I Have received your Letter, and give you hearty thanks for it: These parts are full of expectation; the great actions in motion have fixed the eyes of the Kingdome, and false rumours (the Harbingers of such designes) have taken up transitory lodgings in the seve­rall dispositions of men; but those which have beene beaten into judgement of the times, stand upon their guards, refusing admittance to what comes not with good authority. That an Army, and a powerfull one is on foot, is knowne; that (if the King bee pattie in it) it will bee irresistable, is likewise out [Page 2] of doubt, that the Declarations of it is un­pleasing, and challenges part of the Free­hold of our Parliament, wee see in print; and that the Parliament will part with nothing it can either get or hold, wee know by experi­ence; and (that I absolutely hope the disso­lution of it,) I assure you upon my Repu­tation: Now the Army having thus farre dis­played, and the Parliament not having power to equall what is on foot, the one standing up­on power and the hearts of the people, the other upon Thornes, and the festered wounds of the Common-wealth; I give the one assured, the other capable of a very speedy determinati­on: I likewise judge a Necessity of restoring the King, and returning the Lawes into their for­mer channell; for should the Army bee sa­tisfied with onely their Arreares, and expul­sion of the Presbyterian partie, and yet con­tinue the two Houses, (when it shall bee dis­banded) what assurance have the Independents in Parliament, that the City (which is Pres­byterian, and from wherce the Army at this instant affirmes would bee raised another (to countenance Presbytery) were it not for the Interposition of this on Foot) shall not raise Forces, and destroy the Acts of these here­after, who forcibly may settle themselves now? That the City shall not new-mould the Houses with Presbyterians, as perhaps the Army may now with Independents? and that [Page 3] the Houses then (by vertue of the Citie) shall not runne rigorous wayes of Revenge? For what can oppose the Citie, if the Armie be away?

These Considerations will not admit me to gleane other Expectations from the Courses in motion, then Honourable and Popular Conclusions. The King in Parliament, can assure the ends of the Armie, can conferre Honours, can gratifie with Estates, can make an Act of Oblivion; and then, by the disso­lution of the Parliament, the parties are sure to enjoy all that is so given them: but keepe it still on foot, and disband the Armie, then there is danger of the prevalencie of the other Faction, and consequently, of the revocation of all Grants to the former. Likewise, to keepe an Armie long up, requires a Charge insupportable, as well as it gives an aspect for­midable to all who have observed the muta­bilitie of these Times. Besides, without the King nothing can be confirmed, nothing en­joyed longer then an Armie is on foot; nor can Peace be so setled, but that Seedes will be left for a new Warre to spring forth, so soone as the Season can produce it.

But mee thinkes now there is a Miracle working: An Armie (powerfull to enrich it selfe by Offences) is so spotlesse, as the world admires it; and this Armie summons a Par­liament [Page 4] (indeed red as Skarlet) vyes with it in Innocencie, and boldly demands Repara­tions of the Crimes committed against the Common-wealth: The nature of the one is (commonly) charged with Sinne and Bloud, and of the other with Pretie, Vertue, and Blessings upon the Realme. But as the one hath degenerated into the others qualitie and nature, so is it just it should receive the o­thers propertie. As a good Parliament might demand Accompts of a wicked Armie, so why may not a righteous Armie demand the like of a wicked Parliament? In mine opini­on, Justice hath layd this Scaene, to be acted in this Antipodian Tragedie; and (so that it may be the last) he little cares how soone it be concluded, who is,

THough I know this will not please you, yet to let you understand, and to possesse all your Vniversitie (contrarie, perhaps, to its present Opinion) that our Halcyon dayes are not farre off, I write this, and care not if both Houses see it, and desire you to publish it.