IT is Gods command, No man should seeke his owne, but every man one anothers wealth. A sufficient warrant for any man undertaking in so seeking: and whether I have so sought and can doe a gene­rall good for this Kingdome, witnesse two Attestations in this Book, one under the hand [...] of the honourable Serjant major Ge­nerall Skippon, the other under the hands of five of the Committee for the For­tifications of the City of London; the originals ready to be produced on de­mand.

If any man should goe and report to any nation or people, where Gun-pou­der is not knowne, that they would cause a great iron bullet of ten or twenty pound weight or more to flie a mile, two or three in the ayre, it would be an­swered it were unpossible so to doe; and also where printing is not knowne, as impossible that 3 men should performe more in a legible way of writing in one day then an hundred men, and for that it is knowne to us how it is done, we should slight his judgement should gain-say it.

And what more unpossible to some to conceive how halfe an Armies victu­als may be saved, five parts of six of their pay, all the money that should be laid out for apparelling of them (and the money that should be disbursed for Pikes for halfe an Army, and some small quantity of Armour that some of them are to have will performe all this.) And this halfe Army to secure the other half Army from the horse and from Musket-shot. I presume this report would prove to those that know not how it is to be done, as hard as Samsons riddle.

Gods hand is not shortened, he gives as miraculous blessings (by means) to whom he pleases, as well in this age as heretofore; therefore let no man de­spise meanes, especially when the commodity thereby is greater than the dis­commodity, nor ought any man ro question by what meanes the Lord will end this civill Warre in this Land; but when good waies and meanes shall be discovered by any man to subdue the enemy with little bloud-shed, may it not be said it is likely to be the means God will end this Warre by, rather than by equall exposing one another to slaughter, and to resist such meanes, what is it but a refusing of Gods blessing, unlesse we have a command to the contrary.

It is not to be questioned, but that the Lord can do infinite things if he please by his absolute power, which he will not doe, so John said of him, Mat. 3▪ 9. But it is an actuall or a working power which he executeth in governing of [Page 3] the world and the things therein; and it is one thing what God can do where meanes is wanting, and another thing what he will do by the use of means.

Had Sir Francis Drake (that ever renowned Gentleman for his rare inven­tion by a fiery Ship) done as I have (for that I have not wherwith to manage my invention as he had) discover his strategem how he could destroy those proud Spaniards, (and their great Armado, that came to make a destruction of the people in this land) it is very likely his successe should have been no bet­ter then mine, either in the discovery thereof, or dislike by some that would have over-powred him.

And if it can either be hoped for, or by any likelihood made to appeare, that this Warre should end this Summer by a better way then by such meanes as it expressed in the Propositions, than ought this way to be slighted, if a better is not knowne, good reason this way and such like should be accepted of.

If it should be reckoned how many discommodities belongs to great pee­ces of Ordnance, in respect of the benefit comes thereby, it would discourage men to use them in field fights: First in respect of the great charge of the peece, his carriage, and the horses to draw them. Secondly, the charge of pouder and bullet at one shot. Thirdly, the men to traverse them. Fourth­ly, the slow marching of them. Fiftly, if weather be foule a day or two, they many times are lodged, which cause the stay of the Army, all which may be helpt, as the Propositions (following) declares.

I will referre such as speake against meanes, to the first of Judges 19. v. how the enemies of God kept their habitation in the valley, because they had chari­ots of Iron, but they were driven out of the mountaines (by the children of Is­rael) where they had no such fence, not but that God could have driven them from thence: But the Lord did not alwaies in a miraculous manner destroy his enemies, but by meanes suffered them to save themselves as the Canaanites did with chariots of iron. To teach us in humane things to look to the means▪ if not, what need men plow, but cast their corne upon the ground, and though God gives the increase he will not give it in the worst way, nor will any wise man so presume, than certainly if we use the best meanes to save mens lives, we may expect the better successe.

And if to feed men to maintaine life we use the best way, though trouble­some to man and horse, why should we not use the best meanes to save the lives of men. The shallower the corne is sowne the worse will it be for the husband-man. So likewise the more unprovided a Generall goeth to the wars, the worser will his successe be, if any feare it not, let them go with clubs and swords, so shall much mony be saved, but I believe we shall find none so hardy, but if those that withstandeth means were themselves exposed to the warre, they would be glad of means to keepe them from the horse, and to be secured from musket-shot.

The use of meanes is not hurtfull nor offends God, when it tends to good, but the use of meanes may be said to be hurtfull, when we use it against Gods command, or when we put too much carnall confidence therein, as the Israe­lites did in the Arke, when they carried it to the battle, trusting more therein then they did in God, which caused the Lord to give both them and it into the hands of their enemies for their vain confidence, but to use lawfull means with prayer and a trust in God for a good successe, I presume it is lawfull. Let me use the freedome to declare by these presents, that I have been very strongly opposed (by some) for above this two yeares, that not any thing I can doe for the good of the State takes successe. And if it were required, why I should be so maliced, they that do so or are the Authours therof can shew no just cause, unlesse my seeking for the good of the State be the cause, or the good service my late father did, who had a place under the great Seale of England to seise on part of the Papists estates, to the use of the Crowne, if they would not be conformable to the laws of the land, or in suing in the right of the Crown and for my owne due kept from me by powerfull hands.

Or for what my late brother did (to the late Duke of Buckingham) who was willing to loose his life for the Kingdomes good, or in respect of my adversa­rie Sir Henry Spiller knight, against whom I have bin in suites more then this twenty yeares in the right of the Crowne and for my owne due, being a great estate, but could not obtain Justice against my adversary, so powerfull he was in friends and purse, by whose wicked doings my late father and my self have been ruin'd: or for that some feares by these Engines the warrs will too soon be made an end of. For some of these causes or the like, it is certaine I am by some both privately opposed and fore-stalled from doing that good I can for the State, who by themselves or their Instruments, run about the City to dis­grace me and my undertakings for the Kingdomes good, but to my face they will not so vent their malice: and if such were not guided more by spleen and malice than by the Word of God, they would tremble at the reward the Lord threatens slanderers with, Rev. 22. 15.

But would it please the right Honourable the House of Commons to heare my opposers against me, and what they can say, and heare me to cleare my self, and for what I can doe for the Kingdomes good, they will choose rather to be absent than present, than what beliefe is to be given to slanderers and depra­vers of a man behind his backe.

One asked Trajan the Emperour how he made so good choice of Councel­lors and friends, he replied that his good hap came hereof, that he choose them neither covetous men, nor liars, for they in whom covetousnes and lying ha [...]h any place, cannot love perfectly, and where there is not true love for a States good, there must needs be dissimulation, from such both in Church and Com­mon-wealth [Page 5] it shall be my prayer to the Lord to be delivered from.

And when men that can doe good service for the State, shall be slighted and neglected, what is it but to discourage men to be acting for the Kingdomes good and encourage men to fawning and flattery; I have not sought as many have for their owne ends, my chiefest seeking (as it is generally known) was to have my first Engine accepted of, to helpe the English in Ireland, and to have the other accepted of here, for the quieting of the State, and saving of mens lives, to which some things of great consequence may be added. And for thus endeavouring the States good, I have spent my selfe out of means and am much in debt.

And were these Engines put in practise (in such waies it hath pleased God to give me knowledge of) and that I may have the ordering of the [...], I trust in the Lord they will prove successefull for the good of the King and Kingdom.

I confesse it had been fitter this businesse should have bin carried in a priva­ter way, and that it might have so been, I have l [...]ft no meanes unattempted and seeing I cannot by any means attaine it, is the cause I thus publish it, to en­courage all men who are well affected for the States good to be furtherers hereof; and that I can doe other good service were I enabled, some Gentle­men of knowne and approved fidelity can certifie, if requested, who refused not to give their oath for secrecy, which I could not obtaine of others, and if men in such a businesse and of so great concernment for the Kingdome [...], feare to trust themselves, I see no cause why I should trust them.

My trust hath already bin too much abused, for one Young a Carpenter near Cripple-gate, (lately deceased) hearing I could make the Engine expressed in my Propositions, desired a friend of his to bring him acquainted with me, which he did, and when J had told him J had caused an Engine to be made to keepe the foot from the horse, and also from musket-shot, which said Engine some of the City Commanders had seen, yet would he not believe such an En­gine could be made, till he went to Major Generall Browne, who certified him he had seen the Engine that would keep the foot from the horse; and before J would tell him how it was to be made, J enjoyned him to secrecy (for that▪ J discovered somewhat more to him then formerly J had) who most deceitful­ly in my absence makes three of the Engines (but knew not how to make the breast-worke) brings them publikely through the streets to his Excellencies house the Earle of Essex, and there as publikely were they seen in the first Court. This man presently after (as J was told) was made Captaine of the Engineers, and J the inventer slighted. His neighbours in Ship-yard by Crip­ple-gate, knows I was every day for a fortnight with him, giving him▪ dire­ctions to make the said Engine, which he could not do, but in my absence got better work-men than himself to make the above said Engines; and the said [Page 6] Carpenter told one M^r Daulman, one of the Common-councell, he had in­structions from me to make the Engine, and so M^r Daulman told a friend of mine.

Which said Engine shortly after was made at Oxford, but not in so good a way as this is, nor so marchable with men, nor had they breast-works but of boards and iron plates (which mine have not) against which should a bullet be shot out of a peece of Ordnance, and hit that breast-worke, the splinters of the wood and iron, would do farre more hurt than the bullet.

There was about 20 of the said Engines made at Oxford, and from thence carried to Gloster to go up to the wals: And had not his Excellency the Earle of Essex so happily arrived to raise that siege (as he did) it was reported by some of the Army, the City was in great feare to be taken thereby, most of which said Engines the besiegers burnt, because they should not be taken. And this is the benefit comes by publishing good inventions, which ought to be kept with all secrecy, which I alwaies desired, for the prevention of which J could wish there were a Committee, of approoved skill and honesty to take oath of secrecy not to discover any rare invention, and tide by the said oath to deliver the truth of their knowledge, what they conceive thereof, so shall good inventions, not only be kept secret for the good of the State, and men encou­raged in their undertakings, if recompenced for their pains and charges, as J have heard the custom is in the State of Ʋenice.

There is (J here) now again some few breast-works made in this City by a Commander to go upon service, which will do a hundred times more mis­chief (in the discovery) than good, when any man intends to repair a great house, that is almost ruin'd, he will not go to repair it with a few men, least it fall to the ground in the repairing, much lesse can a kingdom be brought to a settlement that is divided by warre by small and weake means, or by a few Engines be they never so excellent, but by extraordinary good means, if well followed it may, then why should a little hinder what much may effect.

I could have much more enlarged my selfe in way of just complaints, or most forcible inducements to ingratiate my service and endeavours, but these times rather require actions then discoursings, the summe of which action is thus contracted in the following Propositions.