IT is no small incouragement to the sober Party of these Na­tions, to hope for either their Native Freedom, or at least a more soft and silken bondage, than formerly; whilest they shall see your Excellencies influence to have any operation upon the Government or Governours of this Nation: And the rather, be­cause your Excellency in your Letter from Leicester, of the 21th instant to the Gentlemen of our County, laying aside your thun­dering Canons and bellowing Drums, were pleased to dispute the difference with sober reason, enameled over with courting affe­ction; a way unusual in those that have been before you: which shews the lineaments of your Noble spirit, far more precious than the savage features of our late Bassaes; which sweet deportment, hath courted me forth amongst others, to reply (with what reve­rence and softness, I may) to your Excellency. That notwith­standing that handsom Plea contained in your Letter, and there­in the most and best that can be said for that cause; Yet the ex­cluded Members (according to our Declaration) are the best ex­pedient that can be proffer'd, for the prevention of farther Mi­steries, and setling the Nation in a lasting peace.

Your Excellencies Argument is, That the Excluded Members are most of them for Monarchy in Church and State, which cannot now be set up in either (as you judge) without a new War. Not in the [Page 4]Church, 1. Because these wars have produced different Interests, as Presbyterians, Independants, Anabaptists, Sectarians in the Church, who ought to have Liberty, as far as Gods Word will warrant them. 2. Because the Bishops, Deans and Chapters Lands are sold. Nor in the State, 1. Because Crown-Lands, the support of Monarchy are sold. 2. Many in England have fought against the King, and so dread his return. 3. Monarchy necessarily induceth uniformity. 4. The Army will never endure Monarchy in Church or State.

For answer to what is Ecclesiastick, 1. Admit the Presbyte­rian, Independent, &c. Interests, could not be secured but by a Republique; Yet who should bring in a Republique but a Free Parliament. 2. Admit that the Excluded Members would destroy these Interests, if restored: Shall we do them injustice, in keeping them from their trust; because we fear they will do so to others? Is it justice in me to take away a Travailers Sword, because I fear he may kill an honest man assoon as a Thief. Casuists determine, 'tis more Christian to suffer evil from, than to do evil to others. 3. A Parliament consisting of all it's Members, but what are legally outed (which cannot with any pretence of reason be averred of the Excluded Members) are the only and proper Judges, which way and how these Ecclesiastick Interests may be secured; and therefore the business before us, is coraem non judice till they are restored. 4. All Parties in this Nation may better expect their security, as to Ecclesiasticalls, from a legal and Free Parliament, which carries (as it were) a Stamp of Divine Majesty on it, rather than from such a founda­tion, as carries force and violence in the face of it. Men sel­dome thrive that dare not trust Gods way. Casuits say, we ought to tread paths of righteousness, though they would certainly lead us into mischiefs: which yet is but supposed, the Excluded Members would do, if restored. 5. How can your Excellency suspect, the Excluded Members would erect Monarchy in the Church? when themselves pulled it down, and sold most of the Church Lands. 6. And for toleration of all religious In­terests, as far as is warrantable by the Word of God (which is your own rule) Oliver made it the Stairs to Tyranny, tel­ling us that our civil and spiritual Liberties, were inconsi­stent, and gave this for the reason, why he excluded so many of every Parliament in his time; because if he permitted them, to [Page 5]enjoy their freedom they would impose upon tender Consciences. But to clear this, there are many of their Declarations extant, holding forth this Liberty at large, yea, the late King himself never denied a fair, warrantable Toleration since 1643. witness his Message for a Treaty, March 3. 1643. therein offer­ing all just and reasonable ease of tender Consciences. And in his Message July 4th 1644. after Sir William Wallers Defeat at Cro­predy Bridge, defires all due regard may be had to-tender Con­sciences. Again in his Message concerning his Concessions, January the fifteenth, 1645. he offers full Liberty for the ease of their Consciences, that will not communicate in the Service esta­blished by Law. And in the Explanation of his Concessions, January 29. 1645. his Majesty further declares, He intends that all other Protestants (to wit, besides Presbyterians) behaving themselves peaceably in, and towards the Civil Government, shall have the free Exercise of their Religion, according to their own way. Adde his Concessions to these Excluded Members, up­on which they were excluded, of September 29. 1648. So that no man can rationally doubt, but these several Interests are suf­ficiently secured, by the Excluded Members, already. Yet 'tis a sign of a naughty heart, to uphold Injustice; because Injustice will uphold him, and Justice will not.

7. All religious persons have reason to trust full and free Parliaments in religious Matters, more than any Faction of men; for free Parliaments carried on the Reformation from Henry the Eight's time, till now. Who appeared against bur­thensom Ceremonies &c. but this free Parliament? How much did free Parliaments strengthen the hands of Qu. Elizabeth in her Reformation? Doth not Democritus Junior, a Sectarian in shew, but a Jesuit in truth, demonstrate our free Parliaments consciencious diligence to establish Religion, and true Liberty? whilest he in that late Pamphlet, asserts our Gospel and Mini­stery to have been from Parliaments, not from Christ.

8. Proprietors in Bishops Lands, &c. are not like to be molested by the Excluded Members, if re-admitted to their Trust, for that the Act for the Sale of them was passed by themselves. And yet if it were judged needful to return any Lands to the Church again, as they were sold to supply the incident Changes of the Nation, so the Nation ought to rpeurchase them, of the now Proprietor; which judicious men say, two moneths revenues (that now goes to maintain the present government) would effect; yea, that three months Revenue more (as now established) would satisfy all Proprietors of Kings, Queens, and Princes Lands.

And who can doubt the Nation unwilling to pay these Sums: rather than endure these unjust proceedings: and the rather con­sidering they must pay a 1000 times asmuch, to maintain the present State as it now stands. So that your Excellencies suppo­sed necessity, of a civil War to arise afresh, upon the Account of these Interests; is clearly removed, while each Proprietor re­ceives full satisfaction. And the support of Monarchy (if need­full) may be restored. 9. And if these several Interests stand (as your Excellency conceives) upon the minor part of a Parlia­ment, against the Major; they are secured, not by Law, for the Legislative power is confessedly in the Major part, as such; but by force, which is none of the best tenures: and therefore do truly need the restoring the excluded Members, for their better confirmation. Lastly, be pleased my Lord to consider, that by excluding these Members, we are like to venture all our civil and religious Interests on the success of a battel or two, in which we must ingage against Charles Stuart, a Free Parliament and 11 parts in 12 of the people, who though they want Arms, and you have their Purse, yet their very Numbers will increase their cou­rage: And what a hazard will these Interests be then forced to run? So that the War you dreaded, by admitting these Members, will certainly follow, without admitting them: the main of which danger may be averted by your Excellencies diligence, in restoring the excluded Members; for then you will have none left to oppose you, but the damme Cavaliers. In failure of which, if the conquering Sword of Charles Stuart, with all these adhe­rents take place, and the prophane multitude get head (my Lord) all the tears in your eyes will be too few, to bewail the misery your negligence hath brought upon us; when you shall see all good Interests dying, while you are (pardon me, my Lord, if I say) mistakenly careful to uphold them.

Now for answer to what concerns civill affairs; to wit, that the excluded members are most of them for Monarchy, and the In­conveniences of that. 1. If that be true, so are almost all England: and who will, or can withstand a multitude, where the danger is not horribly mischievous, to give them their will, neither can it be a Government, but Tyranny, where things are managed a­gainst the will of the people. 2. Most of them ('tis probable) [Page 7]have so much conscience, as to judge they are bound to be so by the Covenant: and if so, how unsaint-like is it to tempt them to perjury? by the loss of their reputation, exclusion from the House, and such other miseries, as have befallen Sir George Booth already. 3. The whole House, as a House, did never yet declare, they were for Monarchy: So that they are punished, only upon su­spition: a thing only practicable among Turks, or against young Foxes, and Cubs of Beasts of prey. 4. Your Excellency knows that most of the present House, have, and yet do deem, the for­mer Government of England, to have been the best on earth; but not now practicable, lest it should turn them off the helm; or for some other circumstances, arising from our bloudy discen­sions. 5. The Excluded Members, have as much cause to fear a Monarchy, as either of these now sitting, (unless it be for some private gain in the dissolution of Monarchy) and ought to be as careful to make good terms; for that they also have fought a­gainst the Stuarts Family. 6. That position of your Excellencies is not clear; that many must fight against the Stuarts, because they have done it already: for the Scots Nation fought against them, and since have fought for them: so have particular men of the best rank, as Langhorne, Poyer, Powel, Massey, &c. and doubtless, you know 10000. that are at this day in the same propenseness. 7. That the support of Monarchy is taken away, is answered in the 8 Resp. of Ecclesiastick affairs. 8. That Monarchy requires uniformity in the Church is not clear: in that K. James is always instanced in, as one that allowed toleration, & so is Constantine by many, & Steven K. of Poland, our late K. Charls professed it: the Jewish Monarchy admitted it, Poland hath for many hundred yeers allowed it, France tolerates Hugenotes in great abundance; and the Turkish Empire it self gives way to it, so that if the ex­cluded Members should reduce Monarchy with them, yet not Uniformity; And yet admit they should, It is not lawful for us to keep them from their right, because they will do what is not meet with it. 9. Your last argument, that the Army will not en­dure it, is the sting in the tayle, the greatest and most substanti­al of all the arguments offered, which indeed I cannot answer, because I have not a sword in mine hand. But what will not the Army endure? a Monarchy? who set up Oliver but the [Page 8]Army? and Lambert and Fleetwood, but the Army who made Emperors in despite of the Roman Senate, but the Army? who encouraged Julius Cesar to pass Rubicon against the Senatorian Decree, but the Army? As Armies are best lead by a Unity, so they best lead to a Unity. 'Tis true, the Army may not endure a Monarchy, but doubtless can endure a Tyranny: and that I doubt not but we shall see, as soon as they have a little leasure. But my Lord, 'tis a Wallingfordian distinction to talk of populus and populus armatus, as if the Souldiers Rendevouz-votes, were binding as Senatorian Lawes, we hope your Excellency hath fought against those lawless practices. Thus have I unfolded my thoughts to your Excellency, concerning your Letter; in such lines as my rude countrey, and ruder education will afford, giving you onely this farther Information, that the eyes of this Countrey are much upon you, and would be proud to hear, that your Excellency should prove the onely true Patriot, that durst venture his fortunes, to save over tottered vessel from utter shipwrack; which alone can be done, by restoring the Excluded Members. In doing of which your grateful country will cast their lives, and what is dear to them, at your feet, and reckon them­selves your ransomed vassals; In which that the Lord would strengthen your hands, is the earnest prayer of