I Remember a pretty fable of an ancient authour, bearing in my opinion a most excellent morall. There was, saith he, a great contention once about the weather, the Seamen com­plaining of contrary winds, when those of the high Coun­tries desired raine, and those of the valleys Sunshining daies; each party offered up orisons to Jove; Jupiter sent them word by Mercury, THEN WHEN THEY HAD ALL DONE, THE WEATHER SHOULD BEE, AS IT HAD BEEN; and it will even so fall out with all our complainers and murmurers, that when they have wearied themselves, to procure the fulfilling of their fond fancies, they have spent their time in vain, and God guideth his Church as before. But to the matter we intend.

The wisdome of our own age is the foolishnesse of ano­ther, the time present ought not to be preferd to the policy that was, but the policy that was to the time present; the power of the Nobility perhaps something withered, and the power of the People in the flower; the care to content them would not be neglected, were there no ends but Politicall, which ought to be intire and fatherly. Now were it so that the Lords were guilty of this crime of neglecting the welfare of the people, and of a desire to accrew to themselves Soveraignty over them, which no man on [Page 2] earth can truely affirme, then it were seasonable and very conve­nient to warn them, and to desire a speedy remedy; yet this ought to be done discreetly and with reverence as to our Rulers and Go­vernours, and not rashly, and using contumelious threats.

But for as much, as I said before, as there is no man on earth that can justly accuse them of the premises, save a sort of malicious, evill, and sordid persons, desirous of trouble and innovation, who because they are not suffered to proceed in their destructive courses, rayle and exclaime against their opposers, and being des­perate themselves, use all art both by writing and speaking, to in­volve as many as they may into their desperate condition; which hath been the constant course of seditious and rebellions persons in all ages, who did they but know the filth and corruption they harbour, would [...]p up their own breasts to let it forth, and accor­ding to the Divine Philosopher, and excellent Poet,

But let them proceed and make up their measure of sin; the Lord in his good time will open their eyes, and discover to them their evill waies, or else will restraine their strength and fury, and that for the good of his Church. Proceed we now to confute our cavil­ling Libeller. He begins thus, after an audacious manner, speaking to the House of Lords,

In the first place we demand of you a reason, why you which are such [...]rrogaters of Titles of Honour, should of all others sleight him so far as to s [...]le him only John Lilburne, though you know him to be a true born Gen­tleman; nor Lieutenant Colonell, though you know him to be a valiant and faithfull Souldier for his Countries liberties.

CHARON in Lucian as he wittily feints, was conducted by MERCURY to such a place where he might see all the world at once; and after he had sufficiently viewed and looked about, MERCURY would needs know of him what he had observed. He told him he saw a rast multitude and a [...]; their [Page 3] habitations like Mole-hils, the men like Emmets; He could discerne Cities like so many hives of Bees, wherein every Bee had a sting, and they did nought else but sting one another. Some domineering like Hornets bigger then the rest, some like filthy Waspes, others as Drones; over their heads were hovering a confused number of perturbations, HOPE, FEARE, ANGER, AVARICE, IGNORANCE, &c. and a multitude of Diseases hanging over, which they still pulled on their heads; some were brawling, some fighting, riding, running, sollicite ambientes, [...]llid [...] litiga [...]tes, for toys, and trifles, and such momentary things, their Towns and Provin­ces mere factions, Rich against poore, poore against rich, Nobles despised by Artificers, &c.

Aptly and to excellent purpose is the world compared by Lucian to a garden of Bees; but more aptly may I apply this tale to the Kingdome of England, our habitations indeed, to our fight the strongest, but Mole-hils; for a blast of wind overturneth them; our selves cannot be fitlier compared then to Emmets, for if the anger of the Lord doe but blow upon us we wither away, and are gone; our Cities may fitly be compared each to a Bee hire▪ wherein we agree not like that prudent Nation; nor doe we employ our selves to suck Honey from flowers, but desire rather to suck our neigh­bours blood, each envying his neighbour surviveth, and some so wretchedly inclined, that they could be content to part with all their substance that another might become poore; those ravenous devourers of the poore, that eate up the people as it were bread, may fitly be compared to Hornets, that sing P [...]ns to Bacchus in Taverns, accompanied with A Whore. La [...] and A Minstrill Zenophilus, that weare the Kingdomes spoiles in their eares, and dance on the ruines of a Nation; those now placed in authority to procure the peoples good, and yet as tyrants play Rex over them, may fitly he compa­red to Waspes, that sit as chair-men, dooming men and their cau­ses, so as may most tend to their gaine and benefit; those Neutra­lians that sit still and worship no God save Ceres and Bacchus, that cry out with Horace, broach the Falerne Wine, and let things hap as they will; each of these discerne not the confused number of perturbations hover over their heads, which will certainly descend upon them, which punishments they shall not be able to evade. But to our libeller.

In dealing with this libeller I know

But for that the vulgar are more taken with vulgar works, then with the writs of the wise, and knowing it is expedient they should be undeceived, and see the vanity of their chieftaines, therefore, Whereas the libeller, in the name of his complices, We, accounts it as a disparagement to them, for that Lilburne hath not his Titles. Titles bestowed on him, gained more by fortune then merit: I answer, that the most famous Consuls of Rome, sometime brought through the City in triumph, have upon occasion of their default and per­ [...]liousnesse, been led through the same City in bands: is it not stange than a fellow of no worth [...] such an one as Lilburne should occasion as [...] at trouble in London as ever Cataline did to Rome? but we have as valiant and prudent [...]iceros, who I doubt not will ere long suppresse this faction, and bring them to as condigne punishment as [...] that di [...]urber and his complices. And whereas the Libeller chargeth it on the consciences of the Lords, that they know him to be true borne Gentleman, I answer, that if it were granted, yet onely vertuous and pious actions are symptomes of Gentil [...] and i [...] we should can Lilburnes seditious proceedings, by them we could guesse him to be no other but a branch sprung from the ancient stock of renowned IR [...]S; but it is evident to all the would that Lilburne is not of Gentle blood, but descended of an unworthy family, being in his minority an obscure apprentice of London and if the Reader desire to be further enformed, I refer him to a Treatise of mine, entituled, The Famers Famd, being an answer to a paire of Treatises, written in the behalfe of Lilburne, th [...]one e [...]tit [...]led The Just man in Bonds, the other A Pearle in a Dung-hill. I now proceed.

But if Titles were of any value, or Honour of any esteem, he deserveth the Title of Lieutenant Colonel, and the Honour he hath gotten in the field, in the defence of his Countries liberties, as well as any of you your Titles of Honour, if [...] better, and more and more worthily; for by what [...]ns many of you came by yours is very uncertain.

See the ridiculous ignorance of the libeller, worthy to be laughed [Page 5] at, he saith, if Titles were of any valew; that Titles are of worth, we are informed by God, speaking by the mouth of his servants. St. Paul counselleth the Romans to Honour those worthy thereof, the Elders, or rather Leaders that rule well, are worthy of double Ho­nour; our Saviour saith, Give Tribute to whom Tribute belongeth, Honour to whom Honour is due; with infinite other places, which for brevity sake I omit. So that Titles and Honour is of valew, and ought to be valewed, hath been ever, and aye will be respected by the vertuous, and those that contenanc and disesteem, detract not from them, but worke ruine to themselves, as St. Paul saith, sin against their own soules. And whereas the Pamphleter saith, that he deserveth the Title of Lieutenant Colonel, the Honour he hath gotten in the field in the defence of his Countreys Liberties, I answer, that that Honour had been worthily bestowed on him, had he gone forth out of a sincere intent to fight for his Countrey, and for the King­domes good: but his intent in arming himselfe was rather to de­fend and secure himselfe from arrests of his creditors, then to offend, and bring low the enemy, as I have already made apparant to the world in my answer to two Libels aforementioned. Com­parisons are odious; the audacious libeller sticketh not to paralel Lilburnes Honour with the Lords, and goeth about to prove his Honour equivolent, nay transcendent to theirs. Was ever known such brazen impudence? the ages to come will stand amazed, and read this truth but as a fiction. Neither is this sufficient, but the libeller proceedeth, not stinting till he arrive at the very height of evill, for by what meanes some of you came by yours, (saith he) mea­ning the Lords, is very uncertain. Though your ignorance falsely informe, yet the wise know and can avouch by what meanes the house of Peeres have attained to their worthily deserved Honours, who can derive their pedegree, and make it apparent to the world, that they are the sonnes of those men whose Heroick actions in de­fence of their Countrey deserved no lesse but a far greater recom­pence. But I amplifie too much upon so absurd an objection.

And therefore in the charge you bring against him, if yet you wil persist, afford him his Title; use him not altogether as a slave, though you have made Newgate his habitation, and from thence have, removed him to the Tower of London; whether to murther him privately from the peoples know­ledge we cannot tell, we judge little lesse.

The charge brought against him the world knowes, which ge­nerally talketh of his folly, and it is not needfull to set down; he is become a by-word to the sonnes of men; and doubtlesse it will be Proverbe in the next age, that when any man shall be notori­ously known to be seditious, he shall be said to be, as FACTIOUS and REBELLIOUS as ever was LILBURNE. But the Libeller is netled, 'cause the Lords in their warrant afforded him not his Title; know foole that men honourable indeed, have as a reward of their misdemeanors been ere now degraded; and is it such a breach for this upstart to have a Title, whereof he is not worthy, debarred him? he hath forfeited his empty Title; a triviall power bestowed it on him, but a power full and absolute taketh it away. (But the Libeller proposeth he might not be used like a slave) his usage hitherto hath been with lenity, such as the nature of his crime merited not; and did not the Lords out of Noblenesse of their nature, limmit their power, the weight of his Irons should weigh him down, (as his sinne will once,) even beneath the centre; he should be brought forth, and either make publique recantation of his high contempt, or else undergoe exemplary punishment, what he and all other libellers and disturbers ought to suffer by the known law of the Land, I have In my an­swer to two Li­bells, the one intituled the just man in bonds, the o­ther a p [...]arle in a dunghill. elsewhere shewn, and therefore here shall not insert. But see the prodigious basenesse of the libel­ler, he would have the world believe; that the removall of Lilburne from Newgate to the Tower is out of some secret intent the Lords have to murther him privately there. Sirrah, know, the greater crime, the greater punishment; and the more obdurate the male­factor is, the more sure ought be his bands; but the certaine cause of his commitment to the Tower, I conceive is, for that his offen­ces are treasonable. He that withstandeth the Kings Vicegerent, opposeth the King, and indeed God, from whom he deriveth his power, so long as things lawfull are commanded by him; and he that resisteth the King commanding, as aforesaid, things lawfull, and not destructive to himself, is a Traytor, and as a Traytor ought to suffer. But see yet more impudencies.

But by this we may discerns your unsufferable incroachments upon our common Rights, daily increasing upon us, which in time, if not preven­ted, will wholy enslave and vassalage us all; for it is come to this already that the Free-men of England cannot goe to see their Fellow Com­moner, [Page 7] without bazzard of their Freedomes; and it is an act so unrea­sonable and destructive to us, that we cannot chuse but take notice of it, and let you know, that We cannot, neither will we suffer such intolerable affronts at your hands.

Calvin in his the preface. booke intituled, Instructio adversus libertines saith, Cum scelesta, & perniciosa, aliqua secta pullulare O cepit praesertim vero cum auges [...]it, eorum quo Deus ad aedificandum, Ecclesiam constituit, of­ficium est ire obv [...]am ac fortifer, resisiere priusquam, ad perdenda & e [...]rrumpend [...] omnia vires sumps [...]rit. When any pernicious sect begins to arise, but chiefly when it grows, tis the duty of them whom God hath appointed to build up his Church to oppose it strongly, and to appeare against it before it get strength to corrupt and de­stroy all. Now cause the house of Lords hath done as this holy man adviseth, nay as the sacred Scriptures command, to wit, have suppressed the Author of a most pernicious sect; or if they will not yield to that, the Broacher of new heresies and blasphemies, Lilburne, therefore they unsufferably encroach on the Commons Rights, and intend to bring them into slavery and bondage. I know the Sectaries & their abettors will not stick to say, that I WIL RUN WITH THE WIND, that I am a timeserver, and sooth up the Lords in hope of gaine; but let such know there is as great en­mity betwixt flattery and my nature as between the Wolfe and the Sheep. I know that Ministers first care ought to be of the Name of God, and next of the salvation of others, and I resolve with Horum alterum, cum intercidere, necesse fit pereat p [...]pa, pereant impii Magi­stratus Luther in c. 9. Hos. pereant impiorum dogmatim patroni, pereat totus mandus, & salvetur Deo sua gloria suum verbum su [...] cultus amen. When any thing is done by which of necessity either of those must suffer and fall to the ground, let the Pope perish, let wicked Magistrates pe­rish, let the patrons of wicked opinions perish, let the whole World perish, and let Gods glory, his Church, and his Worship be saved. But the Libeller proceedeth, and sheweth that already they are in some sort enslaved for, saith he, a Commoner of England cannot go to see his fellow &c. Let any capable of sence judge whether it be convenient that one convicted of transcendent crimes ought to have his com­biners and abbettor have free accesse to him, by whose poysonous Rhetorick he may not onely be more hardned in evill, but also may as Lilburne in his inpri­sonment for­merly hath done, to the very great di­sturbance of the peace of the Kingdom. deliver to them papers stuffed with language of dangerous [Page 8] [...] [Page 9] [...] [Page 8] consequence to be disperst abroad, as may occasion the subvertment and destruction of this Nation, and the deterring of these men from their brother in euill, is thought by them to be an act so un­reasonable and destructive to them, that they cannot but take no­tice of it, and publish to the world in print, that they cannot nor will not suffer such unsufferable Affronts; that the act is not un­reasonable, but just, I have already proved, but that it is destructive to their proceedings I shall easily believe; and for that intent it is performed, to wit, to impede the growth of evill, and hinder the corrupting of many; but for that tis said they cannot nor will not suffer (as they presumptuously terme them) such intollerable af­fronts: all from thence to be gathered is, that these intend to re­bell, and could they have Lilburne for leader, he would play Judas of Galile, and lead forth; but which of them would returne? but they speake their desires not their abilities, the points of their speares are dulled, and the edges of their Swords rebated.

But he hath got a good cause, and all good people that desire not to live by oppression of others are of his side, and that your Lordships will finde, for all these things will be laid open as the sunne, and every man will see wherefore you call his Books scandalous, seditious, and dangerous Pamphlets; and why the Judges, Lawyers, and Monopolists are his deadly Adversaries, even because he deales plainly betwixt you all, and the people, whom you labour by all means joyntly to keep in bondage and vassalage to your wils.

The greatest Hereticks, Traytors, or Conspirators that ever yet suffered condigne punishment have pretended a good cause, was their prop, &c. and for that the Libeller saith (all good people are on his side, and that the house of Lords will finde) I suppose he meaneth such good people, as under pretence of goodnesse act the very worst of wickednesse, seditious, slanderous, and reprobated persons, no other can nor will adhere to Lilburne in his seditious and unparaleld rebellious courses; and these I hope (saying with the Libeller) the house of Lords will finde, and bring to condigne punishment. I hope they will make a discovery, and finde out, the seditious Author of a slanderous Libell, entituled, EVERY MANS RIGHTS, or Englands PERSPECTIVE, the Author of a con­temptuous and disdainfull reviling Paper, entituled SEVERALL VOTES OF TENDER CONSCIENCES, at the bottome of [Page 9] which Paper is portraied a Pope, a Presbyter, termed Antichristian, and a Prelate; all these, each a dagger in hand, stabbing at an heart furnisht with wings and termed TENDER CONCIENCE, the Author of a Paper that striketh at Church and State, Emblemati­cally called the WATCHMANS WARNING PIECE, the Em­bleme is, a man issuing forth a wood, his weapons abandoned, and cast beneath a Tree, when on a suddenly he is assailed by a Dragon, a Leopard, and a Serpent; the Author presumeth to explaine his Embleme thus: would you thinke Independents could versifie?

But to the Libeller who saith, that things shal be laid open as the Sun and all men shall see why his Books are called scandalous, sedi­tious, and dangerous Pamphlets.

Things need not be made more evident then they are, and all men not besotted, see and know why and on what ground his Bookes are termed justly, SCANDALOVS SEDITIOVS and DANGEROVS Pamphlets, but the Libeller sticketh not to main­taine most eroneus paradoxes; ineptae & fabulosae nugae, through­out his whole Pamphlet whereof this is a grand one, but saith he, [Page 10] his chiefe enemies are the Clergy, Judges, and Lawyers, and Mono­polists, O unheard of insolencie, he ranketh the Clergy and Judges, with the Monopolists and Lawyers; all Clergy-men Judges Law­yers and all men of what craft or faculty soever, ought as they ten­der their welfare in this world, and that to come, to abhorre, abo­minate, and declare against, the seditious, rebellious, and de­structive proceedings of Lilburne, and his wicked complices, but see he goeth further, and maketh the Lords Judges Lawyers and Monopolists [...]ombiners together, using their utmost endeavour, to bring the people into bondage; alas alas, my friends, what need a­ny goe about to enslave you; who seeke all the meanes possible to fetter your selves; and I may boldly averr such is your ignorance accompanied with selfe conceit, that you differ in a small manner from the Atheists, all your life is that you love to goe to Church with great Bibles under your arme, but he that knowes best how to judge, saith, cor doloplenum, sonant vitium percussa maligne, you will now and then, Dare operam Augustino, read Austin frequent Ser­mons, and yet professed usurers, meere gripes, tota vitae ratio Epi­curea est, all your life is Epicurisme, and Atheisme, come to Church all day and lie with a Curtesan at night.

But of you enough from whom we have felt too much.

And therefore it will be good for your Lordships, in this charge to re­flect upon your selves, the people are now quick sighted, not easily deluded, if it were not so Mr. Lilburne were in a sad case, for here is no lesse then the whole house of Peeres his accusers &c.

Now the Libeller, having before threatned the Lords and shew­ed them the dangers they have run into, by censuring and impriso­ning Lilburne, whom the Libeller is not ashamed; to terme in the title of his libell (DEFENDOR OF THE FAITH) I say having shewed them into what a premunire they are fallen, he now giveth his judgement; and adviseth the Lords, to reflect on themselves, (for the people are quick sighted) I wish it were so indeed, and that they had Eagles eyes, to discerne the vanity and wickednesse of their seducers, who under pretence of advising them, in matters necessary and behovefull for them, incite them to strife, malice, and sedition, the onely way to worke their owne and this Kingdomes ruines; [Page 11] and it is to be admired as a signe and evident token of Gods un­speakable mercy, that we are yet a people, for as the Author of an excellent Poem saith. Intituled an expostulatory answer, to a derisory Que­stion.

But I know and can assure the world, that no people whatsoever they that desire to tread the paths of godlinesse, but their sight doth serve them and to their griefe they behold the unpleasing waies to God, and the destructive waies to this Nation that Lilburn and his complices take; and for that the Libeller placeth his con­sidence in the people, and saith but for them, Lilburne were in a sad case, for saith he here is no lesse then the whole house of Peeres his accusers, O vaine confidence, if the people as you say, (and as I fairely hope) will not be easily deluded, alas your hopes are frus­trate, remember the proverbe; they may perchance some of them be so evilly inclined as to allow of Lilburnes proceedings, yea and to love him therefore, but notwithstanding you will finde they love themselves better, and will not to save him from due punishment, hazard their owne welfare, but let's proceede.

You will finde that you are not yet Lords over the PARLIAMENT, you haue not the least power to dispose of the monies of the Common-wealth, much lesse to imprison mens persons at your pleasure.

Folly mixed with impudence is unsufferable and a Lyer in Print to be abhominated, it is the maine plot, and chiefe desire of the Sectaries, could they have their desires, to raise a discord and a dif­ference betwixt the two houses of Parliament, this the Libeller go­eth about to procure; saying, and as it were menacing the Lords, you will finde that you are not yet Lords over the Parliament (meaning the honourable House of Commons) they have learnt Machiavills maxime, divide & impera devide and prevaile, but the ever to be honoured Lords & Commons, are so surely tied together in that Gordian knot of the Covenant, they stand as a rock, fixed in the sea, against which though the waves dash and murmur, as be­ing repel'd, they remaine sollid and unmoveable, but the Libeller [Page 12] giveth an instance of some division betwixt the Houses, for saith he, you have not the least power, to (dispose of the money of the com­mon-wealth) no, why then doth the Commons send up to the Lords for their concurrence, ere any loane of money is levyed or disbursed, therefore his is notoriously false and subbornd, raised on purpose to bring the Lords into contempt, and for the inprisoning mens persons, their power and authority avoucheth, and they are inabled to punish notorious offendors, such as Lilburne and his complices; but how long will ye discent O ye seditious; me thinks the tumults, uproars, anguish, and dangers that attend upon it might perswade you, the more you contend the more you shall be invol­ved in a labyrinth of woes, 'tis an Hydras head, the more you strive the more you may, for my owne part I have written in answer to you, knowing the most obdurate have been convinced of their error, Nemo desperet meliora lapsus.

And now for as much as I have little reason to expect but as is your manner, to all whom you affect not, to be vilified in print, but this is my buckler.

I say doe even as your malevolent spirits shall prompt you; while I admire your folly, and lament your punishments.