IT is the observation of King Solomon Prov 25.11. That a word spoken in due season, is like Apples of Gold in pictures of silver. And seeing I (and above two hundred Members more) being forcibly secluded from you by the Officers of the Armies unparaleld violence upon our Persons and the House, cannot speak my mind freely to you in, or as the House of Com­mons, I held it my duty freely to write my thoughts unto you, only as private Persons under the force, consulting in a House, without your Fellow-Members advice or concurrence, about the speedy deposing and executing of KING CHARLES, your lawfull Soveraigne, to please the Generall, Officers and Grand Councel of the Army (who have unjustly usurped to them the supream Authority both of King and Parliament) or rather the Iesuits and Popish Priests among or neare them, by whose Councels they and you are now wholly sway­ed, and whose trayterous designes you really execute, in most of your late Votes and Actings.

I have only a few words and considerations to impart unto you: Dictum sapienti sat est.

First, I shall minde you, that by the Cook 3 Institut. 1. Stam­fords Plea [...] of the Crown. l. 1. c. 1. [...]. Common Law of the Realme, the Statute of 25 E. 3. and all other Acts concerning Treason, it is [Page 4] no lesse then High Treason, for any Man by overt act, to compasse or imagine the deposition or death of the King, or of his eldest Son and Heire, though it be never executed: much more if actually accom­plished. That many have been arraigned, condemned, executed for such intended Treasons in former ages; as the Earle of Arundell and o­thers, by judgement in Parliament, 21. R. 2. Plac Coronae. N. 4.6.7. and the Gunpouder Traytors. 3. Jacobi, to omit others, whose Ex­amples should be others admonitions, the Heads and Quarters of some of them yet hanging on the Houses where you now meet and sit.

2dly That, in the Oath of Allegiance which you have all taken, imme­diately before your admission into the House as Members; You doe tru­ly and sincerely acknowledge, professe, testifie and declare in your con­sciences, before God and the World, That our Soveraigne Lord King Charles, Is lawfull and rightfull King of this Realme, and of all other his Majesties Dominions and Countries, And that the Pope nei­ther of himselfe, nor by any authority of the Church or See of Rome, or by any Other meanes, Nor any other, hath any power or authority to Depose the King, or to dispose of any of his Maje­sties Kingdomes or Dominions, or to discharge any of his Subiects of his Allegiance and Obedience to his Maiesty, or to give leave to any of them, to offer any violence to His Maiesties Person, State or Government. Note And that notwithstanding any sentence or Declaration of Deprivation made by the Pope, &c. or any absolution of the said Subjects from their obedience, you will beare true allegi­ance, to His Majestie, His heires and successors, and him and them wil defend to the uttermost of your power. Against all attempts and conspiracies whatsoever, which shall be made against his or their Persons, their Crowne and dignity, by reason or colour of any such sentence or Declaration, or otherwise: And do thereby further swear, that you do from your harts abhor, detest, and abiure as impious and Hereticall, that damnable doctrine and position, that Princes which be excommunicated or deprived by the Pope, may be deposed or mur­dered by their Subiects, or any other whatsoever. And that you doe belive, and in conscience are resolved, that neither the Pope, nor any person whatsoever, hath power to absolve you of this Oath, or any part thereof; and that all these things you did plainly and sincerely acknowledge and sweare, according to these expresse words and their plain and common sence, without any equivocation or mentall evasion [Page 5] or secrèt reservation whatsoever, And that you did make this Rècognition & acknowledgement heartily, willingly, & truly, upon thè true faith òf a Christian. Now whether your present actings & intentions against the King, be not diametrically repugnant to this solemn Oath (which most of you have taken sithence these wars; & some of you since the Treaty, when sworn Sejeants at Law, &c.) let God and the world before whom you sware, and your own consciences, in which you then swore, determine your acting herein the Popes and Iesuits designes.Exact Collections p. 6.19.59.66.6.83.102.103.118.123.125.141.142, 143.173.180. 195.219.259.281.307.380.312.360.376.457. &c.

3dly. That your selves among other Members, have in above one hundred Remonstrances, Declarations, Petitions, Ordinances and prin­ted papers published in the name, and by the authority of one or both Houses of Parliament, professed, both to the King himselfe, Kingdome, World, and forraign States, that you never intended the least hurt, injury, or violence to the Kings Person, Crown, Dignity, or Posterity: but intended to him and his Royall Posterity, more honour happinesse Glory and Greatnesse, then ever was yet enjoyed by any of his Royall Predecessours: That you will ever make good to the utter­most with your lives and fortunes, the faith and allegiance, which in truth and sinceritie you have alwayes horne to his Majesty, that you have proposed no other ends to your selves, but the performance of all duty and loyalty to his Majesties Person. That all Contributions, and loanes upon the publike faith should be imployed only to maintain the Prote [...]ant Religion; the Kings authority, his Person, his Royall Dignity, the Lawes of the land, Peace of the Kingdome, and priviled­ges of Parliament, and not to be imployed against his Majesties per­son or authority. That the A Colle­ction. &c. 18.13 41, 43, 44 49.51 61.64.96.181.182.310.321.424.425.496.599.623.696.806.807.879. Appendix. p. 15. Armies and forces raised by the Houses were raised for the safety and defence of the Kings Person, and of both Houses of Parliament, &c. That his Majestes Personall safety, ho­nour and greatnesse, are much dearer to you then your owne lives, and fortunes, which you do most heartily dedicate, and shall most willing­ly imploy for the maintenance and support thereof. That the Parlia­ment will ever have a care to prevent any danger which his Majesty may justly apprehend to his person. That both Houses are resolved to expose their lives and fortunes, for the defence and maintenance of the true Religion, The Kings person, honour and State the power and priviledges of Parliament: That notwithstanding his Ma­jesties proclamations against the General, and Army, as Traytors, yet to witnesse their constant and unshaken Loyalty to his Maiesty [Page 6] both houses do solemny declare; That upon his disbanding his forces, & return & harkning to the advise of his Great Councel, They will re­ally endeavour to make both him & his as much beloved at Home, & feared abroad as any Pr. that ever swayed this Septer: which is their firm and constant Resolution: from which they wil not be diverted for any private or self respects whatsoever: That they will faithfully endea­vour to secure his Maiesties Person & Crown, from all dangers: in­culcating the apparent danger to his Royal Person among his popish & Malignants Armies & ill Councelors, & upon that reason, perswa­ding and inviting him to desert them, and close with his Parliament: protesting, that the Parliament hath been, is & ever wil be more ready then they, to secure and uphold the [...]uthority, Prerogative and Honor of the King, and preserve the safety of his Royal Person, which they have oft times testified by many humble Petitions and Declarations to Him the World and Kingdome: with many other such like expres­sions. Which whether your present Actings and Counsels do not di­rectly oppose, contradict, and give the lye unto, to your eternall in­famy and breach of publique faith, as much as in you lies, let both Houses, the world and all men judge; as they will doe in due season.

4thly. Consider, That when the Exact Collection. p. 298.695.696.657.658.991. King and his party did taxe the Houses for insinuating, That if they should make the highest presi­dents of other Parliaments their pattern, there would be no cause to complain of want of modesty or duty in them: That is, they may de­pose the King when they wil, and are not to be blamed for so doing: and that the army raised by the Parliament was to murther and de­pose the King. Both houses by two solemne Declarations, did most professedly declare and protest against it, as the falsest and most ma­licious accusation that could be imagined: that the thoughts of it never entred nor should enter into their loyal hearts. ‘That as God is witnesse of their thoughts, so shall their actions witnesse to all the world, that to the honor of our Religion; & of those who are most zealous in it, they shal suffer far more for & from their Soveraign then they hoped God would ever permit the malice of his wicked Councellors, to put them to, since the happinesse of the Kingdome doth so mainly depend upon hi [...] Majesty and the Royall Authority of that root.’ That they hoped the contrivers of these false and scan­dalous reports, or any that professed the name of a Christian could not have so little charity as to raise such a scandall, especially when they [Page 9] must needs know, the Protestation made by the Members of both houses whereby they promise in the presence of Almighty God to de­fend and preserve his Maiesties Person, ‘The Promise and Prote­station made by the Members of both houses upon the Nomination of the Lord of Essex to be Generall, and to live and die with him’, wherein is expressed, That this Army was raised for defence of the Kings Person. Their often, earnest and most humble addresses to His Majesty, Which they oft profest both of the Army un­der the Earl of Essex, & Sir Thom. Fairfax to. Collection of all Or­ders. &c. 8.13.41.43.44.49.51.61.64.96.99.623.696.879. Ap­pendix. pa. 15. to leave that desperate and dangerous Army where­with he is now encompassed, raised and upheld to the hazard of his own, and the Kingdomes ruine, and to come in Person to his Parli­ament, where he should be sure to remain in honour and safety, and their humble petition directed to be presented to him by the hands of the Earl of Essex, before any blow given, to remove his Royal person from the Army: a request inconsistent with any purpose to offer the least violence to his person which hath and ever shall be dear unto them. Now put it to your soules and consciences whether yours and the Armies present Councels and actions, doe not really justifie the Kings and his parties former suggestions, and give the lye to these Declarations of both Houses? who certainly when ever restored to a condition of freedome and liberty of meeting together againe, will crave publike reparations and justice against you, if you violate both their Honour, faith, and engagements to the King, Kingdome and forraign States, against these their Declarations and Protestations too.

5thly. Remember, that the Lords and Commons assembled in Parlia­ment, Octob. 2 [...]. 1642. did in the presence of Almighty God [which is the strongest obligation that any Christian, Exact. Collection p. 663.664 666.687.686.907.911. and the most solemne pub­lik faith that any state as a Parliament, can give] for the satisfaction of their own consciences, and discharge of that great trust that lyes upon them, make this Protestation and Declaration to all this Kingdome and Nat on, and to the whole world, That no private passion or respect: No evil intention to his Maiesties person, no designe to preiudice his iust honour and Authority, engaged them to raise forces or take up Armes. ‘That if he would return to his Parliament in peace, and by their counsels and advice compose the distempers and confusions abounding in his Kingdomes, They would receive him with all Honour, yeeld him all true obedience, subjection,’ and faithfully endeavour to defend his Person & Estate from all dan­ger, and to the uttermost of their power, establish him, in all the bles­sings [Page 8] of a glorious and happy Reign, And that they had no intention or desire to hurt or iniure his Maiesty either in his Person or iust power. Which they seconded by many subsequent Declarations. Since which, both Houses and the three Kindomes of England, Scot­land, and Ireland have entred intoA Colle­ction, &c. p. 327.359 399.404.416.420.10.428.806.887.818.878.879.889. A solemn League and Covenant, For the Honor and happinesse of the Kings Majesty, and his posterity [among other ends therein specified;] That they shall sincerely, really and constantly endeavour with their estates and lives, to preserve and defend the Kings maiesties person and authority, in the preserva­tion and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms that the world may beare witnesse with their consciences of their Loyalty; and that they have no thoughts, nor intention to diminish his maiesties iust power and greatnesse. That they will, with all faithfulnesse endeavour to discover all evill Instruments and Incen­diaries Those who depose or divide his Head from his shoulders must be most guilty of this dividing. A Collecti­on, &c. p. 420. &c. dividing the King from his people, that they may be brought to publike tryall: and receive condigne punishment. And shall never suffer themselves directly, or indirectly, by whatsoever combination, perswasion or terrour, to be withdrawne from this blessed union, &c. which so much concerneth the glory of God, the good of the King­domes, and the honor of the King, but shall all the dayes of their lives zealously and constantly continue therein against all opposition. And conclude. This Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty God the searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to observe the same, as we shall answer at the great day, when the secrets of all hearts shal be disclosed. This Covenant you have all taken your selves, (some of you often) and * imposed it on all three Kingdomes: And will it not stare in your faces your consciences, and engage God himselfe, and all three Kingdoms, as one man against you, if you should proceed to depose the King, destroy his person, or disinherit his posterity? yea, bring certaine ruine upon you and yours as the greatest 2 Tim. 3.3, 4. Covenant-breakers, and most perjured Creatures under Heaven. O think, and think most seriously upon it before you proceed to further perjuries. Rot. Pet. An. 24. E. 3 m. 2. in. dors. Rot. Pat. n. 25.. E. 3. par. 1. m. 17. Cookes. 3. Instit. p 141.223. In 24. E 3. William Thrope, cheife Iustice of the Kings Bench, for taking 80 l. bribes of severall persons, was by speciall Commissi­on, indited, convicted and condemned to be hanged, and to forfeit all his Lands, Tenements Goods and chattels to the King: because there­by Sacramentum Domini Regis quod ergo populum habuit custo­diendum fregit, maliciose, falso & rebelliter, quantum in ipse fuit: [Page 9] which Judgement was affirmed to be just and reasonable in full Par­liament, where it was openly read by the Kings command, as is evident by 25. E, 3. Rot. Parl. nul. 10. If then this chief Justice for breaking his Oath to the King and his people, as a Iudge, only in taking two or three small bribes, deserved to be hanged, and to forfeit all his Lands, Goods and Life, by the judgement of full Parliament, then what will such Members deserve to suffer, who shall violate, not only their Oaths of Allegiance and Supreamicy to the King and his heires, but likewise the several Protestations, solemn League & Covenant, and the multiplied publique faith, engagements, declarations, Remonstran­ces, & promises of both houses of Parliament, made to God, the King, the whole Kingdomes & people of England, Scotland, and Ireland, the States of the united Provinces, and all the world; an that maliciously, falsely, and Rebelliously, as much as in them lies, and their own pri­vate Faith, Oaths, Vowes, and Covenants involved in them, in depo­sing and executing the King, disinheriting the Prince▪ violating the priviledges, usurping the power of the parliament to themselves, when most of the other Members are violently secluded by the army, to the subversion of the freedom & liberties of all Parliaments? this being one article against King Rich. the 2d. in 1. H 4. Rot. Parl. 25 66, 70. when he was deposed. That in the Parliament held at Salop, ‘intended to oppresse his people, he did subtilly procure and cause to be granted, by consent of all the States in the kingdom (which you have not) that the power of the Parliament should remaine with certain persons (* Lords and Commons) to determine certaine Pe­titions then delivered, but not dispatched, after the Parl. ended;21. R. 2. c 16. by colour whereof? the said deputed persons proceeded by the Kings pleasure and wil, to other things generally concerning the said Parli­ament, to the great derogation of the State and priviledges of the Parliament, and the great inconveniences & pernicious example of the whole Realme, and to gain some colour and authority to their doings, the King caused the Parliament Rolls to be altered and de­leated according to his Vote, contrary to the effect of the foresaid Confession;’ as you have presumed to nul repeale, and unvote divers Votes, Orders and Ordinances of both Houses made in pursuance of the foresaid oathes, protestations, the solemn League & Covenant, Re­monstrances, Declarations of both houses & the treaty, when the hou­ses were full, & not under the Armies force or violence: And if their [Page 10] proceedings & the whole Parliament of 21. R, were declared L. 1. H. 4 c. 3. null and void, and the King worthy to be deposed, for such proceedings then; let Serjeant Thorp, and other Lawyers now acting with you, consider and informe you what punishment you deserve for such breach of faith, priviledge of Parliament, & usurpation of a mono­poly of parliamentary power to your selves now, whiles under the Armies force, and most Members forced thence: in which case you ought not to sit, vote, or conclude any thing, but only toAs the House did in the case of the five Members, Exact. col­lection, p. 35.10.36. adjourn till the force removed & all Members may freely meet in full Parl. as is clear by that memorable Record of 6 E. 3. Par. apud Ebor, n. 1.2. Dor. claus 6. E. 3. m. 4.6. E. 3. apud West. parl. 2. n. 1.13.3. parl. 2. n. 4.15. E. n 5.17. E. 3. n 2.6.18. E. 3. n. 1.2.5 2 [...]. E 3. n. 5.21. E. 3. n. 4.22. E 3. n. 1.25 E. 3. n. 1.29. E. 3. n. 4.36. E. 3. n. 1.37. E. 3. n. 1.42. E. 3. n. 1.50. E 3. n. 1.51. E. 3. n. 3.1. R. 2. n. 1.3. R. 2. n. 1.4. R: 2 n 1. R. 2. n. 1, 4. R. 2. n. 1.5. R 2. parl. 1. n. 1. parl 2 n 1.6. R. 2 parl 1. n. 1. parl. 2. n. 18. H. 4. n. 28.30.54. 9. H. 4. n. 1.13. H. 4; n. 1. and many more rolls: where the Par. when any considerable number of the Members of either house were absent, was constantly adjourned, & refused to sit or do any thing, [though not un­der any force] till the houses were full, much more then when under the Armies sword: it being against Magna, Charta, as the Matthew Paris. p. 882.885.818. Dan. p. 172. Barons de­clared in Parl, Anno Dom. 1257: in the reign of K.H. the third for a few Members to sit when the rest are absent.

6thly, Consider, that though many of the Kings of Iudah and Isra­el were extraordinary sinfull and Idelatrous bloody and tyranni­call great oppressours of their people; yea shedders of Priests; of Prophets, and other good mens innocent blood, not only in the wars but in peace: yet there is not one president in the old Testament of any one King ever juditially impeached, arraigned, deposed, or put to death by the Congregation, Shanhedrin, or Parliaments of Iudah or Israel. That those who slew any of them in a tumultuous or trea­cherous manner, were for the most part slaine themselves, either in a tumult, or 2 Kings. 14.6. c. 15.30. c. 21.10.14.25.24. else put to death by their Children who succeeded to the Crown, or people of the Land: & that the Israelites after their revolt from Rehoboham: had never any one good King, or good day almost among them: but were over-run with Idolatry, prophanenesse, ty­ranny: invaded by enemies, involved in perpetuall Wars, Civill or Forraign; and at last all destroyed and carried away Captives into Babylon: as the Books of Kings and Chronicles will informe you: [Page 11] That the rule in the Old Testament is, not to take any wicked Kings from their Thrones and behead them:Prov. 25.5 but Rom. 13 1.2. &c. Tit. 3.1.2. 1 Pet. 3.13 14, 17.1. Tim. 2.1.2.3, Take away the wicked from before the King, and his Throne shall be established in righte­ousnesse. And the rule in the New Testament, To be subject to Kings and the Higher Powers, and to submit unto them even for Conscience and the Lords sake: and to make Prayers, Supplications, and Interces­sions for them, that under them we may lead a peacable and quiet life, in all Godlinesse and honesty, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour: not to depose or shed their bloud, for which there is no precept. And is not this plaine way of God the safest for you and the Army to follow, yea the only short cut to Peace and settlement? Ruminate upon it, and then be wise, both for your soules good, and the Kingdomes too:

7thly. Consider that you now meet, and sit under the armed force and violence of a mutinous Army, who have leavyed Warre against the houses to dissolve them, imprison'd many of your Members for­cibly secluded more, and driven away almost all from the Houses, That til the removal of this horrid force, & reassembling of all your scat­tered Members with freedome and safety in the Houses al you Vote: Act, Order or Ordaine, by the Armies owne Doctrine in their Re­monstrance of August 18 and the Declaration and Ordinance of both Houses (made at the Armies instance) August 20 1647. is nul and void, even at and from the time it was voted, acted, ordered, ordai­ned, and so declared by your selves even by this unrepealed Ordi­nance and by former Parliaments to, as 21. R. 2. c 12.1. H, 4 c, 3.31. H 6 c 1 39 H 6, c 1. And however you may take upon you the name and power of the Houses of Parliament, and unvote, vote order and ordaine what you please: yet take it for an infallible Truth, that none of theSee their protestati­on. Dec. 11. 1648.secluded and absent Members, none of the Counties, Ci­ties and Burroughs, for which they serve; not those for whom you serve and represent: nor yet the Kingdomes of England, Sco [...]land and Ireland (who have as great or greater shares and interest in the person of the King, as their lawfull Soveraign, and are engaged by Oaths, Covenant, and all the forecited premises to protect his person and Crown with their lives and estates against all violence & dan­ger) with Queen, Children and Allies in forraigne parts of what Religion soever, will never own you (in your present condition and constitut [...]on) to be a Parliament, but rather a Conventicle or Iuncto [Page 12] nor any thing you vote, order, or ordain to beSee A Collection &c. p. 9.3.2.21.2.22 2.25.2.53.vailed. And therefore what ever you vote, Order, or Ordaine concerning the Treaty, the deposing or executing the King, the Disinheriting or Banishing the Prince, dissolving the present Parliament, setting up a new confused Representative, or new forme of State Goverment, only to please the Officers and Army, or rather those Jesuits and popish Priests, who have overreached, & instigated them forcibly to prosecute these their treasonable designes, and accomplish this their long expected desire & work; you must do only as private men, not as a Parliament: and if so, what lesser offence then High Treason, against the King, Parlia­ment and kingdom, your present actings and proceedings will prove in the conclusion, if you persevere and persist in them, I leave to a free Parliament, the learned Judges, and all Lawyers now sitting and vo­ting among you, to consider and resolve. Which the Officers and Councell of the Army considering, would cast the Odium, and dan­ger of all upon you, the better to exempt and acquit themselves if after reckonings should come, as probably they may, and certainely will in Gods due time, if you and they repent not, give over, and crave pardon ere it be over late.

8ly Remember, That no protestant Kingdome or State, ever yet defiled their hands, or stained the purity and honour of their Refor­med Religion, with the deposition, or blood of any of their Kings or Princes, much lesse of a protestant King o [...] Prince, of a temperate and sober life, as the King is, who never immediately imbrued his owne hands in any one mans blood, in any tyranical or bloody way before or since the wars; (for ought I can heare) but only in a Military, And for a Reforming protestant Parl. pretending the most of any to piety & religion, to stain their profession or honour by the deposition, or defile their hands with the blood of a protestant King, or for an army of Saints to do it, or they to please a Saint-seeming Army, and that against so many fore-mentioned oathes, protestations, declarations, Remonstrances, Solemn League; and covenants one after another to the contrary, would be such an unparall'd scandall to the prote­stant Religion & all professors of it (who have upbraided the Iesuits and papists with this perfidious & treasonable practise, of which they have been deeply guilty, & themselves innocent) both in our owne 3 kingdoms and the whole Christian world, as would give the greatest occasion, advantage, and encouragement to the Jesuites, papists, and [Page 13] all licentious persons to joyne their hands heads, purses to suppresse and extirpate it, and all the professors of it, both at home and abroad, that ever yet they had, and make Parliaments for ever hereafter execrable and detestable, both to Kings and people.

9ly, Consider that Scotland & Ireland are joynt tenants at least wise tenants in Common with us in the King, as their lawfull Soveraigne and King, as well as ours; and that the Scots delivered and left his person to our Commissioners at Newcastle, upon this expresse con­dition: That no violence should be offered to his Person, &c. according to the Covenant. How then you can un-king or depose him as to them, or take away his life upon pretext of justice, without their concurrent assents, is worthy your saddest thoughts. If you doe it without asking or receiving their consents, you engage both Kingdomes to make a just Warre against you, to proclaime and to Crowne the Prince of Wales their King (though you should lay him aside) as being next heire apparent. And no Ordinance you can now make, will be any legal barre against him, to the Crown of Eng. where he will find ten thousand persons for one, who will joyn with Scotland and Ireland to set him upon his Fathers Throne, as king of England, and avenge his blood, upon all who shall be aiding or assi­sting to its spillings or his dethroning. And what then will become of you and your army, when thus deserted by most,Walsing­ham. Hist. Aug. p. 107.108.109. Po­lichron. 1. c. 44. Se. Speed Ho­linshed. Grafton. in Ed. 2. & Rich. 2. Henry the 4th. opposed by all 3 kingdomes▪ & all the Kings, Queens, & Princes Allies, united forces; where will you, where will your St. Cromwell, St. Ireton St. Pride, Saint Peters, (that fast and loose carnall prophet and Arch Jesui­ted Incendiary in these present tumults (with other Grand Saints of the Army, [who now force you, the Generall, Army and whole kingdome, upon such dangerous councels as these, by the Jesuites principles and practises] then appeer, to save either themselves, or you, or your posterities from exemplary justice without mercy, or hopes of pardon? Consider this then seriously, if not as Christians, yet as Polititians and selfe ended men, and then repent and be wise in time.

Tenthly, Remember, that you have neither Law nor direct presi­dent for what you are going about: 1. H. 4. Rot. Parl. n. 1. to 60. where the whole pro­ceedings are at large re­lated. Edward the 2d. and Richard the 2d. were forced by Mortimer, and Henry the 4th to resign their Crowns in a formall manner, the one to his Son, the other to his con­quering successor neither of them to the parliament, & then deposed [Page 14] by a subsequent sentence in Parliament, as unfit to reign without any formall legall tryall, or answer: and that not in an empty Parlia­ment under a force, as now, when most Members were forced away and secluded, but in a full Parliament, wherein the articles drawen up against them were never so much as read; and their depositions made [upon their own voluntary concessions only] to confirme, their precedent Resignations. Besides, neither of these Kings though very bad and Papists, were ever condemned to loose their heads or lives, but were to be well and honourably Treated. And those proceedings were only by Popish parliaments in time of ignorance, who had no such Oaths, Vowes, Covenants, Protestati­ons and other forementioned considerations to tye their hands as you and we all have now, Yea this very Parl. hath solemnly & parti­cularly protected,Exact, Col, p 695 699. that they did never suffer these Presidents to enter into their thoughts, and they should never be their practise what ever they suffered from the King or hi [...], and that for the honor of our Reli­gion, and the most zealous in it, But that which is very observable, Roger Mortimer, the principle actor in deposing King Edward the 2. & Crowning his Son Edward the 3. King in his stead, [as you must now Crown the Prince of Wales, in his Fathers stead, if you depose the King, else you pursue not this president as you should do] in the Parliament of [E. 3. In which I find no record concerning this de­posall] was in 4. E 3. rot, par, n. 1. to 7. a full Parliament within four years after, with some other of his Confederates 4. E 3. n, 16. impeached, condemned, and executed as a Traytor and Enemy to the King and Kingdom, by the Iudgement of the Lords, and that by King Edward the third his owne assent, without any legall hearing or tryall, (just as he had there deposed this King without it) for murthering King Edward in Berkeley Castle after his deposall: and Sir Thomas de Berkeley, in whose Castle he was slain, being indicted of Treason likewise for the same murther before the Lords in Parliament, pleaded not guilty thereunto, & was tried at the Lords Bar in a legall manner, by a Iury of 12 Knights there sworn and impannelled, and by them acquitted upon ful evidence and tryal? 4 E 3. n, 35. when as Sir Simon de Bereford was impeached, condem­ned and executed by a judgement given against him by the Lords a­lone, without any tryall, for murthering this deposed King, and Tho­mas de Gourney & William Ocle, adjudged Traytors by them for the same offence without any evidence appearing on record. These Presi­dents [Page 15] then; will be of very hard digestion, and not parall'd to our times, or the Kings case: Who, having upon the late Treaty granted us, for the speedy sett [...]ement and security of our bleeding Kingdoms Churches and Religion, what ever we could in honor, justice, or rea­son desire, and farre greater advantages and security then any of our ancestors, or any Kingdom under heaven from the creation to this present, demanded or enjoyed from any of their Princes, (as I dare make good to you and all the world:) and that which the Com­mons House, after two whole dayes and one whole nights debate, thought and voted, a sufficient ground for them to proceed with the King to the speedy se [...]ling of the Kingdoms peace: now you, or the ar­my after such large concessions; contrary to the votes of both houses when full and free; can in honor, justice, reason, discretion, or conscience proceed to depose or decapitate the King, as a violater of his faith, a Traitor, &c. Without making your selves more perjured; treache­rous and greater Traytors in all kinds then he; & incurring the same judgement & execution as you shall passe & inflict upon him: I leave to your saddest consultations to advise of. I have thus freely, faith­fully and plainly discharged my mind and conscience to you, without fear or flattery, for the Kings, Kingdomes, Parliaments, protestant Religions, (I am certaine, Irelands, almost irrecoverably lost) your own and the Armies weale and safety too, if God in mercy please to give you heads or hearts to make timely use of it, and not suffer your selves to be Jesuit-ridden any longer. Consider, you have most of you Estates, all of you Heads or lives, and soules to save, or loose both here and hereafter. If this, and all the precedent considerations will not prevaile with you to take you off from your present despe­rate Councels and proceedings for your own, the Kingdoms, Chur­ches, Religions, Irelands, Parliaments, your owne posterities, and the Armies safety too, Ride on triumphantly still in Ignatius Loyola his fiery chariot like so many young Phaitons, till you fall and perish; It is sufficient for me, hower you digest this present friendly Me­mento to you, and I can truly say, liberavi animam meam; what ever becomes of you or me. Who doe here solemnely protest to all the world against these your proceedings, as altogether nul, void, unpar­liamentary, illegall, unchristian, if not perfidious and Treasonable in these respects.

[Page 16]I shall close up all with that Golden sentance, of God himselfe, and the wisest of men, King Solomon, which is twice repeated, verbatim, that it might be the better remembred and considered by you, and all others in such Exigences of publique affaires, as we are now fal­len into. Prov. 22.3. & 27, 12. A prudent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himselfe, but the simple passe on and are punished. And with that which is paralel to it Prov. 14.14, 15, 16. The simple beleeveth every word, but the prudent man looketh well to his goings. A wise man feareth and departeth from evil, but the fool rageth and is confi­dent, and shall be filled with his own wayes: which is thus interpreted, Prov. 1.18.38.32, 33: They lye in wait for their owne blood, they lurk privily for their owne lives, whose feet run to evil, and who make hast to shed others blood. For, the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fooles shall destroy them, But who so hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be qui­et from fear of evill.