A Man would wonder (O yee Londoners) to see how amidst your greatest dangers you are least circumspect and active in prevention thereof: you thinke you haue done well enough, and plaid the parts of good Common-wealths men, if you can hinder the Kings Forces from doing execution upon you; and never think upon them with any respect to your selves, till they advance within few miles of your walls, that in the meane time while they are absent from you, they are plotting and contriving all wayes that possible can be to endamage you, and worke you into such a condition, that when they come next at you, they may the easier make themselves Masters of your Citie. When they have gained to their Party all the Westerne and Northerne Counties, and disarmed or cut off all those your friends that stand out against them (as you perceive they resolve to doe, and are like enough to effect unlesse you interpose) they will by that meanes not onely subdue halfe part of England, but thereby likewise halfe conquer London it selfe: for as the Countries are not like to hold out, if the Kings Forces possesse themselves of London; so neither can London hold out if provisions be cut off from comming thither. To me you seeme to beare your selves as if you had no warre in your Land, or as if you thought the Cavahers and desperate Roysters intended no evill towards you, or that the Designe of making you slaves were therefore laid downe, because 'tis found so easie a matter to compasse, and you are so easie to admit it. What doe you think of the condition you now are in? Or, doe you not thinke of it at all? Verily, a man might sweare you did not, you are so secure and quiet; so busie about your trading, You see it is otherwise with the King and his Friends, you see how active they are, that they set themselves wholly to this worke, you see that every weeke produces some notable exploit they have enterpriz'd to their reall advantage, besides what private succours and supplies each houre affords, insomuch that they have made themselves in a short time, by their Policie and la­borious industry of a weake and contemptible Party, a strong power and overawing army of Traitors: when in the meane time you by your slacknesse and drowzy managing of your Affaires are much wasted, have lost much of your strength, and are like to lose more, un­lesse you looke better about you then you have done heretofore: Your eyes are altogether upon the Parliament, and you doe well; but can the Parliament sight for you? They are your Counsell and directors; but 'tis you the People that are the strength and power of the Kingdome: neither is it to be hoped that the Kings Forces shall ever be vanquished by Words and Writings; it must be your Swords and valiant prowesse that must subdue them. Why, what would you have us doe you will say? Or, what can you doe more then you have done? You have contributed freely out of your Estates; and you have likewise sent away your servants to the Wartes; I applaud you for it: but let me withall tell you, that if you doe no more as the case stands, you have done as much as nothing, for all this will not availe you; for you see that the nature of the Country is such that the King can avoid your Souldiers, and choose whether ever he will sight, but when he is sure to conquer, where his Enemies are weake and unprovided, or that our souldiers come on upon many disadvan­tages; so that unlesse your courage and resolution be the greater, and yee set your selves more closely to your businesse, yee shall be sure to have this Warre last long enongh, since his interest depends upon the prolongation thereof, whereby he finds his Party to be increased, and you impoverished and thereby unable to ssue out supplies to oppose your enemies: and so wearied with the Charge, many of you will be willing to make peace; which (the King being strong) must be expected to be upon such conditions as shall leave the way easie to make you perfect Slaves, and himselfe absolute. Well, you will say, what then must be done? Verily, I think 'tis to no purpose to tell you; for you are so heavy a People, that you make nothing of good Counsell; you are onely well-aflected; but you want abilities to deale with your cunning Adversaries, and all because you cannot find in your hearts to set about it: there is little difference in men be­sides custome and exercise in businesses, which principally makes one excell another: you doe not set your selves to contrive waies to circumvent them in their Policies, and to meet them halfe way; you are behind hand still, as your Army is with the Kings: You spend your time about telling and asking of newes; and O how you are taken with some forged Report of Sir Ralph Hoptons overthrow, or the Lord of Newcastles being driven into York? of so much money taken in one place, so much Armcur, and so many Horses in ano­ther? and your Enemies, since they find so small matters will content you, busie your heads, and keepe you from rising as one man, they will be sure to furnish you. You are meere News-mongers, and when you have any, Oh how you flutter about to tell it, because you would be thought to know somewhat, as if the Warres were in Sweth-land or the Low-Countries, and not in your owne Countrey, and ready to destroy you, as it hath done many of your friends already. And when you have a little victory, how you amplifie it! Then your Bells must ting, and Bonesires be made, when perhaps the losse was equall, and the Victory doubtfull, and you are little neerer a conclu­sion of your Warres then you were before: you are most unmanly in your behaviours; when if the King overthrowes you or your Friends, as at Cisseter, the businesse is concealed; your Friends conceale it, because by declaring it they thinke you would be dejected, and your Enemies conceale it, lest by hearing thereof you be justly enraged and provoked to revenge: they are glad to keep your an­ger downe, and Iull your courages asleep, least by awakening thereof it devoure them: you are so farre from casting about to succour and relieve your Friends abroad; that you neglect your selves, and are not yet Masters of your owne Citie, that place design'd for a re­compence to the Cavaliers hard services and dangerous hazards they now run; the hopes of pillaging thereof makes their labours and wounds pleasant to them, and sweetens all difficulties and dangers they now undergoe in the Kings Service. Doe you looke for advice? it will be good that you make it appeare that you haue first shook off that Lethargie that ha's possest you, for till then you are not ca­pable of advice: if I thought you were a wake I would advise you to doe what? to stop your eares against the Syren inchantments of such as you may be sure (by your former sufferings, and sorcing you to these present shifts and 02 extremities) wish you not well; and to o­pen your eares to such your Brethren who hazard themselves and their Fortunes in your behalfe, who have liv'd amongst you, and of whose faith and sound affection you have had so much experience: follow their advice, I am a stranger to you, and thinke not much if they shall put you upon what for the present shall be irksome to you, your sicknesse is so desperate that 'twill be well if rough and chargeable meanes can cure you. Onely let me tell you thus much, that 'tis not your fasting and repenting that God requires at your hands, so much as doing justice upon the wicked brood in the Land, whose prosession in former times hath beene to oppresse you, and is now to destroy you. God is not wanting to you; neither can you make him more willing to assist you, then he hath already beene; he hath given you understanding to discerne your Afflictions and Afflictors, and power likewise to free your selves from both: but 'tis you that are wanting to your selves, you want courage and endeavours; you have strength to help your selves given you by God, and yet you lie still and cry God help us. Well according as I heare you beare your selves hereaster, and either amend, continue in the same sleepy state, or grow worse; you shall receive further from me: For this time farewell.