AFter the mighty and Gygantick roaring of the Mobile of the Fanatick Pig­mies against the Loyal proceedings of the greatest, and best bred part of London Apprentices, for no other Reasons, and upon no other Incitements, then that they obstructed the Cabals, and openly protested against the Dis­loyal proceedings of ill-minded men, and persons disaffected to the King and King­dom, and offering their Lives and Fortunes to His Majesty in His Just Vindication, the mighty Mountain of their Seditious and Scandalous Reflections, and Tattle, like that in the Fable, which (to the amazement of the Beholders) did belch forth unheard of Groans, and at last, only brought forth the small Body of a Mouse; So, This of Theirs, after the tedious noise, and roarings of Factions Cabals, and Seditious Pam­phlets, that seem'd to threaten no less than the down-fall of those Loyal and Worthy Youths, only produced the Image and Form of a Counter-Address, by the no less Scurrilous then Factions Party of the Apprentices of London; which like the Goliah of the Philistines, defies the Armies of Cod and Israel; But it is not to be feared, that the Justness of the Cause they resist, and the Honesty of their Antagonists Inten­tions, will raise up a David to Destroy this their Uncircumcised and Unmannerly Champion. And though the same Reasons that were brought against the most Loyal Youths, might with Reason and Impartiality be thrown upon their Antagonists. Yet to avoid all manner of Reproach and Scandal, I shall forbear to do it, but content my self to say, that I think it the greatest sausiness imaginable, for so Inconsiderable a Party, and such raw and nonsensical Boys, to be so bold, as to presume to Coun­cel the Wisest, Justest, and best of Princes; But what means will not men attempt, rather than not attain to their designs; will they not dare to throw aspersions upon Authority, and vilifie the very Throne of Justice, by their Grand Implements of Fa­ction, Janeway, Curtis, Care and Vile, and multitudes of the same Stamp and Gang, whose Marks are in their Forheads, and ought to be shun'd like Infected Persons; For now a days no Plague so Infectious as the Plague of Faction and Fanaticism, that seems even to threaten the downfal of the Nations Tranquility, and none so likely to be Infected as raw Youths in the height of their Bloud, who are apt to embrace the words of a Seditious Teacher for the voice of an Oracle; And therefore wisely did the late Rebels instigate persons of such Principles and Conditions to Rebel against the best of Princes, as knowing them to be Resolute on any Design that is dawb'd over with Religion and Liberty; Ingeniously hath a late Author set down the Ap­prentices Reformation in a late Satyr against Separatists, whose words I will transcribe at large, as trusting the Judgement of so Learned a Pen, sooner than my own raw Fancy and Judgement; and the rather because it was pen'd before the Petition was so much as thought of, and so cannot be call'd Malice or Envy, but is rather a Pro­phesy of what we may expect then a Satyr on what's past; for thus says that Worthy Author on the Subject.

And then a little farther by way of Irony, he says,

Thus far this Learned Satyrest (which I challenge any one of their Pensionary Scrib­lers to answer,) hath set down the Apprentices blessed Reformation, and therein hath with a Prophetick as well as Poetical strain depicted our present Reformadoes; But it may be objected, that there is not any harm in their Address, and that they do not aspire to the Throne of Majesty; To which I answer thus, Is there no harm in thwar­ting Authority, and protesting against the Addresses, those true and grateful demon­strations of Loyalty? Is it no harm to Scandalize those Youths, that took the first occasion by way of Address, to re-gain their Reputations, and profess their Loyalty? Is it not harm to disapprove and dislike what His Majesty so much Honours and ap­proves of? If it be not harm (as they will have much ado to prove,) yet I am sure it is the greatest piece of ill manners imaginable; and then on the other hand, who will call it humility, that they approach not to His Majesty with their Address, but rather a just shame flowing from the unmannerliness, if not Injustice of their Cause; for were it good, just and honest, according to the Laws of the Nation, Reason and Civility, why should they be fearful to approach to His Majesty, when all the World that know him, esteem him a Prince that is not a hinderer but an encourager of all things that are honest, and tend to his own and the Nations security; But why he should be loaded by a Petition from the meanest of his Subjects, to councel him in the greatest of his Affairs, I am not sensible; I should rather think it would better become them to let it alone, or at least I say till their betters had gone before them in this Affair; But alas whither will not the blind zeal of I action hurry the wisest men, and much less the Rabble of Head-stong and unthinking Striplings; But yet notwith­standing all this, you can be so sensible as to pretend to Loyalty, when you visibly detest that very Address of the Apprentices, that was so Eminent for Loyalty and Allegiance to the best of Kings; What is your Petition less then tacitly to challenge your Antagonists into the Field, to vindicate themselves from your aspersions, and so cause a Rebellion; Therefore as Apprentices, I would desire and intreat you, especi­ally those of you, that can pretend to any thing of worthy Birth, or Civil Educa­tion, to forbear these proceedings, which if you have but the sence of rational crea­tures, you cannot but see it will tend to no good; Why should it be said of You in after-ages, that you were headstrong in Villany, and prone to Faction & Rebellion? who for the bare notion of Loyalty dare break even the very Laws of Reason and Civility, and spit scandal on the lives of your fellows, in moving so contrary to the Principles of the Loyalty that you pretend to; I assure you I have studied all the rea­son imaginable, and can find none so sufficient to excuse this your saucy presumption; nay I have taken the advice of graver years, and wiser heads than my own, yet they can put no favourable construction upon your present proceedings, than that you are led away by the specious pretences of ill-minded & disaffected persons, who for their Zeal to the Cause, will dare to affront even the Majesty of Heaven; There­fore despise not the poor advice of your fellow Apprentices, who desire nothing more then the well-fare of the King and Kingdom, of this City in particular, and in It, You, and all the Apprentices besides, hoping that upon better thoughts you will see the evil of your ways, and the unmannerliness of your proceedings; and not pretend to Councel your Councellours, and teach your Senators wisdom, but steadily to six your Loyalty to the best of Princes, against all opposers of what Sect or con­dition soever, and be not led away by Seditious Masters, and more Seditious Tea­chers, but adhere to the true Church of England, which never yet could be scan­dal'd with that infamous crime of Rebellion; and give and sacrifice your lives and fortunes to His Majesty's Service, in vindication of His Supremacy and your own Al­legiance, which that you may do to the Eternal Honour of the rest of the Appren­tices of this Famous City, is the hearty wishes and endeavours of your Fellow-Ap­prentices, though an utter enemy to your present proceedings; Grant me but a favou­rable and impartial reading of what is here set down, and then any of you without partiality or malice, give me correction wherein I have transgressed the Laws of the Nation, Reason or Conscience, or the Duty I owe His Majesty, and the Veneration due to this City, which God willing I will do my endeavour to aquit, and so hoping you will see your errours, and recant; I take leave, and remain your loving friend as you prove; Farewel.