IN time of Warr, that ſome times happy peacemaker, when vnlookt for miſcheifs are either hatching or of ripe age; prevention and pollicy is the beſt antidotes, which the beſt even our bleſſed Parliament have vſed as ſoveraigne in theſe worſt ages.

And indeed if upon a conceited ſurvey of imminent danger, they had left to be cauſtious, they had reſigned injoyed ſecurity to hap hazards Cruilty; but that honourable Aſſembly hauing a wellconceated ill conceit of ſome aduerſe party, who deeming Maieſty Loyalty, would faine Lord it over them with ſome upſtart tyranny, have well fortified thoſe places moſt aimed at, becauſe moſt dangerous to their aſſaults, and turrited and reſartiated thoſe timeworne Bulwarkes, which lay as it were gaping for the iſſue of the enemy. Nay, not onely ſo, but ſince that monies are the finewes of warre, victuals and proviſion the uſefull artillery, they they have with as much care as ſpeed, cauſed to bee tranſported to Hull, ſuch conveniences which their private neceſsities cry for: a ſhip laden with victuals.

But ſince that Fortune is commonly adverſe to vertuous and good intended deſignes, it had not ſwept the ſurface of the water, to New Caſtle, but it had run on the pikes of danger, by ſome Cavaliers; if execution had not proved more unlucky then intention • for no ſooner were their eyes commanders of the Veſſell, but drove with envy rather then hunger, armed with temerity rather then civill honeſty, without ſulration, they let flye a Cannon ſhot at her: but it came ſhort of their longing, and, as it were approving their innocence, the hard iron cryd in his errand, as loath to doe his meſſage, and for griefe fell downe dead. Which when theſe Buffes perceived, preſently, not knowing the cauſe of the quarrell, they ſeemed to lay battery againſt heaven, and with thundring and ſelfe-damming word-ſhot, threatned to imbarke the poore Barke in ſome diſadvantage. Whereupon they lifted up their voices in a high execrable ſtraine, others were in a lower Key, all ran diviſion, and no muſicke ſounds, well, unleſſe there be another Baſe ſhot, command therefore was given, that they ſhould glut a piece: and after they had roard it with a Dam Me, they ſeconded it with a Ram ye to the top, ſo that they fed the piece belly full with the deadly enemies of life, for how they will ſhoote and indeed in the upſhot they did, for having diſcharged their Engine: againe as if the others cauſe was good, it broke its heart, and as inraged ſent his intrails into theirs who kindled his anger, and with his ſides thruſt them into deaths doores. Here might you ſee a Separatiſt, a leg parted from the body, there an Athieſt, as if he had denied its Eſſence, many to the number of thirty maſſacred, ſome as Church Papiſts, ſhare equally of life and death.

Thus did they fall and were intangled in their owne yarne: thus they became their owne executioners, who, whilſt they intend to build a houſe on others ruine, and make others wretchedneſſe their happineſſe, found no enemies but themſelves, as if they onely had been the men who were to be proſecuted with ſuch vengeance. And now would this accident faine traduce the conſtancy of my faith: and I begin to iudge of the cauſe of the iniured party, which uſeth skill in ſelfe-defending not man offending guided by nature, which clemency and patience have named good; whoſe cauſe Fortune hath Chriſtened juſt, vnleſſe it be turn'd a crime to ſecure ones ſelfe; I am therefore ſtruk with dull amazement at the thought of that tongue deſtructions that ſlee our Common wealth in ſo many peece, that Mortals ſhould judge occurrents as their fancies reacheth, each man as is inclined to Warr or Peace imbrace either, not reſpecting their owne perſons nor the Cauſe but the perſon for whoſe ſafeguard their weapons are ſuſcepted, or if not ſo, for for what they have not long bin acquanted with Pillage, who are the more deſperat • , c • uſe they are paſt hope, I ſpeake of thoſe only who know it ſerues, no way to ſave a Country but to deſtroy it, whoſe headlong actions ſpe • ke t • em unfortunate even in the leaſt attempt • or their hopes were fruſtrate, and that ſwimmi • g ſto • ehouſe like the Trojan Horſe linde wi •• ammunition ſafely dauncing upon the waue, for joy they arri 〈…〉 in wiſht for port.

If they would but ſit downe and recolect what dangers hoper ouer us and them how ſha • pely they haue been intertaind in their aduentures; they would I ſuppoſe, take breath and parle befor a ſecond one ſett; for lately they were ſtuft with ſuch ouermeting audacity that taking as they thought time by the forehead, they in tended to inuade Hull, and hauing a freind of night to diſtowne Sr. John Hotham; which under maſke of darkeneſſe they did, intending may I ſay like Cowards which ſtrike winking or blind fold, but he found fortune as fauarable as the Parliament findes him faithfull for firſt he ſeeming as it were carleſſe Congeſted the Waters together and bridled them in which ſom freſh Water Souldiers being priuy to, Conducted by their ancient Captaine, Captaine fancey began to inherit after the Flood, and hauing won the opportunity oreſpred the earth; this Sr. John Hotham gaue leaue to Rand • uowz in his thoughts; who preſently felt theſe Flyes wagging in his Web; whereupon he ſaluteed theſe Brauadoes with a peece of ordinance welcome ſent about threeſcore ſoules to Pluto 〈…〉 reſt into an Ague H • rd Fate.

Sr. John not only welcomd them but payd the ſhot, ſuch intertainment were they never like to rein o •… or the reſt to be taſters of unleſſe they come with a powder, thus thoſe daring Grim ſpirits have bin cur • d of the deſeaſe of long life: for indeed they have bin engines of torment of torment to the Country, and that Nobleman is crownd with glory; who remembers rather that he is a Subject then a Knight, whom the Honourable Houſes of Parliament, have as a gurdeon and • for his deſarts, willingly with 〈…〉 ••••… ions for the ſecurity of his perſons as their owne, whoſe happineſſe conſiſts in theirs: to maintaine which, he • is as ready as able to put in force any thing by force, from force, the endeavors of incroaching adverſaries; wherefore anſwerable to their command, to let in the water, hee hath opened the flood-gates, which meaſuring the out-fields, make cloathes of Chryſtal for the neighbouring plaines: which, that it may not be diſrob'd of its pure garment, to the ſubverſion of many. Let ſuch Merchant adventurers take heed to batter for goods, or thought-good to King, with life or limmes, leſt while they ſtrive for that little Iland in a forced ebbe, they bee ill willers to the King and Kingdom eſtate, whoſe ruine is ſmirkt with the name of ſafety, and gain the Parliaments diſpleaſure to their own loſſe.

The Lords and 〈…〉 , that a Garriſon of Souldiers is at New Caſtle. Likewiſe Earl Rivers being put into the Commiſſion of Aray, exerciſes it with much rigour impriſoning all the that oppoſe him.