up, for which we have suffer­ed many things of many Physitians, and have spent all that we had, and are nothing better, but rather grow worse

And if this land enjoy either a setled peace, or a lasting prosperity untill this perpetual Parliament be either ended or limited; then have I not erected my Figure aright, but my Star hath mis [...]led me. It w [...]uld be too too vain for me to go about by guesses, and surmises to say who are the Impostors, new Statists, or the evil Councellors that have continued this Tra­gedy to be acted in our Nation.

S. John who was a burning and shining light, did bear record of him who wrought our salvation, and the same light will also in due time bear record [Page 24]of those who have wrought our destruction; onely my prayer for the whole Parliament to Almighty God is, that they may be reconciled to the King, and his royal heart to it, that so these flames may be quenched, that do so much threaten ruine to them both, and to the whole Church and State.

And thus having told you my thoughts, if the time present or future, shewes any thing herein seri­ous, account it then to be done in my Lucida inter­valla, and till then both that and the rest to be done in my fits of this Vniversalis Dementia: therefore fi st read them and silence them. Onely let my Friends, Children, and Grandchildren know in what faith I died, and in what fear I lived: and so vale, & in haec, & ab haec universali dementia.