IT is the observation of King Solomon, Prov. 25.11. That is 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 unparalell'd violence upon our Persons, and the House, cannot speak my mind freely to you, in, or as a free and legal House of Commons, I held it my duty, freely to write my thoughts un­to you, onely as private Persons, sitting under an armed, horrid, visible force, consulting in the House, without your Fellow Mem­bers advice or concurrence, about the speedy deposing and execu­ting of KING CHARLS, your lawfull Soveraign, onely to please the General, Officers, and Grand Councel of the Army, (who have unjustly usurped to them the Supreme Authority both over the King and Parliament) or rather of the Jesuits and Popish Priests a­mong or near them, by whose Counsels they and you are now wholly swayed, and whose trayterous designs you really execute in most of your late Votes and Actings.

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

First, I shall mind you, that by the Cook 3. Institut. c. 1. p. 5, 6. 12, 13. 7 Reports, Calvius Case, 10, 11. Stanfords Pleas of the Crown, l. [...] c. [...]. Common Law of the Realm, [Page 4]the Statutes of 25 E. 3. c. 2. 26 H. 8. c. 13. 1 Ed 6. c. 12. 1 El. c. 6. 13. El. c. 2. and all other Acts concerning Treason, See Rastal Tit, Treason. it is no lesse than High Treason, for any man by overs act, to compass or imagine the death of the King, or of his eldest Son and heir, 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 Earl of Arundel and others, by Judgement in Par­liament, 21 R. 2. Plac. Coronae. Nu 4.6,7. and the Gunpowder Traytors, 3 Jacobi. c. 1, 2, 4. to omit others, whose Examples should be your Admonitions, the heads and Quarters of some of them yet hang­ing on the House where now you meet and sit.

2ly, That in the 3 Iac. c 4. 7 Iac. c. 6. Oath of Allegiance which you have all taken, & ought to take Immediately before your admission into the Commons House as Members; You do truly, and sincerely professe, testifie and de­clare in your Consciences before God and the World, That our Soveraign Lord King Charls, Is lawfull and rightful King of this Realm, and of all other his Majesties Domin [...]ons and Countries: And that the Pope neither of himself, nor by any authority of the Church or See of Rome, or by any other means, See Prynne the Member reconciled to Prynne the Barrester, p. 18 19. Nor with any other, hath any power or authority to depose the King, or to dispose of any of his Majesties Kingdoms or Dominions, or to discharge any of his Sub­jects of his Allegiance and Obedience to his Majesties Person, State or Government. 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 bear true Allegi­ance to His Majesty, His heirs & Successors, and him and them will defend to the uttermost of your power, against all at­tempts and conspiracies whatsoever, which shall be made a­gainst his or their Crown and Dignity, by reason or colour of any such sentence or Declaration, That is by the Pope or a­ny other Per­son or persons whatsoever. or otherwise: And you therein further swear, that you do from your hearts abhor, detest and abjure, as im­pious and Heretical, that damnable doctrine and position, that Princes which be excommunicated or deprived by the Pope, may be de­posed or murthered by their Subjects, or any other whatsoev [...]r. And that you do believe, and in conscience are resolved, that neither the Pope Therefore not the West­minster Jun­cto. 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 swear, according to these expresse words, and their plain [Page 5] and common sence, without any equivocation, or mental evasion or secret reservation whatsoever; And that you did make this Recognition and acknowledgement, heartily, willingly and truly, upon the true faith of a Christian. Now whether your present intentions and proceedings against the King, be not diametrically repugnant to this solemn Oath (which most of you have taken sithence these wars, and some of you since the Treaty, when sworn Serjeants of Law, &c.) let God and the world before whom you swore, and your own Consciences, in which you then swore, determine; you acting herein the See Wat­sons Quodli­bets. Th. Cam­panela de Mo­narchia Hisp. c. 25. Popes and Jesuits designs.

3ly. That your selves among other Members, have in above one hundred Exact Collections. p. 6. 19. 59. 66. 67. 83. 102. 103. 118. 123. 125. 141, 142, 143. 173. 180. 195. 219. 259. 281. 307. 380. 312. 360 376. 457. &c. 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 himself, Kingdome, world, and forein States, that you never intended the least injury, hurt or violence to the Kings Person, Crown, Dignity or Po­sterity; but intended to him and his Royal Posterity more honour, happinesse, Glory, and greatnesse, than ever was yet enjoyed by any of his Royal Predecessors: that you will ever make good to the uttermost with your lives and fortunes, the faith and allegiance, which in truth and sincerity you have alwayes born to his Majesty: that you have pro­posed to no other ends to your selves, but the performance of all duty and loyalty to his Majesties Person: That all Contributions and loans upon the publick faith should be imployed onely to mantain the Protestant Religion, the Kings authority, his Person, his Royal dignity, the Laws 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 p. 18 13. 41, 43, 44. 49. 51. 51, 61. 64. 96. 181, 182. 310. 321. 324, 325. 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 Majesties Personal safety, ho­nour and greatnesse, are much dearer to you than your own lives and fortunes, which you do most heartily dedicate to, and 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 [Page 6] Majesty, both Houses do solemnly declare; That upon his disband­ing his forces, & return, and hearkning to the advice of his Great Council, They will really endeavor to make both him and his as much beloved at home, and feared abroad, as any Prince that swayed the Scepter: which is their firm and constant resolution, from which they will not be diverted for any private or self-respects whatsoever: That they will faithfully endeavour to secure his Majesties person and Crown from all dangers, inculcating the apparent danger to his Royal Person among his Popish and Ma­lignant Armies and ill Counsellours; and upon that reason, perswading and inviting him to desert them, and close with his Parliament: protest­ing, that the Parliament hath been, and ever will be more ready than they, to secure and uphold the Prerogative and Honour 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 Kingdoms; with many other such like expressions. Which whether your present Actings & Counsels do not directly oppose, contradict, falsifie and give the lie unto, to your eternal infamy and breach of publick Parliamentary faith, as much as in you lies, let both Houses, the world, and all [...]en judge; as they will do in due season, & your own consciences too.

4ly. Consider, That when the Exact Col­lection. p. [...]98. 695, 696. 657, 658. 991. King and his party did tax 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 will, & 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 solemn Declarations, did most profess [...]dly 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. Nota. ‘"That as God is witness of their thoughts, so shall their actions witness to all the world, that to the honour of our Re­ligion, and of those who are most zealous in it, they shall suffer far more for and from their Soveraign, than they hoped God would ever permit the malice of his wicked Counsellors to put them to;’ since the happiness of the Kingdome doth so mainly depend upon his Majesty and the Royal 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 [Page 7] Charity, us to raise such a Scandal, especially when they 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 Majesties Person. The promise and Prote­station made by the Members of both Houses upon the Nomination of the Lord of Essex to be General, to live and die with him; wherein is expressed. That Which they oft professed both of the Army under the Earl of Essex, and Sir. Thomas Fair­fax too. Col­lection of all Orders, &c. 8. 13, 41, 43, 44, 49, 51, 61, 64, 96, 99, 623, 696, 879. Apendix. p. 15. this Army was raised for the defence of the Kings Person. Their often earnest and most humble Adresses to His Majesty, to leave that desperate and dangerous Army wherewith he is now incompassed, raised and upheld to the hazard of his Own, and the Kingdom [...] Ruin and to come in Person to his Parliament, where he should be sure to remain in Honor 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 been & ever shall be dear unto them. Now put it to your souls and consciences, whe­ther yours and the Armies present Councels and actions, do not really justifie the Kings and his parties former suggestions, and give the ly to all these Declarations of both Houses? who certainly (when ever restored to a condition of freedom and liberty of meet­ing together again,) will crave publick reparations and justice against you, if you violate both their Honor, Faith, and engage­ments to the King, Kingdom and forre a States, against all these their Declarations and Protestations too. 5ly. Remember, that the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, Exact Colle­ction p. 663. 664, 666, 687. 686, 907, 911. Octob. 22. 1642. in the presence of Almighty God (which is the strongest obligation that any Christian, and the most solemn publick faith that any State or a Par­liament can give) for the satisfaction of their own consciences, and dis­charge of that great trust that lyes upon them, did make this Protestation and Declaration to all this Kingdom and Nation, and to the whole world; That no private passion or respect, No evil intention to his Ma­jesties Person, no designe to prejudice his just Honor and Authority, engaged them to raise forces or take up Armes. ‘"That if he would return to his Parliament in peace, and by their counsel and advice compose the distempers and confusi­ons abounding in his Kingdoms; They would receive him with all Honor, yeild him all true obedience, subjection,’ and faithfully endeavour to defend his Person and Estate from all [Page 8] danger, and to the uttermost of their power, establish him in all the blessings of a glorious and happy Reign. And that they had no intentions or desire to hurt or injure his Majesty, either in his Person or just power. Which they seconded by many subsequent Declarations. Since which, both Houses and the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland, have entred into A Collecti­on, &c. p. 327. 359. 399. 404. 416. 410 to 418 806. 887. 898. 878, 888. 889. Asolemn League and Covenant, for the honour 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 Majesties person and authority, in the preservation and defence of the true Religion & Liberties of the Kingdome; that the world may bear witness with their consciences of their Loyalty, & that they have no thoughts nor intentions to diminish his Majesties just power and great­nesse. That they will with all faithfulness endeavour to discover all e­vil instruments and incendiaries Those who depose or di­vide his Head from his shoulders must be most guilty of this dividing. dividing the King from his people, that they may be brought to publick trial, and receive condign punish­ment: And shall never suffer themselves directly, or indirectly, by what­soever combination, perswasion or terrour, to be withdrawn from this blessed union, &c. which so much concerneth the glory of God, the good of the Kingdoms, and the honour of the King; but shall all the days of their lives zealously and canstantly 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 shall be disclosed. This Covenant you have all taken your selves (some of you often) & A Collection &c. p. 420. &c. Imposed it on all our three Kingdoms: And will it not stare in your faces, your consciences, and engage God himself, and all three Kingdomes, as one man against you, if you should proceed to depose the King, destroy his person, or disinherit his posterity? yea, bring certain ruine upon you and yours, as the greatest 1 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. Par. An. 24 F. 3. part 3. m. 2. in dor. Rot Par. n. 25 E. 3. par. 1. m. 17. Rot. Par. 25 E. 3. n. 30. Cooks 3 Instit. p. 145. 146. In 24 E 3 William Thorpe, chief Justice of the Kings Bench, for taking 80 l. bribes of several persons, was by special Commission, indicted, 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 erga populum habuit custodiendum, fregit, malicose, false & rebelliter, [Page 9] quantum in ipso fuit: 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. nu. 10. If then this chief Justice for breaking his Oath to the King and his people, as a Judge, onely in taking two or three small bribes, deserved to be hanged, & to forfeit all his Lands, goods and life, by the judgement of a full Parliament, then what will such Members deserve to suffer, who shall not onlie violate their Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy to the King & his heirs, but likewise the several Protestations solemn League & Covenant, and the multiplied publick Faiths, engagements, Declarations, Remonstrances, and promises of both Houses of Parliament, made to God, the King, the whole Kingdoms and people of England, Scotland and Ireland, the States of the united Provinces, and all the world, and that maliciously, falsely, and rebelliously, as much as in them lies, and their own private Faith, Oaths, Vows and Covenants involved in them, by deposing and executing the King, disinheriting the Prince, violating the privileges, 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 Privileges and freedome of all Parlia­ments? this being one article against King R. the 2d. in 1 H. 4. Rot. Par. n. 25. 66. 70. when he was deposed; That in the Parliament held at Salop, ‘"intending 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 remain with certain persons 21 R. 2. c. 16. (Lords and Commons) to determine certain Petitions then delivered, but not dispatched, after the Parliament ended; by colour whereof, the said deputed persons proceeded by the Kings pleasure and will to other things generally concerning the said Parliament,’ to the great derogation of the State, and Privileges of the Parliament, and the great detriment and pernicious example of the whole Realm: ‘"and to gain some colour and authority to their doings, the King caused the Parliament Rolls to be altered and deleted according to his Vote, contrary to the effect of the foresaid con­cession,’as you have presumed to null, repeal, and Dec. 12, and 13. 1648. unvote divers Votes, Orders and Ordinances of both Houses made in pursuance of the foresaid Oaths, Protestations, the solemn League and Covenant, Re­monstrances, Declarations of both Houses, and the Treaty, when the hou­ses were full, and not under the Armies force or violence; And if their proceedings, & the whole Parliament of 21 R. 2, were declared [Page 10] 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 inform you what punishment you deserve for such breach of faith, privilege of Parliament, and usurpation of a monopoly of Parliamentary power to your selves whiles sitting, under the Armies force, and most Members forced thence: in which case you ought not to sit, vote, or, conclude any thing, but onely to As the House did in the case of the five Members, Exact Colle­ction, p. 35 to 56. adjourn till the force removed and all the Members may freely meet in full Parliament, 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. 3. n. 5. 17 E. 3. n. 26. 18. E. 3. n. 1. 25. 20 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. 20 n. 1 5 R. 2 parl. 1. n. 1. parl 2 n, 1. 6 R. 2. parl. 1. n. 1 Parl. 2. n. 1. 8 H. 4. n. 28. 30. 54. 9 H. 4. n. 1. 13 H. 4. n. 1. and many more rolls: where the Parlia­ment when any considerable number of the Members of either House were absent, was constantly adjourned, and 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 Parts, p. 882, 885, 888. 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.

6ly, Consider, that though many of the Kings of Judab and Israel were extraordinary sinfull, Idolatrous, bloody, tyrannicall and great oppressours of their people, yea shedders of Priests, of Prophets, and other good mens innocent blood, not onely in the wars, but in peace: yet there is not one President in the old Testament of one King ever judicially impeached, arraigned, deposed, or put to death by the Congregation, Sanhedrim, or Parliament of Judah or Israel. That those who slew any of them in a tumultuous or treache­rous manner, were for the most part slain themselves, either in a tumult, or else put to death by their children who succeeded to the Crown, or by the people of the Land: 2 Chron. 23.14,15,21. c. 24.25,26. c. 25.3,4. c. 33.24,25. & that the Israelites after their revolt from Reho boam had never any one good King, or good day almost among then: but were over run with idolatry, prophanesse, tyranny: invaded by enemies, involved in perpetual Wars, Civil or Forein; and at last all destroyed, and carried away Captives into Babylon: as the Books of Kings and Chronicles will inform you: That the rule in the Old Testament is, not to take any wicked Kings from their Thrones and behead them: but Prov. 25.5. Take away the wicked from before the King, and his Throne shall be established in righte­ousness. [Page 11]And the rule in the New Testament, Rom. 13.1,2. &c. Tit. 3.1,2. 1 Pet. 3.13,14,17, 1 Tim. 2.1,2,3 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 Godliness and honesty, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; not to depose or shed their blood, for which there is no precept, nor president in the Gospel, but only of the bloody Jewes who with p wicked hands crucified Jesus Christ, THE KING OF THE JEWES by birth right, and Lord of Glory, whom they re­jected and disclaimed for their King, before they crucifyed him; Acts 2.23. c. 13,14,15. John 19.12. to 23. Mat. 27.27. Luk. 23.38. which brought speedy and exemplary desolation upon their whole Nation ever since till now. And is not this plain way of God the safest for you and the Army Saints to follow, yea, the short cut to Peace and settlement? Ruminate upon it, and then be wise, both for your souls 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 till the removal of this horrid force, and re-assembling of all your scattered Members with freedom and safety in the Houses, all you Vote, Act, Order, or Ordain, by the Armies own Doctrine, in their Remonstrance of August 18. and the Decla­ration and Ordinance of both Houses (made at the Armies instance August 20. 1647.) is null 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 too, 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 ordain what you please: yet take it for an infallible Truth, that none of the secluded and absent Members, none of the Counties, Cities and Boroughs, for which they serve; See the Pro­testation Dec. 11. 1648. not those for whom you serve and represent; nor yet the Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland, (who have as great, yea greater shares and interests by far than your selves, in the Person of the King, as their lawful Soveraign, and are en­gaged by Oathes, Protestations, Covenants, and all the premises to protect his Person and Crown with their lives and estates against all violence and danger) nor yet his Queen, Children and Allies in fo­rein parts of what Religion soever, will ever own you (in your [Page 12]present condition and constitution,) to be a legal English Par­liament, but rather a Conventicle or Juncto, nor any thing you vote, order, or ordain to be See A Col­lection, &c. p. 93, 221, 222, 225, 253. valid. And therefore whatever you vote, Order, or Ordain 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 form of State-Government, only to please the Officers and Army, or ra­ther those Jesuits and popish Priests, who have over-reached, and instigated them forcibly to prosecute these their Treasonable design [...], and accomplish this their long-expected, desired work; you must do only as private men, not as a Parliament: and if so, what lesser offence than High Treason, against the King, Parl and Kingdom, your present actings and proceedings will amount to in the conclusion, if you persevere and persist in them, I leave to a free and full Parlia­ment, the learned See Mr. Saint-Johns Argu­ment at Law, at Straffords attainder, and Cooks 3 Instit. c. 1. 3 Jac. c. 1, 2. Judges, and all Lawyers now sitting and voting among you, to consider and resolve. Which the Officers and Council 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 1 Kings 2.9,10.28, to 46. 2 Kings 14.6. c. 15.30. c. 21.23,24. certainly will do 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 Kingdom 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 hereditary Kings or Princes, much lesse of a Protestant King or Prince, of a temperate and sober life, as the King is; who never immediate­ly imbrued his own hands in any one mans blood, in any Tyrannical or bloody way before or since the Wars (for ought I can hear) but only in a Military, by his forces in the field. And for a Reforming Protestant Parliament, pretending the most of any to Piety, Re­ligion and Loyalty, 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 Oaths, Protestati­ons, Declarations, Remonstrances, Solemn Leagues and Covenants one after another obliging them to the contrary, would be such an unparallel'd scandal to the Protestant Religion and all profes­sors of it (who have upbraided the 3 Jac. c. 4. Dr. John whites Sermon at Pauls Crosse and defence of the Way, c. 10, 11. Jesuits and Papists with this persidious and Treasonable practice, of which they have been deep­ly guilty, and themselves yet innocent) both in our own 3. King­doms [Page 13]and the whole Christian world, as would give the greatest occasion, advantage, and encouragement to the Jesuits, Papists, and all licentious persons to join their hands, heads, purses to suppress and extirpate it, and all the See Ludovicus Lucius Hist Ie­suitica. 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 and Ireland are jointenants, at least­wise tenants in common with us in the Kings person, as their lawfull Soveraign and King, as well as ours; and that the Scots delivered up 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 unking 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 do it without asking or receiving their consents, you engage both Kingdoms to make a just War against you, to This fell out accordingly. Proclaim and to Crown the Prince of Wases their King (though you should lay him aside) as being next heir apparent. And no Ordinance you can now make will be any legal bar against him to his 1 Iac. c. 1. heredi­tarie declared right to the Crown of England, where he will proba­bly find a 1000 persons for one, who will join 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 spilling, or his dethroning. And what then will become of you and your army, when thus deserted by most, opposed by all three kingdoms, and all the Kings, Queens, and Princes Allies, united forces? Where will your new St. Cromwel, St. Ireton, St. Pride, St. Peters (that fast and loose carnal Prophet and Areb-Je­suited incendiary in these present tumults) with other Grand Officers of the Army, [who now force you, the General, Armie, and whole kingdome, upon such dangerous Counsels as these, by the Jesu­ites principles and practices] then appear, to save either themselves, or you, or their and your posterities from exemplary justice with­out mercy, or hopes of pardon? Consider this then seriously, if not as Christians, yet as Politicians and self-ended men, and then repent and be wise in time.

10ly, Remember that you have neither Law nor direct presi­dent for what you are going about. Walsing­ham Hist. Ang. 107. 108, 109. Polichron 1 cap. 44. See Speed, Hollin­shed, Grafton in Ed. 2. and Rich. 2. Henry the 4th. 1 H. 4. Rot. Par. n. 1. to 60. My Plea for the Lords, P. 424. to 429. 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 formal manner, the one to his Son, the other to his con­quering successors, neither of them to the Parliament, & then deposed [Page 14]by a subsequent sentence in Parliament, as unfit to reign, without any formal, legal trial, 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 drawn up against them were never so much as read before them; and their depositions made [upon their own voluntary confessions only] to confirm their precedent Resignations. Besides, neither of these Kings, though very bad and Papists, were ever condemned to lose their heads or lives, but were to be well and honourably treated. And those proceedings were onely by Popish Parliaments in times of ignorance, who had no such Oaths of Supremacy, Allegiance, Vows, Covenants, Protestations and other forementioned considerations to tye their hands as you and we all have now; yea this very Parlia­ment hath very solemnly and particularly protested, Exact Col. P 695. 699. That they did never suffer these Presidents to enter into their thoughts, and they should never be their practice, whatever they suffered from the King or his, and that for the honor of our Religion, and the most zealous in it. But that which is very observable, Roger Mortimer, the principal actor in deposing King Edward the 2. and 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 Parl. of 1 E. 3. [In which I find no record concerning this deposal] was in a full Parliament within four years after, with some other of his Confederates, 4 E. 3. Rot Par. n. 1. to. 7. 23 E. 3. Rot. Parl. n. 9. to 14. Plea for the Lords, p. 275. to 283. impeached, condem­ned and executed as a Traytor and Enemy to the King and Kingdom, by the Judgement of the Lords, and that by King Edward the third his own assent, without any legal hearing or triall, (just as he had there deposed this King without it) for murthering King Edward in Berkley Castle after his deposall: and 4 E. 3. n. 16 [...] Sir Thomas de Berkley, in whose Castle he was slain, being indicted of Treason likewise for the same murther, before the Lords in Parliament, pleaded not guilty thereunto, and was tried at the Lords Bar in a legal manner, by a Jury of 12 Knights there sworn and impanelled, and by them acquitted upon full evidence and trial; when as 4 E 3. n. 35 Sir Simon de Bereford was impeached, condemned and executed by a Judgement given against him by the Lords alone, with­out any Trial, for murthering this deposed King, & Thomas de Gourney, & William Ocle adjudged Traytors by them for the same offence, with­out any evidence appearing on record. These Presidents then will [Page 15]be of very hard digestion, and not parallel'd to our times, or the Kings case: Who, having upon the late Treaty granted us, for the speedy settlement and security of our bleeding Kingdoms, Churches and Religion, whatever we could in honour, justice, or reason desire, and far greater advantages, and security than 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 above two whole daies and one whole nights debate, thought and voted See My Speech Dec. 4. 1648. and vin­dication of the secured and secluded Mem­bers, Jan. 20. 1648. a sufficient ground for them to pro­ceed with the King to the speedy setling of the Kingdoms peace: how you, or the Army, after such large concessions, contrary to the Votes of both Houses of Parliament, when full and free, can in honour, justice, reason, discretion, or conscience proceed to depose or decapitate the King as a violater of his faith, a Traytor, &c. without making your selves more perjured, treacherous and greater Traytors in all kinds than you repute the King, and without Rom 2.1,2,3, incurring the same judge­ment and execution as you shall passe and inflict upon him: I leave to your saddest consultations to adv [...]e of.

I have thus freely, faithfully and plainly discharged my mind and conscience to you, without fear or flattery, for the Kings, the Kingdoms, Parliaments, Protestant Religions, I am certain, for Irelands, (almost irrecoverably lost) Scotlands, your own and the Armies weal and safety too, if God in mercy please to give you heads or hearts to make timely use of this Memento, 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 souls to save, or lose both here and hereafter. If this, and all the precedent considerations will not prevail with you to take you off from your present despe­rate Counsels and proceedings, for your own, the Kingdoms, Chur­ches, Religions, Irelands, Scotlands, the Parliaments, your own posterities, and the Armies Honour, Peace, Welfare and safety too, Ride on triumphantly still in Ignatius Loyola his fiery Chariot, like so many young Phaetons, till you fall and perish; It is sufficient for me (however you digest this present friendly Memento to you) that I can truly say, liberavi animam meam, what ever becom [...] of you or me. Who do here solemnly protest to all the World against these your proceedings, as altogether null, void, unparliamentary, illegal, unchristian, antichristian, if not Perfidious and Treasonable in these re­spects.

[Page 16]I shall close up all with that Golden sentence of God himself, 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 publick affair [...], as we are now fal­len into, Prov. 22.3. and 27.12. A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself, but the simple passe on and are punished. And with that which is parallel to it, Pro. 14.14,15,16. The simple believeth e­very word, but the prudent m [...]n 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. 1.18,16,32,33. They lye in wait for their own blood, they lurk privily for their own lives, whose feet run to evil, and who make [...]aste to shed others blood. For the turning away of the simple shall s [...]ay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them: But who so hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.