THere is nothing more pernitious in a body of State than Jealousie, [...] that of Love, hath a double passion of fear [...] and hate; this causeth the patient to think all remedies too weake for the danger; and certain it is, that such as advise either to sooth their Princes humor, or for their own particular advantage may well be heard, but ought not to be followed. I confesse, I had thought since the departure of some that was neare unto You, that none would have ventured to have incroched Your favours a­ny more to their owne particular advantage, whereby Your good subjects are deprived of those blessings that ought to be common to all, how ever the benefit that King David found by the reasonable counsell of a wo­man [Page 2] (when he was upon a desperate designe) hath given me some encouragement, and I make bold to return to Your Majesty for Patronage; what then the great God hath joyned toge [...]er, let no man dare to put asunder. For as much then as it hath pleased the great God to bring Your Majesty and Parliament together, let no man dare to put asunder: and yet so it is, that there are many in these dayes who desires nothing so much, as to make a difference between Your Majesty and your Parliament, but beleeve it, Sir, who ever they are, they are no friend to Caesar, how ever, I will smite David to the wall, is become profitable to the Church and State, and well it is for the innocent that wicked men cannot keep their owne counsels, God fetcheth their thoughts out of their mouths, or their countenance to be a reaso­nable prevention to the godly, which otherwise might proceed to a present execution for your Parliament; they are even wearied both from Ireland and England, with several complaints, and they have a long time tra­velled, as it were, with child, and fain would they bring forth a son, but behold there is no strength to bring forth; that Counties and Cities petition, sure it is be­cause they have just cause of complaint, let then the sighes of the poore come before You, and since Your Majesty have refused to heare the Petition of both Houses by the hands of the Lord of Essex his Excel­lence; call to mind the saying of Iob, If I did despise (saith Iob) the cause of my man servant, or of my maid ser­vant, when they contended with mee, what then shall I doe when God riseth up, and when he visiteth, what shall I an­swer. True it is, by reason of some evill minded people, the Crown is become full of cares, and many that have brought your Majesty into them, have with Orpha left [Page 3] you, and the more to blame they. For to ingage Your Majesty in an Action, the successe whereof can be but slight and of small moment, whereas the miscarrying may beget dangerous defects to Your Majesty and the whole State, and better it were for Your Majestie to fore-see the dangers at first, and prevent them, or desist from the motion; for Your Parliament they have met with many fears, difficulties and oppositions, and al­though they have already stayed the tyde, yet untill I saw them remaine firme and constant, I had thought that both Moses and Paul had died without issue, but me thinks I see them now quitting themselves like men, and are not willing to suffer three Kingdoms to perish, for that they cannot preserve it by ordinary wayes, and it is not fit a father should suffer his son to be drowned for feare of pulling him out by the haire of the head; and sure I am, it were lawfull to cure a sick man with­out asking his consent, if he were capable of remedies: For Your Parliament, they seek not themselves, if they had, they would have been wearied after so much la­bour afore now, how ever for discharging of their duty they are defamed, despised, and neglected of many, yet I doubt not but God whose battels they fight will pro­vide a due reward of their patience, and sure I am Your Majsty is happie in them, though You will not come nigh them, nor be ruled by them: But know, if You still withstand them, halfe the thanks will be lost, besides al this while You loseth Honour; for by reason of Your evill Councellours men are not apt to beleeve You: Wherefore, O King, give me leave to say unto you as Ioab said to the King, Sam. 2. Now therefore arise and speak comfortable to Your people; and if You doe not, the Parliaments enemies will at length be Yours, and [Page 4] that will bee worse unto you than all the evill that be­fell you from your youth untill now. But if your Majesty will yet hearken unto them, you will winne them to obedience with kindnesse, and in so doing, you will make good that which you were sent for, whose care ought to bee imployed for the good of your Sub­jects, knowing that their love is your greatest safety, and their prosperity your greatest Honour and felicity, and this is that, which will make your bed easie for you when you shall possesse the just title to the Crowne, with the love of your people, and sure I am that the countenance of it with the willing applause of the sub­ject is the nighest way to a blessing: true it is, were it not for Flatterers and evill Councellors your Parlia­ment would appeare just men unto your Majesty, The Lord Jesus Christ had many enemies, but there was made known one Iudas: Your Parliament have many Iudases, but one enemie, and if your Majesty would know him, it is he that hates to be reformed; and for your Parliament, they may justly take up the saying of David, and were it Papist or an open enemie that should envie them, and so speak evill of them, the of­fence was not so great: but as David said when his fa­miliar friend that eat bread at his table and had com­munion together: This, even this, is that which troubled him. Most gracious Soveraign, if You love God, set Your selfe against this kind of men (that set Your Majesty against Your Parliament, and call to remembrance the principall contrivers of former plots, doubtlesse they that now blow the coales will heat the fornace; they owe you a good turn, and will (if they can) pay it, You see their hearts by their deeds; prove Your faith so too, the best worke that you can doe, is to doe the best [Page 5] you can against them, or suffer it to bee done upon them. I must confesse the Church and State alwayes thrived, and was made a gainer by forraigne Jarres, but by home-division it loseth honour, and suffereth much by civill warres, the Lord so assist Your Majesty that You gaine peace at home, that so You need not care with whom You war abroad: the Church of God was twice preserved in AEgypt, in Abraham and Iacob, in Christ; and who knows but that Your Majesty a fourth time, nay, forever may be a means to preserve a Church to God: true it is, there is pro and con, and much adoe about the setling of the government of the Church. It is no matter what this man or that man say to the Law then, and to the Testimonies, and if any man refuse to come in, compell them all.

Most gracious Soveraig [...], there are many sorts of peo­ple that are enemies to Your Majesty, and Your King­doms. Papists, L. Bishops, Flatterers, and evill Coun­cellors, and Monopolizers: my humble suite is that Your Majesty should deal with them all, as Moses dealt with his Rod, and whilst it wa [...] a Rod, he held it fami­liar in his hand, but when once a Serpent, he fled from it.

It is true, the losse of these men would be the Chur­ches gaine, and whilest God is effecting what hee pur­poseth concerning them and Your Parliament. I shall desire with David to attend the issue in silence; know­ing that modest beginnings, and hopefull proceedings makes happie endings, and if Your Majesty would but returne, the work would be perfected, and if I should but heare of Your returne: I would with Abigail make haste to fall downe before you: however Troubles begun, more feared, yet not ended, that they were past, and the three Kingdomes united in a posture [Page 6] to serve the living God. I would die next, so I might save the rest.

I conclude with a story of old-age; A mother being mis-informed against her sonne, and threatning him ve­ry sore to beat him, he brake out into these tearmes; Mother, doe not beat too hard, for wee must bee friends.