THe indisposition of my body hath confined me to my Chamber, we must now therefore discourse by letters: your Petition for peace I see is not so hap­py as to find successe in Parliament, at which while I wondred I began to consider the reasons, which are diverse as the persons opposing it, Therefore you must first observe the opposers, and then the reasons will be evident. It is not fit the Houses of Parliament should deny the obedient Citizens of London any thing, for that may be distastfull to the City; nor yet grant the req [...]est of the Petition, for that may be destructive to the Profit of many Members of both Houses, and to some even of the City it selfe. It was there­fore wisely done of my abortive Lord Major and his Zealous Sectaries to attempt the strangling of it in the birth, by Committing some that were active about it; their Reasons are Reformation of Religion, that is, abolishing the Booke of Common-prayer as Popish, though justified by the Compo­sers Martyrdome imder the Popish tyranny, but that will make way for their new doctrines and extemporary bablings; next the dissolving of Bishopricks and Deanries will rep [...]y the mo­ny lent upon the publique faith, for advancing the Lords Wa [...]r, (for so they miscall Treason) and conclude, that being the Lords debt, it is fittest to be p [...]id out of the Lords inheritance: then Bishop being eradicated Elders may grow up and flourish as in Susannaes dayes. And 'tis Considerable, that the estates of [Page]Malignants will be just rewards for the godly laborers in this harvest, all which will be lost by a beggerly accommodation.

Touching the Houses of Parliament, which consists of a­bout 140 Lords, and 500 Commoners, of which not a fifth part do attend in their severall Houses, some being voted out, others committed for not conforming their Consciences to the sense of the House; and very many, disliking the proceed­ings and tumults, left the House and repaired to the King, with whom a greater part I am sure is, then attend both Houses, being come to preserve their oathes of Allegiance which is personall to the King.

Take (Sir) but a view of such as sit and act the businesse in the Houses of Parliament, observe who among them have Commands and places of profit in and about this warre; then examine their small estate, with their great debt and charge; the rich profit of their command with their poor Revenew. You may find the Earles of Northumberland, Pembrook, Rut­land, Salisbury, Holland, sitting in the Lords House; and in the House of Commons Sir Edward Hales, Sir George Stone­house, Sir Alexander Denton M. Edw, Waller, M. Maynard, M. Thomas Cooke, Sir Thomas Hutchinson, M. Phillips, M. El­lis, and others, all voting for Peace, to preserve the Estates they have, not find them in the list of Officers to get mainte­nance. All men know my misled Lord of Essex lost the best of his estate in lost Ireland, and his whole debt, and great Ac­compt to his Nephew Shirley is to be paid out of a small Re­mainder; hath not my Lord of Warwick sould all he can, but yet his creditors take new promises for old debts, though he be responsall for 400000 pound prout per accompt? are the Lords of Peterborough, Stamford, Say, and Brook, necessi­tous? their debts and charges pressing? then their com­mands are double; both horse and foot. The Lords Hastings, Rachford, wharton Sr. Iohn Mandevill, Peelding, Gray of Grooby, Sir Hugh Chamley, Sir Samuell Luke, S [...]r Iohn Merick, M. Nathaniell Fines, M. Martin. Master Wingate, M. Walton, M. Cromwell, Colonell Ʋenne, M. Iohn More, and others, are men whose credit (as appears by [Page]Screveners bookes) is as great as their estates, not invited to Commands by the profit of their places, but by their Consci­entious zeale to the Cause; others of the Houses (least any water should run beside their Mill) preferre their Sonnes, Brothers, and neere friends, to places and imploy­ments of profit about this warre, as M. Pym is sonne Alex­ander, Sir H. Mildemay his brother Anthony, my Lord Say his sonne, Iohn, and others other friends, while some men of the House have confest that the pay made them undertake the cause; and which of all these, save Sir John Merick, knowes ought of his place but the profit? Nay many of them for the better service fight by their Lieutenants, as they pay debts by their suerties, and how many of them, save two or three which are taken prisoners, received a wound, or struck one blow in the late battells of Edge and Brainceford, what hopes then these men will give their Votes and 12 or 1500 l per ann. for a barren peace? Will my Lord Major subscribe a Pe­tition that shall take away his toll, 12 d for passes out of London? or Colonell Mannering, the crased Mercer, Captain Basse the Lace-man, Captain Mason, the Button-maker, Cap­tain Witherly the Pewterer, Captain Capcote the Broaker, Captain Lee the Vintner, with the Cunnyskin Captain in Southwarke, and divers other Debt-compounding-Citizens their pay and protections against Creditors, and leave them­selves nought but a Goale to live in? What can you hope for by your Petition that these men, and the like, can hinder?

Now surveigh the Popish and beggerly Lords and Cava­liers for and about the King, as the Duke of Richmond, the Marquesse Hartford, Earles of Cumberland, Darby, Lindsey, Bath, Dorset, Bridgwater, Danby, Leicester, Devonshire, North-Hampton, Chesterfield, Bristoll, Westmerland, Barkeshire, New­castle, Carnarvon, Kingston and Thanet. The Lords Mowbray, Mountague of Baughton, Dainecourt, Shandoys, Spencer, Gray, Mohume, Dunsmore, Newarke, Seymore, Capell, and others; Then of the House of Commons, Sir Christop. Hatton, Sr. Jar­vas Clifton, S. Guy Palmes, S. Iames Thin, M. Iohn Coventry, M. Henry and M. Iohn Bellassey, Sir Tho: Fanshaw, Sir Richard [Page]Lewson, Sir Thomas: Danby, Sir Ioh. Packington, Sir Ric. Lee, Sir Charles le Grosse, Mast: Catline, Mast: Holborne, Mr: Bridgeman, Mr Chadwell, Sir Iohn Strangewayes & his son, M. Iohn Dighy, Sr Edw: Derring, Sr Will: Widdrington, M. Ʋenables, Baron of Kin­nerton, M. Rogers, M. Newport, Sir Edw: Alford, M [...] Whitmore, Mr Chitchley, M. Edgcomhe, M. Tho: Fanshaw, M. Crook, M. No­well, M. Sutton, Sr Will. Oagle, Sr Will. Poole, & one hundred more then my paper will hold, men of understanding and known inte­grity, & which of all these whose age and health would permit, adventured not their lives and estates in this warr with the King? Now let's examinine their Religion, and you shall find them dai­ly at Sermons and service with the King, hearing and practising the same Protestant Religion and Lithergy, that saved our Fa­ther, and hath been in our Church ever since the Reformation, and which we have volved by the late Protestation to maintaine, then (no doubt) neither the King nor they are likely to bring in Popery, nor be Separatists.

That they are men of Estates the Counties that elected them (if not the Kingdom) k [...]owes, and which of them hath any profit by the warr? which of them goes not himselfe and servants to the warr at his owne charge? Nay, which of them hath not otherwise in a large manner contributed to the maintenance of the Kings Army, and that without any Com­mand of any Ordinance; yet even against the Declaration of the Houses? what would they and others then have done, had an Order of the Houses directed it as on the other side? By this then you see they are neither Popishly nor beggerly; Nor can have any reward or hopes of repaire out of the estate of the adverse party.

But they would induce arbitrary goverment: I pray what proofe is there of that? what one [...]ct hath the King done since the Commence of the Parliament that savoures of arbitrary justice? whom hath be distrained, committed, or turned out of the Towne for not lending? nay what hath he not done to assure us the contrary? Reade His Declarati­ons, observe his regall promises and protestations, and then [Page]tell me what Christian (that hath charity) or what man (that would be beleeved) will not beleeve him; Hath he not regu­lated the Councell-Table; damned the Shipwrits; supprest the high-Commission and Martiall-Court: Nay, hath he not left all things to be tried by strict proceedings of Law?

Whom can arbitrary justice more prejudice, then those now about and with the King, the Rich and welthy men? surely then they will not be a meanes to induce that law that shall undoe, & inslave them, their children, families and estates. Yet must we lend mony, send horses, and raise Armes against these popish and beggerly Cavaliers, For it is not against the King, that were Treason, and breach of our late protestation, which is to defend His Majesty, yet was the King; Person in danger at Edge-Hill Battle, when the undistinguishing shott tooke some persons even about the King; but God did then, and I hope alwayes will cover His hoadlin the day of Battell.

Upon these Considerations, Sir I cannot beleeve or feare the reducement of Popery or arbitrary Iustice; nor thinke my conscience, person, or estate, tyed by the necessitous Or­dinance of both Houses (for want of an act of Parliament) to pay or let the twentieth part of my estate (which you know may come to three or foure hundred pound) be taken to sup­port a warre, wherein the Person of the King (which God forbid) may be hurt.

I am sure that while God promised the Scepter to Juda, he put the Law-giver betweene this feet, to let us know, That the legislative power is neither above, nor without the King. And I know the King by His Writs, doth call them to advise with him, not to resolve without him. I will therefore keepe my hands from giving and so preserve my conscience; I will fast bolt my doores, and so preserve my person and estate, untill a stronger then I come. For I had rather others committed trespasse in taking, then I treason in giving. And I am sure that both Armies are not on the right side, but one, with all their voluntary maintainers and a betters, must, without Gods insinite mercy, be guilty of the blood of all the men slayne on either side. I shall therefore, for my particular, beleeve and [Page]follow the rule of the Apostle, to obey the King, for He is set over us by God; rather then runne with the new opinions and contrary doctrine of our militant Evangelists, Dr Bur­ges, Dr Downing, Mr. Marshall, and Sedgwick, whose con­sciences start out of the way at a white Surplesse, but never boggle at garments rowled in blood. There are other things considerable with us Citizens also, as the returne of Sir Faithfull Fortescue, Leivetenant Colonell Wagstaffe, and my L. Essex favorite, Captain Scrimpshaw, unto the King; next the danger and jealousie we are in, that even some of the great ones will follow, for these are but harbengers,) and rather then come empty handed to their King, will make us their peace-offering.

Let's consider the event of Warre, wherein we can yet boast nothing but our successe at winchester. But had we had the day at Edge-hill, and totally routed the Cavaliers, would that have determined the warre? I feare rather have called in all the Monarches of Christendome to maintaine Monarchy; and then were we ingaged, like the low Countreyes, in perpe­tuall blood. How great then is our straight, for if we succeed we undoe our selves. If the King by victory, (or trechery of our Commanders) the labour's saved us then, for having re­fused his mercy, we must expect his justice.

I have now, Sir, unbosom'd my selfe to you my friend, let therefore my errors find a friendly reproofe, rectifying my mistakes by your advice, which I shall take as Commands, returne you the thankefull acknowledgement of

Read and burne.