TO the first I answer. That as all comparisons are odious, so of all others, this the more abhominable; savouring of no small malice and unheard of ingratitude: to compare a pious Army (by whose indefatigable labours, and miracu­lous victories this Nation is become so happy) to a PaganHazael. Prince, through whose cruelty and out rages the Children of Israel were be­come to miserable. Again, to parallel them with the Anabaptists in Germany, who were a wicked Sect of Hereticks, men of private inter­ests; so unlikely to put in execution a self-denying Ordinance, that they unjustly coveted the estates of other men. Whereas these are well known to be men of publick spirits, who have denyed them­selves to the death, have subdued the Kingdoms Enemies, yet like the Jews in Hesthers time layed not their hands upon the spoil. So that in very truth, the Quaerist might as well have said, that because a Reprobate may finally fall from grace; a Saint may do so too.

For the second: You may perceive the Gentleman to be of a for­ward spirit, presuming before he understand the matter, to censure the Actions of this glorious Army; and you know what a wiserman then he saies of one in such a case. For no man will say that he was present at the transacting of that businesss, or knew the impulsive motives inducing that Councell to remove the Person of the King; and yet he assumes the boldnesse to aver, that it was done ground­lesly, and prooflesly. A second presumption greater then the first, is, that the Army comes up (as he though falsly affirms) against the Par­liament; a high crime indeed, if made good, no lesse then the highest Treason: but what does he deserve that cannot? that Ile leave to the Army in due time. But let him make it good, and we'le all arme in opposition to this Army; not doubting of successe against them though formerly never so victorious. And now I must needs admire [Page 3] his temerity, who in his censure thus out-runs the Constable, for the Parliament saies no such thing, but rather the contrary, by their own avowing this Army to be theirs, and that also since their deferring to disband; and their approach this way: whereby it appears, that some mens pens are like some mens feet, swift to shed blood; for had the Parliament or City given credit to a lye so soon as this man, and some others of his Fathers Children, what mischief might have then ensued; by which you may perceive of what party he is. The like to this made Saul destroy the Priests of the Lord, and to persecute holy David, nay made David (otherwise a man after Gods own heart) to divide the land of Mephibosheth between him and lying Ziba: and this peradventure might have caused the raising of such an Army, which should it have proved victorious, would have (in all probability) more perplext the Kingdom, then can be imagined: & had this Army an intention to destroy the City, or Parliament, (as malice mutters) they having sufficient power in their hands, and backt with Autho­rity from Heaven, why would they deferr'd it half so long? why did they give such fair warning to provide, arm, and defend? Theeves use no such fair play, when they intend desired booty.

Therfore if to Petition in an humble way about matters of highest concernment to the Kingdoms good; if to approach near the place of negotiation, that affairs may receive speedier dispatch; and if to propound such wholsome things as make most for the publick good for all conditions of men: be a means of confusion, and cause of de­lay, I have lost my Reason, let all honest men judge.

The third Quaerie is more grossely absord, holding no parallel with this Armies proceedings; nor King nor Cade had half that power, nor one jot of that cause this bath: and you know opportunity makes the thief: Cades Army was without consent, nay against Au­thority, and was Rebellion indeed, and so censured, as that which would have been destructive to all goodnesse, this diametrically op­posite: not in a tumultuous mutinous manner as he saucily asserts, but in an humble, meek, and quiet way, no man complaining but Malignants; nor fearing, but such as not innocent.

The King, seduced by a Popish, Prelaticall, wicked party, came without aThe King in Person can ac­cuse none. Charge, and that into the House it self (an high breach we all confesse) these with a Charge promised to be made good) and waiting at humble distance lest they should offend. So that you see the rashnesse of this giddy youth, as youth most commonly is preci­pitate; [Page 4] but if he be more ancient, why this is the age of dreaming to old men, and so is he, or else in a delicium: but be he young, or old, doubtlesse he is a man of the Law, for I perceive not one jot of Gospel mercy in him to the poore Saints. He looks with a direct eye upon humane Authority, but with a squint eye on that which is divine: who knows not but that the Laws of men may be defective, needing supply from Principles of Right Reason? But he maintains the Law, (because as Demetrius said of Diana's shrines) that maintains him, but really all good men ought to maintain Truth; Coveteousnesse is the root of all evil: this made the corrupt Scribes say to a new cured Saint, this people that know not the Law are accursed; though had they had but so much Gospel wisdom as he, they had been blessed. This man will not allow this glorious Army, the liberty of Se defen­dendo, which a Virgin has against a lustfull deflowring Prince though her Soveraign; or a single person assaulted by his King: but under pretence of Law, imagines mischief as a Law. If he can find out any means under Heaven for Englands preservation, but this which the Army now does, we'le submit: but if none, then for shame let him be for ever silent: and let all brave English Spirits, that will not be en­slaved by Arbitrary Power, joyn, to assist the good Party in Parlia­ment, and this Army, that comes to this very purpose; and follow their steps, who have made many a weary one for you. Otherwise you had been long ago miserable: I beleeve you hear every day the rayling of those Rabsbekaes, who dare defy the Army of the living God, fear them not, God will cut them off shortly: be not you failing in your duty to help the Lord against the mighty, each man accor­ding to his talent to give aid; and, if need be, to be ready to lay down your lives for the Brethren; and bring Incendiaries, &c. to deserved punishment. To this the Covenant obliges the Army, and all honest men, read but the 3. 4. 5. Articles, and see your duties, and remem­ber how dangerous and base a thing it is to be a Covenant-breaker: and how shall you but break your Covenant with our Brethren of Scotland, if you should permit wicked men to engage them against that good Party, on whose fide at first they fought, and had a share in our Victories against the sons of Belial?

As for Goring, Percy, and Germins bringing up the Northern Army, suits no way with this: That being for the ruine, this for the preser­vation of Parliaments. But surely if the Quaerist be not a Jermin, nor a Goring, he's very like a Percy, an hot-spur, one that would fain bring [Page 5] up another Northern Army: or, rather then fail,If I cannot bend the gods, Ile raise the divels. would do as one lately said in a publick place, Hectore si nequeo superos Acheronti movebo? speaking in opposition to this Army.

Now for the fourth, the Gentleman is clean beside the cushion, af­firming (though very scandalously) that the Army refuses to dis­band, and so are guilty of disobedience. Which I deny: For, 1. who can justly say they ever gave a positive refusall to disband, let that appear either in word or writing. 2. Who will say that the defer­ring of a thing required, in such a manner, and at such a time, is a denyall; when as the same thing may be done at another season more opportune, and better both for the Commanders, and the com­manded. Gospel charitie extended to that Son which at first refused, but afterwards did his Fathers will; condemnes this mans unchari­tablenesse: stay a while, and you shall see cause enough why this brave Army should have as much favour from you, as that servant who, though inferior, refused to put in execution the Stewards com­mand though his superiour; because he knew it would prove preju­diciall to his Lords affairs, and then a pious Parliament will not re­pent, that it hath played the part of a patient Job, not to refuse his servant that contended with him. And had our furious men but well observed this heavenly maxime, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, they would not so rashly have condemned the righteous, as some of them have done, with nothing but the mutinie of Rebels and Tray­tors in their mouthes, to the reproach of this blessed innocent Army, and to the grief of some souls who have heard them; which indeed is one cause why I have thus put pen to paper, a thing which I shall not trouble the world with often: and I think 'twere happie there were lesse writing. But if I should not now upon so necessary an occa­sion, the stones would.

Now for Irelands obstruction: indeed I confesse 'tis a matter of high consideration, and let him perish that pities not the Saints in that Nation, and that would not releeve them with more then ordi­nary contribution: But let the saddle be placed on the right horse, and if any among the Army hinder so pious a work, he is under the doom we spake of before: but I am sure that sin cannot be layed on the Army; you will shortly hear who are the obstructers; which is fit­ter for an Army to discover than a private Pen. Irelands felicitie con­sists in Englands ability; and when England shall be fit, we shall do more good in one moneth, then now in twenty: then send the Army [Page 6] over with its own Officers, and make a perfect establishment for their subsistance; and 'tis not to be doubted, but those limbs of Antichrist in Ireland, and their Adherents in England (who have cruelly opprest the Saints) shall be but as toe or stubble before the fire.

The fifth is most ridiculous: for who should we trust, but those that have been trusty? And surely, who should a man venture his life withall, but with him that hath saved it once already? And whom should we distrust, but those that from the beginning have acted in the wayes of ruine? onely wanted votes till now of late to play the Kngs Game, though he sate still? He might as well have said, Chil­dren fear your indulgent parents will destroy you; wives do not con­fide in your most faithfull husbands, so all relations; and so let the world be turned topsie turvy, as this man would bring all to confu­sion. Wise men follow the best mens experience; but fools do other­wise.

And whereas he insists so much on Priviledges not to be violated, I am as much as he for their preservation; but yet I must not be so fil­lily wedded to an old fashion, but that I'le follow a new one which is more commodious, and decent. What man of sound sence can be ignorant, that in cases of necessity, Laws, Prerogatives, Priviledges, mast give place to the Law of Nature,The good of the People. Salus Populi then rules: Joab must be slain at a priviledged place, though sacred. The priviledge of a member is to be in the body; but if defective indangering the rest, Ense residendum, Priviledge is not of the essence of life, but an ex­cressence, which may be waved without prejudice, 'tis an upper gar­ment to be layed aside upon occasion, so these old forms and cu­stomes will be lesse in fashion as the world grows wiser. Tis the Pri­viledge of a Member not to be arrested during the Parliament, that he might not be interrupted in the Service of the Common-wealth. But if the Parliament becomes perpetuall, whereby many Members greatly indebted, paying neither principall, nor interest, but giving opprobrious language, to the wounding the souls of those, without whose help they had lived poorely, may not been at all, this forfeits priviledge, and makes it null, ipso facto, and as the Parliament grows better, th s will be amended also.

For Law, we know the Law is good, if lawfully used: many times Summum jus is summa injuria; Extreames are alwayes to be avoided: All Laws have their letter that kils, as well as their spirit that gives life. He that extracts this spirit, leaves the dead letter to the pre [...]u­dice [Page 7] of him that shall have occasion to use it. The Law commands that every man that sheds blood, by man shall his blood be shed yet the supreame Law-giver permits that Law to be infringed in many cases. Theft in some places is punished by a seven-sold restitution, in others by death; yet as wise a Law-giver as some of us, expects we should not despise a thief that steals for his necessity. I know indeed no limits to that Law, so the ends be right in order to the whole.

And now for blustering Prerogative that like a torrent would fain carry all befo e it: Why all men know, or would know, (but that they have mens persons in admiration because of advantage) that the chief flowers thereof are for the benefit of the Subject: as confer­ring of Honours, Coynage of Money, granting of Pardons, &c. in some cases yet in others the King may not, without forfeit of his own: Thy life shall go for his, saies he that can make this good, even up­on Kings, when he pleaseth; The efore 'tis plain, that when Prero­gative looseth its end, it forfeits its birth-right.

The sixt and seventh Quaeries are not worth the answering, as be­ing but matter of Recrimination, an old trick of guilty persons, who fearing the justnesse of the own cause, labour to blemish that of the adversaries: but this man is so much the more unworthy in that he abuses his best freinds, without whose valour and fidelity he had been miserable, if he have any honesty in him. An Heathen King shewed more mercy to Hector (though against the unalterable Law of Medes and Persians) then this hath for the Saints of these dayes. The Jew Gamaliel had more justice in him, then this, he would not judge before he heard: according to the rule, Qui statuit aliquid parte inaudita alter, &c. Who does decree before both parties heard, may make a just sentence, but himself not just. Herein he playes Satans part exactly, and becomes he Accuser of the Brethren: For is it rea­son the good Angels should be condemn'd for doing good, because the evill are so, for doing bad? for none of the Members then elected had been in Array with the King, nor contributed to his assistance, as some have done who were lately chosen; who since their coming in, have joyned, to undo all that the good had done before, and have endeavoured to carry us back into Aegypt, and to bring us all into a miserab e confusion. And for his Quaere, whether the new Recrutes in the Army will expect old Arrears; 'tis probable they will not: and as 'tis charitie so to beleeve; so is it the contrary, to suspect them.

The 8. may be answered altogether with the negative, as I have [Page 8] made clear in my Answers to his former Quaeries. This being by tau­tology but the result of those, and that upon supposition that his premises are granted, before he hath made them good. And though the successes should prove contrary to our expectation, the Lord do what seemeth him good, his Saints have put their lives into their hands (as they have done often before for this Kingdoms good) and if they perish, they perish; they will not dye like fools; for all the Saints in England will dye with them, and though ungratefull men should so ill reward them: they know their reward is with their God in the Heavens.

And thus having, as I humbly conceive, given a full Answer to the Quaeries, because I see he did expect one: I make bold to addresse my self to the true and wise hearted Commons in Englands Parliament assembled, with all humility and earnestnesse of spirit, beseeching them to look about them, as finding by experience that a mans great­est Enemies are those of his own house; and therefore that they would throughly purge that House, and do one thing more, (without which do what they can) the Kingdom never will have Peace, viz. to make inquisition for blood, and washing it from that one doore, where at it hath been layed, to place it rightly on whomsoever it ought; not fearing any forrain Forces, but fearing the God of Justice; who, unlesse Justice be done, will be your greatest Enemie. The God of Peace direct Parliament, City, and Army: which is the Prayer of him that so much honours Law, Prerogative, and Priviledge not abused, that he would be content to sacrifice his life in that just Vin­dication.