YOu deſire my opinion concerning this late great buſineſſe, the Kings going into the Army: My judgement is ſhortly and clearly thus; That His Majeſty went thither neither againſt His own will, nor the deſire of the Army. I believe His Majeſty had no reaſon to be very fond of the place where he was before, or of the great reſpects he received there, being (without doubt) at the top of his preferment, and in all likelihood not to have continued ſo well ſo long, had not ſome ſtronger bridle, then that of allegiance to him, or religion to God, made them forbeare any further attempt. For that which you pleaſed, or rather your fears, to ſuggeſt, viz. That His Majeſty is leapt out of the frying-pan into the fire, left ill company, to adhere to worſe; becauſe you are pleaſed to ſay (and you do but ſay it) that this Army conſiſts of Independents, who are worſe principled for Magiſtracy, then thoſe of the other party. I anſwer; that indeed it cannot be denied, that out of divers of their Books we may gather ſuch Concluſions, which for part I cannot allow of. But that the Feares and Jealouſies of both Houſes may not forſake their old Maſters, in ſuch a buſie time as this, and wholly take up and poſſeſſe your breſt, I pray Sir reaſonably weigh all circumſtances, and you ſhall finde, that His Majeſty hath fallen into much better company, then either his Countrey-men were to him, or commended him to, (not to ſay, ſold and betrayed him.)

Of theſe men (call them Independents, or what you will) I have had a great deale of experience. I finde them in their way very devout, very juſt in their dealing; and of all the Armies imployed by the Parliament in this unnaturall warre, I will be bold to ſay, none behaved themſelves more civilly, more chriſtianly againſt the adverſe party then they: and confidering their different judgments and opinions, none were more in charity, and more at unity among themſelves. In all my diſcourſe I had with them (and I talkt with many of them) I finde a great deale of humility and lowlineſſe amongſt them: But as they deſire to exerciſe no ſevere juriſdiction over other mens conſciences, ſo they ſeeme to deſire in like manner that none may over theirs. I doe not truly perceive that they have a minde to give Law to any other, but onely to procure their owne liberty and quiet: this liberty they cannot have under the Presbytery, who have both in Pulpit and Preſſe declared ſo bitterly (I had almoſt ſaid ſo unchriſtianly) againſt them. How then, or by whom can they hope to enjoy this priveledge more freely, more fully, then by receiving it from Him, who hath the ſole power in theſe Dominions, under Chriſt Jeſus, to grant it? And therefore make no doubt, but that there will bee a very right underſtanding begotten betweene the King and the Army: And that as they are rayſed by GOD at this time to re-inveſt him with his juſt, lawfull Rights and Prerogatives, to the eternall ſhame of his owne Nation, (the firſt Nation that ever I read of who ſold their King) ſo I doubt not but His Majeſty will ſo well reſent this ſeaſonable kindneſſe of theirs, that as they preſerve his Perſon, Honour, and Conſcience, ſo he will be as tender of theirs. And truly, I think him fit to be brought to condigne puniſhment, as an evill Counſellour, that ſhall even go about to alienate the Kings heart from them, or make him to forget this handſome loyalty of theirs, that hath ſo gallantly ſhewed it ſelfe in the middeſt of ſo much cruelty, neglect, and contempt, and when his Majeſties other friends had ſo little power or opportunity to doe him good. And this I deliver the more clearely, becauſe you know I am no party at all in this buſineſſe; but (according to your deſire) I have given my ſenſe: And what you have more to ſay, I pray communicate as freely to