Now to our Scrutiny.

ALL affaires move upon the two hindges of counsell and action, deliberation and execution, whereof that seems to be as the head, this as the feet of every great enterprize, or if you will, the braine conceives, and the hand is the braines midwife. When either of these is out of tune, the consort is spoyled, both pilot and mariners must concur to guide the Vessell. No wonder if our feet sayled us in the begin­ning, and that our numerous Armies did so little, their joynts were goury. The Commander steered by a meere defensive principle, went a way to plaister, not cure our wound, and the common Souldier soone caught with the bird-lime of profit, was easily perswaded to keep out of gunshot, con­tenting themselves to give us once in a yeare a bit of action [Page 5]to stay our stomacks: whereas in our case not speedily to conquer, was to be conquered; for seeing our strength was then in its flower, the Kings only growing, to expect, was but to give his Forces time to accomplish their growth, and draw a decrepitnesse upon our owne. It's easie traversing the head of a Spring, but now that we have travelled along the bank-side, till this Spring is swollen into a mighty River, we find it impassable.

1. I would not have looked so far back, having so much mat­ter before me, were not the same gouty humour, of late espe­cially, crept into the upper Region of our body. Have we not some envious spirits (an infallible indice of self-empti­nesse of worth) who sit in the manger, neither doing nor suffering others to doe any thing? qui jettent la pierre & cachent le bras. These State juglers, are the States greatest enemies, who by underboord working conjure up such fog­gy fumes into our head, that our eyes dazzle: our Counsels rurne round, and such a thick mist hath benighted our understandings, that few see upon what ground we stand. But wherefore all this intricacy? I answer, some gouty old Members now out of joynt, strive to slip in againe in the dark, which to effect, they have attempted to put the whole body out of frame, wherein they were not a little incoura­ged, considering there are as many Drones as Bees in the hive, and the Bees more laden with wax then honey, their wisdome miscarrying through abundance of facility.

Thus our ague is turn'd into a Feaver, the distemper of our feet, into a distemper of the braine, to teach us that the chaine of humane affaires is never compleat, either the linke of will, or linke of power is wanting: for now that we have a gallant and faithfull Army, desirous to improve advantages, their wings must be pinion'd with expectation of Orders, whiles in the mean time opportunity steals out of sight, which can only be hunted at view, not by scent. Most [Page 6]businesses suffer shipwrack, because occasions are hasty, and men slow, especially in war, occasions once lost are irreco­verable. Hast is the best friend, when time is the greatest enemy, as it needs must now be ours, when as our strength is in its virility and age of consistency, and cannot but in reason expect its decaying age to ensue; wherefore before arrant imbecility seize us, we should do well with all intentness to put out our strength to the uttermost. To which end no meanes would be more effectuall then a standing Commit­tee in our Army, of such as are well affected to our new Modell, who as fresh spirits to the body, may adde life and motion thereunto: All advantage in war consisting in cer­tain emergencies, which are swift in their passage, admit of no delay, but must be apprehended on the place: and howe­ver this hint may seem posthumous, the thing being already done (thankes to the City Petition;) yet I leave to wiser consideration, whether we may not justly feare new rubs and stops in the prosecution of this miraculous successe, wherewith God hath blessed us, as long as those who have proclaim'd their disaffection by the opprobrious terme of new noddell, have any share in its disposall.

2. Some are the backwarder in provision for this Army, because they feare the advantage thereof will rebound upon the Independents, and the heat given thereunto, hatch more of that faction; as if we were still in a condition, to pick and choose. Is not the City exhausted, the Country in most places wasted, every where discontented, our Coffers emp­tied, our spirits halfe spent, and all strugling for life, and yet we must cut off the only sound limbe we have left, because, forsooth, it goes not so regularly as we could wish. Cannot lines meet all in one point; though they goe not all the same way? they may often meet, yet differ. Though speech is necessary for all men, yet not this or that language, so disci­pline Ecclesiasticall is generally requisite, but not materiall [Page 7]whether the way be left greene or paved. It were to be wished Christian charity and discretion had both, had more sway among us, as well Presbyterians as Indepen­dants, whose imbittered zeale one against the other hath been so heady and preposterous, as if men thought the only way to be ripe in faith, were to be raw in wit; whereas the only way not to be inveagled by the guilefull through skill, is to be skilfull against guile. Truth hath no such enemy as likelihood, Satan is never so terrible, as when hee appeares like an Angell of light, presenting specious, but false appea­rances, to animate us one against another, and cut asunder all ligaments and sinewes of unity, well knowing that the strength of the fagot consists in the bond. Weighty is defi­ned by Plato, that which is made up of most parts of the same nature, light, that which hath fewest; therefore stones sinke, when great beams swim. If we desire a true estimate of our strength, we must measure it by our unity. What a­vailes it to overcome others, whiles our dissentions conquer us? Dissention makes us float in uncertainty, Unity only is able to bring us to the ground. I hate irrationability in whom soever I find it, and can wish those Nadabs and Abi­hues, who have offered up new and strange fires, no worse punishment then to be still guided by their ignes fatui. But the passion of some, should not make us passionate against all: if we lay aside prejudicacie, and examine the unseasona­ble reasons, some out of animosity alledge against employ­ing active Independents at this time, we shall find them re­semble the colours of the rainbow, which are but ima­ginary, and vanish for want of subsistance in a solid body. And whatever some men conceive of their opinions in re­lation to the State, were it not madness for feare of a future mischief to make it present? as if for feare of dying so many years hence, a man should presently become his proper exe­cutioner: of two evils being not both avoydable, the choyce [Page 8]of the lesse is not evill. Were it not folly in a storme to refuse the ayde of some, because their clothes and ours were of a different fashion? thoughts and opinions are the appa­rell of the mind; and if the greatness of our misery had not depriv'd us of the sense thereof, we should esteeme those our best friends, who first bring us ashore, and employ the forwardest men with what opinion soever clad, as the fittest means to make an end of the worke, which else will soon make an end of us.

3. Next to our distractions, nothing hath so much dampt the vigour of our proceedings, as our antidated and abbor­tive hopes of finall successe, grounded upon presumptuous thoughts of our owne strength, and our enemies weakness; whereby it hath many times come to passe, that measuring our enemies rather then our selves, and that by the diminu­tive glasse of our simpring intelligence, we have made our Armies, as some bad Taylors do childrens clothes, too just to the body of our enterprize; not considering the infinite consequence of a lost battell, whereto we expose our selves, at least if we win: having not men enough presently to pur­sue a Victory, a valiant enemy selling it, perhaps, so deare, that our Army is compelled to lose the fruits thereof, we are forced to prolong the war, exhausting men and treasure, till the processe, though won, costs more then the thing is worth. The calling back part of our Forces before the work was wholly finished, hath likewise cost us deare, witnesse the late businesse of Taunton. He that despises his enemy, puts not out halfe his force, and that with little intentness, wheras a little well-knit man, by wary husbanding his pow­ers, often casts a mightier, blinded with this passion.

The disease is growne epidemicall, our eares are so deli­cate, they are galled with the rehearsall of truth, its a meat of too hard digestion for our tender stomacks, as if it were not safer to give two false alarums, then neglect one true, [Page 9]petty dangers may sometimes be wisely concealed for seat of uproars, but apparent perills ought to be expounded to the people, least whereas they are great, they be thought despe­rate. How can we make an even encounter, when we are ig­norant of the length of our adversaries weapon? Yet now a dayes its malignancy to discover it: who ever makes a true map of the Kings strength is reckoned among the Israelitical messengers, who brought up an evill report of the land of Ca­naan, a disheartner of Gods people; Sure they have but Pigmy spirits who dare not stand a relation of the Royall Anakims. But this unevenesse of spirit, is self conceits constant hand­maid, the fall is usuall from the pinacle of presumprion to the dungeon of despaire. Its observable, how we have alwaies hood winkt our selves with conceits of the kings impuissance till it came to tryall, and then finding him stronger then we suspected, we suspect him stronger then indeed he is, it being naturall for one contrary to beget another.

Hope is the fawning traytor of the mind, whiles under colour of freindship it robs it of its cheifest strength, reso­lution. This over early expectance of an end of our trou­bles, disinables us in the means, and is as much before time, as our dilatory proceedings are out of time.

Hence flow present and tumultuary counsels, without any provision for the future, circumferentiall deliberations without any fixed center. No wonder then if every unex­pected accident, whereof War is full, sets the Sun-diall of our counsells ten degrees backward, since tis the nature of sudden and unlookt for danger, to surprise and suspend the use of reason. Experience is the mistresse of fooles, but di­strust the mother of wisdome, because doubting the worst, it represents future mischeif as present, and provides a­gainst it, if we had begun with doubts, we had ended long agoe in certainties, but because we began with certainties, therefore we remain in doubts. There is no prudence with­out an eye in the forehead, or policy without foresight, [Page 10]neither is foresight availeable without application of pre­ventive physick. At the first we had undoubtedly a foregame, of late we have been forced to alter our ward, and play an aftergame, which our gamsters have so well managed, that we begin to set up all our sayles again. People naturally flow in confidence, ebbe in despaire, And from the collision of these two waves, arises the foame of impatience: checke me this peccant humour and provide for the War, as if it were to continue a hundred years, then with Gods blessing, it may end in one: we must worke out our salvation here, as well as hereafter, with feare and trembling.

4. A concomitant hereof is our greedy grasping of more businesse then we are able to wield, this vice hath been pre­dominate both in our Counsels and actions: Our striving to reforme all at once hath made us reforme nothing, for as it is not good to passe by the least errour in an intire Common­wealth, so in a corrupt one to appear too much a good Com­monwealths man, is the next way to ruine it; the same weight which preservs in safety an upright pillar, causeth it to fall, if the pillar leane. State alterations are best graduall. Our passionate desire of an end, recoyles us from the end, whilest we embrace the most specious not the most feasable designes, Oxfords seidge and Licesters losse. looking more at what should be done, then at what can be done, and weighing only the conveniences of a designe ef­fected, but forgetting to put into the ballance, the difficul­ties of the effecting, the inconveniences other parts suffer in the Interim, the gaine of the enemy, who like a river over­flowing its banks carries all before him, for want of our timely opposing a Digue to stop the torrent. Whereto have so many blockings, serv'd but for stūbling blocks to our friends, bridges to our enemies; who have oftentimes eat the meat, whiles we were knawing the bones. Have we not lost whole countreys while like flies, we were buzzing about some glim­mering enterprise, where many times we burnt our wings [Page 11]into the bargaine? Chi troppo abbraccia nulla strigne, he that will do all, shall do nothing, nay worse then nothing. War is too slippery a way to stand at a stay in, we must either slide forward or backward; and if we stand still, while the King goes forward, may we not properly be said to loose ground? We do worse then stand still, in doing things by halves. Its disadvantagious to a private man to have too great an opinion of his merit preconceived, for Ideas are al­waies perfecter then Existences, and men finding not what they expected, slight what they find: much more dangerous is it to States to occasion a greater expectation in the peo­ple, then can be answer'd, and we occasion it by the mul­tiplicity of our undertakings, which hath not only distra­cted our forces, exhausted the well-affected (whose subven­tions, as certaine, should have been reserved to a time of ar­rant necessity,) and by both disinabled us to any businesse of importance, (for which we are alwaies forced to go a begging,) but it drawes an inevitable consequence of lea­ving most things undone and doing all the rest by halves.

Its incredible how much this humour of not pursuing the point of our designes, hath diminished our reputa­tion abroad; Picolo­mini. 'Twas the censure of one of the greatest souldiers this age hath produced, that the King and Parlia­ment were like two ill Gamesters at Chesse, who make many remooves to little purpose, neither of both skillfull enough to give checke mate: how it squares with the Roy­all party, I know not, but feare he lighted too unhappily on us, we dance about the boord, run round like a horse in a mill, and find our selves at the years end, where we were in the beginning: every man is sensible of this circular mis­cheif, but none mounts up to the cause, I will give you my thoughts thereon, only as they may relate to the future.

Its a great secret in war, when there are many gaps to stop, to know, which it imports most to stop first. Herein [Page 12]consists the supreme degree of military prudence, and as it were the pretious Elixar, which we must seeke out to en­happie this war, by labouring to discerne, which ought to be its principall seat, and to bend our powers thitherward, ready to change our conduct, as the war shall change its face. And because this seems to be of no small consequence, give me leave to tell you the Spaniards proceeding herein, which is admirable and thrice worthy imitation.

That which makes them possesse in perfection this secret, so that they are seldome cozened in the choice of what is most advantagious to their present affaires, is the Symme­trie of their government, and subordination of their Coun­sels, which are divers, according to the severall Territories of their domination, where their Armies are employed. For example.

For the affaires of Italie, there is one Counsell establish'd in Italie it selfe, which is formed by the correspondence and relation, observed between their Ministers there entertain­ed, especially between the Governour of Milan, Viceroy of Naples, and two Embassadours of Rome and Venice. In oc­currencies then which concern this Countrey, the first de­liberations are taken by these foure, who constitute as it were the first Tribunal, where the difficulties are agitated, and the resolutions taken of what is most expedient to be done: the result of their advise, with a faithfull relation of the facts whereon it was formed, and reasons whereon it was grounded, is sent into Spaine to a second Counsel, compo­sed of persons intelligent in Italian affaires, who by having passed through the greatest employments of that Countrey, have great lights, and exact notions thereof; Here the rea­sons of the first Counsel are put into the furnace again, and digested anew. And as in the Oeconomie of mans body, the spirits which are form'd in the liver, purifie themselves in the heart, and discharge themselves there, of what ever they have grosse in them, before they come to the braine, [Page 13]where they receive the last degree of subtilitie and light, whereof they are capable, and obtaine a certaine vigorous quality, which renders them the most immediate organs of the bodies motion, and senses operation: so the resolutions of this second Counsel, are carried to a third, which is the Princes Counsel of State, there to undergo a third Examen, and see if there be any room for them in the order of his af­faires, and whether that, which relates to the good of Italy, (whereat only the two first Counsels aimed,) would not prejudice the generall good of their Monarchy. I have been the more punctuall in this description, because I judged it applicable to our present way of Easterne, Western, Nor­therne Committees, &c. wherein were there a right subor­dination setled from those in the Countrey to those here, and from these to a third grand Committee, we should not tread those Mazes of fortune, wherein we have often wooded.

We must resolve to endure small losses in one part, to ob­taine great successe in another, for the branches will wither, when the trunck of the tree is rooted up, and when the vitals are wounded, the other parts die of themselves.

We unbend in good successe, & prosperitie seems to soften and melt our vigour; its too strong a licour for our weak vessels. We usually crack till we break, we stop, as it were, to take breath, in the fairest part of our way, and letting good fortune go before us, without having the courage to follow her, we loose the sight of her. Wheras we should never repose lesse then after successe, nor ever be more desirous to fight then after a battel, or to re-enter the carriere then after ha­ving been crowned. What profits it us to have had some­times the advantage in the race, while the King hath recove­vered it in the turne, and when we thought we had him in our armes, he hath slipt away between our legs.

5. Another main obstruction in our Counsels hath been [Page 14]want of secresie, which is the life of consultation, as expe­dition is of action, and here I must tell you plainly the o­pinion of strangers, who thinke it impossible, the bell of our counsels should sound so loud, if some clappers did not speake on both sides, or that the King should so easily un­fold our riddles if he plowed not with some of our cattell. All is not gold that glisters, and its feared if some great pre­tended zealots both to Religion and Liberty were well rub'd they would prove but Alchimy.

Our greatest enemies sit at our tables, lie in our bosomes and as the heat which rosts the meat on the spit, is invisible but by its effects; so we feele an unnaturall heat, gnaw and consume our very entralls, but either cannot or will not yet discerne it. Sure Westminster Hall breeds spiders, although it breed no cobwebs; for the Royallists abroad could in­forme me better of what past in Parliament, then the Parlia­ments Agents. Shal not this be searched out? Poore England, what! Disperited so soone? London, what! so suddenly disa­nimated? you, whose dread hath been uppon forraign na­tions, what! suffer your selves now to be mated by a sett or sect of home bred Achitophells? shall wicked men dare to offend, and honest men not dare to punish? or will the ad­vantage perhaps not pay your paines? The routing of a trayterous crue may prove as advantagious, as the gaine of a battell, since by their treachery, we are liable to the losse of many battels.

Besides its more unsufferable to loose by deceit then by force, because cozenage is built by others craft upon the foundation of our inconsideratenesse. Neither let considera­tion of former merit plead pardon for present misdeeds but rather further punishment, as upon those who having shown they knew how to do good, would against knowledge do evill. But pardon this transport which pure zeale to my Nation hath extorted from me, and jealousy of its reputati­on [Page 15]on wherein I know how much we suffer in forraigne parts.

When the Venetians suspect any Patrician of correspon­dence with a forraigne state, they at the same time imprison his person, & search his house. For State affaires, like mines, as soone as they take aire loose their force, and evaporate into smoake. Therefore the Spaniards, who are their craftsma­sters in the art of governing, are as diligent in concealing their designes, as if they wrought in some new found Peru; they seeme to repose and sleep, when most busy and broa­dest awake: They are content to be accused of weaknesse, and themselves sow abroad apparent reasons, and furnish spe­cious colours, to render this accusation probable. By this means they lull a sleep, and surprize, lightning upon their ene­mies before they heare the thunder, and both history and ex­perience teach us what incredible advantage they have sometimes reaped hereby, and what prodigious blows they have given.

Since we are so far in, it will not be amisse before we come out of this Spanish roade, to eye their dexterity in picking the lockes of other Princes cabinets, as well as dou­ble locking their owne: for since the knowledge of facts, and of the true estate of things is the base of ratiocination, and, if that be loose this must needs be tottering; they pro­vide two wayes against this inconvenience.

1. By giving power unlimited to their Agents, to spare no manner of cost to be rightly informed of all passages, and to penetrate the deliberations and resolutions of both friends and enemies, the expense is allowed them, without any examen or restriction, upon a bare note of their presen­tation.

And although this seeme to furnish matter of cozenage and to open a field where covetousnesse may make an unjust harvest, yet they chuse rather to run this hazard, which is inconsiderable in respect of the great benefit they may [Page 16]reap thereby, and they believe that any expense well made and one seasonable advice, payes them with interest, for a hundred fruitlesse disbursements, and improfitable adver­tisements.

2. Then, never were people in this world so industrious as they, to cherish their correspondencies and those in great number, they affect not only specious ones, and with men of high birth and wisedome; they entertaine who ever will be their Pensioners, having found by experience that a man of meane condition and parts, will sometimes disclose unto them an important truth which hath escaped the care and Sagacity of an illustrious personage. So that I have often been astonished at the multitude of their Secretaries, and at the incredible number of letters which their Ambassadours dispatch by all sortes of Messengers.

We need not goe to Madrit to exemplify this mistery, we may see the consequence thereof in the Kings procee­dings, who hath done more by London Intelligence, then by Oxford force: although he payed dearly for his trust to this Intelligence at Naseby, where the institution of our new Modell was sealed from heaven with Gods approbation, and our dispised army did that, may make envy it selfe a­shamed. Wherefore the miraculous successe, wherewith God hath crowned our close uniting in the army, should a­nimate us to search out the accursed thing, which impea­ches our union both in Parliament and City: the want whereof bars us of forraigne aide as well as good opinion, for when I have pressed upon them in the low Countries, their interest involved in ours, many have exprest great forward­nesse to assist us, if once they could, for their security see us unanimous, to assist our selves. And take this by the way, that those people owe more for their liberty to their * first Generalls exact intelligence from Spaine, W.P: of Orange. then to all his and their armies: in sence whereof they allow the Prince [Page 17]of Orange every summer a tun or two of gold without exa­men, for Intelligence. If we weigh the premises, and how much we have suffer'd by our crazy Intelligence, we shall account it hereafter good husbandry to be prodigall in this particular; or if we will continue to be penny wise, and pound foolish, we must not wonder if our resolutions con­tinue likewise to be uncertaine, since built upon uncertain­ties; for how can the building be firme, which is founded on quicksands?

6. And now I have done with the cracks and flawes of the house, give me leave to hint at those of the field, for all reflect upon the publike. I need not insist on former abuses, of hurrying the poor willing country people to & fro, as if they had been so many puppetts for our Grandees to play withall Summoning them to appeare one moneth with Horse, arms, and mony of their owne, and dismissing them the next, tire­ing them out with continuall expectation of action, til they were unfit for action; as if their only designe had been by these mocke proceedings to render them either unable or un­willing to help the State in time of reall necessity; to the infinite prejudice and dishonour of the Parliament, who have by this meanes lost many thousand hands, if not hearts.

But that which is instar omnium and the Serpentive a­buse that hath devoured the memory of all other, is the li­cence (for it exceeded the bounds of liberty) of free quarter, in Counties well affected. The rod of Moses was turned into a serpent, and those who were raysed to defend us from oppression most oppressed us. The insolency of the soul­dier banished honest Gentlemen from their own houses, and the Commonalty hereby left like a boat in a storme a­bandon'd by its pilots, let themselves drive, at the mercy of the wind and waves; so that few of note remaining among [Page 18]them besides Malignants, no wonder if the honest were sha­ken, the wavering perverted, and the Malignant hardned in their obstinacy, by our miscariages. Whereto if we adde the insupportable burdens layed on the shoulders of the well-minded party both in City and Countrey, with the little care taken for their future case, we need not go far to seeke the cause why so few, notwithstanding our conquests, leave the Kings shadow to put themselves under the Parliaments wings: for who will be his friend, that treats his friend worse then his enemy? Must the free horse alwayes be spur­galled, and the dull Asse favoured in his opiniatness? shall the most affectionate, be still most squeezed? Patience abu­sed, you know, turnes into fury. Popular insurrections, like Mines, cannot be avoyded, but by foreseeing them. Our cause stands upon two legs, Religion, and Liberty: if we rub too hard, we may perchance rub off many friends to the latter. Take heed how we irritate these; The taking away their livelihood is the only injury which admits of no obli­vion, want being a continuall spur unto revenge. As the stomack, which is the seat of naturall heat, as long as it hath in it any nourishment, leaves the body in peace; but if al­together without, it then drawes nourishment from the head, and thereby often destroys the body: so as long as the people have some matter of subsistance left, they rest satis­fied, but when wholly deprived thereof, turne head upon their head, and often ruine the Common-wealth.

People are easilier ruled with the snaffle of love, then with the bitt of feare: love is a silken thred, soon broken by harsh handling. We ride the people every journey, as if we should never have occasion more to come o'th' back of them: if we ride too hard, we may quickly run them out of breath, then stumble, and both finally fall together.

I confesse, either my eyes faile me, or I cannot see how the Royallists themselves could have chalked out a broader way [Page 19]to our destruction, then that we have hitherto troden. For do but consider seriously what a horrid gulfe of danger, we had throwne our selves into by these extemporary courses, if the late insulting enemy had prevailed, as what Patent had we to presume of victory? Having dis-inabled our trustiest friends, disobliged others, and discontented all, whence could we in reason expect supply? you will say, from heaven. Sure, I know no promise, whereby God hath bound him­selfe to inclose those, who breake downe their own hedges: Sure I am, the same God who commands innocency, com­mends wisdome as the others best guardian. I have observed some of opinion, that this worke will never be finished with apparent means, because they have remarked Gods arme highest lifted up against our enemies, in the lowest ebb of our fortune. The root of this opinion is doubtless sweet, viz. humility, but the fruit, I am sure, is bitter: its like Ezekiels rowle, honey in the mouth, but gall and wormwood in the belly: whiles we feare to relye too much upon means, with­out God, we presume too much upon God without means. Presumption, is the fault of the men, not meanes; of the workmen, not instruments, which ought no more therefore to be cashired, then the use of physicke, because Asa tru­sted to it more then God. To extrinsecate my selfe more plainely, this opinion is spawned by ignorance of our condition. For consider first what a thred of time the German wars have spun out, beyond all expectation; we imagining long since, that every day would usher in the evening of their troubles: The Protestant cause there, is as good as ours is here. 2. Consider, what difficulty the Scots find, in sweeping away a little rubbish in their Northerne quarters, with the force of their whole Kingdome. And tell me now, what cause of confidence we can pick out of our owne strength, were it twice as big as now it is: since while we are Actors by winning, we lose and suffer by working, [Page 20]wasting our force with using it, and like Bees, while we hurt others, lose our sting. The evill spirit of war is sooner ray­sed then layed; like the stone Asbestos Plinie mentions, which once fired, can hardly ever be quenched. The waters of the deluge fell in 40 dayes, but were almost a year in drying; De­vastations are quickly made, the reparations slowly. But what talke I of reparations? This is our genrall fault, we mistake a possibility for a certainty: like a raw gamester, who as soon as he gets his men over the tables, thinkes all his own, till a blot fetch him backe to an after-opinion as well as game. I wish we may not anticipate our happiness, and spoyle our game by presuming it too forward. For my part, I thinke all provision we can make little enough, and, with­out Gods blessing, insufficient.

7. The formerly mentioned are but our working dayes abuses, now followes our seventh and Sabbaticall errour, wherein we seeme to rest, and which compleats the weeke of our miscarriages.

The most naturall humour in man, is self-love, the most violent, Ambition: that, enclines him to profit, this, to dig­nity. These two are like Rebecca's twins continually strug­ling for precedency. Ambition like Esau, nips the other for a time, and presses out first; but (violent things not long sub­subsisting) Self-love like Jacob, soon deprives it of its birth-right. To men set in office, at the beginning every little authority seemes great, while their eyes see double, dazled with the dignity: afterward every great seemes little, time having wrought off the novelty, and turned the view ano­ther way: for now having crackt the shell, they seeke the kernell. Popularity for a while maintaines Integrity, but time corrupts both. Many great Patriots in the beginning, have since byased: Gaine hath been to them like the golden ball throwne downe before Atalanta, which she stepping a­side and stooping to take up, her race was hindred. The [Page 21]Hebrew word for gold is therefore pithy, as derived from a root, which signifies solicitude and distraction. Men natu­rally go down the hill, and propend to self-Interest, and this passion is so prevalent, it can hardly be mastred, but by that other of feare; as we use to hunt one beast with another. There would be no wickedness, if there were no protectours of wicked men, and permission is protection.

Why should a few Accomptants stand up like Hercules Colomnes, which no man dares outrepasse. You, that have smitten the Lion and the Beare, shall a Cocks crowing af­fright? Have you lost your courage with your money? and the mettall of your mindes with that of your purses? if not, why are not money-mongers called to account? why must the Commissioners of examination for accounts have a lame and curtayld power? why must taxes run on in infini­tum, and no body know what becomes of them? It's an old maxime. Acquaint the Cōmons with, what is done, and they will thinke it done for common good, otherwise for private profit. If these men were innocent, me thinkes, they should be glad to vindicate their innocence, and wipe off the stains, which blemish it: nay, if others were innocent, me thinkes, it should concerne them, to give the Kingdome this satisfa­ction. Sure there are Receavers as well as theeves, who oc­casion all this tergiversation. What's the reason else, that notwithstanding the imposition of Excise, continuation of all former taxes, addition of new, and turning the streame of the Association money, yet there is such extreme penu­ry, that our Army scarce payed wants recruits, Taunton cannot be relieved without begging for it, nothing of mo­ment done without fresh supplyes? Can we see this and not blush to be so notoriously gull'd? I say notoriously, since all Europe takes notice of it, and laughs at our simplicity. Ob. 1. Some have alleaged formerly, that if we should not connive at petty abuses, we could not be supplyed with great [Page 22]sums in time of extremity. Call you those abuses petty, which make us a scorne and derision to all our neighbours? Againe, what puts you upon these extremities, but your own supine Carelesnesse? like some ill husbands, who rather then trouble their heads with care of their estates, remit all unto their Stewards, and if by them they may be furnished for the present (although with spoyle of their woods, and other squandring shifts) never dreame of the future, till by de­grees, they enslave themselves to their owne servants, who often buy them out of all with their owne money. Were it not better to call your Stewards to a weekly account, and order your expences according to your incomes? Can we ever looke to thrive, untill we know upon what ground we build? nay, with what face can we exhaust the Kingdome, under pretence of bringing Delinquents to justice, while we cherish as great Delinquents in our owne bosomes? Besides, its folly to imagine we shall alwayes have these Monopoli­zers of Treasure, within our call: as long as there is hope of further gaine, they will inch out our necessities, but in time of extreme danger, what hinders them, their estates being portable, to transport them, and leave us, like men at a low water, upon the sands? for if we thinke them guilty, we cannot imagine them so silly as to stay a whipping.

Ob. 2. Others allow of this motion, but not of this time, as thinking it now unseasonable, and that it would retard the present prosecution of the business. Before the reliefe of Taunton, many honest active Citizens were forwarding this good worke, as rightly apprehending it the only effica­cious meanes, to make straite what was crooked, and reco­ver our pristine strength: but they were staved off with ex­cuses of our then present extremities. Now that God hath blowne away our enemies with the breath of his indignati­on, and blessed us with sufficient leasure to dresse our pre­sent, and provide against future wounds; we are told this is [Page 23]a time to reap corne, not to pick strawes in; a time to chase in the field, not to sit potching at home. Thus the winter be­ing too cold, and the summer too hot; I wonder what time of yeare, these men would have us worke in.

We start well, but we pursue not: why did you show your teeth at Guild-hall, if you intended not to bite? or if you be, indeed, still hungry, when can you expect more lea­sure, to make a meale of these all-devouring pikes? can there ever be a fitter time to squeeze the spunges in (if any such there be, as it's mainly to be feared) then now, that we want money to compleat our victory, with our Army? Search but the Tents of these Achans, and doubt not, you will find gol­den wedges, and silver shekels, enough to stop the Souldiers mouthes one quarter, perhaps encourage them so far, that the worke will be halfe done by the next quarter. It's the property of quick-silver, to erect and set up an end: if the Souldier be quickshod with this mettall, its incredible how ayrie his spirits will be, and how nimble-handed he will be to every enterprize. Falshood is a Viper which wounds with her teeth, and bears the cure in her belly: Some horse-lea­ches are so full, that if you purge them not, they will die of a surfeit.

If I thought all that are in our Israel, were of our Israel, it were bootlesse to stir you up to such a duty: I would ra­ther sound this Alarum throughout the whole land, that all may come out of the caves and dens, wherein they were hid­den, and as one man pursue the enemy. But seeing most re­fuse to do their duty except hired thereto, and seeing its hard to follow the chase we are in, without continuall fresh sup­plies; I hold it impossible to raise these constant supplies, except the people be first satisfied in this particular. Field action, and City consultation, are not like clock weights, when one mounts the other descends: they are rather incor­porated twins, which must alwayes move together. When [Page 24]the souldier is busiest in action, the Senator should be most assiduous in Counsell.

To conclude then, there is no so ready meane to unty this Gordian knot, as my Lord Majors Sword, I mean another City Petition, pressed with all modest earnestnesse upon the Parliament, to Audit the Accounts of the King­dom with all the speed imaginable, for if you follow not the scent, whiles it is yet warme, the next wind of successe blows it quite away.

Flatter not your selves, neither plucke too early, the fruits of your labours: remember from whence we are raysed, by whom, and whither we may fall againe. Whats the rea­son of that marvellous vicissitude hath been hitherto in our affaires? our crying up man too much, too little crying up to God. Confidence and security are the forerunners of danger: present successe hath only freed the passage, and opened the way: we are far yet from our journeys end, if you desire a sudden end, provide for a long journey, if a hasty peace, for a slow War, not to make it so, but as if it were so. This provision cannot be better made then by redressing excise abuses, and so setling it for the future, that the people may be both satisfied and freed by frequent accounts, which would produce rare taxes.

The advantage of this redresse and settlement would be great. The Parliaments honour would be hereby vindi­cated, who suffer extreamely in the opinion of those, who want the spirit of discerning between sound and unfound. The hands and hearts of our friends would be strengthned, when they should see their money as faithfully distributed, as cordially exhibited. The countenances of all wicked Cains would fall, when they should see us in a constant course of supply no more lyable to the shoales of want, or rockes of cozenage.

Besides hereby we should be inabled to rayse fresh for­ces [Page 25]in the Easterne association, by suffering the currant of their monies to resume their proper channel. Neither would this be of small moment, whenas the Generall dis­charged from the particular care of those Counties, (where­to his army seems yet tyed by receipt of their pay,) should not need eye any other busnesse, then pursuance of the King and the hindrance of his recruits: Then, the virtue of this ex­ample would worke upon other Counties, and animate them to the like association, by not fearing (as they have hitherto had cause) a diversion of their levies, when they should see a sollid establishment for our owne. Its incredible what order and due proportion will do in taxes. The united provinces with lesse then two millions of reve­nue maintaine a hundred thousand men on foot, whereof Amsterdam more then a third part. And if the Dutch fru­gality be compared with our English profusion, I see no reason why London may not exceed Amsterdams proporti­on, or since the Beere excise amounts there to sixty thousand pound a yeare, why it may not here be farmed at one hundred thousand pound, or if you will say their multitude of Sea­men, (who are usually troubled with dry livers) may make them proportionably exceed us in that particular; Sure we exceed them more in other domestick, & frivolous expences. Vnequall and jumping taxes undoe us, while no man knows how to proportion his expences: how much better were it, both for the Common-wealth and us to be at a certainty? Wherefore I will wind up my alarum with a relation of the low Country excise as it was sent me last weeke out of Hol­land; which although not altogether so perfect, as I desi­red, vet may afford some light in things most materiall, and stir up others to licke this rude draught into better forme, which hath been my maine intention.

But before the voyder come give me leave, instead of a Dessert to serve you with one caution more. That as we have new [Page 26]modelized our army, and ought to new modelize our excise, so (if we really aime at a speedy period of our miseries) we must new Modelize something else of greatest concern­ment. If we looke into the Venetian government, we shall find their so much admired durability and prosperity to flow from the frequent redintegration of their severall Committees or Councells by their grand Counsell. Thus precedent Counsells were obscured by the Septemviri, and these againe by the Decemviri, who beare an annuall ma­gistracy, and are accountable at the years end, to be accor­ding to their merits, either punished or rewarded. In the Infancy of the low-Country Common-wealth, their chiefe Counsell, was that of State, wherto both Governour and Generall, had and have admittance, but soone after ap­prehending the danger wherto they exposed themselves, by revealing the misteries of their State to strangers, and yet not daring openly to disgust the English, they ordained a­nother supreme Councell, whereto their Generall hath no admittance; whereby they satisfied the Earle of Leicester, and secured themselves. When our forraign friends saw us begin the yeare so resolutely with execution of Delin­quents, and removall of remisse Agents, they verily thought the houre of our deliverance come, and expected we should have stopt at no mediums but gone roundly on to the end proposed. What meane then al these rubs and suddain stops, which come upon us like fits of the falling sicknesse? The ice is broken, and we on the other side of Rubicon, by the cure of our feet and reformation of our armies. The resto­ration of our withered hands, is the worke of another Sab­bath, of such a day of rest wherewith God hath now blessed us, and is accomplished by opening the palmes of all recei­vers; whereof enough hath been said, if rightly, too much, if slightly understood. But both these remedies are insuf­ficient, as long as the same evill spirit that possessed hereto­fore [Page 27]the executive, now torments the directive power. When the feet are lame, there is help by crutches, when our hands faile us, others may feed us, but the distraction of the head, hath an influence upon all the senses: It lies neither in the forepart nor in the hinderpart it is in vertice. The only mean to chase away this evill spirit, is the harp of David, i.e. the slip of unity grafted in the stock of honesty: a true harmony between all the honest both in Parliament and City.

Seeing God hath abounded in mercy towards you, be not wanting to your selves; when God goes before he ex­pects you should remoove your tents and follow him, and that not halting but running. Wherefore either let former successe animate you, or abundance of future feare drive away all present feare. Relapses are dangerous, and there­fore as the disease diminisheth, so care of the patient ought to be augmented.

I desire peace, no man more: yet let me tell you, those who have drawne their sword against their Prince (rational men wil understand me in a vulgar sence) I wil not say with Alexander of Parma should fling away their scabbard, but surely should be cautious, upon what tearmes they sheath it. The Key of the Kings Cabinet, as it hath unlockt the mi­stery of former Treaties, so I hope it will locke up our minds from thoughts of future.