WHen a learned and well experienced Physitian, hath eitherby the Pulse, Vrin, or other Symptomes, found out the cause of the dangerous disease of his Patient, he will know or conjecture what is Cure­able or past Cure: And as it is with the Body of Man, so in the Body Politique of the Kingdome, if the causes of our distempers and distractions would or could be knowne, they might with wisedome and judgement be removed and taken away, and then (by consequence) the Effects would cease. And though most men are either Fooles or Physitians, (or Some men are all these, some both of these, some one of these, and some nei­ther. both) yet few or none hath either found or shewed the causes or reasons of these causelesse and unreasonable disturbances. Amongst the many Thousands of oppressed sufferers in this our afflicted Eng­land, my selfe (though no Phisitian, yet the Son of a Chirurgian) am one, that hath had a long time of many tryalls and experiments of Waters, and Water-Casting, and I have lately used my poor skill in Casting the Kingdomes Water, and though Phisitians may often faile in their conjectures, yetFooles and Children will tell truth. Fooles and Children will many times tell the Truth by chance.

I have Cast the Waters of Thames, Isis, Seaverue, Wye, Avon, Trent, Humber, Owse, Tweed, Forth, Tay, Spey, Annan, &c. and (as I guesse) I have found out the true cause and causes, the needlesse why, the impertinent wherefore, and the accursed unknowne for what, this former flourishing Kingdom is thus Rebelliously infect­ed. And if I could as well Cure, as discover the diseases, my gratious Soveraigne and all his Loyall Subjects and Servants, should quickly [Page 2] have their owne againe in Peace. But because England doth not know well what she ayles, (though I cannot cure her) yet I will tell her how it is.

The Members of this great Body do complaine of the Head, say­ing, that from thence their griefe began; the Head is troubled with too much Akeing, Cares, with extreame overwatchfullnesse for the preservation of the misguiding Members, and the misguided Bo­dy; The Members pretend the defence and maintenance of the knowne Lawes of the Kingdom.

The King, (according to those established knowne Lawes) de­sires to Rule, and also requires the lawfull obedience due to His Majesty by those Lawes, and no otherwise. And those at Westmin­ster, cannot but acknowledge, but that they are all Traytors that doe refuse to live in obedience to the King and those knowne Lawes. But the Westminsterians doe call all the Protestants, and all others that are obedient to those knowne Lawes, Malignants, and Popishly-affected; And without Law, (and against those Lawes) they Kill, Imprison, and Sequester all their Lands, Offices, and Estates. And those lawlesse men doe not only commit this outrage against particulars, but even against the whole Body of the King­dome; for they have Rob'd it (violently) of the maine Pillar, prop, and support of their Lives, Livelihoods and Fortunes, by ta­king away from them their Elections of their Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses; for they have turn'd all such out of the House of Commons, as would not joyne with them in this horrid Rebellion, The Subject is rob'd of his Right, and brought into slavery, when the Knights and Burgesses (whom they have elected, according to the Lawes) are expulst out of the House of Commons, contrary to the Law. when as (they being rightly elected and return'd) by the Law they cannot put out any, but for some legall Cause, as being out­lawed after Rebellion, or for being a Felon, Murtherer or Tray­tor.

But these Traytors at Westminster, are so lawlessely impudent and insolent, that as they dare not (themselves) be tried by the knowne Lawes, so they will not permit those whom they falsely accuse to be Malignants, to be tried by those Lawes, but have kept some in Prison more then these three yeares, because they would not commit whoredome with the Beast at Westminster. Tush, these are triviall matters, above the reach of a ScullersNor would I have you be­leeve, that I wrote this Pamphlet, but I doe know my selfe able to scann all your Neck­verses; if you have occasion to use me. Capacity, 'tis knowne M^r Sergeant Wild will say, there are Presidents, that the House of Commons have (as their wisedomes thought meet and [Page 3] convenient) put out some Members without any legall Cause shewed. (the greater their fault in so doing.) 'Tis true, I have heard there wasThis was one M^r Shep­heard; and I would he had then obtained his desire: or I wish, that either Mouse­traps, or any other snare might catch them, or make them mend their man­ners. one (not many yeares since) that one was put out for desiring some Ginne or Mousetrappe to catch Puritans, and that is one of your Westminster presidents. By as good reason, because some Theeves and Robbers have not been hang'd, therefore all may lawfully steale and none be hang'd by that president; or because one of your Members got a Wench with child in his lodging, and was not punished forSir Edward Askew. it, shall that be made a president for all others to get Bastards, or make Cuckolds?

I doe heartily desire, I might be permitted to joyne Issue with you, you have three Iudges with you, and it may be requisite (for an accommodation) that M^r Selden, and M^r Maynard, were made two more; (though they love their owne quiet and their wealth too much) they are knowne to be learned in the Lawes. Those five might be joyn'd to ours here, and every one of us and you, submit to their judgements, according to the knowne Lawes; And (by the Lawes) it will appeare who are Traytors, and who are honest If you had dared to suf­fer your five famous Mem­bers to have been tryed by the Law, we had had no Warres. men. But M^r Sergeant Wild, and learned M^r Miles Corbet, will that is not reason, for they have been inforc'd or necessitated to doe many things contrary to the Law; the more Knaves and Rebels still.

And shall we of the Kings side, say more truly, there is neither Law or Reason to kill or imprison us, to take our Goods, Lands, and Offices from us, for the poore thred-bare and unjust Reason, that you were necessitated.

For the Turke doth not cover his Tyranny with Law or Reason, when he takes Goods or Life from a man, for he doth it by will and tyrannicall power, even as you doe now to us, for we doe not know any injury that we have done you, or any faults we have committed against you, but that you make our obedience to the King, and our keeping of the Lawes, our great and CapitallOur wealth is also a great part of our faults. offen­ces. We are all bound in Loyalty to His Majestie, by the Law of God, by the Lawes of the Land, and by the Law of Nature, as our grand Parent. And for His preservation, and defence to keep you from killing and murthering Him, and all His loyall and faithfull Subjects, we are now necessitated (according to those knowne Lawes) to oppose you, that are the opposers of all the Lawes of God and the Kingdome.

[Page 4] The causes of your Rebelling, and of the Kingdomes miseries was the great necessity that you were in, and what (I pray you) was that great necessity? These were the chief cau­ses of the Kingdomes diseases. because some Lord (whom you pleas'd to have) might not be made Lord Treasurer, another High Admiral, and the Lord Say to be an Earle, and Lord Keeper of the Great Seale▪ because some might not have the honour to be Ambassadors▪ one to be Chancellor to the Queene, another Master of the Rolls; and of the House of Commons, some to be Maisters of Requests, Pym to be Chancellor of the Exchequer, Hambden Cofferer, in a word, some to be Secretaries to the King, Queene and Prince, or Gentlemen of the Bed-chamber to the King or Prince, and all Officers to be put out, and your selves or your Creatures placed in their roomes; be­cause this could not be granted, then you will have it by violence of Fire and Sword: And this was the great necessity you pretend and speake of. Because these things could not be obtained, you finding the multiplicity (and simplicity) of Sectaries, you have made exe­crable use of their Repugnancie to our Church-Government esta­blished by Law; hoping that by your Cunning fishing in these troubled Waters, to gaine your ends of ambition, profit, malice, and revenge, which doth now appeare to all seeing men, to be the ground of this horrid Rebellious Warre.

For first, to beginne with the Church, what can you find there amisse, for Reformation, that you do not first condemne the Apo­stles themselves, and all the Catholick Church ever since; for is it possible you can perswade Rationall men, that the Government of the Vniversall Church could be so suddainly changed from the Pr [...]sbyterian Government (which you straine to support) suppo­sed, or seeming to you to be setled by the Apostles? Is it not meer madnesse to thinke, that the Government so setled of Bishops, should so quickly cast out the Presbytery, and that the said Episco­pall Function and dignity hath so continued these 1600 years, and not one Godly Christian in so long time to be found (no not one of note or Antiquity) untillA moderne Patriarch, who brought Lay-Elders, and little ruffs in fashion in Scotland. M^r John Knox his time? But more strange it appears to me, that in all other Reformed places, there is not that warmth, or fire of zeale, to be found any where but in Scotland only, that will kill and slay all the English, to make them obey their Kirke (or rather Querke) Government, which is to pre­tend holinesse and brotherly love, to cheat us of our Wealth, quiet, [Page 5] and Peace. I will not meddle or speake of Reformed Churches, God keep them in unity and Tranquillity; But because I have been in Scotland, and have seen somewhat, but have heard and Read much more, of their Querk and their Ecclesiasticall government, I will say this, that I cannot find any great difference between the Iesuit and them. The Jesuit would have the Pope only, to have all the Spirituall and Temporall powers of the World in him; And the Presbyterians, would be every one a severall Pope. And this I will say, (and my opinion hath thousands to agree with it,) that it is more milde and tolerable, to live under the Spanish Inquisiti­on, then under their Presbyterian Querke Authority and Tyranny, which (in a word) hatches Rebellion, seems and seeks sway and domination over their King, with all his Loyall Subjects Lands and Riches, and this is truly, verily, and sincerely their only zeale.

They may remember, that the Raigne of Queen Elizabeth and hir Royall favour, with the Ayde of the English Nation, should not ingratefully be forgotten; it is not many yeares since that they fear'd that the French made Warre in Scotland to settle the Romish Religion there; (which they then thought to be an unreasonable proceeding by Strangers) at which time they had recourse to the Crowne of England for their preservation, (which then relieved them,) and I have read in their Service-Book of their Church of Prayers, Thanks, and Vowes, that they would never be against the English Crowne, but spend their lives for the service thereof. And now behold the Perfidious and most abhorr'd ingratitude of these Monsters, their thankfulnesse is exprest in Killing and Rui­ning us, and taking our Townes from us; ButAnother moderne Pa­triarch, who hath added short haire, & long eares to M^r. Knoxe's Reformation. M^r Henderson will say that the Scottish Nation (in thankfulnesse for that good turne) they come now (in Gud suith) to shew their brotherly love, to de­liver us from Popery. I must confesse, that in your comming you shew'd a great deale of Affection to us, but you should have been better welcome if you had had so much manners, to have staid 'till the King had sent for you. Besides your care for us is very much to be admired and Respected, that you took our danger of Popery into your gud Considerations, when as neither the King or His Counsell, nor any honest man in the whole Kingdom, neither could, can, or shall perceive any such an alteration or purpose. O but my Lord Lowden, and my Lord Say, and M^r Hambden, percei­ved [Page 6] it through the Perspective Glasse of their high Wisdome [...] and they sent for you; But was your Prayers and Vowes, made to my Lord Say, or M^r Hambden, or for, and to the Crowne of England; I know you will say it was not to the Crowne, but to the People that you owe your thankfulnesse (though it may be made good (by Record) that that vast expence for your deliverance, was meerly from the Crowne, and then so acknowledged by Record (as may be proved.) But the Scriptures are now better understood by my Lord Lowden, and M^r Henderson, for now the People are above the King, for Kings and Emperours are but the PresbyteriansA faire and high Presby­terian promo­tion. Curre­doggs, to keep the Wolfe from their Flock, when they command them; And therefore (they say) they being called into England by the Parliament, they understand (in their Politique Capacity) that they are called by the King, when God knowes, the King had too many English Rebells and Traitors to molest Him, His People and Kingdom, so that we had no occasion to send for strange Re­bells of another Nation to ruine usI desire not to be mista­ken, for I taxe none but Re­bels, either English or Scots, and it is knowne, that there are ho­nest men and knaves in eve­ry Nation. totally. I will say nothing by whose authority the Parliament is called, nor by whose Writ they meet, nor that there was ever any Act or Law made without the Kings Confirmation, these things have been handled & discus'd by more Learned men then my selfe, I will have nothing to doe with things that are so transcendent above my Reach. But I would glad­ly let you know, we are not Ignorant of your craft and subtilty, in seeming to make those few Members at Westminster to be the Parliament, because you and they have Covenanted to divide the Spoyle and Government of this Kingdom amongst you. For, first you know when you were on your Mattch with your Army, there were three times the number of Lords, wrote unto you from Ox­ford to disavow your calling in, then there were at Westminster to call you. Besides the promises therein madeThe Lords promised to defend their lawes and li­berties from violation and alteration. you, the which it is not unlikely but you may have cause to repent the not accepting. And for the Members of the Commons House, the World knowes that the Major part were then at Oxford. But you will make walls and Stones to be the Houses of Parliament to serve your ends, even as the Westminster men doe, to cover their Treason and Rebellion, cause and appoint theirSuch as M^r [...]st, who o­ver prophecied himselfe in Pigge at my Lord Majors Table, which proved per­fume in the afternoone to the Congre­gation at Saint Martins. Tub-Orators and Pamphletteers, to inform the People that the King makes Warre against His Parliament, when (in truth) if they mean the Parliament, by the greater num­ber [Page 7] of the Lords and Commons, the Parliament (in that sense) are either with the King or for the King.

But the Authors and pursuers of this accursed Warre, are easily perceived and known. The King (as I told you) requires the Maintenance of the true Protestant Religion, and of the known Lawes and Liberties of his Subjects, and for these things He is op­posed, (which is flat Treason) His life sought, and His Subjects and Kingdoms spoyled. But you doe make this Warre because you would inforce the King to abolish Bishops, and take away all Deans and Chapters, and their Lands to be divided between you and your Covenanted Scottish Brethren; And for your better ina­bling you to swaye and Domineere over the King and His People, you will and must have the power of the Militia, or else you will kill the King, and all his faithfull Subjects that shall defend Him. I have read the Chronicles of England, wherein I find Commoti­ons, and Rebellions to cause the King to keep His Lawes, but this is the first Rebellion that I ever heard of, that will not only in­force the King to breake His Coronation Oath made to His People, but will either kill Him, or compell Him to breake His Lawes likewise; so that if the King would have been perjur'd for their pleasure, they would never have Rebelled against him, and indeed if they were not Perjur'd in breaking their Oathes of Allegiance, and infringing all the known Lawes, we had never been thus mis­cheivously perplexed.

And if it be true, that the People doe make Kings, (as your A­postle The first Apostle, that ever left his Eares twice for Libelling. Prinne saies) therefore they may unmake them if they please: then by the same Rule may we not say, we will have no more Knights, Cittizens, and Burgesses, for doe not the People make them? yes Verily-truly, and Truly-verily.

Therefore advise well of your businesse, that you are so madly troublesome about, if you begin to pull down Kings, I will assure you, we will have no Lords or Gentlemen amongst us; And in that (I am sure) we have the advantage (in number of People) there being more Poore then Rich to take our parts; and we shall have as much Law, and more Reason for our justification, then you have for this Horrid Rebellion. I would faine preserve the wilfull, the obstinate, the mislead, and seduced Londoners, or (as I may truly say) my Goatham, quondam friends, I will not yet call you Bed­lams) [Page 8] I hope you may yet recover your crooked and crazed Witts, before all be spent and lost, the which I heartily wish. I know some of you are Learned, I pray you recollect your Readings, and tell me (if you can) if you ever found Lawes or Government setled by the Sword (that so continued) or Justice, or Right, supprest long without being restored; And therefore if you doe still conti­nue your disbursements in maintaining this Rebellion, you will have the curse of all England, as your being the causers of all our miseries, and consequently of your own undoing; for we all know, that if you doe lock up your Purses, that we and you shall have Peace laid at our doores,I desire the common peo­ple to be no more couse­ned out of their Estates and Lives. By which means, we might have a free Parliament to stop all our Breaches, and build up the Ruines which this unnaturall Warre hath made, without which, we can expect no other but totall confusion and desolation.

The Lawes are the Touch, the Test, the rule and guide of all our lives and actions, the Lawes are terrible to none but Theeves, Mur­therers, Traytors, and Rebels, every honest man and true Subject dares look the Law in the face boldly without feare; we dare you to be judged and ttyed by theIf the lawes might decide the Quarrell, wee should quickly have a Close-Com­mittee of Heads stand­ing on the top of the two Houses. Lawes, (as we dare.) Let no Sword, but the Sword of Iustice, decide the Quarrell, and cut off the offenders.

There are but two sorts of Enemies that are the Causers, and continuers of our Calamities, these only are the hinderers and op­posers of our Peace. The one Cause is our sinnes, and the other the Rebels; they are the accursed Amalekites, that disturbes and stops us from our enjoying our happy rest. If we would reforme the one, we should quickly tame the other; Therefore let all such as are averse to Peace, and delight in Theft and slaughter, know, that though the plundering Achan can filch a Wedge of Gold, yet there are stones to beat out the Braines of such a Theevish knave; Let the wise Achittofooles, (or accursed Councellors to this Re­bellion set their Houses in order and goe hang themselves. The King is still the King, and (maugre all the malice of Hell and Hell­hounds) he is wall'd about with divine providence and protection; His gratious God, in whom he only trusts, will defend him, and arise and scatter his Enemies; though you have Rob'd our Royall David of His Militia and Militarie defences, yet there is a Sling in store, that with a peble can make the greatest Goliahes Grovell [Page 9] amongst you. Shamgar, shall not want a Goade, Gedion a Pitcher, and every Loyall Souldier of the Kings, will be a Sampson, to beat your Braines out with your owne Rebellious jaw-bones, that her bloudy Issue (or Inundation) may be stopt by Calme and gentle Peace.

But if this afflicted Land hath such an unexpected and undeser­ved happinesse stored up in the eternall Treasurie of gracious Pro­vidence, then happy and blessed are those men that are ordain'd to be the Instruments and meanes for a blessed Reconciliation and atonement, thrice happy may they be, and the fruition of blessings Temporall and Eternall be upon them and their Posteritie [...]; boast no more of the Spirit, but endeavour to embrace his Spirit, who pronounced the Peace-makers blessed; and said whose Children they should be called. By which consequently it must follow, that the Peace-breakers are accursed of God, and also may justly be called the Children of their Father the Devill. Leave off Trium­phing and glorying in your mischeivous Imaginations, give over Bragging and Vaunting of your Villanous Victories, forbeare to force your Christian Brethren to murther one another in so dam­nable a Cause as this unfellowed Rebellion.

But if you will run further on, and fill up the measure of your Iniquities, with boasting of the successe of your execrable Designes, in the end you shall find, that to boast of wickednesse is a degree beyond wickednesse, and to be Ostentatious in ungodly actions, is the road way to double damnation.

Before I conclude, I must propound a Querie, or ask you a que­stion. You have promis'd, that if His Majesty would come and com­ply with you, that then you will make Him, a more Great, Rich, and glorious King then any of His Predecessors ever were. Now we would fain know, and we doe all desire you to let us under­stand, how, which way, and by what meanes this Greatnesse, Wealth and Glory may be by you conferr'd upon the King? if you will doe us the favour as to send us your mind in writing, we will pay the bearer, and if we can perceive any probabiliti [...]s▪ that you can performe what you promised, we will be humble suppliants to His Majesty, to accept your kind offer: in the mean time, (be­fore you make Him so Great and Rich as you talk of) I think it a very goodstep, to that Greatnesse and State, if you will be pleased [Page 10] to give him his own againe, which you have proditoriously and perfidiously taken, and doe still detain from Him.

Thus have I truly shewed the Causes of the Kingdomes griefes, to be at first a Melancholy madnesse, then it was hydropically pult up (in many places) with Ambition, Malice, Revenge, Avarice, Sects, Schismes, and Fantasticall Sathanicall Innovations and per­turbations. I suppose that nothing can cure her but the Law well applyed; to which I leave you and our selves, and shut up all with a distick.