1. GOd having been pleased so highly to honour you, and by your meanes thus far to make these Nations happy, as to restore unto us our long exiled, most excellently accomplished King, and us to him, it behoves every true subject, with thankfulness to addresse himself to him by prayer, that he would abundantly blesse him unto us, and amongst us, by pouting out upon him his spirit; inriching him with all spirituall and temporall good things, and to neglect this duty is, and will doubtlesse be accounted their sin, who are guilty thereof.

2. This remarkable blessing of God vouchsafed to the whole Nation, and so signall Character of his good will towards you, (whom he hath at last chosen so far to go on in this work, ha­ving often before th own aside severall persons, who have at­tempted it, not only unsuccessfully, but with the losse of their lives; nor hath hitherto suffered any forcible opposition, to retard, much lesse th [...]eaten the overthrow of such happy beginnings;) [Page 2]ought to stir up both your, and all our hearts, to acknowledg with thankfulness these his favors, so great, that we scarce durst for­merly put up our requests for them, and so unexpected, that hu­mane wisdom could hardly believe, much less dictate meanes to effect, what God in his blessed providence hath wonderfully brought about, beyond both our deserts and hopes.

3. The serious consideration whereof, hath invited, and pre­vailed with me, in few words to begge, and intreat of you, that as God hath so far honoured you in the sight of these Nations, you would make his divine Majesty such Christian returnes of gratitude, as may Evidence, and seal your sincerity, and true piety to this and future ages.

4. That the thoughts, how God hath chosen you, as a select number out of, and before many thousand Englishmen, to bring home to them (as I may say) a most heart-refreshing return of many prayers, and teares, which for about twenty yeares, in the midst of distracting calamities, have been poured out before, and addressed to the Divine Majesty, by such who have an inte­rest in the throne of grace, may now ingage you henceforth to deny God nothing, which from his word of truth may appear to be expected, and required of you, as a gratefull testimony, of your true Christian obedience, and thankfulness.

5. It hath seemed good to the Divine providence, which we may truly call wonderfull, so to over-rule of late, the counsels of our former oppressors, (who by strange success, and almost incredible dexterity in villany, had almost involved both our Church and state in unavoidable ruine; grinding without com­passion, these (once free) but at length wofully enthralled Na­tions, fastning on their neck, an Iron, uneasy yoak of servitude, making them (with Samson) basely to grind, and abide capti­vity, and curbing them with rigor, who before repined at, grew weary of, and rejected the milder scepter, and so to ensnare them in their contrivances, that their plots (like potters vessells) were broken upon the wheele, nor produced any thing but con­fusion and distraction to themselves, together with unsetledness in the Nation, whence arose discontent, loss of trade, and po­verty, and by means of the last of these, the wasted peoples whis­pers, [Page 3]murmurings, and repinings on all hands were so many and urgent, that the Master builders of our new Babel, by their own jealousies, misunderstandings, and animosities, were in short time dispersed hither and hither, through the good hand of God, without stroke on either side.

6. What height of fury, and desperate resolution was on their side, God knew, and took notice of, nor was it unknown to most of those, who desired, and prayed for such a composure, and settlement of affaires, as we now see, through his great goodness, and undeserved kindness to us, who considering the preparations and contrivances to hinder what we now happily injoy, could not expect this redemption, but as a purchass, and with the loss of the lives of thousands, the shedding much bloud, and exposing our hopes to extream hazard. The oppressed City, and groaning Countryes were resolved, either to shake off the Arbitrary yoak of Usurpation and Tyranny, or to perish in the attempt. On the other hand the fatall causers of our long past and present calamities, animated with guilt and despair, were resolved either to make good their ground, or expire like Cateline, that is, sell their life as dear as possible, and cover the place, they maintained fighting in life, with their breathless Carkases after death, or like Z [...]mry, rather than lose (by surren­der) their power and estates, fire the whole Nation first, then set some Cityes, and Castles on flame over their heads, and perish together.

7. Yet it pleased the Lord of hoasts, to dissipate their armed powers, frustrate their designes, and leave the Ringleaders, stript of all succour, to the scourge of justice. It stood with his honour and wisdom, to restrain the rage and fury of man; to glorifye himself, by delivering up these great Midianitish oppressors, in­sulting Moabites, Philistim Lords, (with their Balaam like Pro­phets and Southsayers) without so much as drawing Sword, or firing Pistoll in a hossile way; notwithstanding, they incoura­ged each other, and complotted, as well by hidden machinations, as open hostility, to prevent our settlement, and secure them­selves from justice.

8. This miraculous language of Gods actions, speaking as [Page 4]his power and wisdom, so his great love to us, gives me hopes, and in a manner assurance, that you, by whom these unlikely changes were brought about, so much to Gods glory, and the Kingdomes hope of happiness, will not look upon (with scorne) or reject with (contempt) any humble advice, which is sincerely offered, and tendred to your honours wisdom, and most judici­ous consideration, by one, who most cordially, and unfeignedly honours you, as well for your actions, as worth: however in­considerable, or unworthy, to suggest any thing (by way of Counsell) he may justly appear unto you.

9. God, who hath made choice of your Honours, out of so great a Kingdom, wherein are found so many, and eminent men, able both for parts and piety, to appoint you the messen­gers of such happy tidings, or Angells of peace, unto these Nati­ons, having laid aside before, so many, and often, both persons of remarke, and who zealously endeavoured the effecting (had God seen it good) of what is now prosperously brought to pass in your hand, whereby in his providence he spake plainly, that neither was that the season, nor those the persons, by whom he intended deliverance to this his people, therefore they either failed, or were unsuccessfully ruined in their pious undertakings. The same thing God then saw good to deny them, he hath made easy to you, levelling (as it were) mountaines before you, so that you (worthy Patriots) are become our Zorobabels, to redeem and restore our captivity, to repair our breaches, to settle again upon its true and antient Basis, these three great, how­ever sadly broken Kingdomes.

10. Remember I beseech you that God, who both names, and appoints honours, and makes prosperous his Instruments, who called his anoynted Cyrus, and made gates of brass fly open before him, and who knowes, but perhaps the same God, who hath raysed you, beyond what either you could expect, or find meanes (of your selves,) to compass, who hath made you servi­ceable to both King and Country, so far as to deserve all the honour possible, for this age to invent, thereby to celebrate your name and worth to posterity, hath likewise by his providence stirred me up, to speak a word to your wisdomes in season, my [Page 5]disposition and propensity being (I dare assure your honours) to have kept private, and assisted you (to my power) only with my most sincere wellwishes and prayers to God, put up in your be­half.

11. Howbeit, considering the season, I am in a manner compelled to come forth as I do, thus publickly, to offer my most serious thoughts, and reflections of spirit upon the late miraculous transactions wrought, by the divine providence, among us; to your most grave and judicious thoughts, with humble submission, to your most discreet censure.

12. A season, wherein Gods mercies are plentifully poured out upon us, notwithstanding our great unworthiness, wherein he is most signally propitious, affording opportunity to make up all our breaches, to repair what hath been thrown down and defaced; happy therefore may he be accounted, who shall any way assist towards a firm, lasting establishment, and well groun­ded settlement.

13. A season, wherein many broken bones need binding up, many dislocated joynts setling in place, many ulcers searching, and cleansing, and (trust me, most honourable Lords, and wor­thy Gentlemen,) many rotten pieces of fl [...]sh cutting off, many desperate humours lancing, much dead and proud flesh to be taken away by corrosives, if ever a sound cure be expected, or hoped for in this body politick.

14. What your proceedings have been in order hereunto; we have seen, and have all cause both to bless God, and honour you, for so much as already we have found effected: what your further intentions are, severall of your late votes, gives us both grounds to guess and hope. Give leave therefore, right honoura­ble, and most deserving Patriots, to tender modestly, to your mature deliberation, some observations, which I have made, comparing your determinations, and resolves, with the apparent occurrences, and (to my apprehension,) very plain language, and lowd expressions of these late Divine providences.

15. God, whose judgments are unfathomable, and wayes unsearchable, saw good to bring upon there Nations (for many yeares past) such flouds of calamities, as were scarce known, [Page 6]or heard of before, in this, or any neighbouring Nation; ex­tant Histories, as well as humane memory, being at a non-plus to produce the like instances.

16. Nor were these our miseries more deplorable, our per­plexities grievous, and insufferable, than the wayes, and meanes whereby we became involved in them, abominable, horrible, ex ecrable, detestable, and damnable.

17. The Quintessence of Rebellion, and Treachery, was ag­gravated by most palpable, amazing perjury, falshood, and de­ceitfull dealing, was exercised on all occasions, toward all rela­tions, by our inslaving taskmasters, whose breach of oaths, and renouncing their Loyall Allegiance to the King, served but for a Prologue, to a large following Tragedy, wherein, O! the perfidious practises, acted by them against the Parliament, which they at pleasure dismembred, (cashiering one house) and garbled, (secluding out of the other house) all such who scor­ned, or hated to be like themselves; and having thus transfor­med two houses of Englands Parliament, into a Mock junto; (called afterwards in derision, the Rump, which was the by-word at last of every idle Ballad-maker) even, this creature of their own, was by them made a Mock Pageant, used for a stalking horse, (sometimes) otherwhiles thrown aside at pleasure, not­wi hstanding many most facred vowes to the contrary, not more solemnely made than broken, and almost as soon. One while they set up an Usurping Protector, (who would not be so dal­lied withall,) however his Sonne, to whom they were likewise bound by voluntary protestations, engagements, and addresses, quickly had experience of their Inconstancy, and Treacherous per­jury. In a word England hath been ever since her rebellion against, and Apostacy from lawfull Authority; all along made a Scene, of most gross perjury, and shamefull Tre­chery:

18. Nor was this all, but as if Satan had taken possession of the Nation, and held it as his own private murthers (which were frequent and merciless,) were swallowed up in that abo­mination of desolation the Murther of his Sacred Royall Ma­jesty: Athiesticall profaness, sacriledg, and seditious heresy, [Page 7]went (hand in hand) with the (almost) extirpation, of all our fundamentall Lawes; So that civill liberty, and true Christia­nity, were in hazard, (almost quite lost) together, insteed of which were brought in, Arbitrary tyranny, and ruling by will and lust, (in the state) scandalous in piety, irreligious Sects, and blasphemous heresyes (in the Church; these with an Impudent brow, defied (I may say) heaven it self. In a word, if superlative villany in practise, exemplary malice in contrivance, or resolute impenitency in perseverance, if hellish designes, implacable re­solutions, and incorrigible obstinacy, may be an aggravation of their crimes, who in these yeares past, of the Kingdomes calami­ties, have been publick offendors, and caused, promoted, or helpt to perpetuate them, (had they been able to effect it,) certainly there lies on them as much guilt, as Satan could furnish them with; or their own reprobate natures contract.

19. But God hath been mercifull unto these poor bleeding Kingdomes, so far, as to defeat at length their plots, who wan­ted nothing of will, to render us compleatly, perpetually, and irrecoverably miserable, they wanted not mallice, in which they were in placable, and inveterate, nor industry, wherein indefati­gable, nor preparation, for which most vigilant, nor design, in which they beheld us with scorn and triumph, groaning forth our last despairing sighs, and lying beyond hope or remedy, under the clawes of their most merciless rage, but God alone, hath gi­ven them this unexpected check, to the glory of his goodness, and undeserved grace be it spoken, there is nothing left us to boast of, who could only sit down, and groan out our sighs to him, by reason of our oppressures and burdens, but neither did nor knew we to help our selves in the least.

20. This Divine disposure of affaires, after so wonderfull a manner, seemes by way of duty to suggest unto us two things.

1. First, how infinitely we stand obliged to that good God, who hath been so eminently, and unexpectedly gracious unto us.

2. Secondly, what justice he now requires and expects, should be done on them whose insolencies, and monstrous im­pieties [Page 8]cannot be overlooked, unless we resolve, to bring upon our selves, and intaile upon our posterity, such curses, as may make them abhor the remisenes and neglect, perhaps, the very memory of their fathers.

21. The former of these, I shall touch briefly, and so pass it over, it being far more readily owned, known, and acknowledg­ed to be a duty, than carefully and conscienciously practised, which indeed, will be performed, very lamely, and superfi­cially, unless the latter be more diligently heeded, and seriously attended.

22. Let us in the first place therefore, all with hearts and hands lifted up to the most high, with thankfull prayses cele­brate his name, publish and make known this his great goodness, especially, endeavour the speedy amendment of our lives, the irregularity of which, hath no doubt been the continued cause, which provoked God to bring, and so long to exercise us, with so many, so great, and perplexing miseries.

23. Let us confess, bewayle, and humble our selves, for our past ingratitude, that injoying so great, and invaluable pledges, of Divine favour, we made so few, and unsutable returnes of them.

24. Let us repent our undutifullness toward superiours, contempt of Authority, study of change and want of love one towards another, which provoked God to give us up to men of base extraction, and worse principles, and to let servants rule over us.

25. Let us hereafter prize Gods offers of Love to us in his Church, nor loath heavenly Manna any more, as we have done, instead of which we have for a long time been fed (in the Swines trough) with huskes, not yet fatisfied therewith. These reflections I hope will be made in our breasts, and such like re­turnes we shall give in remembrance, and acknowledgment, of this undeserved, unlooked for, yea almost miraculous deli­verance.

26. In reference to the second head, I shall humbly take leave, to lay open my breast, in speaking my conscience, and discover my love, and faithfullness to the Nation, in addressing [Page 9]my self, with all possible duty, and respect, unto our most honou­rable Lords, add worthy Commons, however a weak, and un­worthy Orator.

27. Right honourable, and truly deserving Patriots, it lies now in your power, and under God is wholly left at your dis­pose, to make these Nations either really, and compleatly, or apparently, and in part only happy, perfectly to cure, or to palli­ate their disease, to give them totall easment; or for a short time to leave them sound at bottom, or in danger of a relapse, and breaking out again, with no less Anguish, perhaps full as much, or more danger to the body than before.

28. His sacredly Royall, and most gracious Majesty, hath committed things wholly to your dispose, nor do I cuestion, but your piety and prudence, will lead you, to respect him as Gods deputy here on earth, yearather to look beyond him to God him­self, who by his meanes, betrusted you with his power, neverthe­less expects the execution thereof, according to his revealed will, as you will answer the contrary at your perill, in that great, and dreadfull day of Judgment.

29. To acquit the guilty, and condemn the Innocent are equally abominable in his presence, who is the God of Justice and truth.

30. Besides the murder of his most sacred Majesty, of hap­py memory, against whose life to conspire, is death without mercy, by the known Lawes of the Land, there have been (fre­quently) committed other horrible, bloudy murthers, the regi­sters of which, are every day sold among us, but far more ex­actly kept on record in Gods Book, nor sooner shall the guilt of them be taken off, from a private score on Earth, and not reven­ged, but it will forthwith be entred down upon the publick, or Nations score, in the book of the most righteous God, who usu­ally taketh the vengeance thereof into his own hand.

31. My earnest prayer to God, in your behalf, is and shall be, that you will not involve your selves with the Nation, in inno­cent bloud, by acquitting the most notoriously guilty, in that kind, which ever England nourisht, or groan'd under, the ready way to provoke God to revenge it upon the whole Nation, es­pecially [Page 10]the City. What a plague may follow this lenity, if ex­ercised (which the Lord avert) he only knowes, who (perhaps) waits but your finall determination, before he give it fatal Com­mission. (Si quid delirant Reges, plectuntur Ac [...]vi) Perhaps the nearest relations, or dearest friends may be so signally swept away, from the chiefe authors of these crying murtherers in­demnity; As may at once both convince them of sinfull com­passion, and pierce their bleeding hearts with ten thousand for­rowes. Pray God I may not prove a Prophet, nor do I speake it, but with deprecation, only faithfullness unto you compels me thus to utter my selfe, and lay open my breast to your Honours and wisedomes.

32. Believe it, my Lords and Gentlemen, Seven or ten is not a competent number to be exposed to justice, and those most of them fled out of reach, when sevenscore at least are over head and eares dipt, and beyond excuse concerned, in that amazing murder of Majesty, (as to guilt, in the eye of mans law) though I believe not all alike involved in the unpardonable ag­gravations of knowledg, and malice.

33. But besides that abominable murder, severall more pri­vate, but as cruell, have been committed on divers persons both of rank and esteem, as might be instanced, in the Lords Capell, Hamilton, Holland, with many Knights and Gentlemen of worth, as Lucas, Lisle, Hide, Andrewes, Penruddock, Grove, Burleigh, Love, Gerard, Vowell, Bushell, Hewit, Slingsby Ashton, Bettely, Stacy, with others, for whose bloud, when the holy and just God shall make inquisition, he will find no legall reckoning made. And what must poor England then expect from him, who hath expressly declared, that bloud defiles a land, nor can be purged from its guilt, but by their bloud who shed it, who hath therefore commanded, the retaliation of bloud upon the shedders head, whether man or beast. Yea I tremble to think, when God himself shall come to take satisfaction thereof, what our lot may be, unless in the Nations behalf its most honoura­ble Lords and Commons by impartiall justice prevent this cer­tain judgment, if neglect or default herein be made.

34. To avoid which guilt, and (if it may be) to keep off judg­ments [Page 11]like to ensue thereon, give me leave to present your ho­nours with some few considerations, nor I hope unseasonable, or tedious, which I studyed to avoid, first by brevity, and next, by sending them forth, and humbly presenting them to your view, before the act of Indemnity be fully concluded on.

35. I am sensible of the multiplicity of your pressing affaires, and know, that you have not leisure from your most serious debates, and agitations, to attend large declamations, against the crying sinne of bloud, how it staines, and defiles a land; yea, I am confident, such common places are very familiar to you, who are neither unacquainted with the Judgments on that score denounced in holy writ, nor unfurnished with instances, and examples of Divine vengeance, attending the impunity of that crying sin, recorded not only by Christian, but profane Historians.

36. The considerations (then) which I shall most humbly suggest, shall be such as are taken from, and obvious to the ex­perience, of those (especially) who have minded the late dea­lings, both of God and man, toward us.

1. And in them my intended scope and aime is, partly to find and mark out such whose guilt of this nature, is beyond both pardon and excuse, and whose impunity cannot but render the Kingdom very unsafe, if we will believe his threatnings, whose judgments, as well as mercies, are wonderfull, and true.

2. Partly, to press the loud calls, and clear motives (appea­ring in the divine dispensations, and these late overtures, and transactions) for impartiall justice, which to pass by unregarded, is to provoke God, after once or twise, yea reiterated speaking, by his providence, without attention, on mans part, to use shortly, such language, as may make all our bones tremble.

3. But lastly, and most especially, to obviate and answer some plausible, through carnall (at best) if not unsound argu­ments, which are brought and pressed, in their behalf; in per­forming of which, if I give way to, or discover any private grudg, or passion, or appear so to your wisdoms, my heart much de­ceives me, for I have not the least particular disaffection, for any [Page 12]those unfortunately criminall Gentlemen, whom I crave leave to call so, though their actions brand them with so much barba­rous cruelty, as may bring in question their very humanity, so far am I from pesonall prejudice conceived against any of their number. And I can seriously, solemnly, and truly appeal to the seacher of hearts, that I should much more de [...]redly have ex­prest my self in their behalf, and been an urgent, though unwor­thy intercessor for them, but that my conscience assures me, con­cerning them, that whoever so favours or befriends them, as to procure their indemnity, doth what in him lyes, (ignorantly per­haps) to pluck the fiercest of Gods Judgments upon the heads, of himself, and his posterity, and to involve the Kingdom in such future calamities, as may justly render his indiscreet cha­rity, (rather cruell pity) a cause of dolefull lamentation many ages yet to come.

37. As to those persons, whose pardon cannot consist with the Nations safety, unless we flatter our selves with peace, where God hath most expressly declared, and severely denoun­ced the contrary, it is very worth our enquiry, that in case a black cloud of nationall miseries, should again overspread the already nigh consumed, and destroyed Kingdomes, (which God in mercy forbid) we may speedily recollect with our selves the cause, and in time apply a suitable remedy.

38. It was once remarkable, the case of Gods people Israel, in the time of David's Reign; year after year, one of the forest of Gods plagues, afflicted that Nation; three successive yeares famine, put David upon enquiry after the cause; who had an­swer from the Divine oracle, that bloud guiltiness in the house of Saul, who slew the Gibeonites, had called for that nationall de­solation; now because David, (who ought not to have let crimes of that nature pass,) had not revenged it, after he come to the Crown, all Israell smarted severely for this neglect, and yet the Actor was dead, who with his sonne, fell in battell, and a great slaughter was made among the whole Army besides; ne­vertheless, till particular vengeance for this bloud was taken, and Seven of Saul's family, (among whom were five of Mi [...]h [...]s sonnes, the daughter of Saul, born to Adriell the Sonne of Bar­zillai [Page 13]the Meholathite) were delivered up to the injured Gibeo­nites, and by them hanged before the Lord, the guilt of his Inno­cent bloud, still cryed for vengeance to heaven, and was heard so many yeares after, and avenged by the righteous God, with a sore famine, three yeares together.

39. My prayer is that the like lot befall not England, which is much more to be feared, considering the quality of the persons murthered among us, not Gibeonites, who were part of the Na­tions by God devoted to destruction, and saved their lives by a false feigned message, deluding the two credulous Princes, and bringing them to a rash unadvised oath, to spare their lives; who yet condemned them to perpetuall drudgery to the whole congregation, but our King here was butchered, our Lords, Knights, Gentry, Godly Divines, and eminent Citizens, slaughtered. Those were slain by a King in appearing zeal, who might have for colour of this action. First, the change of Government. Secondly, the fraud, by which that Oath of the Princes of the congregation, was deceitfully obtained. Thirdly, that the persons swearing, and sworn to, were long since dead, nor could a grant (fraudulently procured) bind posterity. Fourthly, that Gods command was to extirpate them, without mercy or pity. Fifthly, the displeasure of him manifested against Israell, for sparing, and making Leagues with such Nations, which he had devoted to destruction, and commanded their utter rooting out. Sixthly, the Divine anger against himself, because he had been disobediently pitifull in sparing the King of Ama­leck, with part of the spoile. Seventhly, that though the Princes of the congregation had spared them, and sworn to them, upon a mistake, wherein the Gibeonites were no way excusable, much less justifiable, yet God had no where declared his assent to, and approbation of this action of the Princes, but had frequently manifested his dislike, and fierce Anger against the whole Nati­on, for not destroying, but making Leagues with others, for which cause he reptoved them at Bochim, till they wept excee­dingly; Threatned them therefore, and as he had denounced, so he oft sold them as Captives, to almost all the Nations round about, whom they had spared contrary to command, besides all [Page 14]which pretences, by Saul no doubt alledged for that slaughter committed upon them, the quality of him, and them makes his case, and ours of no comparison together. He a King, and they contemptible drudges, of a cursed Generation. But with us sworn subjects murther'd their Soveraign, the very tongues, mouths, and lips that had vo'wd solemn allegiance to him, and to hazard life in his preservation, and to defend with him his Queen and Progeny, presume to condemn to death the same Royall Person, proclaim Traytors his Queen, and Sonnes, yea all that shall adhere to them, and assert their so oft confirmed title, by so sacred and religious oaths. This certainly next to our blessed Saviours murther was most black and hortible.

40. Besides, with Majesty fell Nobles, and Gentlemen, Di­vines, and Citizens, of as great repute, as any the Land afforded, who were as undoubtedly Innocent, as cruelly slaughtered, yea their crime objected, was honesty, the pretence of taking them off, was a colourable mock-justice, yet in their own conscience they knew their Courts to be only Snares and Engines, to do such work, which by no known Law of the Land, nor in any re­gular form of proceeding, could be effected. If then Saul's bloudy-fact were revenged, with three yeares famine, and after that with the death of Seven of his Sonnes; I tremble to think, what vengeance the Lord may take of us, for this bloud, unless our most honourable Lords, and those other worthy Patriots of the English Nation, the House of Commons, by their pious wisdom, and just severity, against unpardonable malefactors, scatter that black cloud of Gods judgments, which is already gathering, and who knowes how soon it may overspread the whole Kingdom.

41. Breaking Parliaments, subverting Laws, horrible Op­pression by Confiscations, Sequestrations, decimations, Imprison­ments, frequent sending out of Town, setting up Usurpers, making the Nobles more contemptible than any generous Spirits could bear, are unparallel'd Treasons, and being against man more di­rectly, may be famous objects of Pardon, even to astonishment, but to indemnifie such horrible guilt of bloud, is to presume to do that on Earth, which God will never set his seal to, or con­firm [Page 15]in Heaven: It is for man to exceed his Commission, which presumption he and his Posterity may have cause to bewail with bitter tears, when it is too late to remedy.

42. My Lords and Gentlemen, although in a Parliamentary way of Convention, with his Majesties Royal assent concurring, you have great, (I had almost said unlimited) power, which is true in a sense, nothing, that is mearly humane, can bound you, yet there are bounds set even to you, by the hand of God him­self, no less dreadfull than the bounds of Sinai, which you can­not transgress, but you streight incurre the displeasure of a re­venging Deity, whose Angel with his flaming sword, is forthwith over your head, and speedy Judgement ready to overtake you, and treading upon your heels. Nor will this be your private sin, but (as persons in trust) you contract a fatal score, whereof God alone knows how many thousands must be the Pay­masters. One of those immovable bounds is the guilt of bloud, which debt, if you remit, as to the penalty, it were well if you could cross it out of Gods book, but that's impossible, bloud only is to be the payment, though it is in your choyce, whether this shall be guilty, or other innocent bloud, which God as a So­veraign Lord, perhaps will take, and place both the former and latter, to their account, at whose door neglect lies.

43. Believe it my Lods and Gentlemen, the persons concerned in that detestable murther of his Majesty, are not all comprised in the list of those who sate in the High Court of Mock-justice, that day when sentence was past, that whole pretended Court, or rather pack of Bloud-hounds, were but the tool and instrument in the hand of some devilish Workman, Journey [...] employed by others who contrived the Plot, and set them on work, among whose number some were more actively daring, and openly ap­peared, as well to give countenance to, as incourage the rest, (who were persons qualifyed to serve their turn, and pickt here and there, as they came to hand) others of the grand contrivers, were more wary, and reserved, who for fear of after-reckonings slipt behind the Curtain, gave aim unto, and directed the Actors, Haslerig, Vane, Lenthall, and others of that gang, had as deep hand in that Crimson fact, as any who were present at sentence, or confirmed it under hand and Seal,

44. That there is no pleading for murther where all are prin cipalls, the Law of our land makes evident, less for Royall mur­ther, as is clear by that Scripture-rule, which saith. Who can lift up his hand, against the Lords anointed and be guiltless; and most plainly confirmed by the pattern of David, who commanded that foolish Amalekite forthwith to be slain, who in hope of reward, accused himself, that he had at the request of Saul, dispatcht his life (when past hope of recovery, by reason of his mortall wounds) sending him to his long home with this farewell, thy bloud be upon thine own head, forasmuch as thou hast confest the lifting up thine hand against the Lords anointed.

45. Yet as the first plotter and contriver of a horrid fact, if es­pecially he stand by, and encourage, advise, assist, justify, and reward the Actor, is the more unpardonably guilty, so those who appointed an high Court of Justice, nominated the per­sons, commissi [...]ated, impowered and warranted them, in what they were to act, were indeed the superlatiue Traytors, and most guilty of bloud.

46. And among those there are yet degrees, some were pro­fessed Lawyers, and could not be ignorant of the Law of the Land, their conscience told them in the very act of endeavou­ring to try their King for life, in such an unheard of Court, them­selves were above all, most transcendent Traytors.

47. In which crew, as all [...] Subjects, so many were his Majesties actuall servants, as Vane, Mildmay, Danvers, Holland, and others, whose fact surpasseth so far the rest, as it is more detestable for a servant, than for a stranger to kill his Master, by our Law made petty Treason, and more severely punished. Some were servants in favour, and places of more than ordinary trust, and were rewarded so largely, as argued a bountifull Prince, and them on that account, Monsters in nature, who durst abet; much more actually commit such a villany upon so gracious a Lord, so loving and bountifull a Master.

48. Their declarations after the fact challenged the imagined repute thereof to themselves, for as they m [...]e no scruple to call themselves the Parliament and supream power of England, so they ascribed to themselves the abolishing Kingship; and accor­dingly [Page 17]rejected the whole line of the murther'd King, declar'd for a Common-wealth whithout King or House of Lords, fram'd and imposed upon all an engagement to that purpose, which argues plainly, that those who were the Major part of that Junto, who voted an high Court of Justice, and who confer­red upon them such power, were the plotters and Authors of what was by the others acted, the first of the two most inexcusa­ble, though all unpardonable.

49. Besides these, there were contrivers of Petitions, that all great offendors might be brought to justice, which were accor­dingly framed, and presented both from the City and mutinous Army, by which his sacred Majesty was at first designed to be made a bloudy sacrifice, under the notion of the greatest offen­dor, being brought to justice, Adjutant Generall Allen at the disposition of Usurping Richard, wrote a Pamphet, to remind the grand Officers how the Army were in a wilderness of difficul­ties, in the year 1647. and how they at Windsor severall dayes together, had sought God by fasting and prayer, and how he at last brought them to an unanimous resolve, that they would fight the Scots, and labour to quell the threatning insurrections in se­verall parts, and in case God answered their prayers, they would, as a religious return of thankfulness, revenge the bloudshed com­mitted in these Warres, upon that bloudy man, as he was pleased to stile his Sacred Majesty of blessed memory. So that there was a conspiracy in the Army, with a part of the house of Com­mons, to murther the King long before; who therefore pre­tending fear, with their Speaker fled to the Head-quarters, were brought back by the Armies force, the Commons House purged, the Lords House turn'd out of doors. Here my Lords and Gen­tlemen was the plot, after which an high Court of Justice was called, and impowered to put what before was contrived, in execution.

50. Nor were they ignorant of what villany they went about, or the way must be made, by breaking the Seal Royall, and ma­ing a new one, because the King could not be judicially procee­ [...]ed against without commission, nor any commission in force against him, signed with his own Seal, which argued as premedi­tated, [Page 18]so desperate malice, joyned with knowledg sufficient; they understood the fact, & its difficulty, as well as its danger, yet resolved to leap over mountaines themselves, rather than not perform this butchery.

51. Mr. Milton in answer to Salmasius gives the whole glory of this Heroick action (as he call'd it) to the English Parlia­ment; And indeed it was properly their act originally, the Judges did but only represent them; acted by their Commissi­on, who in this are inexcusable also, that they took a Commissi­on, and put it in execution against their undoubted King, which involved them alike in the guilt of perjury and Treason, being equally sworn to his Allegiance, and by this act (however Com­missionated) they were questionless murtherers.

52. This Honourable house of Commons in their late answer to his Majesties most gracious Letter, have this like expression, that the abhorred villanies, perpetrated upon his Majesties Roy­all Father (of blessed memory) could never possibly have been brought to that pass, had not their priviledges been so shame­fully violated; first, that of Englands Parliament nothing was left remaining but a Mock-Junto. By that discovering their judg­ments to be, that they who in order to that butchery, committed such unheard of Rapes upon the Parliament, were of all others far the most guilty, And therefore deserving most severe pu­nishment.

53. To come now to the high Court of justice, and take a view of their proceedings, some sate to the last, and passed the sentence actually under their hands and Seales, others sate at first only, some sate till the last, and then disappeared.

All are alike guilty, for his Sacred Majesty demurr'd at first to the Jurisdiction of the Court, they who then sate, asserted their own jurisdiction, declaring that they were satisfied in it; Com­manded him to plead positively, and to own the Court, or else the default should be marked for a contempt; this was in effect his Majesties doom; he as a constant assertor of the Lawes, and Liberties of the Nation, was unsatisfied with their Autority; and resolved rather to dy, than by a Plea to own them a juris­diction at all; (much less over him, their King) these peremp­tory [Page 19]villanies assert their own Jurisdiction, tye him up to an­swer, or to be recorded for his Contempt, upon which account, the third default was to be accounted final, then some with-drew, and account themselves thus excused from his bloud, by not sit­ting at last, when sentence was given; yet protest not against the proceedings of the rest; when as in truth they impounded, as I may say, shackled his Majesty, and fitted him for the block, with-drawing out of a guilty fear, when the blow was to be given, being assured, that there were Bloud-hounds enough left sitting to worrey him: not a man more than other can be excused of the murther, unless it appear, that they shewed their dissatisfa­ction, and dislike of proceedings, to be the cause of their re­fusing afterward to sit.

54. Lastly, no doubt but many pretended divine Oracles are equally guilty, with the rest, who counselled, contrived, and in­couraged these villanies, which ended in murther, and vouched the holy Writ for their warrant, to provoke to the attempt, and defended the fact afterward, both by preaching and writing; the Priest who confessed, and absolved the Powder-traytors was found as guilty, and suffered as deeply, as any among them; Peeters and Goodwyn may be named, and many more pointed at; but these two, were as Joab to the vvoman of Tekoah they had a hand in the whole, from beginning to end, yea, so far are they more punishable, but how much they abused Scripture to de­fend, and as it were entitle God himself to the murther.

55. To descend from this black subject, and bloudy discourse, to take a view of more private murthers, tragical enough, yet for which something may be said in behalf of many concerned therein.

56. When grave, learned, and able Lawyers, shall declare the Authority of a pretended High Court of Justice to be law­full, and personally act therein, either as President, as L [...]sle, or by drawing up charges against Prisoners, and calling them before such to the Barre, aggravating crimes against them, solliciting for Justice to be done on them in the name of the Common-Wealth, and in all things, avowing them a Court of Judicature; I marvel not, if many men unskil'd in the Law, sit among the rest, and act confidently.

57. If the Facts for which they are tryed, be by Lawyer declared high Treason, and Capital, and Witnesses procured to testifie the same, (how suborned is not now the subject of our Enquiry nor how prompted in their Evidence, by the Attorney General) if Lawyers affirm the tryal to be carryed on according to Law, and some reputed godly Divines assure them the way is of God; no wonder if the Prisoner be convicted and con­demned, and yet God forbid, half the Judges guilty of mur­ther or bloud, though concurring in sentence.

58. However, those who advise the erecting such a Court, out of design to butcher the Parties intended for tryal, because they know that the crime objected, is indeed no crime by the Law of the Land: They who give commission under the pretended Seal of England, for trying such offenders by nominated Commis­sion ers, yet know that very Commission to be illegal and un­warrantable, and yet intended as an Engine to remove some out of the way that are before marked for destruction; they (lastly) who prosecute the Prisoners at the Barre of such a Court, The Judge also, who sits in Judgement upon, and pronounceth sen­tence against them; though both Judge, Attorney and Sollici­tor know the Prisoners not to deserve so much as bonds by the known fundamental Laws of the Land, and the Power by which they pretend to Act, to be usurped and illegal, nay, contrary to Law, which they (in formality) are sworn to maintain, and ex­ecute Justice accordingly, all these (doubtlesly) are a pack of Conspirators against the Innocent bloud, which is thus shed by them, and most cruel, unpardonable murtherers; this for less publick butcheries committed upon the score of pretended High Courts of Justice.

59. Two private cases remains yet, as namely that of Lucas, and Lisle, and the other of Penruddok and Grove.

The former were shot to death in cool bloud, by sentence of a Court Mattial; the latter condemned by (that great Prevari­cator) Glyn, who caused them to be indicted for taking up Arms against Cromwell, upon that Law, which makes it Treason to levy War against the King, no Law being then hatched to secure that Usurper, and although the Prisoners pleading to the en­dictment, [Page 21]defended themselves unanswerably, and made it ap­pear (by that very Law,) that Oliver was the Traytor in making War upon them, who proclaimed, and fought for that King whom he opposed, yet this most unrighteous Judge made the Law (violently) to speak against it self, by his interpretation, and so condemned the most innocent Prisoners, whom after­wards, with others, (upon the same score,) he caused to be exe­cuted, for which, if ever Judge in England deserved exemplary death, certainly he fell as much, if not more.

60. Thus, most honourable Lords and Gentlemen, having spoken concerning the persons who they are; give me leave to adde some considerations, which speak them uncapable of In­demnity, unless we intend such vengeance to follow their Par­don, which God (if it be his will) prevent, and by the way, I shall obviate what objections may be brought against this im­partial Justice, or arguments to the contrary.

61. Consider, I beseech you; First, the crimes and the men, whether or no, they be fit objects of Mercy, Pardon and In­demnity. Secondly, if they be, whether it is convenient and expedient to let them find so great a measure of it, and taste it so largely, and I doubt not but upon enquiry, your wisdoms will with me conclude in the negative, notwithstanding what ever may be indiscreetly argued in favour of them.

62. In order then to proceed; First presents it self their Fact, and next their manner of acting; Lastly, their behaviour after it, in all which it is too manifest, that as they are beyond, and above Pardon, so they are below pity.

63. Their crime, my Lords and Gentlemen, is Murther, of it self unpardonable, but in them aggravated by Perjury, Malice, inhumane Cruelty, justifying thereof under pretence of Religi­on, and the better to secure themselves from Justice, they spared no manner of Villany; which a dextrous pernicious wit could prompt, or a seared conscience commit. Their murther hath this astonishing addition, or rather Complement of guilt, in that its object was their King, to whom they were most sacredly and religiously obliged, by reiterated Oaths, not only impoled, but by themselves voluntarily made, and solemnly entred into, [Page 22]this is the crime of many, nay, most of them, besides other pri­vate murthers, which on their part have the aggravations of malice, and inhumane cruelty on the sufferers, that they were persons of Piety, Esteem, Honour and Faithfulness to their King and Countrey, of whom several excelled (in true worth) all their Martherers together.

64. My Lords and Gentlemen, if to murther a private man, of no esteem, little worth, perhaps vicious, debauched, and a burthen to those with whom he lives, deserve death unpardo­nably, and our Law justly condemns, and executes (in such a case) the murtherers, though perhaps many, and otherwise, each far surpassing the party slain; shall our King (worth ten thou­sand Subjects,) our eminent Lords & Gentry, our godly Divines and Citizens, be murthered, by the worst of the Nation (for real worth,) and among so many murtherers, so few be pick'd out, (of whom many fled) to be made examples, when they can be catcht? when the whole number (if taken) amounts not to the fourth part of those who by them have been formally butchered, besides the numberless multitude of those who have been otherwise slain, starved, ruined and destroyed by means of that first Heaven-daring butchery. Shall Henry Martin, that infamous Lecher, who having among Strumpets con­sumed his Patrimony, hath long lain in Gaole, to the defrauding his Creditors, be accounted (when he is taken,) a competent Sacrifice in lieu of his Sacred Majesty, Lord Capel, Hamilton, and Holland? so Cornelius Holland, the Linke-boy, who hath no­thing of Estate, but what is the price of bloud, and reward of his villanies, be given up to Justice (when he is catcht also) in revenge of Hewits, Slingsby's Yeomans, and Butchers bloud? Thomas Scot, that Saint, (who besides his other villanies, most ungraciously, paid his wife Grace in the same coin, which he in exchange of greater pieces, received from his girls at a vaulting School, but peppered her so the wrong way, that she stank the sooner, and lies buried in Westminster) be made exemplary, (when he likewise comes to hand) in lieu of Mr. Love, Gib­bons, Bushel, Col. Gerard, and Vowel, and so the rest? Or must all these be made the price of Royal bloud only? Certainly [Page 23]Gentlemen, this will be to value his sacred Person, less than the Scots did, who sold him (in life) for two hundred thousand pounds, not because they esteem'd him worth no more, but be­cause that was all they could get for him; Had his murtherers been twise as many, his worth and value was so inestimable, that all had made too mean a sacrifice for his bloud.

65. That murther of his Sacred Majesty, brought upon them all the bloud which had been shed in England, and was the cause of all the rest which was shed in Ireland, and Scotland. The King in wisdom, foresaw the end of the War, levied against him, and therefore defended himself. So many of the Parliament as were sincere, abhorred (as by their declarations appeared) those very thoughts, for which end they framed a vow, and pro­testation, and after joyned with the Scots in their League and Covenant, (not suspecting this Viper hidden under the green hearbs,) raised therefore, as Commissionated all their forces for the Kings defence, whereas his murther at last, verified the Pre­diction of his Majesty, gave the lye to all the Parliaments pre­tences, and made it appear, that this Tragedy was the end of all those several years wars, and incredible civil blond shed; Good God! Should these men now be pardoned, what can be ima­gined? but that the Parliament in their Vowes and Covenant, did all, (both Lords and Commons,) prevaricate and juggle; The detestation of a fact, is ever judged by the animadversion made upon it. Talk till Doomes-day, yet none will believe that the Lords and Commons abhorre that murther, and repute it the Nations infamy resent [...] Vows, Oaths and Cove­nants broken therein, when th [...] [...]ontrivers, Plotters, and horri­ble Actors, are almost all pardoned by whole sale, except a few, who in effect have pardoned themselves by flight.

66. My Lords and Gentlemen, because of Oaths, and Swear­ing this Land hath a long time mourned, not so much for that Oaths were made, but because no better kept: If you were se­rious in what you swore, you cannot but revenge the shamefull breach thereof, with all imaginable severity; (trust me) lenity herein will speak aloud to your reproach, both while you live, and while your memory lasteth, that you are pretty well satis­fied, [Page 24]as to the fact, when you dismiss with free pardon, such a gang of Malefactors, Religion hath been scandalized so fowly by this means, (the Protestant especially) that were it only to shew your detestation thereof, such counsels would take no place in your honourable breasts. It is the only convincing Ar­gument, that you were immovably firm to your Oaths and Vowes, when you are irreconcilable to those, who with such abominable aggravations broke them.

67. Those who at present are remote from you, and for fu­tute shall be long after you, can take notice of no ground of so large an extent of Pardon, but that you either judge the fact not deserving greater punishment, or that you are afraid to do Justice upon them; and to speak plainly, such lenity as is pre­tended (I hope not intended in this Case,) will leave such a blot upon your Honours and Wisdoms, as cannot be born with credit, nor wiped off by any possible future zeal or industry. He who is easily perswaded to re nit so grosse villanies, will al­waies leave a suspicion, that he would not hardly have been per­swaded to be concerned therein, had not politick considerations (more than conscience) deterred him. It is the glory of a man to pass by the greatest injury done to himself, without any re­venge, but to forgive what is done against Gods Majesty, with the like readiness and facility, argues that such a man hath but little honour for God.

68. My Lords and Gentlemen, its possible for any man to be so out of reach of othe [...] [...] not to be exposed to their ob­servations, censures and [...] [...]ersions, nor is it in your power to regulate them, but every man will follow the dictates of his own reason, and what appears thereto.

69. The grounds of this over-flowing mercy, and inlarged bowels of compassion, (believe it) will be judged one or all of these: Either a low esteem you had of his Sacred Majesty; or a private dislike of him, which makes you account his remo­val out of the way, some considerable balance, to counterpoise the execrable, horrible Treachery, and perjurious cruelty com­mitted in his death or that you give some credit to the imputa­tions laid against him, and so reckon him as deserving the thing [Page 25]he suffered, though perhaps you disliked the manner. Or that you were your selves guilty herein more than you would wil­lingly have known; and therefore pardon so many, least they should speak plainer of your selves, than you would be willing to have heard. Or that, notwithstanding your Oaths and Cove­nants, you intended the same thing in your own way and me­thod, and so were only prevented. Or that you under-hand con­sented to what was acted, and most of you by a patient with­drawing, upon seclusion of the forty Commoners, gave oppor­tunity to what was afterward perpetrated.

70. These suspicions, my Lords and Gentlemen, though, I hope, ye believe them false and groundless, yet on my credit are more than whisper'd (among very sober men,) upon occa­sion of this too comprehensive act of grace, which is expected, and would make viler than dirt the bloud, not only of many wor­thy state-Martyrs, and his sacred Majesty himself, but also of all those whose lives have been prodigally spent, to subdue the King, and his friends, and bring him into a capacity of becoming the subject of so abominable a Tragedy, as also of rejecting and keeping in exile his matchless (for reall worth) and yet by unpa­ralell'd villany, proscribed heir, with two Incomparable pieces of true Princely gallantry, the Royall Dukes, of York, and Glou­cester. The grinding oppressors also of these three Nations, wherein all the Kings put together since the Conquest have been exceeded, will be notably rewarded, when out of more than an hundred unpardonable Murtherers, besides incomputable num­bers of high traytors, perhaps five shall dye, and thirty or forty of those be squeezed a little in their Estates, who have cause­lessly ruined many hundreds, sequestred, and forced to mon­strous unreasonable compositions, many thousands; totally con­fiscated the Estates of six times their number, and by taxes, ex­cises, impositions, decimations, frequent imprisonments, for­ged plots and fines thereupon, have beggar'd a thousand at least, for every man designed for nominall confiscation of Estate, which indeed will prove scarce the plucking away by law one third part of what they before violently and cruelly ravisht from the true owners without all colour of Law, rather against it.

71. My Lords and Gentlemen, can it be imagined, that Willi­am Lenthall, who had for a fee five pounds for every compoun­der, whose number was reckoned by one to be fourscore thou­sand (suppose really half the number which was the least) besides other places of vast prodigious gain, enjoyed by him above board, nor will any rationall man question, but he had private wayes of indirect gain, beyond what can be made now appear upon confiscation will be found the Master of one tith of what he is (beyond contradiction) owner, questionless no, such villaines as he, alwayes had that of reason, to fear what we se hapned, nay, they had no rationall ground to hope for so long prosperity in villany; upon which jealousy he, and many of his stamp, no doubt, made such secret provision, that spating their life (on such termes) is like a School-boyes whipping, (when over) the fear proving more than the smart, they have time and occasion given, to laugh at the supiness of their Judges, and to please themselves, how they give the first, the soundest, and most smarting blow.

72. Who would not, if they had opportunity again, be such Rogues upon the like termes, be as cruell as possible, as guilty, as wit can invent, the Devill suggest, or a cursed disposition make, commit villanies to the utmost extent of power, stop only, where it is not possible to go further, continue as long, as by Hellish policy is devisable, oppress the Nation, till nothing be left further to squeeze; yet at last, when our own ungodliness hath ensnared us, and a restoration made, because we can no longer hinder it, nineteen of twenty shall have peremptory pardon, the rest law, fly, if they can, but if unavoidable they be catcht, they shall have fair tryall themselves, who never allowed others any, come my Masters, find but you consciences, and here are all the incouragements to monstrous villany, that are possible.

73. My Lords and Gentlemen, as to the heynousness of this fact, I humbly intreat you to consider, it is that, which you would have your Kings by agreement disabled to pardon, and justly, because God is positive therein, whoever shedds mans bloud, by man shall his bloud be shed. Will you restrain your King, yet your selves do it; shall not a private man be murther'd, [Page 27]but his bloud requir'd, and shall your King? If so, woe to thee England! What will be thy doom London! Would God you had the Art to confine divine Judgments within your own walls, if needs you will pluck them down with such Cart­ [...]ropes.

74. You are my Lords and Gentlemen, every one of you put in a publick capacity, do not (I humbly entreat you) offer your selves (now) as bayle to Gods Justice, for such impardona­ble offenders. The doom of Ahab is not to be neglected. Because thou hast let go a man, whom I appointed to destructi­on, thy life shall go for his. A discreet man would hardly in­gage life for life, for an infamous thief or high-way man. Better be bayle for ten such, than for one of these high Court of Justice men, those especially, who are guilty of Royall bloud, where God himself keeps the recognisance strickly, and will not fail to require it severely.

75. Your wisdoms are I doubt not advised that forfeiture of estate, (if it could be totall) is no adequate satisfaction, nor com­petent recompense either to the Law, or Gods Justice, where both life and state are due, and confiscate; the one legally given to the King, for his loss of a Subject, the other indispensably due to that vengeance, which will take no triffe in recompence, but only life for life, and bloud for bloud.

76. To conclude this head, concerning the nature of their offence, it is to be minded universally, that punishment is a glass, in which we contemplate, and discover either the true nature of the crime, or the unanswerable sense of the judg, perhaps the joy of restoration hath obliterated the remembrance of our delive­rance nor will suffer us to reflect upon our former slavery, and misery, (with their causes) if so, God who when he was lead­ing his people unto Canaan, reminded them of the house of Bondage, with thunder, lightning, and Earthquakes, may also rub up our memories, both with a witness and vengeance.

77. From the crime I beseech your wisdomes to cast your eye upon the persons, and see how well they appear deserving mercy.

How have they heapt villanies one upon another, as the Giants [Page 28]in their Warre against Heaven heapt Pelion upon Ossa, or as waves in a storm follow one upon the neck of another. Believe it Gentlemen; they are not men of David's spirit, whose heart smote him, for cutting off Sauls skirt, but when it was motioned, to go over to him and slay him sleeping, he rejected the offer with detestation: from Monstrous impieties, they came to that amazing Butchery committed on the King, not after found they any stroke at heart, but only of grief, that they had not all the Royall branches in their power to chop down in one day.

78. Prodigious Malefactors they are, who took their first rise of Monstrous villany at the rending up the two howses of Parliament by the Root, (not considering the first pretended ground of the Warre, was because the King demanded to tryall, (secured not, nor secluded) five Commoners, and one Peer, no bones at last were made of either protestations or pretences, no­thing accounted by them sordid; they pretended a fear, and fled to the Army from petitioning unarmed apprentises, (spirits oft before by themselves conjured up, and laid again, without dread, while they came and requested bloud, warre, and confusion, but now they are dreadfull when they petition for settlement, a thing hatefull to those who had been, and expected to be such gainers by trouble and distraction.) 'Twas that in Church and state they aimed at, in such waters they longed to fish, and ra­ther then Cromwell, Heslerigge, Vane, Lenthall, Scot, &c. would lose their longing, they resolved with their father Pluto, as he is brought in thus speaking by Claudian,

79. My Lords and Gentlemen, consider what a coal you are scraping, to give your names to posterity an indelible smut, or mark, and what unfeigned repentance is requisite from you, as soon as this act is concluded, in reference to the warres past. If it be most certain, Bonus Civis initia belli Civilis invitus sus­scipit, [Page 29]extrema non libentèr persequitur, there is need of all the heart-breaking possible on their side, who rose in Arms, hazard­ed so many lives, spent so much treasure and blood to restrain his Majesty (of Sacred Memory) from vexing the people, with those Flea bites, in comparison of the devouring extortions which these villains afterwards oppressed, yea almost destroyed them with; To prohibit his infringing the Parliamentary pri­viledges, impeaching five Members, while these impeach ele­ven at once, and compell them beyond Sea, without prosecu­tion or Tryall: & after secure above forty; force away two hun­dred, discard the House of Peers, cashiere their priviledges, murther the King, root up the Law, set up Arbitrary Taxes, im­positions, Excises, &c. Commission monstrous unheard of Courts, and in them hunt to death as many, and for what they please, where no Law of the Land speakes them so much as Cri­minall; yet for all these Treasons, and murthers, scarce ten of the most infamous Commoners in England, are thought fit to die; when for the life of one man ( Parsons by Name, Lieve­tenant Collonel to the Drayman, Pride, and of as obscure origi­nall as his Collonel) slain by accident on the High way, not a man concerned in that Robbery, escaped the Gallows; and when for one House-Robbery, it is frequent to hang nine or ten, sometimes sixteen, or twenty, yet all of them infinitely short of these Villains in crimes.

80. How for future dare a Judge sit on the Benth and con­demn a poor petty Thief, a Coyner of money; one in a passion guilty of stabbing; or a poor Wenth for a Child thrown into a Jakes, which none knows, if or no it were born alive; nay any murther, when such unparallel'd Theeves; Traytors beyond president, Murtherers to amazement, and ashonishment, are either judged not fit to die, or at least not convenient, his Maje­sty should loose so many Subjects.

81. Blesse us good God! Subjects of which no King need be­proud, or desirous; A way to make a happy Prince, when he shall scarce go any where, but (considering their number) he may meet with one or other of them, and point at them, There goes one who murther'd my Royall Father; banished me, alie­nated my revenues, reduced to extream straits my Mother and [Page 30]Brothers, with all my true friends and Relations, butchered my Subjects, and illegally extorted from them a thousand times mo [...]e th [...]n they would suffer their Leige and King to levy though with advice of his Judges, but made warre upon him, and took his life upon this pretence: These good Subjects are left me, through the piety and wisdome of my two Houses of Parlia­ment, as sutable objects of my Royall Mercy and Pardon.

82. Divinely Gracious Prince, these are not objects of Mer­cy, God will not have it so, having expressed his will, in hard­ning their hearts to the last; When God hardned the Egypti­ans, so as to follow the Israelites into the very bowels of the deep Sea, his providence spake plainly that his intention was to drown them. Prudent Generalls use to give no quarter to re­solute Gatrisons, which refusing all offers of mercy, stand out to the last; against whom neverthelesse, they have no quarrel but open Hostility, and plain interest of warr: How much less are these Villaines, who had forfeited their lives unpardonably for any one of their inferiour murthers, to expect pardon after so great guilt, so long continued in impenitently, and perservered un­to the very last.

83. Who can imagine that they repent any thing but the put­ting a period thus to their Usurpation and Tyranny? who had heard Hasterigge threatning to fight all over again; protesting he had rather been buryed in his grave, than seen the secluded Members restored, that had observed the Rumpers abjuring his Sacred Majesty, and whole Royall stock, with all Kingly pow­er, sending the Generall into the City, to pluck up their Posts, take away their Chains, Demolish their Gates, imprison their Members, with a further charge (as is reported) to break down their Wall; Hang up their Aldermen, &c. That had seen Hew­son a little before, marching into the City, and with armed men, killing poore unarmed Apprentices, barely for assaying to deliver a Petition to their Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, to con­sider their distresses, and indeavour a remedy: That had ob­served the stickling Rulers of the Rost, upon the last sitting of the Mock Iunto, to frame a Petition, and labour others coloura­bly to deliver it to their pious consideration, to have the Oath of Abjuration imposed upon all Ministers, Schoolmasters, and those [Page 31]in places of trust, upon penalty of being ejected, in case of refu­sall: That had observed John Lenthal busie in London, to dis­swade from the thoughts of receiving his Sacred Majesty; reviling him, calling him Bastard, Sonn of a Tyrant, Jesuited Papist; with other horrble amazing reproaches. If these be the signes of peni­tent traitors, & murderers, in Gods name let them be pardoned; & at once let all villains past and to come, be with one Act of Grace forgiven in England for ever.

84. What hopes of their amendment, who have outvyed­Gunpowder-Traitors; and Jesuites most dangerous tenents, they have out-acted and defended? who can expect any good nature yet to lodge in those breasts, who have proved them­selves Monsters in Nature? desperately seared Consciences, to whom Rebellion and treason is become habituall; Hypocrites in grain, who crave a Blessing, commonly before their mur­thers; Fast and pray, to seek Gods assistance on them, and give solemn thanks after them. No expectation of good from such who have turn'd the most abhominable impieties into a set Form of Religion; and have us'd of late years, no other service of God than this.

85. It's some good sign when men are asham'd of a bad acti­on, study to conceal it, and excuse it, but to declare wickedness openly, argues one past all grace, A whore that ownes her self one, and is proud to be accounted so, gives small hopes of a­mendment; but she who pleads for it as a lawfull trade, may be given over as desperate.

86. Besides the guilt of not only blood, but frequent, horrible, amazing Murtherers, compleated with King-killing and per­jury, hath an irresistable power of hardning their hearts, who are guilty; and if these be spared, God may in Judgement suffer their principles to be penally insnaring; it is a fatall courtesie, which brings a certain curse on a mans self, and intailes it to his posterity.

87. Consider Gentlemen, how they dealt with others, as Souldiers, with all the Ir [...]sh in our English Warrs, who were constantly excluded the benefit of eitster quarter, or Articles of surrender, in detestation of the bloody tradegy acted by them on the Protestants, in Tredigh, Wexford and other places in Ire­land, [Page 32]Kallendar-House in Scotland, &c. can witnesse for them, that having to do with Christians, they made no scruple of put­ting thousands to the Sword, who would not surrender up Ca­ftles and Garrisons to their imperious demand: And as Judges, it is well known that none of the Irish were suffered to scape with life, who could be convicted of the Murther of an English Protestant; Can any Law be more just than their own? Our King, Nobles, Knights, Gentry, Divines, and Citizens, were of no lesse esteem than those murdered Protestants in Ireland, the first valuable with ten thousand; Nor were the Murtherers less barbarous then the Irish Rebells.

88. But above all consider their imperious pride, peremtory saucinefs, and monstrous cruelty in the tryall, sentencing and condemning the King, breaking his Seal Royall, and making a­nother to render the murder fesible, under a colour of Mock Justice, refusing his demurrs, not admitting him to speak for him­felf, unlesse he would own them a Court of Judicature, having power over him, and take a Tryall from them, so to betray En­gland liberties at once, their appointing the place at his own Gate, to go out of the Window of his former Princely pleasure, and Royal Magnificence, unto the Stage of his finall bloody Tradgedy; where pullies were prepared with Ropes, perforce to compell him to bow his Royall Head, and lay his neck on the block, had he refused to submit willingly, the ghastly Execu­tioners with ugly Visors, representing truly what they were in­deed within, who durst act such a deed; The flourishing of Weapons in triumph, upon giving that Execrable blow, cutting and wounding any whose eyes betrayd a relenting heart, at so damnable a sight, yea, decapitating his harmlesse Statue upon the Royall Exchange, with an (Exit Tyrannus) writ over his place of standing, in design to murther his Name and Memory as well as his Body. What stony heart can think of this and not melt: & yet shall Waller (not only one of his fatal Judges, but the detestable contriver of that place, and time of his death, which added cruelty to the height of his other Villany) only be plundred of that part of his estate which he hath not already made away, or cannot conceal? Okey another of that cursed Committee, shall he find the like favour? I hope not.

89. Had any pity or piety been in the breasts of any of the Junto, their disowning, protesting against, and disclaiming the horribleness of that fact, had given a present check to it, and per­haps dasht it for ever.

90. Observe I beseech you the usuall dealing of these offen­dors against others, yea all whom they could insnare, either as to life or estate, or both, what art to intrap? Packing of Judges? Suborning witnesses, violence in prosecution? And like arts, to make as many, as they designed for tuine, to appear guilty, and what mercy at last, but cruell extremity? Tis Gods rule and will, that Judgement without mercy should be to him, or them, who shewed no mercy.

91. Thus my Lords and Gentlemen it is evident that neither the fact, nor the persons deserve mercy, I shall adde a few con­siderations more to evince the inexpediency of it.

92. By doing this you will either contradict your own vote, which concluded the fact horrible murther, or give the World to understand, that you judge them not all guilty who were act­ors; and then what need of pardon? Or you will let the Nation know, that for once you will change Seats with God himself, he only can pardon murther, who said to David, thou shalt not die, but hath forbidden man to do it. If you who cannot pardon the bloud of a Porter, or Waterbearer; will presume to preferre Re­gicides, (besides other murthers they are guilty of) to his Ma­jesty for pardon; It is to be feared you will thus intaile the sword upon these Kingdomes God knowes how long, he that said to David, thou shalt not die, added, Howbeit the sword shall never depart from thy house, in revenge of one Ʋriah: But here our David himself was slaine, by worse than Ʋriah, and besides him severall scores of other persons of worth, Gallant Commanders, Godly Preachers, eminent Gentlemen, and in­dustrious Citizens, all honest, faithfull subjects cut off by Re­bells, and prodigious Traytors.

93. What will posterity judge when they read the history of these times (which he that will be a faithfull historian must pen candidly,) when he shall find such a vast catalogue of stupendious crimes punished (in comparison) only with a flap of the Fox taile, they must needs either distrust the cre­dit [Page 34]of the story, or censure the innocency of the Judges; It is an old saying, When theeves sit in judgement one upon ano­ther, the triall may be serious, but the execution will be but in jest. Facinus quos inquinat, aequat. Should I read such a story past; I should my selfe have such thoughts; though I have o­ther confidence of your Honors, and that the weekly Pamph­lets, give not your cordially true sence and intentions.

94. Where pardon is so large, it is esteemed an Act not of mercy, so much as of politick justice, and had the murthers been spared on the offenders part, the indemnity could not be too comprehensive, though if it be so large notwithstanding, the same Justice will be apprehended therein of which apprehen­sions, such like will be the constructions.

1. That these few who are made exemplary, suffer on the score of some private grudge and barely in state policy.

2. That what was done by them was honest enough, if it could have been as confidently maintained, and defended, as valiantly atchieved.

3. That you are convinced of the rationality of Antimonar­chicall principles, and that if a King upon any score head a par­ty in a Civill warre, and be vanquished he is at the victors dis­pose, that then oaths cease, when he is unable to protect them, and out of capacity of redeeming himself from them, that the fountaine of power is in the people, with which they betrust their Kings, and may recall it upon his misgovernment, reassume it into their own hands, and try, convict, and punish him, even capitally, if they in conscience judge him guilty, and they will use this lenity of yours in pardoning almost all who did so, as an unanswerable argument, of these forementioned apprehen­sions.

4. That if ever they can get the like opportunity, they may do the same againe and hold out finally, if they can; however, if they fail, this will be a president, what issue they are to expect. My Lords and Gentlemen, it will be the most lethall lesson, that can be taught Subjects, to let them know, that King-kiling is pardonable (as to life) to twenty for one, if they can have but wit to secure their estate, or the most considerable part there­of. This bout will only teach them the present failing, and how [Page 35]to avoid it next. Now how soon they may get opportunity, God knowes, especially when you provoke him, to suffer it, both againe and speedily, Benhadad liv'd to repay Ahab, for letting him go, by a deaths wound at Ramoth Gilead. When God thun­ders in his word againe, and again, be sure a storm is not very fat off. Howbeit blessed be God his Majesty is innocent of this neglect (should any be committed) having wholly left the matter to your pious discretion, and resolutions.

95. By this means we shall have a young nursery of Traytors enabled to give their native Country a blow (perhaps) when it is little aware of them, Children usualy excusing their fathers, unless their crimes be so laid open, and made notorious by punishment, as may make them hang their Crests: Then they sneake away, are ashamed both of their name, and relation, endeavouring if possible, to obliterate out of memory, that they are descended from such, and it will prove most true, and be constantly found by experience, that he who all his life studies to defend such vil­lanyes, will at length look upon them with liking, under the notion of heroick actions.

96. He who spares a malefactor (by the law of God and man unpardonable) had need of more than ordinary security, for his future good beheavour: it was the expression, of a wise King who had pardoned a man (through great intercession for him) convicted of murther, and soone after was found guilty of ano­the the like fact, which being told him he replyed, It is I have slaine this last man, for had justice been done on the murtherer at first, as God required according to the sentence paft against him by the law, this last in probability had been alive. Murther Gentlemen, is prodigiously fertile, none guilty thereof; fail or­dinarily of becoming apt and ready Schollars in Satans bloudy politicks, You know not what a muster-roll of Crimson sins you invite Divine justice to place to your account for future, which will undoubtedly prove a treasuring wrath against the day of wrath, and who knowes the time and terror of this vengeance.

97. Their acquitting from so black crimes, and bloudy guilt may perhaps moralize the fable of that farmer, who put a snake almost dead with cold, into his bosome to revive it, and was rewarded with a mortall bite, so soone as the warmth had re­cover'd [Page 36]it, it is is a proverb not to be neglected, Save a thiefe from the gallowes and thy self shall not escape that destiny, if he can bring thee to it: The proverb is so true of none as of such murtherers as these, who destroy not their natural fathers, but the father of their Country, subvert its lawes, and make the land groane with illegall oppressures, proscricptions, and bloud-shed. Should God in judgement suffer them to have such another day (as they would certainly hugge, and improve the opportunity, so) you and your posterity should first feel their requitall of this favour in procuring their pardon: they of all others would not suffer any to live, at least to inhabit among them, who could say, I, or my father, saved them, or their fathers from deserved execu­tions, for the like crimes before, and this now is the recompence.

98. And perhaps, although their children borne, long since, and men growne, before they became involved in such guilt, may prove better than their fathers, yet from such as hereafter may become fertile among them, what a pestilent brood may come into the World, who by Gods law stand accursed, and lie irremissibly under the bands of death, If a bird constantly lay such an Egge as will produce a young one like her selfe, we can­not in reason expect children to proceed from them, better than the fathers. The Jewes have a witty observation, nor perhaps un­true. That Agag King of Amal [...]k, during those two years which he abode with Saul, and verily thought the bitterness of death had been past, begat a Son from whom lineally came that Ha­man the Agagite, who in Mordecai's time, had like to swallow up the whole Jewish Nation, in his unsatiable thirst of revenge, because one who sate in the Kings gate, would not bow to him. The morall is very seasonable, and sadly to be thought upon, these bloud-guilty Traytors, who in justice are sonnes of Death, whom God would have cut off in the midst of their dayes, who are beyond all but foolish pity (which as the proverb truly hath it, ruines oftimes a City) may become the future fathers of such a pisti lent brood, as may revenge Gods quarrell in the neglect of justice upon them, to the very fourth generation, of such who are chiefly concerned in it: Nor is it unlikely, but our present Lam­bert, may be a branch of that bloudy Archrraytor, of his name, who long ago did such mischiefe in England.

99. Though their lives be spared, yet future credit and repute, its unlike they or their children ever will get in these Kingdomes, till the memory of them be buried in forgetfullness, So that whether they have Estates left, or no, their bare lives will serve to produce much and great mischiefe; They have long been accustomed to vil­lanies of a prodigious bigness; And scorn now to serve the Devill in sneaking employments. Great Rogues, too lazy to dig; nor will beg, so long as England hath enemies. They are acquainted with all the petty instruments of villany three in Kingdoms, and if they can­not set them on work themselves, can and will recommend their abi­lityes to forreigne Princes, that bear England little good will, what happiness can we expect, but these will obstruct, prove Remoras to, and retard? What mischiefe hatched, but they will promote, and cherish, no trusting their good nature, who have discovered them­selves prodigies therein, no hoping for their repentance, who have been seared in their consciences, with twelve years practise of the most heart-hardning villanies.

100. If any hopes should appear in them of repentance, 'tis pity but it should be promoted with execution of that deserved doom, which God requires to be brought upon them, which to differ, espe­cially to acquit them from, is in effect to cause those, who chiefly procure this indemnity for them, to injoy, neither life, or happiness, longer than they can hinder it. They have been long acquainted with such butcheries, and imperious usurpation, so as to be courted, on that score, by Kings, dreaded at home, seared abroad, and admired by nations far distant; this hath scrow'd up their minds to that Ge­nerous pitch of impiety, that rather than live neglectedly, or in con­tempt, they will spare two pence at any time, although but masters of a groat in all, to by a faggot, which may fire their native Country, then they will warme their hands and rejoyce at the flame.

101. Their long experience, although in an usurped way, hath ren­dred them dangerous persons to be interested against their native country, & the hopelesness of their pardon, upon any future score of rebellion, or Treason, would incourage any Prince to trust them very far, who shall be ingaged against England. These are great incarnate devills, every one of them is collective, a name of number, and there are in these Kingdomes a multitude of close villians, of their own complexion, who are of inferior ranks and orders, yet mischievous e­nough in their kind, whom these formerly State-Angles, shining in [Page 38]usurped Glory, falling now to be State-Devills, will draw along with them, as Lucifer did his train after him, or as the Dragor in the A­pocalyps, drew the starrs with his tail, these will still, by reason of their close agents, who will ingratiate themselves as nigh the very Court, and grand Counsels of the Nation, as possible, learne, and betray your most choice and secret counsells, and resolves to those, where it will be little for the Nations advantage to have them known.

102. Believe it confidently, my Lords and Gentlemen, it will be thus, besides the probability of the thing, you have his Warrant and threatning to assure you of it, whom you shall never taxe with breach of his word. No sooner shall these be acquitted, but of your own number, one shall be Lenthall, another Haslerigge, another Vane, a fourth Mildmay, a fift Whitlock, a sixt Mounson, a seventh Saint-Johns, and so on, in Gods esteem and account, and who then so fit to execute his vengeance against you, but these very persons, because you neglected to do it upon them when God requir'd. And every man of you representing a County, City, or Borough, what may be the lot of England, I tremble to think.

103. Thus my Lords and Gentlemen, I have given you some brief, but serious considerations, not but that I think your wisedomes much more able to ventilate, and apprehend them, than I to suggest, but knowing your many imployments will hardly, if at all, admit most of you, to think on these things, out of the walls of your joynt deliberation, besides, that so many intercessors and friends are dayly made to you in their behalfe, as gives you little leisure so profoundly to examine things, as one of far inferiour parts to the least of you, may do, being without interruption. I shall in brief touch some things which may be objected in their behalf.

104. Those who plead for them do it under the notion of mode­ration, and for the most part use such arguments as these, first Gods manner of bringing this about, without stroke, or bloud, and there­fore conclude this providence speakes, that if any, yet as little bloud ought to be shed, as possibly may. Secondly his sacred Majesty of royall memory charging his son not to revenge his bloud. Thirdly the penitence of some, and expression of contrary affections since, by signal duty. Fourthly, the pity they conceive so much bloud should be shed in a time of Generall rejoycing. And Fiftly the safety of the Nation, which they imagine best secured by this mercy, and [Page 39]would be hazarded by the contrary severity. These are the frequent objections I meet withall, except some, which are brought in the be­half of particular individuall persons, which I shall not here take no­tice of.

105. The first argument is well brought, but misapplied, it ra­ther argues Gods intent to have them made examples, who therefore preserved them, that they should not fall otherwayes, which had things come to blows, might have prov'd likely enough; Achan who troubled the Camp, himself escaped, being reserved by God to publick Justice, where God had declared a Nation devoted, and accursed; Joshuah used no lesse severity, though the victory hap­ned without blood, than where men fell in battle; Jericho with all it's Inhabitants, Cattle, plunder and Houses was utterly destroyed; although it fell at the sound of Ramms Horns, and the shout of the Army, as well as Ai, where Joshuah found a repulse, Gods com­mand is to be attended, concerning notorious Malefactors, as well though they be taken by unexpected surprizall, as if they had been subdued fighting: Yea, rather had they been in the field, and de­fended by a strong Army, yet in fear of a greater force, they might have made terms for themselves, which better than hazard both mens lives, and the cause it self, might have been granted: but as God disposed affairs, as they deserve no pardon, so they can plead no Articles; They resisted to the last, nor yeilded till they were of all hands relinquished and deserted; yet even then, where force would do no good, they attempted Treachery; and wanted little of dashing all our hopes, by sowing divisions in the Army.

106. The second argument is a clear proof of that blessed Kings Piety, who with Steven could from his heart forgive his murtherers, but is no rule for his successor, and Parliament to take him at his word: Though it be in villains power to murther their King, it is out of his power to pardon them, and though it argue his true Chri­stian piety, to beg their forgivness heartily from God, and to express the same at the hour of death; yet there is a Law of God and man to be satisfied, for the fact, and it would be a cruell kindnesse in the successor, to muzzle the mouth of the Law, to indempnifie such vil­lains, whose crime, although God pardon and remit, as to future judgement, upon signall and true Repentance, yet if man upon any such consideration, acquit the temporall guilt, God will revenge it to purpose.

107. To this may be added, that these wretches far exceeded what his Sacred Majesty thought or could expect. He (pious King) hoped that those, who were so desperately cruel to him, would in compunction of heart, relent toward his Sonne, and feele such a sting in their conscience, as might ingage them with so much greater zeal to study his Sonns good, and observe his just commands, by how much they were more cruelly barbarous to him: But alas! it pro­ved, otherwise, the Murtherers of the Father, rejected the Son, and continued his implacable enemies, with such obstinate impenitency, that nothing but a Divine miraculous course of proceeding did restore to us our Royall exile.

108. As to the third argument, I grant, that years of indiscretion, a weak Judgement, importunacy of friends concerned, Sophisticate arguments, especially the Divine Oracles, pretending the thing to be of God; The Prophets prophesying this to be the way & time of confounding the man of sin, whose supporter they interpreted regal power to be false witnesses affirming that his Majesty had committed unapparel'd tyrannies, & Solicitors thereupon, praying sentence a­gainst him: But above all, Lawyers affirming such proceedings to be just and regular, and the power commissionating them legall; toge­ther with their giving peremptory authority to try the King: Di­vines also (who pretended themselves Casuists) resolving oaths no longer to bind, vows to be upon such junctures enervated, when the King was Captivated, maintaining the power to be from, and in the people originally, with such like Aphorismes, broached, and confidently defended by State and Pulpit- Boutefeus: I wonder not if many were ingaged in his Sacred Majesties Tragedy where treason is only (indeed) their fault, and is by man pardonable, but the sinn; of murder and perjury they before God stand acquitted off, being seduced by Divines and Lawyers, whose reverence, gravity, and reputed skill, learning and piety, was their share, for whom what tongue can plead?

109. Where in conscience the Honourable Lords or worthy Com­mons can excuse the party concerned, to be thus deluded, God for­bid but pardon may (as a true act of Grace) be granted, severity involving them also: But upon this pretence to pardon Lawyers, as Lenthal, St. Johns, Cook, &c. or men known of acute wits, as Haslerigge, Vane, Martin, &c. or those who were his Majesties servants, as Mildmay, Holland, Danvers, &c. or indeed any, either [Page 41]Voters of the High Court of [...], or Judges therein, who cannot make appear they were deluded, ( [...] no way be discovered, but either by their voluntary [...] Act afterward, or espou­sing the contrary interest) and manging it with fidelity and vigo­rous prosecution, is to justifie the villany, and to draw the guilt upon the Nation inevitably.

110. The fourth argument is unsound and rotten, Our delive­rance, if it make us forget our misery and duty, God will remind us of both with a vengeance. But further, if the number punished be not greater than appears, most desperate Malefactors, they are not too many to be exempted, as may appeare from these instan­ces.

1. Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft, how much more when aggravated with blood, yea, desperate blood-guiltinesse? Forty Witches at a time were counted no pitty to suffer, where perhaps all of them were not convicted of ten mens death, & that only conjectu­rally; These are guilty of more than forty innocent mens lives, befides Royall blood valuable at ten thousand, and those slain in battle (to bring these murders about) a number not to be recko­ned, tis to be lamented, the Land affords so many villains, but no pitty to part with them,

2. Corah and his Complices were many more, who only emu­lared, slighted and contemned Authority, yet they, their Wives, Children, Servants, Tents, and all they had, went at once to perdi­tion, by the immediate hand of God himself, From whom sepa­ration was made by Divine command, upon penalty of partaking in their punishment. Certainly then, if these who destroyed and tram­pled down all Authority that was Lawfull, and set up arbitrary tyranny instead thereof, dy an ordinary death, or in peace, those who let them go, may fear lest themselves be cut off in the midst of their dayes: to save these is a cruell friendship, and may prove worse than an hereditary plague to their families, who are concerned in their impunity.

3, Those who underwant punishment for Aarons Calf, were three thousand, Ahabs Family, J [...]zabels Prophets, and Balaams Priests many more, than our offenders. In a word, those who pay for their obstinacy in too long holding out a garrison, Castle or with their lives, are of thirty times their number: The multitude of our slain in these Warres, which this prevarication of theirs hath ren­dred [Page 42]them guilty of, hath been a thousand for one of them, No pit­ty is to be had of the number where a man cannot be excused with safety to the Nation. Prudent Generalls make no scruple to exe­cute forty, for the safety of ten thousand: as is apparent in mu­tinies, where oft the tenth man dies mercilesse, for terror to the rest, yet for these much may be pleaded, in defence, or at least excuse, for our murderers nothing,

111. The last argument is also grounded upon a cleare mistake, the safety of this Nation is no more concerned in their pardon, than in suffering unquencht fire in the roofe, or Timberworke of an house; as may appear.

1. First, if they could have checkt our hopes, [...]other'd these happy proceedings, or diverted counsells, we had never seen this hap­py day, nor do we injoy it now with their good will; their power is at present, blessed be God, less, though their malice, (as to the ge­nerality) full as much, no fear of them now, if we be carefull, who could not hinder this our approaching prosperity then.

2, But Secondly, they are not out of hope still, may they but scape with life, they yet have tricks to try, nor count the game quite lost, while a gappe is still open for fraud; If at last they can thrive by a cheat, they value not their present loss at downright play. For this end they will disoblige, (if possible) the old cavalty, instigate new favourites to disgusting carriages, in a word, there shall be no set­tlement, if they can disquiet the State.

3. But lastly to echo againe what I oft said before, I beseech you take heed, lest this Carnall device, to settle the Nation, provoke Gods Judgement to send such a spirit of unsettlednesse in these Kingdomes, (and that through their meanes) as may cause once more a sword to be drawn in England, not to be sheathed in many ages.

112. Thus my, Lords and Gentlemen, I have freely expressed my mind unto you, wherein if passion in the least hath biassed me, I am much mistaken; that I have plainly declared my conscience, I crave humbly your pardon, not intending the edge or point of any thing, by me written should so much as threaten you, for I hope from your Honours better things, and therefore whatever is exprest here, presupposeth that from your Honors, which I be­lieve not, and my prayer is that God who is the wonderfull [Page 43]Counsellor, may direct and advise you, what may be for his Glory, his sacred Majesties Honour; Your peace, and comfort, and the whole Kingdomes welfare, and happiness, So prayes.