THe great Businesse which at this instant lyeth in agitation, about a matter of great concernment, and the chiefest particular which the whole Kingdome desireth to bee resolved in; it being the Kingdoms chiefest Work upon which they have now fixed their eyes.

And having for many years by-past, desired a firme and well-grounded Government in [Page]Church & State, have now in some part their desires satisfied: For, having obtained a ful & positive answer from both Houses of Parlia­ment, for the speedy suppressing of all Sects and Sectaries, are in some measure and satisfi­ed, and doth begin to execute the Parliaments Commands against all such persons, which shall assemble themselves together, either for preaching or expounding the Scriptures, at a­ny place or meeting whatsoever. Insomuch, that many thousands of Citizens and others are grieved to the very soule; especially, di­vers men of emineney, who hath hazzarded both life and limbes in the Parliaments cause against the enemies of England, whose trust and fidelity hath been performed with much alacrity and faithfulnesse; as hath apparent­ly been made manifest, by their gallant ser­vice, and heroick actions, obtained against the potent enemy of this Kingdome.

But because I cannot dispense too much with time, I shall here briefly communicate unto you, some passages worrhy your obser­vation, viz.

Upon the 4. of this instant Moneth of Ja­nuary, a Report was made to the House of [Page]Commons, that some certain persons were ap­prehended, which were met together at a Con­venticle, namely, one Mr Wayt and Goff, Who were taken preaching in Harts-horne Lane neer Charing-Crosse, which parties were exa­mined by a Committee of the house of Com­mons, in the queens Court, & after some time spent, and divers Arguments laid open before them, for confuting of their ways, and convin­cing them of their erroneous Opinions, and being strictly examed about one prrticular point, concerning their presumption, in un­dertaking so great a Charge, which belonged chiefly to Learned Divines, and Orthodoxe Ministers.

They replyed, and began to expresse them­selves, as followeth:

That whereas they were pleased to lay o­pen this accusation against them for preach­ing, they indeavoured to vindicate themselves saying, that they had onely Bibles in their hands, and were reading.

Then Wayt was accused to say, that the Parliaments Declaration was made at twelve a clock at night when above halfe the Mem­bers were away, and that he knew the knave­ry [Page]of it. But they intend to prosecute the Or­dinance of both houses against all such per­sons whatsoever, and hath ordered that it shal be executed throughout the whole Kingdome of England. Which Ordinance, the Kentish­men are resolved duly to observe, and to put in execution, as will appear by their late De­claration, which I shall here insert, and give you verbatim.

WHereas we understand that severall Petitions are set on foot, and promo­ted by divers persons within this County, wherein they take to themselves a liberty of venting their own private thoughts, and de­sires, in matters concerning the publike and great affaires of the Church and State, which can produce no other effect, then the raising and countenancing of contrary parties and factions within the County: We doe hereby declare, & admonish all sorts of persons what soever, within this County, that they forbear to give any countenance or furtherance to a­ny such Petitions, upon what pretence soever; and that they avoyd all such occasions of new distractions in the County; as they tender the [Page]welfare thereof. And we do hereby require all Ministers of the severall Parish Churches, o­penly to read this signification in the Parish Churches upon the next Lords-Day, after the receipt hereof, before the end of the Morning Exercise.

Thus having given you the chiefest particulars of the great businesse in agitation within the Kingdom of England, I shall advance Northwards, and give you the proceedings of the Parliament of Scotland, reflecting upon the Government of both Nations.

Amongst other things, If his Majesty shall have thoughts of comming to this Kingdome at th s time, he not having as yet subscribed the League and Covenant, nor satisfied the law­ful desires of his loyall Subjects in both Nations, We haue just cause to fear that the consequences of it may bee very dange­rous, both to his Majesty and these Kingdoms; Which there­fore we desire may be timely prevented.

For so long as his Majesty doth not approue in his heart, & seal with his hand the League and Covenant, we cannot but apprehend, that according to his former Principles, hee will walk in opposition to the same, and study to draw us unto the violation thereof and the dissolution of the Union so happily begun between Us and our Brethren, to weaken the confi­dence and trust, and to entertain jealousies, and make divisions amongst our selues.

Neither is it possible but that our receiving Him in this present posture of affairs, will confirme the suspi­cions of the English Nation, of our under-hand dealing with Him before his comming to our Army; & make them, not without cause to thinke that We purpose to dispose of him without their consent, and to their prejudice: Which is contrary to the Profession of these that were in trust at his Majesties first comming to the [Page]Scots Quarters, and overthroweth all the Arguments that have been used by the Commissioners of our Parl. in their Papers concerning The disposing of his Maj. Person by the joynt advice & common consent of both Kingdoms given into both Houses of Parliament in England, nor doe we see how we can vindicate such a practice from a direct breach of our engagements to them by Covenant and Treaty, which were not onely to expose us into the hazard of a bloody war, but to in­volve us in the guilt of Perjury. And what greater dis­service could be done to his Majesty and his Posterity, then to g [...]ve way to a course that might prove prejudi­ciall to their interest in the Crown and Kingdome of England.

Our carriage now for many yeers past, in the midst of many tentations, hath put us beyond all suspition in the point of our Loyalty.

Nor have wee the least thoughts of deserting his M [...] ­jesty in a just and good Cause, being bound by our Co­venant in our severall Vocations, to endeavour with our estates and lives, to preserve and defend his Person and Authority, in the defence and preservation of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms; And so farre as his Majesty shall be for these, we really are, and wee trust the rest of his Kingdoms will be for him: Yet we cannot deny, but openly avouch it,

That if his Majesty (which the Lord forbid) shall not satisfie the just desires of his People, Both Nations stands mutually obliged by that inviolable Covenant to pursue the ends therein expressed (which cannot be divi­ded) against all lets and impediments whatsoever.