THough I never yet had the honour of Personal Acquaintance with your Lordship, yet, partly from the Emi­nency of your Present Station, partly from the Character I have received of you, as a happy Instrument in our blessed Revo­lution, and no way, (as I hear) engaged in Faction, with some, who would, now, put a Reed, in stead of a Scepter, into His Majesties hand, I take this Li­berty of addressing my self to your Lordship, as to a Person, whose Integrity may endure to hear the [Page 2]truth, and to whose Candour, I suppose, plain-dea­ling will not be offensive.

It were heartily to be wished, That the People of England, Especially those, whom better Education should oblige to a discretion, somewhat above the Vulgar, would, for the present content themselves with those pregnant hopes of a full and honourable Establishment, which God hath wonderfully vouch­safed us; That they would consider, How little their Inquietude can advance, How much it may preju­dice, or retard our Settlement; That they would rest secure, in the wisdom of their superiors, without judging, or forejudging of present, or future Affairs; But, alas, My Lord, Mysteries of State have, of late times, been so prostituted, we have got such a habit of taking at random, under our late Usurpers, who (rather like true Tyrants, than good States-men) en­slaving our stersons, left our tongues at Liberty, That nothing can bridle our Extravagancies, in a time of Critical concernment, and impetuous Longings.

Hence it is, That all our meetings are now become Cabals; And in every Tavern, matters of the great­est Consequence are debated, as it were at the marli­ament or Counsel Table: Now, as the Variety and confusion of Arguments is almost Infinite, so the Examen, and strognostick, in what manner the Par­liament should, or will receive his Majesty, whether with any strecapitulations, and what, hath lately been, and still is the great gulf of Discourse, to which, in effect, all our Conversation tends.

Some, (very few indeed, and those so disrelished, [Page 3]that they scarce dare own their Principles) would clog their Soveraign with such Fetters, that, even at Whitehall, he might, perhaps, find himself, as ill at case, as his Blessed Father did at Carisbrook; Others, (and they likewise in Comparison of the People, not many) would afford him a little more elbowroom, possibly accept of Bayl, though still under custo­die; But, I assure your Lordship, for the Genius of the Nation, (though in circumstances, it may be mis­governed, yet) in the main, it is loyal enough, and scornes, the very thought of imposing upon their banished Prince, Who, we are sensible, hath already been but too much wronged: Nay more, We are now, at last, convinced, That all our Miseries sprang from this bitter Root, And (like a burnt child, dread­ing the Fire) are afraid of any the least approach, to­wards the Brink of that despair, from which so late­ly, and wonderfully, we have been redeemed; Nor can we, patiently, hear of any Change, (though never so specious) in our good Old Government, under which we flourished so long, and for the vain Reformation whereof, we paid so dear: But, above all, finding, how his Majestie, even beyond our hopes, hath, in all things, freely, cast himself upon our Ingenuity, & secured us, in the enjoyment of our Birthrights, we hold our selves sacred obliged, not to appear lesse tender of his Concernments, but meet him, (at least) half way, towards a Settlement, upon the Basis of reciprocal Justice, and kindnesse.

My Lord, I may not presume you Ignorant, what the Citizens discourse in their Shops, the Country People, at their Fairs, and Markets, what our very [Page 4]Children, Nay, what the stones in our streets, if they could speak, would proclaim. But, as of late, all sorts of people, especially Gentlemen, from an infinite Anxiety of Concernment, as living only in hope, have divided themselves, into daily Conventicles, and Clubs, (each where he thought he might most con­fide in his company) so have I, my Lord, (whose businesse hath long been News) upon the same lan­guishing account, interessed my self in such meetings, beyond my Genius, or perhaps discretion, to collect the sense of my Country-men; Your Lordship will scarce believe what present delight I took, what fu­ture hopes I conceived, from that harmonious Loy­alty, which I found in persons, formerly, of Judge­ments, and Interests, very dissonant, wherein I thought the hand of God might be seen, even by the purblind: All, (as it were by Inspiration) crying a­loud, for the King, not for his shadow; not for a King in title, but in effect, a Subject: No, it must be a King, surrounded with Majestick Beams, con­fecrated with holy oyl, invested with inviolable Au­thority and Power, limited only by the Justice of ancient Laws; such a Prince, and nothing else, will answer our Expectations.

A Duke of Venice is now the By word, Chief Ma­gistrate is grown a Nick name, construed to signifie the same with Bargo-Meester, fit only for such Princes, as were made to truckle, or else for Usur­pers, who Vayl their real Tyranny, with pretend­ed Modesty: Coordination of Powers in conside­ed, as a mischievous engine, raised by Faction, to as­sault Soveraignty which, like a Town, or Fortress, [Page 5]scituate upon Ascent, could not be effectually batter­ed, till the Besiegers had from the earth, raised a Platform of equal height, in design, therefore, it is most pernicious, though in it self, a silly shift, nay a meer Phantosm, a Soloecism in Government, and a Paradox in Philosophy.

It is generally understood, and received, That the King of England ought not only to hold a Scepter, but wear a Sword, since Factions will not be awed with a Scabbard: As generally it is admitted, That the Militia can be no where safer, than with his Majestie, whilst the Purse is with the People; Espe­cially, such a Militia as the King pretends to, By their Quality, I am sure, not dangerous to their Country; And it is notably observed, that the Sword, being long in the Kings hand, scarce ever cut out fingers, But in the Parliaments, presently, it cut our Throats.

The Negative Voice is supposed to be the insepa­rable Property of our English Diadem, as natural as heat to fire; The word King, nay the word Man imports no lesse; Except we would have our Prince as a Necessary Agent, to move with a Vice, to strike like a Clock, or at best, sign Bills, as a Justice of Peace doth warrants; such Pretences are now out of Doors, such Gentleness is esteemed a Virtue, fitter for a King of the Frogs, than an English Monarch: It is, alas, but too fresh in memory, and never to be forgotten, since our late Royal Martyr, with unpa­rallel'd goodnesse, answering the desires of his Sub­jects, and not suspecting their snares, parted with his Negative only in one particular, (viz.) the continu­ance [Page 6]of the Long marliament, what streams of Sacred Bloud, what Rivulets of bitter tears have issued from that unfortunate source! The Resentment whereof is, now, such, That his most Excellent Majestie, (whom God preserve) as much, as he is desired, and celebrated by the Nation, would be thought scarce worthy of his Crown, if he should accept it upon such mean and unworthy terms; whereby, he might soon signifie as much, as the Common Vouchee, in a Writ of Entry: The distinction of mersonal and mo­litick capacity thus applied, to prove the King ver­tually present in the marliament, though the Man be elsewhere, are rejected, as exquisite, and presump­tuous Sophisms; Making way for that accursed scene of spitefull Imposture, which soon succeeded, when to preserve, no doubt, his Majestie, at Westminster, they murthered him, at Whitehall; Above all, It is marvelled, with what forehead, any of our Lords can challenge a Negative to themselves, and yet de­ny it their mrinces, By whose special Favours, and from whose Grants, they derive their meerage.

The power of mardon, and Reward, as well as wunishment, is ascribed to the King, as to the foun­tain of Justice, and Bounty, And, now by great Ex­perience, found fittest to be trusted with it; One starliament, (or rather warliamentary faction) ha­ving shed more of our innocent Bloud, irregularly, Squandred more of our treasure, corruptly, than the Cruelty, or strodigality of all our wrinces; The choyce of his Servants is allowed him, as a common Right, denyed to none, but Minors, and Ideots; ect is thought sufficient to awe inisters, and shis Mulne [Page 7]us, That they are Accomptable to the Law, Censu­rable by Parliaments; such as would fain Quarrel with the King upon these Accounts, are noted, as selvish Tribunes, who, perhaps, would speak ano­ther Dialect, If the Conscience of their Want of Merit did not teach them to distrust his favour.

The fond Idea of a Prince in Cuerpo, A poor Sti­pendiary, or Royal Capuchin, is dreaded, and sleigh­ted, as Mechanick in it self, and inconsiderable to the Ends of Government; And, though it be, general­ly, true enough of the People, That they will bear great affronts from a Prince, if he meddle not too much with their Pursestrings; Yet so deep is, now, the impression of former miscariages, so fervent our Zeal, and Affection to his Majestie, And (for our Peace, and Honour, I wish, it may never Cool,) That (even, in this great Poverty, which hath seized on most of us, (especially the most loyal,) we should, I am confident, (if need were) offer him the Wi­dows mite. The Common Noat now is, This we contributed to Usurpers, and Tyrants, who have not only shorn us, at their Pleasure, but threatened at length to flea us alive; Who, not daigning to ask either our Consent in Granting, or Counsel in Em­ploying, made Ducks and Drakes with our Monies; And shall we grudge an honorable and fitting sup­port to that Prince, in whose wealth, and wellfare consists our own? That Prince, to whom we are so much in Arrear of Duty, and Assistance? That Prince, from whose Integrity, Temper, Vast Expe­rience, and long acquaintance with Necessity, and Thrift, We may, reasonably expected the greatest Jus­tice, Moderation, Conduct in Affairs, and good [Page 8]Management of his treasure? Could Rigour extort so much, And can Ingenuity prevail so little? Far be it from us, That, ever, we should again lie, (as it were) at lurch, by with-holding honest, and conve­nient supplies, to drive his Majesty to Exigents, And draw from him such Concessions, as perhaps, are e­qually hurtfull, and dangerous to him, and our selves. How can, we hope, he should protect us, if we streighten him? Will not the want of a competent established Revenue endanger our Peace at home? The with-drawing our ready Assistance, in extraor­dinary Emergents, possibly, expose us to National affronts, however forfeit all our Interests abroad? These are the Arguments of the time, And herein consists our chiefest happinesse, That as our Nation hath a Prince, who, I verily believe, will require lesse, than they would willingly contribute, so our Prince hath, now, a People, who, upon a legal, and honorable Account, would cherefully pay more, than he will demand, or need.

My Lord, (whether causlesly, or not, I dare not pronounce, that dwell at such distance from the fountain of Intelligence, But) sure I am, The Nati­on, (now, above all, Ombragious) hath taken a hot alarm from the lowd Report of a design, to caresse, indeed his Majesties Person, but, with their Kisses, to betray his Authority, And wound it, in all, or most of its foremention'd Vitals: And (to our great Affliction, and Astonishment,) the chief Pro­jectors are said to be of the Order of Peerage: Were they present at any of our dayly Clubs, to hear the downright invectives of some, the bitter censures of others, the calm, but severe, reflections of the Mo­derate, [Page 9]I presume, their Reasons would be convin­ced, or, at least, their wisdoms perswaded to quit the pursute of Practises, I dare say, as Odious, and Ob­noxious, as the worst of late Machinations.

They are arraigned of great Impiety to God, who, pardoning, I hope, our crying sinne, and turning our Aceldama, into a goodly Field, doth now cry Alowd with the Voyce of Providence, Sinne no more, lest a worse Evil befall you: If a man, having fallen into grievous Sicknesse, through his Luxury, and Disor­ders; And having, in Extremity, powred forth his Soul to God, in Prayers for present Mercie, and Vowes of future Reformation; If such a one, I say, (God, in Clemency, and Patience, adjourning his Account,) shall, immediately, after the Crisis of his disease, Apostate from his Covenant, and return to his licentiousness, our greatest Charity will scarce oblige us to believe him other than a Cast-away; And, truly, by like Proportion, We may conclude, That such as, after so many trespasses, committed, and pardoned, so many Covenants, in publick, so many Vowes in private, made, and repeated, so ma­ny Opportunities neglected; And yet, at length, a Miracle of Redemption vouchsafed, shall, (as if they took no notice of all this,) presently, tempt God afresh, with the same Provocations, are, (to speak modestly,) at least, Civil Reprobates.

They stand indicted of high Ingratitude, and Dis­loyalty to the King; scarce the Child in the Cradle is unsensible of his Majesties wrongs, yet he (like a good Christian, and a great Prince,) is pleased to contribute more to our Peace, and happinesse, than our Selves could doe, if we would, by renouncing [Page 10]all thoughts of Revenge, and bitter resentment of what is Past, And (with a Confidence, not to be parallel'd,) referring much of his own Interest to our Delegates: What Ingratitude, nay what trea­chery were it, if we should smite him, embracing us! If, he addressing himself with English freedom, wee entertain him, with Sicilian faith! If, he bringing us nothing but Cordials, we offer him nothing but Minerals, and a deadly Cup! If, whilst he seeks Counsell of God to preserve us, We in the mean time, take advice of the Rump, and Phanaticks, to destroy him.

They are deeply censured, as reflecting, with ex­treme scandal, upon the Nobility; to some of which Order, they are chiefly (though causlesly, I hope) imputed: They are construed to proclaim them Bankrouts, of Duty to his Majesty, of Piety to their Countrey; Nay they are judged to impeach them, in their Common Faculties, As persons uncapable of understanding their own Good; As if they were, yet, to be informed, That the Kings Ecclipse is their Privation; As if they had forgotten, That, when Kingly Government was abolished, as dan­gerous, Peerage was, with the same breath, layd a­side, as a silly Appurtenant; In a word, As if they were meer Properties, Ordained, and fitted to serve the Designes of Others, against Themselves.

They are rejected, with great Odium, and Disdain, as portending Mischief, and pronouncing Infamy to the Nation; The Mischief is great, Nothing, at present, so likely to lay the foundation of New broils; These are Bones cast in by Phanaticks, These are Tares, scattered by the Enemies of Monarchy, and [Page 11]Lovers of Anarchy; Their bare attempt threatens to unhinge our Settlement, and their Successe, (were it, for the present, never so prosperous,) would viti­ate our habit, and turn a sound, into a crazie Consti­tution: Our late Mountebanks, in their Politick Lectures, made it their Masterpiece, to flatter them­selves, and impose upon their Disciples, By alle­ging, That the Props and Pillars of our Monarchy were long since shaken, The Ballance being now tur­ned Democratical; It will not here be pertinent to examine the Vanity of their Positions, which, I doubt not, will, in due time, be confute by blessed Experience, when that Stone, which those Build­ers refused, is, to their Confusion, the Cornerstone of the strongest Fabrick, that ever was in this Nati­on, (For such is our reasonable Prognostick: But, should these Projects succeed, It were then, indeed, high time for wise & good men to look about them, when the established Government were really such, as could neither shelter them, nor support it self; The Promotes thereof are, therefore, to be sus­pected, as a more refined sort of Commonwealths-men, and disguised Rumpers. And, as for Infamy, What, I pray, can be more contumelious, than that many of the same Persons should, so perversly, deny their undoubted Soveraign the same Prerogative, which they, so tamely, granted to the Vilest of U­surpers; And, since the one was done by a Parlia­ment, (at least, so pretended, and, (then) by the Nation, seemingly admitted,) If now, (which God forbid) the other should be effected in this Repre­sentative, How Abject, Nay how monstrous must it needs appear, especially to Foreiners, who are not acquainted with our [...]

They are derided, as most unnecessary, And the Prosecutors despised, some of them, as meer Bu­sybodies, who must do mischief, lest they should seem to do nothing; Others, as persons, who have espoused a faction, upon which, they have ground­ed their hopes, Or from which, perhaps, they think they cannot come off, with credit, and safety: The Nation, alas, professes full assurance in his Majes­ties Justice and Clemency, The largenesse whereof is the only subject of our Delight, and Wonder: If any desire greater security, than the Court of Al­dermen can give, Let them get it that can, Let them expect it, that will; If any be not satisfied with the Laws of his Country, And a Lawfull Prince, of sin­gular Virtue, and unspotted Faith, Let him mend himself; We, for our Parts, joyfully acquiesce.

They are disclaimed, as unseasonable, and, at this time, most of all, inconvenient; Alas, The Body Languishes, The Spirits are Very Low, And shall we still be trying of Chymical Conclusions? Great heires, newly come to Age, may afford to stake Lordships upon a Cast at Dice; But poor Cadets are obliged to play at lesser, and surer Game; We suppose, it, now concerns us more to study our set­tlement, than the Reformation of our Antient Laws, which if they were imperfect, Yet, surely, by Expe­rience, are not intolerable; We hear nothing pro­pounded, that may encourage us to new Expediti­ons in America, or tempt us to exasperate our law­full Soveraign, Who, being, now, in Condition to resent his wrongs, Yet, with friendly Ouvertures, prevents our hopes: No; the English Nation is Weather-beaten, Glad to Anchor any where, tole­rably, [Page 13]but over joy'd to find it self in so good a har­bour, And not like, I suppose, hastily to put to Sea again in foul Weather.

They are detested, as disingenuous, savouring of ugly Duresse, and Insolence, to Gods Vicegerent: Certainly, banishment hath its Violence, as well, as Imprisonment, That accosts his Majestie, with a Dagger, at his throat, This, with a Sword, pointing to his brest. Which of us, were the Tables turned, would think himself fairly dealt with, If, being, without the least colour, disseized of his Freehold, he had the Choyce, Either to beg, (perhaps starve) Or Purchase his Re-admission, by the Surrender of Part, Or grant of a Rent charge, upon the Whole? Do not the Laws of Nations avoid, The Laws of England abhor such contracts? If this be Presbyteri­an Justice, Give me leave, My Lord, to assure you, Few of us, God be thanked, are now Presbyterians.

They are branded, as Plots and Conspiracies, fit­ter for Juntoes and factious Conventicles, than Eng­lish Parliaments, to broach, or cherish: Our Parlia­ments consist of Lords, and Commons; The Lords represent none, but themselves, and cannot pretend to Popular trust: For them, therefore, thus to assume the disposal of the Kings Prerogative, in his absence, or alteration of our Government, without our leave, were, (we conceive) such Usurpation, As not the Rump, or Barebones seemed more injuriously to in­trude: The House of Commons, we confesse, hath a trust, But it is to assert our Liberties, not abrogate our Lawes, Let them keep themselves to our trust, And we are satisfied, Otherwise, we hope, they will [Page 14]not blame us, if, for the future, we know them, and (at least) trust them no more.

Finally, They are exploded, as ridiculous, and Preposterous; Indeed, how incongruous were it for that Assembly, which sits by no Title, but present Exigence, to talk or dream of limiting their Prince, who must first constitute them, and from whom they are to receive a being before they signifie any thing in Law! But admit them a Parliament, The King they know, is free to refuse, and, we suppose, not like to grant such Bills, as he shall judge unsafe, or unfit; And, in such refusall, we resolve, (as in Duty we are bound) unanimously, with our lives, and for­tunes, to justifie him; Besides, His Majestie, and all Rational Men cannot but be sensible, How much, at present, we need him more, than he doth us, and that our Condition, as well as Duty, now presses us, rather to supplicate his speedy Return to his lan­guishing Country, than obstruct it with Capitula­tions.

Thus, have I, faithfully, and, as briefly, as I could, ac­quainted your Lordship with the present temper and sense of the Nation; Not as presuming you to want my Infor­mation, But that your Lordship may please, (when you see cause) to communicate it to those, (if such there be) who are lesse sound in their Principles and Allegiance: If my Endeavours, herein, may prove, in any wise, Usefull, I shall much rejoyce; If Needlesse, (as being grounded up­on mistake,) my satisfaction will be yet greater My Day­ly Prayers, however, are, and shall alwaies be, That God would preserve his Majestie from such snares, restrain his People from such undutifull thoughts, And direct your Lordship, in all the Wayes of Honor and Loyalty. I re­main,