GOodnesse seldome meets with friends, and Greatnes never wanteth enemies, It is the ambition of a coward to overva­lue where he dares not, to undervalue where he cannot equalize. Many cares not to crush them­selves in the ruines of another, and being de­maunded by whose hand: 'tis answered, the en­vious man hath done it. But Asses will be bray­ing, and Doggs will be barking. O what an in­gratefull peece of time are we pitcht upon! that worthiest actions should have the worst re­quizals; when those, (to whose conquering swords the honour, and happines of a Kingdom becomes tributary) shall be reckt in pieces on the black tenter-hookes of Malice, and lye expo­sed to all aspersions division can invent, or detra­ction accumulate, Those Worthies (whose very [Page 2]memori [...]ll is of force to make all future ages active unto honour) to save their names and re­putations blasted by such ayres gript by those tallons, that breath nothing but dish [...]nour, drop nothing but infamie, and that without controule (as if it weare an offence to be good, whilst sin is tollerated) speaks the loudest Law invalid, and that Power wherein they sympathize of noe eff [...]ct.

And therefore (unworthy Libeller) hadst thou conteind thy self at home, thou hadst been lookt on as a creature vnworthy the vindication of the meanest pen; but to belch in publique, and thus to print thy self in gall, expect to reapeas thou hast sowed, and like a Dog to lick up that vomit which thou hast spued into the world.

The faire deportment military and civill of those Noble Members hath been such (as the major part of the Land can witnesse) that should I streine a Character on the candor of their acti­ons, the integrity, and immutability of their af­fections I should but Aureum annulum ferreis stel­lis, corrodere, set diamonds in Ieat, or enamile gold with studds of iron; no, let their own works Praise them in the gates, and the great Historian Fame with his goulden pensill blazon their high demerits to posterity, whilst my ambition shall be, to sit down and admire their Loyalty, practise their fidelity.

For my own part, I am not engaged to any of them, (except one) neither hath my acquaintance with them as yet extended, further then the eye: [Page 3]but their full-blowne virtues are the Adamants to attract, their triumphant victories, together with their most indeleble patience, carried on with con­stancy, the poles to direct me to a just and necessary vindication.

And first, I disire all whose hearts were never tainted with d [...]sloyalty) to view them not onely as men, but Gentlemen; not as scharrabs bred upon a dunghill, not as vapours or wandring Meteors tost by every wind to seeke an inconstant being; nor sprung from thd loynes of some channell raker, or skipt our of a rat-trap or tinder-box, (as Rabshecah railes it zealously in his 3 page) to be a Common-Councell man of the City; but descended from the bed of Honour famous in their generations, but as Ignorance is the only Antagonist to knowledge; So true Nobility hath no enemy but Rusticity, and the best of birth are ever vilified by the worst of base­nes; which proves the black-mouth'd Libeller, his greatnesse equall with his goodnesse, his birth an­swerable to his breeding, his nature servile, as his Name obscure.

Secondly, Look upon them, many of them who have adventured (next unto heaven) what is dea [...]est to them, their lives and livelihoods, for the pub­lique good. Whet had become of Parliament, Ci­ty, Kingdom, nay Religion, Laws, Liberties, all, had not that renowned Impe of Warre taken Mars himselfe by the beard and stopt that Imperiall Ar­my in their full carreere; whose vast bulke covered the deelining West, and stroke terrour at a distance to the utmost corners of the Kingdome; Who was [Page 4]he that preserved that Mayden-City from ravishing, which then lay panting to the death, through the fierce assaults of a bloudy foe? who was that sublunary engine, that dissipa­ted & defeated all their fatall stratagems, was it not Massie who was he that in the compasse of one moneth with vn­equalled service, overcame and dispossest nine royall Garris­ons, as scorning to live within the breath of such bad neigh­bours, was it not Massie with his handfull of Myrmidons?

Who was he that layd the famous Mynn his honour in the dust, (who a little before threatned to set his insulting foot upon the neck of that faire Damosel Gloucster) & delive­red him dead, with above an hundred more, at her feet, as the tribute of his virgin love unto her, with hundreds more of (lately crying conquest) Captives? was it not Massy? Who was that thunder-bolt that thrilld astonishment in the Danish forrest through the popish Army; that broke like a cloud upon them, flashing death in the faces of the Winterian power, confounding all their force, breaking their designs, and return'd laden with the spoyles of war, and with victo­rious trophes? Was it not Massy.

Who was he that went out (from that Command) in such a blaze to adde glory unto conquest, and crown his actions with a never-dying honour; when he tooke the strong Garrisond Evesham, in a storme of fire and leaden haile, the losse whereof did make a King shed teares? was it not Massy?

And having shewed himselfe a faithfull Patriot to an in­gratefull people, leaving them secure under their own vines, being departed (as called forth to greater actions and commands) who was he that goared great Gorings Body thorow with his horse, on that day, that fatall day at Langport, dashing thereby in peeces all the Westerne powers, that they durst never after shew their faces in the field; one of the great blowes that cut off the necke of this unnaturall warre? was it not Massy?

Who was he that led the Armies of England's Israel through the bowels of the land, routed the Hoptonias strength, and with his armed Troopes made his proud foes [Page]to tremble with their thunder, hunting them in a warlike sport as the fearfull Partridges in the Mountains? Was it not Waller? who even of his very enemies purchased that glorious title of William the Conquerour?

What shall I say? they are men, therefore subject to Times standard, Mutability; ever upon the wheele, uncertaine, they are valiant Commanders, therefore hated by degenerous cowards, they are eminent and honourable persons, therefore subject unto censure and malice. But yet in spight of envy & all her snaky worms, their names and fames shall our-vie a century of ages. Nec imber edax, nec Aquilo, nec innume­rabiles annorum series diruere.

And now after all their travelling in sweat and bloud, to be contemned, and condemned, as traytors (as if it were treason to be faithfull) by an inferiour and unworthy vassal, whose contagious breath is able to do more hurt then a ge­nerall plague, and yet to passe without correction as if our lawes were dumb, and the executioners without life, shall not this brand the suporters of a State w^th obloquy, & at last mold us into that slavery, that we shall account it happines to be miserable? and when such tongues without restraint are let loose, who shall avoid the tyranny of their lash? Kings and Commons shall share alike; yet it is some honour for the servant to suffer with his Lord, and the desciple is not above his master.

Thirdly, consider their dignity as Members of Parliament made so by free Election, according to the fundamentall Lawes and customes of the Kingdome, never by order or vote erected (but rather approved of) the House; never detected, for any by secret or contrarious workings, in the house; nor ever for any pretended enemies generall or spe­ciall by any prosecuted before the house: although this li­centious piece of barbarisme, out of an ambitious zeale to his owne ends, hath already presumed to sit in indg­ment upon them, himselfe both witnesse, Iury, judge, and excecutioner, the poyson of this Scorpion being the potion they must drinke, as seditious state-theeves, murderers and Traytors: and if his physick will not worke, then hath he sentenced them to that easie death (as the Jshmael scoffes [Page]it) of hanging drawing and quartering (which no doubt) will returne upon himselfe.

For being members of that high Court (which is the only visible & collective Body politique of the kingdom & having motion and influence in all their publique agitati­ons from the said body, acting nothing but by vote and vertue from the House, as well in the late City procedings as other wise; whatsoever violence opposing or dishonor falls one them, must needs reflect upon the whole Body naturall, one or some members suffering all the Members vnitely doe condole.

Therefore now, that either part or the whole collecting Body of a kingdome; some and consequently all the Mem­bers of Parliament by an iniurious libeller a snarling Hell hound, should be sentenced, Iudged, condemned and exce­cuted, at one breath, at one blow comes under no lesse ho­nor then that infernal peece engeny of the powder plot; the Cavaleers Rashnes, the apprentices rudenes were, motes to this catarrhe, molehils to this mountaine; tyme cannot produce a paralel (since first this Nation became a Monarchy.) of such an intrenchment upon, such an impeachment of, such a treason commited against a Parliament, to the utter aboli­tion of all authorit violation of true honour, and perpetuall infamy of the highest [...]VDICATORY in this Kingdom under heaven.

Neither doth this traytor alone impugne and destroy our State, but endeavour the ruine of religion also in casting durt in the face, and making a ludibry of the daughter of Sion: and of her shepheards, whose very feet are beautiful; as if that Government establish't by publique authority, were but made as a lack of Lent for iniquity to play withall, or raised as a Butt to shoot his tongue at. But as if England were [...] narrow to restrain his malice, to sleight a morsell for this all devouring Dragon, Scotland also must share his calumny, in his nasty Epithi [...]es, and be made the object of his malice, vvhich h [...]vv they vvill endure I leave to the future to discourse. Appealing unto all, that are tender of the Kingdoms peace, to judge hereof, & especially to the high court of Parliament (vvhom it most concerns) for justice against this grand e [...]em to the common good; this Scandalum Magnatum, that he may re­ceive revvard according to the Lavvs & his deserts, that such obstructi­ons & abominations being removed, all sound of vvar may be stroke dumb & mufled peace establish't, unity continued, his Maj. person and just rights protected, the Parl: honoured, & confirmed, the Church enlarged and God Almighty glorified.