HOw difficult a thing it is to observe a mean con­cerning matters of weighty importance, and to poyse the actions of State by an impartiall judg­ment free from all respects. We may by the wri­tings of too many men, too immoderate in main­ [...]aining their conceived opinions, plainly enough perceive. That most unhappy division so unluckily bred, and so hotly nourished betwixt His sacred Majesty and His most honourable Parlia­ment, hath also separated the minds of Subjects; one part incli­ning to this, another to that part: and it were well if they did no more then incline, for then were it possible, that by the evi­dent demonstration of some undeniable arguments their minds perverted, and too deeply grounded in their conceived opinions, might be forced from a resolved immutability: but wee now [Page] see it evident, that in some men respects, in others affection, in these self-opinion, in those a peremptory resolution neither to heare, or be moved by reason, & in too many the known strength of this or that side perverts judgment, and resists even verity it self, every one thinking it impossible for that part to erre, whose actions themselves allow of; nay to such an immoderate licenti­ousnesse are men grown, that they cannot speak in the behalf of the Parliament, but they must vent forth ill language against Him that is its, and should be their head too, His sacred Majesty, and as many that do well construe the actions of the King as op­posite to his Parliament, will not stick to use more then the li­berty of the subiect against both Houses of Parliament.

Although I confesse that between contradictories there can be no medium, and the affirmators and negators of the same thing cannot both erre, yet are not we competent iudges of the errour [...] of these men, or if we could discern truly whose intenti­ons are right, and whose amisse, yet are we not to think, much lesse speak dishonourably of either, since it is humane to erre, and an errour ought not to condemne every one that is deceived. He indeed that could finde out such a way of reconciling these differences which should be embraced by both the differing par­ties, would do the best act for his countrey that could possibly be effected. But it is preposterous in men to diffuse into the world their severall fancies, this being somtime quite opposite to that, and one way being no longer approved then till another is heard, so are mens iudgments that shall peruse them, tossed up and down with the light wind of every the least probability, and some opinions, though in themselves weak enough, being published, come into the hands of the more ignorant vulgar, who because they are not able to pierce into their falsities, or confute them, do presently credit them, and in the behalf of them, break forth into such acts, as may prove to His Maiesty and the Parliament dangerous, and to themselves preiudiciall. Nor do some men (so free in delivering their opinions, and so confident in their fraile reasons) any other then (implicitly at least) taxe [Page] the King of being seduced, and the Parliament of errour. Sure­ly I think, these men, if any, best know the way of remedy, that can see into the causes of the disease, and difference: and that surely none better are acquainted with then those between whom it fell: let us therefore not take upon us to iudge of the erring party, but pray to the Father of truth, that (let it be which it will) it may know its errour, and be converted to the truth: this wil [...] sh [...]w a subiects duty better then that, of which I think it will not be impertinent to say somthing at this time.

Al [...]hough in the late Protestation made and published by the wo [...]thy members of that honourable House of Commons is sufficiently intimated what is the true stamp of a loyall subiect, by the demonstration of what he is bound to defend and main­taine, yet it will not be, I think, unseasonable (the honour of those persons not empaired) in this time of fear and distraction, to separate the sheep from the goats, and declare what a good subiects character is, that we may learn to know him, and to di­stinguish him from both the hypocriticall pretenders of loyalty and the hot-spurs of rebellion, and affecters of civill mutinies and home-bred dissentions.

The name of subiect is of all well enough (I suppose) under stood, and imports a duty to be performed to a superiour, nor doth eminency of place or condition free any from this duty of subiection (unlesse that eminency be supreme) but rather the more obligeth him. For those that in degree are nearest to their Soveraigne, ought to be so much the more loyall, faithfull, and constant to Him, by how much they have received greater fa­vours, and more eminent dignities from Him, and His Royall Person is intrusted with them. Besides, their acts wilbe more conspicuous, and are examples whereby the vulgar wilbe either more confirmed in their allegiance, or pricked forward to a re­bellion. Treason therefore in a noble Person is a crime more dangerous to his Prince and the State, more horrid in him, and giving a greater example to the people.

A true subiect therefore (de he of what rank soever) is in his [Page] conscience and by his allegiance bound with his life & fortune [...] to maintain the person, honour and estate of his Soveraigne a­gainst all foes, both domestick & forraign. He is further bound, as not to commit himself, so also to manifest and reveal all trea­sons, plots and conspiracies tending to the destruction of his Prince, or the ruine of the State: as also to yeeld due obedience to his lawfull Magistrates the executioners of equity & justice, especially Parliaments, & those more generall Councels, which are called together for the good of the Church and Common­wealth, whose priviledges he ought not to infringe, or see infrin­ged, he is bound also to observe all laws by them and their pre­decessours made while they are in full force, & lastly, to preserve as much as in him lies, unity and peace in Church and State. Neither doth this duty of a subiect any way inslave him, or tend to the infringement of his liberty, but rather strengtheneth that, and rendreth him more safe, secu [...]e, and free. For it fareth not with a subiect, as with a slave or servant, whose masters and lords have all power over them whatsoever, so that they cannot with­out his leave buy, sell, or exercise any civill action, and who can impose what commands themselves please on their vassals: for upon subiects living in a free kingdome there cannot be impo­sed mulcts, taxes, or any such burdens, against their own consent and good will, private or manifested. But as the times of peace or war require, tributes, ceasements and subsidies are gathered or released, not against the universall approbation of the people, but all that can be said to be a servants, belongeth to his master, so that without his consent he may (and that unquestioned) make use of any thing that is his. Indeed if such bee the extreme necessity of the State, that without taking the subiects estates, it cannot be repaired, the King & Parliament may make use of them, otherwise not. Those things which are enacted, ratified & perpetuated by the cōmand of God and law of Nations, admit­ting of no repeal, unlesse such weighty causes be induced, which are able to overpoyse all contrary reasons, such, as I said, the ex­treme necessity of the State did require. For example, it was no more lawfull for Ahab to take away Naboths vineyard [Page] by force, which was his owne by hereditary succession, althoug [...] the s [...]ituation of it were convenient and it selfe pleasant, then it was for no cause to take away his life, it ought therefore to be the ch [...]efe care of Kings, that they impose not on their Subjects grievious & unlawfull taxes, which they nither can, nor are bound to bea [...]e, for this is not only against the liberty of a freeborne Subiect, but also against all humanity and clemency, for it is cruelty in a Mulitor to lay vpon his pack-horses more then they can ab [...]y beare, much more uniust is it to afflict with unlawfull imp [...]sitions thos (which tho they are not of the same dignity) yet are [...]hey of the same reason and liberty, by nature with our selues: first therefore it is not inconsistent with the subiects liberty, to mai [...]t [...]in & defend the person honour & estate of his Soveraign,

For this are we bound to by the Law of God, Kings being first of divine institution & not the invention of men, nor is it their meere denomination but their vnquestionable authority where­by they are made supreame, for Moses and Samuell were (though not of the s [...]me title) yet of no lesse power then Saul and David, which was long a goe experementally proved, in the unheard of pu [...]ishment of Korah and his company, who tooke upon them to question the Legall power of Moses: it is strange to see that Christians are more apt to encline to the errours of the blinded Gen [...]i [...]es and seduced Heathens, then to imbrace the truth of the Mosaicall history, and the Doctrine of the Prophets by which is evinc [...]d, that God alone is the author of Kingdoms, and the esta­blisher of Kings. Nay, then His owne words when he saith, Per me [...]eges regnant, and huic trade & illi sccptrum aufero. And S. Paul brings this as the Reason to induce us, to an orderly obedience to to t [...]e higher powers, for saith he, The powers that be are ordained by God. Nor is it God alone by which we are commanded to per [...]orm our duty to our Prince, but the Laws of England require the same, and that upon good reason: for the King is he which ta­keth upon him to desend his Subjects liues and Estats against all opposers whatsoever: and how shall he be encouraged to defend us, if by us his honour be invaded; it is he upon whom depends [Page] the due administration of the Laws, and they are the Laws which warrant our owne unto us, shall we then oppose him that by all meanes possible and honourable doth defend us. We are borne Subjects and therefore ought to obey, he a Prince, and therfo [...]e not to be subject, therefore to be [...]beye [...], we are Members, he the head, are the members true that conspire against the head? nay can the members subsist when the head is l [...]st? nor is the Kings honour and person better maintained and d [...]ended, then by revea­ling and discovering those plots and conspir [...]cies, which tend to the subvertion of it, and such are we b [...]und to a [...] well to detect in others, as not to invert in [...]ur selues, other [...] being able as dange­rously to invade him as our selues and our selues as guilty as o­thers, that knowing their treachery, do not to our power defeat it. For is not he a traytor that will stand still, and see his Prince wronged, when it is in his power to defend him? It is in my opi­nion the dischargment of our duty, to prevent anothers treasona­ble intents, as well as to be innocent our selues, and I thinke also to reveale treachery in another, is the best demonstration of our own innocencie: it cannot be a disparagement to us to performe our true allegiance to him who is aboue all men, and to none but God Subiect, and so is our King, let Papists and their blind guide Bellarmine averre what they please to the contrary, nor is it an ar­gument that all are not bound to obedience to a temporall Magi­strate because he can or doth erre. For is it not as apparent that spirituall ones, such as are Cardinalls, Bishops, have as oft and as grosly offended? it is therefore infalibly true, that all spirituall Rulers whatsoever as well as temporall, are Subiect and ought to be Subiect and ought to discharge their obedience to a tem­porall head, which they ought to account as supreame, and are by his power to be iudged, in all matters which by humane iu [...]gment can be controverted, another subiection we have of S. Austine and St. Ambrose, because say they the King Imago D [...]i est, is the Image of God; ad regendum populos et corrigendum, and to such a [...]uely Image as is a King, it will be no Idoalatry to give reverence.

But although the King hath the supreame power ouer all and ought by all to be obeyed, yet can he not in his owne person excecute his whole authority he maketh use therefore of the eyes and hands of other men that through them he may easilyer see and correct enormityes; he taketh unto him the councells of his w [...]es [...] s [...]bi [...]cts, and such whose consciences are as sincere as there iudgements searching, that thay may as well performe as know iustice, bu [...] because the authors and intruducers of vice and disturbances are cumming with theire crafty pollicy by secret wayes and meanes undiscerned they somtimes so conuay theyr plots thus they cannot be discuered by foresight but only by experience, and by their sence and when they are felt & discouered they cannot but with unweared difficulty, and indefatigable paines be rooted out, the offenders being sometimes so grete, and so grete in favour that they cannot be strucken at, but by the perill of their impeach­ers, the safety and necessity of the state required that greter coun­celles should be called, and these are Parliaments, the happy reducers of wronges, and composers of strifes, of which all mem­bers may freely and without danger utter their opinions and votes concerning all matters in controuersy, and to which it is lawful for the meanest persons to manifest their greuances. they enioy­ing such priuledges which canot be without iniustise infringed, and these such libarty as may be a meanes to free them from all kind of wrong, and heere greatnes may be [...]eached, neither can it in its golden plumes hide the enormity of base actions: to these councels, and to all that shalbe by them enacted, if we yeeld due observance, we perform our duty to the King, they being his counsellers and advisers in matters of State, and the setlers of peace and order in the common-wealth, and their acts are to be obeyed, not questioned by subiects. For if every malignant spirit might in interpreting or observing the cōmands of coun­cels use their own liberty, what can be expected, but ruine? for where there is no order, there is confusion; and where no go­vernment is, there i [...] no order, and all government requireth its co [...]relative obedience: if these be wanting, who would not ra­ther [Page] wish to be the meanest subiect, then the highest ruler? if to the place of a Magistrate were annexed neither safety, nor au­thority? although the Papists themselves c [...]nnot prove but that it is possible for the greatest Councels that are to erre, yet must we think it very improbable that so many men chosen out of a [...]l parts of the kingdome, should want si [...]cerity in consci­ence, and perspicacy in iudgment. And in case that in some one thing or other they did erre, better were it to submit to that one mistake, then that every man should exe [...]cise the liberty of his own fancy, if sueh & so many men be voluntarily slack in th to­tall performance of their d [...]ty, the more is their own perverse will to be blamed. Better it i [...] for us to p [...]ay unto our wonderful Councellour to rectifie their actions, then our selves to iudg [...] of them or condemne them.

One part of the subjects du [...]y may seem to be still behind, and that a necess [...]ry one too, the maintaining of peace & union, thing [...] in this time of distraction of all men desirea [...]le, and indeed it is that which maketh a nation truly happy, it is that without which heaven and earth coul [...] not consist. Peace is a word which men and Angels love to heare, a modell of happinesse, the epitome of felicity, the knot of true love. The body politike is comp sed of contraries as well as the naturall body, one member being p [...]one to rebell against another, and all against the head: and without the moderation of peace, which is the soul of this body, it is not pos [...]ble that it should subsist: how to expresse the incomparable sweetnesse of it, ex [...]eeds my po [...]er. But th [...]y say the best way to expresse a thing is by its cont [...]ary, we may best learn by misery what is happinesse, by sorrow what joy by war what is peace. But I pray God we have no occasion this way to know it. The way to attain it hath been already shewed, he that performs as he ought hi [...] allegiance to his King in the prese [...]vation of his person ho­nour and estate: his duty to the Parliament, in maintaining their privi­ledges, and obeying the lawes ena [...]ted by them, and nourisheth no treason in himselfe, but detects it in others, doth truly, rightly and sincere [...]y to his p [...]wer maintain peace and unity, and doth fully discharge the duty of a l [...]yall and well-affected subiect.