A King is Quasi caput populi, the head of his peo­ple, and if the head be absent, the other mem­bers must con­sequently lan­guish. Yea the joy and prospe­rus consolation of a Nation, is the present en­joiment of their Prince. But I do not delineate this in a Tropologicall sence, or that any should con­clude hereupon, that our Royall Kings Absence should cause, or produce any distasters.

[Page] For hee had bin so opposed in his pleasures, and Commands, that it did not onely cause his just indignation, but likewise respectively indu­ced him to leave his Palace at Westminster, and progressed forwards to Windsor, where his Ma­jesty hath continued a long time.

But he taking into his Princely consideration the longing expectation of his loyall Subjects for his presence, the great desolation, and condole for his absence: together with the manifold di­stractions, and distempers in the kingdome, did most discreetly resolve himself to honour the Parliament and City once more with his pre­sence.

Whereupon the Parliament and City having intelligence, did respectively consult, how they should congratulate his Majesty in such satisfa­ctory manner, as might be correspondent to his con­tentive pleasure. Divers Parliament men were immediately selected both out of the House of Peers and Commons, to meet him: as also, the Lord Major, Aldermen, and chief Citizens, are in preparation to congratulate his Majesty. But after their submissive, and humble salutation there are divers Petitions to be delivered, and, presented to his Majesty, concerning his gracious concurrance with the Parliament, in extirpating the Recusant party, and devoting the Popish Lords and Bishops from the House of Peers, and desiring his longer continuance with them, in the establishing of the weighty, and impendent af­fairs of the Kingdome.

[Page] I cannot absolutely and directly satisfie the Reader hereof, the prefixed time when his Ma­jesty will certainly return for that is very ambi­guous: but this J can resolve him off, he is daily expected, and without doubt he will be here pre­sent in a sudden processe of time: And as soone as the Parliament and City can have more direct and confident intelligence of his more certain re­turn, they will perform what is aforementioned: in the mean time they are in great and deliberate preparation for the same.

Yet in his absence, hee hath not bin altogether vnmindfull of his People, but hath bin rather more sollicitous, and as tender over their wel­fare, as a father is over his own Son. Hee hath of­tentimes sent Letters to his Parliament to com­fort, and encourage them in their unwearied se­dulity.

Hee hath likewise graciously answered them in all their Petitions, and hath become as indul­gent as ever Prince hath bin.

None knowes the care and solicitation of a Prince; for they (Atlas-like) do support the burthen of the whole Kingdome besides: and withall they do judiciously consider, that Regis ad exemplum totus componitur orbis.

For the Subjects are composed to follow the pattern and example of their Prince.

[Page] And God be praised, our King may be esteemed, and reputed the glory, and mirror of the world: both in his own Princely life, and exhortive ad­monitions to his Subjects two things especially entertained in his Royall breast seen to be unpa­rallel'd. First his Patience, then his constancie for the truth.

For which two, he ought not onely to be ap­plauded, but likewise meritoriously deserve the diurnall prayers of his liege People, for the con­tinuance, and corroboration of the same.

God of his infinite mercy grant that the King and Parliament may co-unitely concur for the setling of peace and tranquility amongst us, the establishing of Religion, and the mittigating of these various distempers, and distractions: that all obstacles, and obstructions whatsoever, that interrupts either of them may be moved, and the pure streams of Justice run clearly against all Delinquents without connivance, or partiality. For the State lies sick, and of a dangerous dis­ease too, which (if it be not suddainly cured) will contaminate the whole land, break out into an ulcer, and so exulcerate all parts by its pestife­rous, and diffusive contagion of ruinate destru­ction, But I hope that maladie likewise will be averted from us, and the Kingdome likewise will be soundly purged from all distempers that now corrupt it: then I say, all discords and di­stractions will be ended, at the reciprocall and [Page] mutuall conjunction of the King and Parlia­ment. Thus shall pietie, and sincere Religion distend its branches once more, peace and secu­ritie reflourish again within our walles, and all tumultuous confusions be anihilated and aboli­shed, to the honour of Gods holy name, the glo­ry and fame of his Majestie, the immortall renown and credit of the Parliament, and the eternall prosperitie of the Kingdome.