YOu will esteeme it a soloecisme in your Quondam schollar, that he should thinke it no false Syntaxe to Catechize his Master, and may wonder that twenty yeares doe not blush to instruct three-score; but by way of relation to your many Lectures, you must pardon my gratitude if I read you one; for since the Act doth alwayes carry proportion with the object, I am sooner to discard my reverence to a Teacher, then my Loyalty to a Prince. For whom as I must spend every drop of blood to fight his cause, soe I will shed every drop of inke to assert it: and though the assailant is weake, yet the cause is so strong, that I doubt not but to convince your faith, however I may faile of your acknowledgment. Since as Hannibal overcame Italy with Italian Forces, so I may beate your owne swords to the injury of your foreheads, which you hold up for the defence of 'em; for when the Parliament (those I meane who are Nicknamed soe) doe prove that Rebellion in the Execution, which they yet disavow to have been in the Intention, their hands doe so lowdly give their toungs the lie, that I can confute their words by noe stronger arguments then their actions. Hence it is that I admire at His Majesties unwearied goodnesse which hath rob'd His senses of so many houres sleepe, whil'st it hath stoop't to a con­futation of those actions which for their evidence are indisputable. To prove the object of sence, is a taske for schoolboys; and I cannot wish my Enemies soe well, as the honour to fall by Hercules. Now Sir, that you may rightly ayme at the marke, I desire you (as Ar­chers use) to shut one eye; I meane, that of Prejudice. Bolt not [Page 2]your eares to the message, because 'tis I that bring it; be not deafe to good counsell, because you are resolved That no good thing can come out of Oxford. Be not like those Indians, who would not goe to Heaven for feare of meeting a Spaniard there: Nay, be not like your old selfe, who did therefore detest the Liturgy and Hierarchy, because 'twas common to us with Papists. Could the Devill teach me goodnesse, I would be his Disciple. There is no better way to compose a good Protestant, then by imitating the superstitious Ca­pouchins in continuall prayer; the Papisticall Paduans in holy cha­stity; their Knighthood in the defence of Orphans and Widowes; the Pagan Turkes in pitty and charity; the Savage Tartars in ho­nesty, truth, and chastity; the Cyprians in affability and hospitality to strangers; the Heathen of Peru in liberality to their God, King, and Countrey. Be not then (good Sir) like those Harlots of Ʋlna, who paint their teeth blacke, because the dogg's are white. Be not at such a stubborne and resolv'd enmity with us, as to foster Rebel­lion, because we are loyall; nor say with the Lyrick Poet, ‘Quodcunque ostendis mihi sic, incredulus odi.’

Marius did not disdaine to learne of Hannibal; nor had he freed the Romans at Caudium, had they not beene conquer'd at Cannae: thinke it no brand to your credit to be your Schollers Proselyte. O devote not your selfe to the darknesse of Aegypt, because 'tis I that would leade you into the light of Goshen; nor be the lesse in love with a retractation of your heresie, because the motive to it is vile. Truth lies not now (as Antiquity faign'd it) in a ditch, but is so ob­vious to the eye, that if you (being a Scholler) stumble at her, I shall thinke it is not because you are blinde, but that you will not see. Those (indeed) whose slender soules see no farther then their eyes, who not able to distinguish betwixt the Name and the Thing, call the Conspiracy the Parliament, whose grosser mindes being fed one­ly by hopes and feares, are too thicke to take in the finer nourish­ment of Reason; those (I confesse) may be quickly cozened of their loyalty. But that your Intellect should be be-nighted with such a Cymerian darknesse, as not yet to be unclouded by the beames of our English Sunne, (The Declarations of his Majestie;) This stagger's my understanding.

1. O consider with remorse of conscience how this Kingdome now labours with the Falling Sicknesse, and (like men of that dis­ease) [Page 3]lies throbbing her owne bowels; the extremity of whose malady hath so taken away the sense of it, that the giddy Rout stop­ping their eares to Accommodation (like the drunken Lapithae) de­spise their Physitian.

2. Consider how fertile our Land is in a Cadmus crop, when we may change but the name, and speake Lucan of our selves, Bella per Angliacos plusquam civilia, &c. And the then State of Rome was but the prophecy of ours: for,

That is, ‘The King will admit no Rivall, Pym no Superiour.’

3. Consider what a disastrous event will attend this so unnaturall a Rebellion; that the lesser Gods (though Gods) had no sooner complotted to binde Jupiter, but there was a Thetis to detect the Treason, and a Briareus to defeate it: and though both sides yet run like Parallel lines, yet they can never end in the same Center.

4. Consider when you read Homer to me, what a speciall notice you commanded me to take of that Periphrasis, by which he calls the King the Pastor of his people, ‘— [...].’ Now for Sheepe to butcher one another, were admirable; but to bring their Shepherd to the shambles, prodigie.

5. Consider that Asperius nihil est humili, &c. — and what a combustion this Kingdome is already in, whilest these Phaëtons of State aspire to rule in CHARLES his Waine: nay, how it is like to be confounded into its old Chaos, unlesse a Thunderbolt dismount 'em from the Sunn's Chariot.

6. Consider in what detestation future Parliaments will be had, whilest Posterity reflects on this; believing that then they will of­fend by Prescription, when Rebellion is authorized by so high a Title; when the Court of Justice shall be a Topick for the approve­ment of Vice, and by the same Logick will dispute downe that Con­fistory, by which they prove Episcopacy unlawfull, because some Bishops have been bad. Nay, it will passe into a Proverbe with the simplicity of the Vulgar, to ranke the English Parliament with the Spanish Inquisition. for wickednesse and the world are both of one growth; they'le thinke that Neroni sufficiet Nero, that the Iron age is likely to be no mending one; and will be sure to remember, [Page 4]That when Scipio the father had endangered Carthage, Scipio the Sonne ruin'd it. This makes them sit so long, because they thinke they sit their last.

7. Lastly, consider our Soveraigne under a double notion, how (as a Christian) He rules Himselfe, and (as a King) His Countrey. How the goodnesse of His Majestie stands in equipage with the splendour of it. How He is so compos'd and made up of Grace and Favour, that he is a Prince as 'twere accomplisht for the indearing of His people; we should vindicate him not onely as the father, but (as the Graecians did Helena;) — [...], As the Bridegroome of his Countrey: for our dearest Relations, which like divided streames, runne severall wayes, must all meet in him as in their proper Ocean. Adde this as an Epilogue to your considerati­ons, that you would take it very ill if the lower Classis of your Schoole (but the Plebeians of that your Kingdome) should take the Burchen Scepter out of your hand, and imploy it about your breetch. This (with pardon to my youth) is to prepare you for a fit Reader, lest your sufferage should be bespoke, and taken up on to'ther side; for since Truth cannot comply with an erroneous Judgement, nor hold conformity with that rule by which it was not made: I desire you to reade over what my shallow apprehension of these State matters is, with an unpreoccupied understanding.

The Parliament at first had not long sate, when some Pygmes of fortune, out of a naturall Antipathy with those of taller growth, did anxiously labour to make them shorter by the head; and being Eagle­sighted, they endeavour'd to prune off those spreading branches, which interpos'd as a Skreene betwixt the Sunne and them. Now, because the people were to act that Tragedy, of which themselves had laid the Plott, they must studie some imposture by which to juggle out their affections; so that Justice it selfe did now begin to be accessary, and Religion the Pimpe for vice. Atheisme was to be work't in under pretext of Reformation; Protestancy to be work't out under the name of Papisme. Licentiousnesse was sollicited un­der the maske of Liberty; Inconveniences to be taken away for the introducements of Mischiefes. Dirt was to be cast on the Ermyn, and then he to be accused of being foule. He was to be argued of Popery, and so of Perjury. His very Declarations were accused of a curious garbe of Rhetoricke, and found guilty of an Idaea; both maje­stick, [Page 5]and yet decent. Their writings were to be credited even for their slovenly conveyance. The Phrensie of the Pulpit had the repu­tation of Zeale, and men possess't with the spirit were esteemed as inspired. Some parts were to be let bloud for the preservation of the whole; and instead of purging ill humours, they were to change the Crasis of the body. Like pictures that looke severall wayes, or like the ninth Orbe, they were to move Westward in complyance with the King, and direct East in the progresse of their own designes. The power of Soveraignty was shaken to confirme the right of it, that so the people might rebell with the more obedience; and (as I dare sweare many have done) that they might doe ill with a good con­science, and fight against their King in a discharge of their allegeance. Anon they pretend to Enthusiasme, and (as Numa from Egeria, or Mahumet from the Angell Gabriel) to have direction even from God. So that now (like opposite lines in a Globe, which by being drawne asunder, meet) the Puritane is Papist, (omitting the shrive­ing men from perjury after the battell at Brainceford) not onely in King-killing, but also in infallibility. For by this time Pym is Pope of England, as well as Ʋrban of Rome. His assertion is his proofe, and the action of which he gives the reason, is the reason of the action; so that Petere principium is to argumentize best. The vul­gar are of Hiero's minde. [...], they put their salvation into his hands; and to whatsoever he shall doe, they re­signe up their consciences, as well as their consents.

This foundation of a Ruine being laid, (that my Letter may not swell, I will give but one instance) they vote downe Bishops, be­cause they have too much knowledge to be seduc't into their facti­on, and too much conscience to be work't to't. Here the King must have no suffrage, unlesse He make it theirs: and as if His Oath did onely serve to solemnize His Coronation, they thinke it not enough for Him to part with His Prerogative, unlesse He will dispence with His Religion too: they had rather His Oath were broke, then the Bishops kept. The King againe is refractary, and whil'st they vote Perjury to be no sinne, He denyes to make it an Act. The Militia is to be setled in their hands who are interessed and engaged in this growing Treason, that they may awe Him to their Votes, to which they cannot wooe Him. And notwithstanding those evi­dences at Edge-hill and Brainceford, besides the suborning of Pam­pheleteers [Page 6]for their Abettors, as of some to prove the King a Papist, and those perfidious that will beleeve Him; of others that do averre Him to be Ʋniversis minor, though Singulis major; of a third sort, who would have the Subjects coordinate with Him, not subordinate to Him, and the like; I say notwithstanding all this, they are so fa­mously impudent, as to proclaime themselves loyall, and the Rabble so eminently stupid as to beleeve 'em. His Majestie (like a prudent Halcyon) fore seeing a tempest would be shortly, whilest the clouds were o're his head, forsakes the unruly Ocean; and removes the Par­liament to Yorke, though the Title stay'd behinde at London: for put the King's part of the Parliament (notoriously knowne to be the major) in one scale of your Judgement and the lesser part of London in the other; then suppose (not grant) the ballance in Aequilibrio, yet the King (who is heavier then both) being put to the greater part, must needs outweigh the lesse: so that now you are brought to this Dilemma, that either the Parliament is not, or that it is not at London.

Ob. 1. But you say, the King cannot breake off the Parliament. I answer, that the King is an essentiall part of it, and therefore 'tis all one for him to leave it, and to breake it off, for the causality of intrinsecall causes is the union of them; and though the parts united are not distinguisht from the whole, but ratione ratiocinatâ, yet taken asunder they include a third entity; so that they of London are but an [...], and onely in potentiâ essendi, being not a body; and yet having no repugnancy to the making one, when they shall unite themselves with the King: and though as yet but cyphers, yet they may make a number, when the royall figure shall be prefixt.

Ob. 2. You say, He hath promised not to breake it off. But the most absolute promise is implicitly hypotheticall; and though His Majestie did grant them a perpetuall Session, yet granted with a proviso, that they intrench't not on His Prerogative; insomuch, that the promise doth no longer obtinere, when once they have rambl'd beyond the pale of their conditions. Besides, if this Parlia­ment was to have any end, (as doubtlesse by sitting whilest they list, was not meant sitting whilest they live) it was to be broken off by the major part, (who are with the King) and not to remaine 'till the consents of all, for that all will not consent so much as to adjourne, [Page 7]much lesse to end it, is manifest by this, that they are hereby exemp­ted from the tryall of their offences; from which the name of Par­liament (though it should not yet) hath priviledg'd 'em▪ for it was held unlawfull, that the King should proceed against those five Mem­bers according to Law; and to accuse Traytors was a breach of pri­viledge. Therefore each single person will desire to continue him­selfe a whole Shire or Corporation, because that hath beene a tricke to authorize the highest Treasons, and is the Tenure by which they hold both their Lives and Livings; so that they love the continu­ance of the Parliament, as condemned strumpets doe the continuance of their great bellies, onely to save 'em from the Gallowes.

Ob. 3. You say, so many are more judicious then one, and there­fore their verdict to take place. But suppose the negative and affir­mative Votes are even; if there be no Ʋmpire to decide, then either they must cast lotts on whose side it shall passe, or they are just like Caligula, who mustered up his Souldiers to gather Cockelshells; or like Cato in the Theater, Qui ideo tantùm venerat, ut exiret; and we should finde them Register'd with this [...]:

Ob. 4. You say, the Kings Prerogative is not lessen'd, whilest they assume so much. You must pardon my unbeliefe if it be no part of my Creed: for the King and they being now Antipodes, their Ze­nith must be his Nadir; the more those Starres doe ascend our Ho­rizon, the more this Sunne must fall downe; for the latitude of Do­minion must be some way compleated in the body Politique, as the latitude of Qualities in the body Naturall; as where there are but three degrees of heat, there must be five of cold, according to that knowne Maxime, Gradualis ambitus contrarietatis supplenda est ex uno, aut altero contrariorum. Now the King and those Rebels being Diametrically opposite, what you adde to their Authority, you must take from His.

That therefore the King is an absolute Monarch, and by much su­periour to both Houses, (He being deputed by God, and they but by the Countrey) though my ignorance in these high matters makes me feare to say I'le prove, yet I'le indeavour to illustrate by these emer­gent Arguments.

1. From the Universe, which is govern'd by one God; from whom also all Kings had their first institution. Hence Euripides in his Andromache, [...].

2. From the Common-wealth of Cranes, from whom (saith Aelian, l. 3.) mankinde at first learn'd their [...], and (as Plato in his Politicum) they never encampe against the Troglodytes, but with due observation to their Generall.

3. From all vegetable bodies, which (if the parts be equall) will be homogeneous; and (if there be many heads) monstrous.

4. From all mixt bodies, which Philosophy will not allow should have a Temperament ad Pondus; for there is a Monarchy in their qualities, which would cease to be active, were they all equall; because Similia non agunt invicem.

5. From the confusednesse and mischiefe of the contrary; for the government of the Consuls, Decemviri, and Tribunes, were incom­patible with the Romans▪ and inconsistent with an Empire of so long a durance; which forced them to that government which they had formerly refused; (viz.) of Kings call'd Emperours. This made Ʋlys­ses in Homer, breake forth to the Graecians in his ‘ [...], &c. —’

6. From the suffrages of best Authors; and of infinite I will cite but few. Plutarch (De tribus Reip. generibus) proves this the best, and brings Plato's Politicum to confirme it. In Herodotus (l. 3.) when Otanes had made a speech for Polyarchy, Megabyzus for Oly­garchy, and Darius for Monarchy, the foure [...] preferr'd the last, which Pythagoras proves from the very nature of Numbers▪ whence Plutarch observes, that with Homer, Ʋnity is convertible with goodnesse, and multitude with vice; which appeares by the contrary significations of [...] and [...].

7. From the inferiour Heavens, which doe move at the pleasure of the Primum mobile. From the Elements; of which the lower so little aspire into the Territories of the highest, that they doe not Le­vitare in suis locis. And lastly from all that is in Nature, or above it, for God had more skill in setting, (when he compos'd the Harmo­ny of the world) then to make all the parts in unison.

To conclude therefore, I will inferre from what I have said, these 6 Corollaries.

1. That the Praedicament of a Common wealth is to be made ac­cording [Page 9]to Sub and Supra; and that ours as well as the rest, ought to have a Summum genus in't.

2. That the King is the very soule of the Kingdome, and that soule an act, of which the will as well as the understanding is a sub­stantiall faculty; and that those Rebels are but untam'd affections, pro­ceeding from the sensitive appetite, which Aristotle calls [...], the beastly part of the body.

3. That the Machivillians in London (—O quis iniquae tam patiens urbis! —) have not onely endeavour'd, but have de facto altered the government of this Kingdome, of which the Oligarchs are in London, whilest the Monarch resides in Oxford.

4. That they have turn'd Machiavel's precept into practice, Di­vide & impera, for they have uncemented a great part of the Mem­bers from the Head, by invenoming His Name, and imbittering their natures▪ by striking into them the pannick feares of villenage; and by setting up an Idoll at Westminster for poore Ignorance to fall downe 'to; so that the abused multitude (fancying them to be what indeed they are not) doe not onely adore their owne Workmanship, but (what is worse) their Creature.

5. That as they falsely protest they warre not against the King, but His evill Counsellours, so we may truly sweare, that the King fights not against the Parliament, but the Disturbers of it.

6. Lastly, that they have nothing in them of a Parliament, but the bare Notion and Place; and that the best of their actions doe looke no otherwise, then as if (with Herostratus) their Authors committed them for no other end, then to be notorious enough for a Chronicle▪ which for the unworthinesse shall be register'd in the same Catalogue with Litisar the Dyer in the dayes of Richard 2. Joseph the Blacke-smith, (H. 7.) Robin Ket the Tanner (Edw. 6.) Jack Cade (H. 6.) Wat Tyler and Jack Straw (R. 2.) But rather then the King shall want strength to overwhelme these Rebels, I doubt not but the cloudes will drop downe in a shower of Locusts to devoure them, as sometimes in Norwey it hath rain'd Lemmers. I doubt not but the people will be one day dis-infatuated; That their Seducers (like Actaeon) may bee eaten up by their owne Hounds. But should our successe be worse, I would not thinke their cause the better; knowing that the Arme is let bloud, when [Page 10]the disease lyes in the Stomack: and whilest God punishes tis for their faults, I shall esteeme their Victory their Judgement. So steadfastly resolves