YOu well remember the contest we had not long since concerning a Book, entitled, THE MO­DERATOR: At which time, though in respect of your heat, and the civility I bare unto so friendly a meeting, I seemed at length to yeild unto your commendation of that Pamphlet; yet lest the Publique Cause (for which I have often jeoparded my life, and am still in Arms ready to maintain) should suffer through an over-modest silence, I have written these lines to let you un­derstand, how small satisfaction you then gave me, and how stifly I adhere to my opinion, that The Moderator is a factious-Malig­nant Invective against the Parliament, as empty of sense, as con­science.

Nor can sober men expect any other then a muddy stream from a dirty fountain. Is not Master Povey the Authour of this Libell? Witnesse the Gentlemen of Grays-Inne, Witnesse the Stationers, Witnesse the title of Moderator, wherewith his com­panions doe frequently salute him: And what can we look for from a Cavee (yea, from one who for his notoriousnesse is stiled, THE CAVALIER) but malignancy?

And to come up close to the manifestation and proof thereof, his own words suffice to his conviction. For without further ce­remony then an impertinent Preface, he falleth hot upon the Par­liament, and declareth them to be the Authours of the late War, and by consequence guilty of all the bloud and horrid distracti­ons of this Kingdome.p. 3. l. 2, 4, 6. Their courses (saith he) did usher in this War: And to these miseries we have been unhappily betrayed, by a fourfold means:

[Page 4]1. By the Parliaments endevouring without successe, or provi­dence, or enough of both, a high and Imperious Reformation. Fit words, and modest, are they not?

2. By putting the Militia, the Navy, and the Ports into new confiding hands: p. 3. l. 34, 35, 36. Which, alas tender Heart! (He professeth) did sorely perplex him with the expectation and fear of bloody sho­wers.

3. By discountenancing the Gentry and removing them from their Commands,p. 4. l. 11.and so from the usuall respect they had in their Country: making little difference (or not the right) because they then wan­ted Mr. Povey's help to judge between the Gentry and Yeomanry. Which he turneth off with a flour,p. 15. a. l. 23. They may be thus excused; they did not think it justice to look upon any man according to his quality, but as he was a Subject; I hope this was all the reason.

4. By making Sides and Parties amongst the people; p. 4. l. 22. To which end the Parliament took such courses as might incite the MOST, and published that first Remonstrance, p. 14. l. 19, 20, 25. (Decemb. 15. 1641.) The most seasonable and happy Alarum that ever came to an oppres­sed languishing Nation, yet the Moderate Gentleman is so auda­cious as to stile it, THE UNHAPPY HISTORY OF THE FORE-GOING TIMES. And what (saith he) is the Result of all these Plots,p. 4. l. 26. Sidings and contrivances? But, The King there­fore removes Northward, to find out that safety which is denied him here:p. 4. l. 32.Henceforth we must look upon the Parliament as a Councel of War; we must not expect to find it punctuall in the observance of any fixed Law; Only, SALUS POPULI must be produced as a generall Warrant for all their undertakings, and LEX NECESSITATIS must be made to justifie all manner of severity and violence. The Sword must become Chief Justice; Robbery change its name, and be called no more a crime then borrowing;p. 5. l. 29.The killing of our Country­men must be called valour and a service for the State; Disobedience to the commands of our Prince must be called Loyalty; and in brief, we must see an inversion of all order, Confusion in all our services t [...] Heaven and Earth, and a Chaos, in stead of that admirable compo­sure which many years of peace had e're now fixed this State in, if Those that have of late times been over us (namely, the PARLIA­MENT) had done their parts. Is not this pure Oxonian language? Search the Kings Declarations, consult with Williams, Ferne, Au­licus, [Page 5]and you shall not find them more agreeable to themselves, then your Moderator is to them.

You see then the first Branch of this malignant Pamphlet is an Accusation of the Parliament, and that of lesse crime then the pro­curing of the late War with all its sad and direfull effects. The other Branch is a Disswasion of the People from joyning with them; Which he endevours under a pretext of Moderation and seeming Neutrality, and pursues this Theam with store of words and a rabble of vain circumstances; but the substance of all may be re­duced to these five Heads or Grounds:

His first ground of disswading the People from joyning with the Parliament, is, because the late War was without Reason:p. 6. l. 6. When Reason (saith he) shall tell me how requisite the prosecution of that War was, and how it may advantage the State, I shall be con­vinced.

His second ground is, because the Parliament at that which (in his apprehension) is evill,p. 6. l. 16, 25. as to bring in an Aristocracy and make themselves States: Or, at that which is vain and impossible, to wit, a Thorow Reformation; p. 25. l. 34. then which (if this Forsooth-sayer mistake not) they will sooner reach their own destruction.

His third ground is, because the Yeomanry that take part with the Parliament are nothing so considerable, as the Gentry of this Realm who take part with the King:p. 15. a. l. 39. For (saith he) the Gentle­man follows his Resolution close, and wins of his silly neighbours many times, either by his power, by his example, or his discourse, when as they have an easie faith, quickly wrought upon and upon the next turn will fall off in sholes.

His fourth ground is,p. 16. b. l. 14. because the King is the more likely to draw to Him the affections of the People, in that the pressures and miscar­riages of His late Government are passed, and almost expiated by His acknowledgement of them, and a promise of redresse, and are (as it were) forgotten by them, who resent more their present, Grievances then a thousand overpassed transgressions, which are driven out of their Remembrances by agravating every mistake, every circum­stance of injury and violence, which the Parliament, either against their will, or upon necessity (the common excuse of States-men) doth commit.

His fift and last ground is, because the Parliament is a crasie, [Page 6]helplesse, impotent thing in comparison of His Majesty. The Parliament (saith he) hath nothing to cement it self, p. 16. a. l. 7, 16, 21. to increase and fix their Party, and keep it from staggering, but a little tempora­ry reputation, and a resolution to hold fast to the Publique good, and this (if things run so high as they do now) will be called rebellious stubbornnesse, and be branded with the foule imputation of Treason. Whereas the King (as the chief Master and Dispenser of the Com­mon-wealth) is able to fit the humour of every man that he hath a mind to take off: He hath the power of a Pardon to hold out like a Lure, to fetch in such as have turned taile. By His Agents He will keep off the aid of forraign States from them, but is seldome denied some contribution towards His own defence. p. 15. b. l. 31. The controling presence of awfull Majesty takes off, prevents, and counter plots the designes of any that are working neer to it. The King (a syllable, of as much advantage as an Army) in His very Name is sacred and powerful,p. 16. b. l. 23. and shakes the consciences of many, who would else have willing hands and ready purses to oppose Him. He hath the advantage of the writ­ten Law, which he can use now, in His defence; and by the authority of it, joyned with the power of His Sword, can thunder out Accusations, and the Penalties of Treason against those whom He shall call His Opposers. Now the whole Kingdome must witnesse, the King has often called and declared the Parliament and their adherents His Opposers; and therefore, what does the Moderator hereby insi­nuate, but that all Parliamentarians should be hang'd, drawn, and quarter'd, had the King power to excuse the Law? If this be no malignancy, let Judge Jenkins be acquitted.

Needlesse it were, and time mis-implyed to ravell further into the garbage of this slanderous-bitter Libell against the Parlia­ment: For, if what I have at present laid open, (thought I con­fesse much more may be alleaged there-out to the same purpose, & shal be alleaged when the Cornish Elections come into debate) be not sufficient to convince your judgment, for me go on; and be confident, hereafter you will say, A friend once gave good you ad­vice. But yet, before I leave, let me tell you, that in this Pamph­let, there are not only Malignant, but also non-sensicall and most irreligious expressions.

What kin is this sentence to a Bull;p. 2. l. ult. Wars, like diseases, are a long while working upon the humours, before they discover them­selves; [Page 7]unlesse the Moderator can prove that men fight some years under ground, before they fight above? What sense in this,p. 5. l. ult. How like to these calamities the miseries we have felt already are, the sad experience of too many may witnesse, who have drunk deep of this bitter Cup? That is in plain English, such who have tasted of these calamities, can witnesse how like they are to these calamities: These like to these, a man like to a man; Is not here good stuffe? And what sense or reason is there in this,p. 24. l. 3. The Common-wealth is now in the same, yet in more danger, then ever they saw it? As if a thrust through the body were the same as a prick with the swords point; Or, a shilling the same as a penny.

As for Irreligious Expressions, be you your self judge. For, though the Scriptures testifie, we are all in the hands of GOD,Rom. 9.21. to be disposed of according to His Divine pleasure,Esa. 45.7. and that all peace and cessation of Armes is from Him alone;Psal. 46.9. Yet this Mode­rator feareth not to say,p. 2. l. 15. It is in our own election what shall become of us. Though the Scriptures exhort, with patience to wait upon the Lord and not limit the Holy One of Israel; Psal. 27.14. Yet this Moderator professeth, his Faith shall go no further then his Reason; p. 6. l. 4, 5. and like one in despair, crieth out, Now or never, Sudden Peace or certain Ruine. Though the Scriptures teach, that a man swearing to his own hurt, should not change; Yet this Moderator saith,p. 21. l. 15. It cannot be expected that a Prince, if he be wise as well as pious, shall be so super­stitious to the strict sense of any Protestations, as to neglect his in­terest, which may suffer very much whiles he makes a conscience to do things fit and requisite. And what is this but to say, A Prince that maketh conscience of his Oath, when the breaking it may advan­tage, him, is a superstitious fool?

I might also note unto you the ragged composure of this Pamphlet; and the Authours phantastick, proud, self-conceited, pragmaticall humour, which discovers it self in every Page, as clearly, as if you had heard him speak, seen his posture, and taken an accompt of his Mornings work: But my lines are multiplied already to a greater bulk then at first I intended, and therefore I shall without further circumstances break off; Only desiring you to lay aside passion and partiallity, and with a serious considera­tion [Page 8]to weigh what is here written unto you from a friend; who hath no other aime but to prevent (as far as in him lieth) your deserting the Parliament and their Cause: For be assured, if you are not for them, you are against them; Neutrality and Modera­tion is the Cavaliers last refuge, and a cloak for Malignancy. So fare you well,