AT this present, when in regard of ci­vill warres begun and continued a­mongst us, this Land was the vexed Theame of wretched misery, and de­scrib'd by many pens, and all was rea­dy to become a Wildernesse of deso­lation; Peace that divine Grace loo­king on us with eyes of compassion pittyed our sufferings, and hath lately brought about an unexpected change, and a long look'd for happy event of this bloudy civill warre. The King gracious in his owne disposition, and alwaies heartily bleeding in the wounds of his Subjects (as himselfe hath often professed) hath al­waies laboured by many Declarations for a peace with his Parliament, and now by the advice of grave and learned Counsell, his Royall Heart is enclined to embrace peace, by his Majesty alwaies most mercifully defired; so that now we have strong hopes that all divisions shall bee be composed by a firme and setled Union, betweene the Kings Majesty and his high Court of Parliament. This [Page] [...]olution accompanied with many other mercifull pur­poses, that his Subjects may know him in his owne natu­rall mildnesse, and this the severity of the sword which he formerly used gave him as many wounds of griefe for his Subjects as it did blowes to others. Let therefore all true-hearted Subjects prepare to entertaine him with hearty affections, since London shall speedily be blest with his happy presence, to bring them both joy and comfort; those that with prayers and teares have implor'd Heaven to see the King againe, shall now forth-with behold his Royall person, and with continuall prayers blesse the houre that brought him back againe to London: for his Majesty is now fully resolved to assure the Parliament that he is a patient and mercifull King, and that no for­mer passages shall dwell within his memory to seperate him from them, that he is slow to wrath, and had rather suffer than doe his meanest Subjects any injury, and that the sad effects of War, as pillaging, plundering, ransacking of Rich mens Houses may bee all changed into a blessed peace. O therefore let our hearts embrace him who doth thus reach out his armes of mercy to receive all his good Subjects into favour. And that it may be more certainly knowne to all his Subjects that his Majesty is purpos'd speedily to come to London, and that the desired peace shall with greater conveniency goe forward, and that it may more forward with greater speed, being helped on by his presence, provision is made for his comming unto White Hall, that once Sun of Majesty may appeare in this Spheare from whence his beames darted comfortable in­fluence on all his Subjects. His Pallace now of White Hall shall enjoy his presence. The Couet formerly turned into a Desart, shall be now againe a Court. Majesty shall now [Page]sit againe enthron'd within the ancient walles of his anci­ent Pallace, and with the same life and favour as formerly it did shall cherish the hearts of all his loy [...]ll and most lo­ving Subjects, and the expected presence of a King doth create a plenty wheresoever he comes; so it being most certainely know that the King will come to White Hall, there is preparation already made for his comming; the Genius of the house doth already rejoyce, and that mirth may flow in the breasts of all the Court, there is great plenty of rich Wine laid into the Cellars, which doth hap­pily prognosticate the Kings comming to his pallace of Westminster, the inhabitants thereabout doe feele their affections warm'd, with a hope and expectation of getting by the Courts returne, and all London doth listen to this newes as they would to a sacred Oracle of propheticke happinesse; and those that doe not wish his Majesties so­ciety and a happy peace, let them ship themselves for new England, or for some other Island. The presence of a King long absent, and transported from them doth make all Subjects throw of all cares, all fearfull jelousies, all dis­trusts, and all narrow feares, and enlarge their minde to know nothing but joy, nor speake nothing but VIves le Roy, God save the King. For now the King is comming to rejoyce his people, and that hee may confide in their perfect loyalty towards his Majesty, and know that their Effence doth consist in his safe and well being; foure No­ble men, namely the Earles of Pembrooke, Northumber­land, Holland and Salisbury, have for pledges of security offered themselves and their estates for his Hostages, that the Kings Royall Person shall not onely be received into London with reverend adoration, but be as safe amongst his true-hearted Subjects, as he conceives himselfe to bee [Page]now amongst swords; and if the happy agreement be­tweene his Majesty and the Parliament should by any crosse fate be concluded, or that they should not comply in that happy manner which is expected (and which God forbid) the aforesaid Noble men have interposed them­selves, and given Hostages that the King shall then rule over all their designes, and take his Will to bee his guide in all his actions as his pleasure leades him; knowing that he is a regular King, desiring nothing but the liberty of his subjects, the maintaining the Protestant Religion, and the Priviledges of Parliament, and that all matters being brought to a happy period, hee shall if hee so desire (if agreement be not made) be safely and royally con­vay'd againe to his Court at Oxford. But if this City once againe enjoy his presence, and that the King once againe refresh with his presence the drooping minds of the Par­liament, the day will shine glorious to the hopes of this kingdome, peace and plenty shall againe kisse each other, the Church much disturbed by Sects and Schismes shall be confirmed in the true Protestant Religion, joy shall over­flow the bosomes of the common people; the City shall flourish againe in Trading, the Country shall enjoy the plump fruits of Nature, the times long sicke of a Con­sumption shall grow strong and lusty, Trading shall make the mechanick sing, and such a Jubile of joy shall succeed, that all the Land shall forget sorrow, and with a cleare countenance relate the stories of our mixt distresses.

We shall heare no more raging Drumms, no bragging Trumpets, but a peace as soft as the nights rest shall cover the heads both of King and subjects. And what a happi­nesse this is we may conceive by contraries; what pilla­ging and plundering hath there been? Father against son, [Page]bathing their swords in one anothers bloud, as if cruelty were best exprest where there should bee most mercy ex­prest. What would bee added to the fierce and bloudy battaile at Edge Hill? these and future events shall bee prevented by a happy Peace, by the Kings happy com­ming and complying with Parliament, by that union and knot of love which is look'd to be tyed againe betweene them; and lastly by the confirmation of a happy and de­sired Peace; for Heaven hath prevented all Petitions, and inspired the Kings Majesties mind with his Fathers Mot­to, [...]eati Facifici, Blessed are the Peace-makers: Heaven is Wise and cannot be deceived, but hath brought about the great worke, to lay shame and ignominy on those that score out the doubtfull fortune of the yeare with false Predictions; and to confute those lying Astrono­mers that will needes make the Starres guilty of fore­telling of a great Battaile to be fought this yeare. God that rules the Stars will bring the King to London, Peace to the Land, and joy and comfort to the whole Common-wealth.