IT is an old and true saying, That Standers by do often see more than the Gamester: And having been out of play for some time, I have perhaps discovered more than many of your selves who do not dive in secrets of State, but are content onely to take care how you may receive the pay. I have been engaged in one and the same Cause and Quarrel with you against the late King and his Sons, during which time I observ [...]d very many miraculous providences of God in several conflicts and bloody Battels, honoured with e­minent Victories, God owning an Army which consisted of per­sons of low estate, condition, knowledge, or education either in Politick or Military art; when on the other side, I saw very [Page 2] numerous and potent Armies of the late King and his Sons (who consisted of most of the Noble and Gentry of the three Nations, very expert both in knowledge and education of that nature) to be by those despicable ones absolutely vanquished, and thereupon the late King brought to Justice, and hitherto all the endeavours of his Sons blasted and dis-appointed. If you please to look back, and remember all those signal Victories and deliverances, and what thereupon you promised and en­gaged to do for these poor afflicted Nations, which in few words and substance was, that before you would suffer your selves to be dis-banded or divided, you would see the Government of these Nations established upon the just and secure fundamentals and constitutions of freedome and safety to the people, in rela­tion as they were Men and Christians, and that in the wayes of a Commonwealth and Free-state Government, without a King, single person, or House of Lords.

I shall not at this time minde how far you have gone astray from that Engagement, seeing that most of you have repented and returned to your duties: But I shall onely by sounding this Alarm, endeavour to render you sensible of the eminent danger which hangs over your heads, and of your best friends of the three Nations: And in the first place tell you what the old and new enemies the Cavaliers do now say of your pro­ceeding and late actions. Secondly, what many honest and so­ber people of the Presbyterian judgement think. Thirdly, What danger your best friends scornfully called Common­wealth-men, and Fanatiques, do fore-see concerning the pre­sent transactions in the three Nations. And lastly, my own ob­servations and seasonable advice.

First, The Cavaliers do confidently affirm that your Generals late actions do sufficiently demonstrate that the bottome of his intention tends only to bring Charles Stuart to be King of these Nations, grounding the same upon several reasons: As first (say they) did he not intend the same, he would never (after so many Declarations and Protestations to be true to the Parlia­ment which in scorn they call the Rump) have the 11. of Fe­bruary last, sent them such an imposing Letter, and thereupon (without any order from them) marched with their Army to [Page 3] London, then esteemed and made by him (in destroying their Gates, &c.) their implacable enemies, and at night suffered so many bone-fires and ringing of Bels, and publickly drinking healths to the King and a free Parliament, ro [...]ng and burning of Rumps, hearing and seeing his Masters in open street de­clared Murtherers and Rebels, and that in a most vile and dissolute manner, and all this in the presence of the Army; a thing (say they) not to be paralleld in any Historie of ages past, and besides, without Orders of his Masters, quartered himself an Army amongst their Enemies till the 21 of the said Month, during which time, he feasted daily at most of the Kings friends and admitted them to him with great respects and affection, without returning to White-hall, although several times invited thereunto by his Masters.

Secondly, (say they) that although by his Letters and ver­bal promises he had engaged to them that in case they would effect what was contained in the said Letter, he would be sa­tisfied, and still be their servants (notwithstanding which he was so far from performing the same, that although they had within the the time by him limited fulfilled in all things what in that Letter was imposed upon them, yet not regarding nei­ther the said Letter, nor verbal promise, and without ac­quainting (in the least) any of his Masters, who some of them had ventured their all to secure him from being ruined by Lrmberts Army) your said General (say they further) caused his Army upon the 21. of the said Month, to march back to Westminster, and there admits the secluded Members to sit in the Parliament House, most of whom he absolutely knew to be for the restoration of Charles Stuart (who they call King, and again at night suffer Bone-fires and ringing of Bells, and his said Masters, and others of their friends to be as much, or more abused, and vilified, than they were upon the 11. at night of the said Month; whereupon the Cavaliers do conclude (as be­ing thereof assured) that your said General in like manner would surprize them, and then bring in the King upon a sud­den, and then give the same reason for his so doing, as he did after he had admitted the secluded Members, to wit, the reason of not discovering the same, was because he knew they [Page 4] hated them, and would have endeavoured to hinder their ad­mission in the House.

Thirdly, To demonstrate further (say they) that the said General will bring their King, let any rational man consider, whether he can have any other design, seeing he hath suffered the said secluded Members to release Sir George Booth and his party, and to discharge their Sequestrations, and to sit and vote with them in Parliament: And besides, although he know­eth how several of the said secluded Members have daily mo­ved in the House against the Government of a Free-state, and for King, Lords, and Commons, and how they have in order thereunto, voted the Covenant to be de novo printed, read, and set up in every Church of the Nation, whereby they evidently acknowledge the late Kings Posterity, yet he suffered the same as likewise to be maintained in the House that none but Jesuits and Priests are for Free-state Government. And to evidence further, that the General is resolved upon that point, Observe (say the Cavalier) who he causeth to be imprisoned and re­leased, put out, and put in the Army; to wit, Commonwealth men imprisoned, and turned out of the Army and Garrisons in the three Nations, and Royalists taken in Arms at Worcester fight released, and several others of that stamp entrusted with eminent places in Army and Garrisons in the three Nations.

And lastly, His countenancing the raising of the Militia of City and Country, entrusting the management thereof to most of the Kings friends, the said Militia being raised and formed to no other end than murther, to destroy the Army, in whom (the Cavaliers say) the General cannot well confide in, as to bring his designs to perfect maturity. And that the same was designed in Scotland long since. Observe how peaceable they are there, and how the Irish Army, have proceeded answerable to himself: And besides, say some of them (being Officers of the late Kings Army) who had been with him since his coming to London, and offered their service to him, which they said, he accepted, and told them he would before it were long be in a capacity to give them imployment; much more of that na­ture, which for brevity sake I omit, onely this one thing more, which very much increases their hopes, and that is, say they, [Page 5] what signifies the peaceable return of the Kings friends from their Exile, as Alderman Bonch and many others, who had been so long fugitives, if the return of the King was not likewise intended? And further what doth signifie that proviso in that Act of dissolution concerning the Lords being a part of the Parliament of England if there must be a Commonwealth?

As for the sober Presbyterians, they do of late begin to sus­pect the said General, whom (say they) gives so much ad­vantage to Charles Stuart, and to his old and new rigid Cava­liers, who for certain truth are at this juncture of time at work in arming themselves in all parts of the three Nations, and will upon a sudden come like a flood upon you, and the rest of the engaged party in the Nations, and so conquer all by force of Arms; and then what must or can be expected to follow, but onely absolute ruine, for undoubtedly (say they) Charles Stuart will bring with him Archbishops, Bishops, and the rest of that Hierarchy, and we shall then be accounted no other by them but Sectarians and Phanatiques, and be in the same predicament, or worse for service, than those who are so called; and say they, must not expect to be better used than they. And besides, his Mother the Queen will come, which infallibly will bring with her Jesuits, Priests, and Monks of all sorts, whereby Popery will (cum privilegio) be again re-admitted in the Nation; so that they consider, that if the General and your selves do not spee­dily prevent the same, that the Cause so much contended for, together with the interest of good people will sink, and be ut­terly lost, and so your Harvest will end in chaffe, and you, and them be carried back through a red Sea of blood in the land of Bondage and misery, there to serve and bear the heavy yoke of one who will not forget that which hath as well been acted a­gainst his late Father the King, as against himself; it being the common talk of the Cavaliers that the Presbyterians brought his Father to the Block, and the Independents cut off his Head.

As to your best friends which have bled with you, and prayed for you, and who have been constant assertors of the cause and interest of the good people of these Nations against Kingship, single persons, & house of Lords, they all of one voyce conclude, [Page 6] that (under God) there is no other Bulwork of defence against the return of Monarchy but the Army, which now they see to be absolutely designed for destruction by disbanding and re­ducing, or else what meaneth the new Militia now setled and intrusted in the hands of persons almost all enemies to a Free-state Government, several of the secluded Members both in the House, and out of the House speaking it openly, as likewise se­veral of the Commissioners of City and Country which have been heard in their Cabals affirm, that as soon as their Mili­tiaes are setled, they will quickly break the Rogues, meaning you, to whom they can scarce afford so good language; and moreover they hope that the Supreme Authority being once de­volved in the Councel of State as now it is, that the said Coun­cel will by subtil means and practises with the General gain him to condescend to the disbanding most of you, to the end that the intended new Parliament may be able (with more fa­cility) to bring the design now in hand to perfection, which in plain English is to bring Charles Stuart to be King: And that which your said friends do thereupon apprehend to follow in order to yours and theirs destruction is, First, if you can be per­swaded by your enemies to admit Charles to be King upon any conditions, then rest assured that he will not want an Army, and specially such an one as brought his Father to the Block, and kept him in Exile so many years; therefore the first work will be to disband you, and so leave you to the mercy and cru­elty of those that by force you have subdued, who in revenge will (without any doubt) take opportunity afterwards to hang many of you, and banish others as Rebels and Traytors, or at least cast you in noysome Dungeon, but that onely will not satisfie their cruelty, but be sure they will have all your estates and destroy your Wives and Children, and persecute you, and, your friend unto death, you may therefore (say they) with ease discern whether it be your interest or security to bring the Nation back under the old bondage of Kings, or else to main­tain and defend a Commonwealths Government, the difference is plain, the one will destroy you and your friends, and the other will protect you both, and you will be sure under a Com­monwealth not to want as long as any of you shall live, nor [Page 7] your Wives and Children: And you will be sure also not to become your enemies slaves.

Secondly, If you should be so fooled as to be perswaded to admit of the said Charles to return upon any termes, then you will be reputed the most perfidious Army that breaths, in break­ing the engagements & promises you have made to the contrary, and so render all the blood spilt, and treasure exhausted of no effect; and thereupon give cause to the children unborn to curse such a generation of men as then you would be reputed. But sayes your friends, If you do withstand it, and leave the success to God, then you will have done your parts as English men and Christians, and will in after Ages be esteemed faithful Pa­triots, and Assertors of your Countrie Liberties, and conse­quently of yourselves and posterities. And say they, when the late King had near a hundred thousand men in Field and Gar­rison, you were not afraid, and whensoever you encountred with any part thereof, God strengthned your hearts and hands, and gave you several Victories to the absolute overthrowing of them all in the three Nations; therefore they wish you courage and blessing from on High, and do heartily pray that God may go along with you in disappointing your enemies, who as yet make no use of weapons, save of their venemous and lying tongues.

Thirdly, If you should be so deluded, as to admit the said Charles Stuart to be King, then your friends desire you further to consider that besides the foresaid ruine upon yourselves and them, what further ruine will attend the three Nations by such admission: First, his late Fathers numerous debts which he contracted in the War which he so violently prosecuted against the Parliament from the year 1641. till his death, together with all the Arrears of his Armies, and salaries of his Court-officers, and meneal servants, which without doubt will amount to as much, or more, as the Parliament expended in their defence in that War, must be paid and satisfied.

Secondly, The said Charles Stuarts own debts contracted here and in Scotland, France and Flanders during the space of about seventeen years, with likewise the salaries of his Court-officers, and meneal servants, together with the Arrears of his Armies [Page 8] which he had in Scotland, and afterwards at Worcester, all which will be expected to be paid, and which without doubt will far exceed the debts of his Father.

Thirdly, The Queen his Mother with the salaries of her Of­ficers and servants, besides her great Dowry and Arrears thereof must likewise be paid and satisfied.

Fourthly, All the debt of his Brother and Sister.

Fifthly, His Court, and theirs, with all dependences must be set up anew here, furnished and maintained with all sorts of rich Furniture and Jewels, gold and silver plate of all sorts, and all other utensils as glorious as ever his Father.

Sixthly, Those Dukes, Earls, Lords, Knights, Gentlemen, and other of his, and Fathers party, whose estates real and perso­nal have been sold, and disposed by Authority of Parliament, either must be restored, or satisfaction given them for the same, but specially for the personal estate which can never be re­turned. All which cost and charges, if duely considered, toge­ther with all manner of debts owing by the said Family, and carefully calculated, must amount to many Millions, so that if the Taxes, and other Impost now yearly paid in the three Nations should be doubled for twenty years to come to­gether, would not be sufficient to satisfie, and answer the same.

Lastly, Whereas the Cavaliers do say, That if the Lands of the late King, Queen, &c. and of their party should be restored, that it would answer a great part of the said Court expences, and satisfie those persons to which it is answered, admitting the same could be effected, yet none of those debts could thereby be satisfied, for it cannot be expected a possibility ever to settle these three Nations upon any condition of a lasting peace, if there be any ravilling and questioning the titles of those Lands sold and disposed by Parliament, considering in what manner the Proprieties have been altered since those sails or disposals either by buildings, inclosures and joynings their Lands to them by Mortgages, Intails, and other settlements up­on Marriages, and otherwise, that the present occupier of most part thereof were never ingaged in the War having paid for the same fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen years purchase in ready [Page 9] money, which if taken away, or restored, will kindle a more violent fire of War in the three Nations, than the first.

And before I give you my advice, and so conclude, Give me leave to tell you my particular observations, as one who daily is conversant with persons of divers judgements.

First, I have certain knowledge (and your selves, if not pre­vented will finde it too true) that the now Militia of London, do intend to bring in Charles Stuart, one before they do it, as I have divers times, and very lately heard some of them boast, that they will serve you (who are quartered among them) as the Danes were of old; that is, in the night in your beds, cut your throats; and in immitation of that act, they make no question but the Country will execute the like upon your fellows quar­tered with them: And truly I have heard several of the Com­missioners of the Country say as much.

Secondly, What meaneth the Officers of the Militia when upon the Guard, to go to Tavern and there drink the Kings health, &c.

Thirdly, If you do not stop your ears, you may as well as my self, understand and take notice of the daily threatning of the Enemy when their King is come what they will do to your selves and friends, but specially to those faithful Patriots, which under God, have been a strong Bulwark against their raged fury, their villanies committed and acted before your faces up­on the 11. and 21. of February at night in London, and after­wards in most places of the Nation, may serve to convince you that their sentences against you and them are already pro­nounced, and want nothing but execution: If you do not withstand them speedily, your and their estates are already dis­posed of, there wants but the Kings coming to put them in actual possession. Have not you seen already a Catalogue of the names of several faithful Patriots printed and published, and cried upon the Exchange, and about the streets, in order to prepare the Rabble to massacre them; there is no doubt to be made, but many of your selves and other friends to the publick Cause, are designed for a Sacrifice at their Kings coming, some of you may have fair promises made of being par­doned and rewarded: If you will sell, or rather betray the [Page 10] Cause and Liberties of your Country by admitting him; but that you may not be decoyed or trappanned to trust your Enemy upon any promise of that nature, let me relate a short, and very true History of a Governour, who had been entrusted with the command of a strong Frontier Garrison, and the Enemy who very much aimed at it, as being of great advantage of entrance into the Country, caused some overture to be made to the said Governour for the betraying the same into their hands; whereupon conditions were agreed, by which the said Governour was not onely to have a great summe of money as a reward, but likewise was promised to be continued in his Command, and otherwise nobly rewarded: the time being appointed for him to deliver the said Garrison, the Enemy came, and according to agreement, the said Governour opened the Gates, and gave entrance & possession to the Enemy, who being possessed, in lieu of the reward promised, caused forthwith a Gallows to be erected upon one of the Rampiers, where the said Governour was brought, and told by the chief of the Enemy, that he loved Treason, but hated the Traytor; saying further, If the said Governor could not be faithful to his own Masters for whom he had fought, how could he expect he should be to him against whom he had so often ventured his life in several battels? And so caused him to be hanged.

I shall leave the application to your selves, which undoubted­ly will be your case and reward, if you betray your trust and Country.

Now for conclusion, to save your selves and friends in the three Nations from ruine take this short Advice.

First, Let all your Regiments, Troops and Companies have Rendezvouzes; and if you do not camp in the Field, quarter close together, and not so far asunder as now you do; for you know that a bundle of Arrows divided asunder are easier bro­ken than when bound together.

Secondly, In immitation of former time, when you and the cause of the Nation was in as great danger as at present. And when many of your Officers had a hand in combining yours, and the Nations destruction, and that the same Game was then a playing which now is, you may remember what you then [Page 11] did at Newmarket and Tripoly-Heath Rendezvouze, you were not afraid of the Threats or frowns of any, but like brave re­solute English-men, made there choyce of some of your faith­ful Officers and Souldiers to be your Agitators, and to keep correspondency one with another, and rejected such as would then have betrayed you; do so now, and speedily, more need now than ever.

Thirdly, When your Agitators are so nominated and ap­pointed, let them consider what is fit to be done, and presented to your superiour Officers for their concurrence, which I con­ceive must be to this, or the like effect: That is to say, to frame an Engagement whereby you wil engage one to another not to suffer your selves to be disbanded, or divided, before such time as the Government of the three Nations may be established upon so firm fundamentals of freedome and safety, as thereby the Properties and Liberties of the people thereof, both as men and Christians may be asserted and secured by their duely qualified successive Representatives in Parliament assembled a­gainst and without a King, single person, or House of Lords, and against all other the Enemies of the Commonwealth, and in particular against the return of any of the Family, or posterity of the late King James, or King Charles.

Now for encouragement to you in that blessed work, be assu­red you will have Gods blessing, and for your aid and assistance, all the faithful of the three Nations; and although your Enemies by their tongues seem very numerous and bold, yet fear them not, for barking Curs never bites; nor indeed are they yet in a capacity to hurt you, as soon as they understand, or hear any stirring among you, their hearts faint, they are better at hunt­ing and hawking, drinking healths and damnations, cursing and whoring, than they are at fighting; you have hitherto found them so, they are rather grown worse and more cowardly than ever. It is seldome observed that an Enemy will ever stand be­fore those that have so often beaten and conquered them when they were many thousands in Field and Garrisons, you did not fear them; therefore be confident Gods Omnipotency is the same now and for ever, as at that time of calamity. It was, and you have the self-same Cause, and I hope the same hearts and [Page 12] valour; and besides in the eye of men far greater advantages by having all the Land and Sea Forces, Garrisons, and Ammuni­tions of War of all sorts, which your Enemies have not, all their noise and hopes will soon vanish. If you will no longer dally with them, therefore stand to your Arms and be doing, or else you will never be able to hinder and escape the Roaps that are now a Twisting, nor the Gallows that are setting up for the Executions of you and your friends. Remember the Proverb, Men Armed, are seldome harmed.