The Copies of Colonell THO. MIDFORDS Certificate, with others, given under their hands.

THat about July, 1642. Thomas Midford and George Lilburne went on purpose to the House of Sir Henry Vane the elder, neere Charing-Crosse, and there acquainted him of the freequent meetings of the Papists and their adherents, in the County of Durham, and that they did not onely gather together most of the prime Horses of the said County, but did exercise them in Armes, and trained the said Horse, to the discouragement of all the true-hearted Protestants of the said County: And that the Sea-ports of the said County were fit to be taken care of, which the said Sir Henry Vane promised to take timely care of, making shew that hee intended shortly to goe downe into the said County: In the meane time, desired the said George Lilburne, and the said Thomas Midford to goe to the Deputy Lieutenants, and acquaint them with the aforesaid Information, and to tell them from him, that he could not then write to them concerning the same, but bid them take care thereof, till he gave further Order.

The said Thomas Midford, about the end of the said moneth, comming into the said County, went to Durham, and did acquaint Sir William Darcie, being then high Sheriffe of the said County, Sir John Conyers and others at John Halls House in Durham, of the same, who returned the said Midford no other answer, but well, well, and seemed to make no great matter thereof.

18 June, 1645.

Tho. Midford.

In the yeere 1643, Nicolas Heath of Little-Eden in the County of Durham Esq. came to Sir Hen. Vane senior in Westminster-Hall, and told him that the County was in a very sad Condition, and the Inhabitants utterly undone, unlesse there were some present course taken for preventing of raising the forces which were then a gathering; but Sir Henry Vanes Answer was, That he here thought otherwise.

To the Right Honourable, The LORD MAJOR, and the Right Worshipfull, the Aldermen, and Common-Councell of the City of LONDON;

In Common Councell Assembled.

The humble Petition of divers Citizens of this Honourable City.

SHEWING,

THat the afflictions and sorrows of our hearts are unexpressible, in regard of the manifold miseries that are upon us, and thousands of our deer Brethren, and fellow Citizens complaints being generall, and very grievous. As amongst many other;

I. That the Poore is in great necessity; wanting wherewith to set themselves on worke, their Children uneducated, and thereby prepared to wickednesse and beggery.

II. That Trading is exceedingly decayed, whereby thousands that have lived in a free and plentifull way, are many fallen, and are more falling into great extremity.

III. That Assesments are made very unequall, whereby the Taxes laid upon the City, are made burthensome and paid with much repining.

IV. That the Forces of the Citie are very much abated, and that the Citie is not in a Posture of Warre answerable to its greatnesse, or its danger.

And though there hath not been wanting continuall endeavours of juditious charitable persons to prescribe remedies for those grievances, yet our miseries are such, that we are in effect debarr from opening our griefes, or proposing our remedies to any that hath power to help us.

For if wee motion our going to the Parliament immediately (as was usuall and succesfull in former times) our mouthes are presently stopt with this prejuditiall rumour. That the Parliament will not receive any Petition from the Citizens, but by the Common-Councell; whereupon few or none will move in that way, though there be never so urgent necessities.

If wee propose to goe through the Common-Councell, sad experience hath proved it so difficult to obtaine a Common-Councell, that men are weary in pursuance thereof. The Lord Major and Aldermen challenging to themselves Prerogative of calling Common Councells onely when they see cause, also that nothing shall be debated, but what hath been first presented to the Court of Aldermen, and that after debate, the Lord Major hath a negative voice or power to Null or frustrate all that hath been debated by refusing to put to Vote, or by dissolving the Court at his pleasure. By which Prerogative Rules, if the Lord Major will not, or cannot preserve the Citizens from miseries and destruction, Will not heare our Complaints, nor be sensible of our necessities, The whole power of the chosen Common-Councell men, may not interpose, or use any meanes for our preservation and relief. Wee willingly give all due honour to the Lord Major and Aldermen in referrence to their particular Offices. But that the safety and well-being of so great a People should depend upon the understanding and affections of so few, and that the whole City must be without a just means to preserve themselves, or to remedy things that are anywayes amisse, except the Lord Major and Aldermen will assent, And that those whom the People yeerly choose, and principally intrust, should be made uselesse at their pleasure. And themselves estated with such a power, that no Authority in the City can call them to an account in cases of mis-government, is so pernitiously obstructive and intollerable, as is not to be pleaded, but to the enslaving of the People.

Whereas of Right, the People of the City are a free People, and are not to be bound or concluded but by their own consents, or by the major part of those they yeerly choose to give their consents in common and free Councell, who are Commonners chosen from amongst themselves, with reference to their Consciences, and good affections. In whom the concluding law-making power of the City justly is. It being destructive and improper that it should be estated in two distinct jurisdictions. And therefore, since wee have none to open our griefes unto, but unto you, And that it is thought convenient, that wee should apply our selves to this Court in whatsoever we desire to present unto the Parliament.

Wee most earnestly intreat you to shake off all pretences of Prerogatives, by which (and the like) the Citie and Common-wealth have been most grossely inslaved, and that you will reduce your selves into so proper and just a method of proceeding, as may stand with the condition of a free people, and conduce to the remedying of all grievances, and removall of all our afflictions.

Unto which end we humbly propose to your grave consideration, as followeth.

I. That you will be pleased to Order a Court of Common Councell once every week to meet without warning upon a certaine day, and expresse houre, and to publish the same, that all the Inhabitants of the City may be informed thereof.

II. That you will also publish your readinesse to receive all Informations and Petitions from any of the Inhabitants, there having been many most necessary and usefull things stiffled for want of incouragement in this kind.

III. That you will resolve within your selves, to maintaine the Essence and freedome of your Court, As namely,

To take into your Considerations, and freely to debate whatsoever the present or greater part shall thinke meet and necessary. To Vote and conclude whatsoever to the major part shall seem good: To continue the present Session or Court, at the present occasions shall require, To adjourne to what day and time shall by the greater part be thought convenient, over and besides the set weekly Court, without which, and the due Observations of all reasonable Orders, as by your wisedome shall be provided, you will appeare to every juditious understanding, but as a meer shadow of Power, and no wayes helpfull. And therefore,

IV. That you will he pleased to make a perpetuall standing Order, or Law, that whatsoever Person or Persons shall from henceforth by secret or open meanes endeanour to deprive the Court of Common-Councell of the foresaid Rights, Freedoms or Priviledges (is the vindicating whereof some members of this Court then Commoners exprest much zeale against that obstinate Lord Major Gurney, and his perverse Associates) shall be instantly disfranchised and otherwise punished, as shall seem good is the Justice of this Court.

This Petition was delivered the 15. of April, 1645. to the Common-Councell of London, sitting at Guild-hall.

6. Sir John Lenthall having acted and done many things of extraordinary prejudice against the State, one Captaine Cob, a sea-Captaine, and then Prisoner in the hands of Sir John Lenthall, out of duty and affection to the well-fare of the Publique, informed by a Letter the Speaker of the House of Commons of it, and sent his Letter by the hands of one Mrs Jencks, who faithfully delivered it to him, and by her importunity to some that belonged to the said Speaker for an Answer to it, the said Captaine Cob was brought out of Prison to the House of Commons door, as he thought to justifie, the said Letter, who had brought along with him three or foure Witnesses, to prove all the particulars mentioned in the said Letter.

But the Speaker, contrary to his duty, never caused him to be called in, but only sent him out word, that he should goe home againe, and he would shortly come over to his brother Sir Johns House, and speak with him there, who accordingly did, but would admit none to be present to heare what passed amongst them there; yet Cob, as soone as he came into the Prison amongst his fellows, gave unto them a true Relation, upon his Reputation, of what passed amongst them, which as they averre, was to this effect; as soon as he came up, saith the Speaker, Sir doe you know me, yes sir, saith Cob, I know you to be Speaker of the House of Commons, which was the reason I writ to you, judging you the fittest man to bring to light so great a businesse of importance, as I have to make known to you, for the good of the State and Kingdome, then the Speaker shewed him his Letter, and asked him if he would justifie it, and he told him, yes, and a great deale more, if he would doe his duty, in making it truly knowne to the Honourable House of Commons.

The Speaker turning himself to his Brother, said, Sir John, if this be true, heare is enough to hang you, well Sir, saith Sir John; whereas he chargeth me of letting Violet goe twise to Oxford, during the time that hee and Sir Bassell Brooke were contriving their Plot against the City; you know I never let him goe but once, and then I had your warrant for it; well, well, said the Speaker, Captaine Cob, I see you are an honest man, and much wronged by your adversaries, but shake hands and be friends with Sir John, and I will get you your Liberty, so they parted.

But Captaine Cob perceiving the Speaker did nothing in it, but indeavoured to smother it, sent a true Copy of his Letters, that he had sent to the Speaker, to Mr. William Pendry of London, with Ellen Thomas, her information about the threescore thousand pounds of Sir Bassel Brookes, that then was in Sir Johns hands, which Letter and Information the said Pendry communicated to two Knights that are members of the Committee of both Kingdomes, who took no more care then the Speaker to have it brought to light, nor the 60000l. attached, and now it is upon the stage, before the Committee of Examination, the Chaireman of which, Justice Whittiker, with Mr. Knightly and Sir Robert Pye, who is desired to remember a Letter that was going to Don Cattington &c. have not dealt fairely in the businesse, as both the Informers, and some of the 6. Citizens that were permitted into the Committe, to see to the managing of the businesse doe declare.

And therefore assuredly, if so foule and hainous a businesse as this is, be smothered up againe, I am very confidently perswaded, some one or other will publish all the particulars of it (ere long) in print, to the view of all the Commons of England, that so they may see and judge how they are jugled with, by some of those they have reposed their greatest trust in, although Sir Jo. Lenthall, and the Speaker have (as it may justly be supposed) set Dr. Bastwick at worke to publish to the view of the world the innocency of the parties accused, saying in the 8. page of his late book against Mr. Lilburne, that there is nothing made good against them, so much as with a seeming probabilitie, much lesse proved, and so busy and earnest is the said Bastwick to defend their rotten Reputations, and their wicked and unjust dealings towards the State and Kingdome, that he thinks with his lies and base and sordid language, to salve up their credits, and to Baffle and justle the just and honest prosecuters out of their just wayes and pathes they tread in, to doe the Kingdome faithfull service in bringing treason to light.

Yea, so bold and impudent is hee, being back’d by their Authoritie and Interest, that rather then truth shall come to light, and their wickednesse be discovered, he will lay such a blot upon the Parliament, that will render them ridiculous to all that seriously read his Book, and consider that the Parliaments owne Authority hath licenced him to call them Ninneys and Grols.

For saith he in the last page of his Book, For as there is no family, though never so honest, that both not a Whore or a Knave of their kindred, so it is impossible in such a great Counsell as the Parliament is, but they should have some Ninnyes and Groles, and men that have no more wit, then with reach from their nose to their mouth: It were well Dr. Bastwick would doe the Common wealth that service, as to name those men, that so some men may begge them for fooles, to take upon them so high a calling, as to be Law-makers to so great and knowing a People, as England is, and to have so little wit in them.

Surely this Parliament will be contempteous, not onely to their foes, but also to their freinds, and will never shake off this blot while they sit, unlesse they call him to an account, and make him name whom he meanes, and punish that Licencer that durst be so bould, to let such a book be published cum privilegio, to the dishonour of the very Parliament it selfe, surely Sir John and his Brother the Speaker have feed Bastwick well, and are not very sound, that they put him (their pack-horse) upon such desperate courses to salve up their credit, and he hath as little wit or honesty in him to be so earnest for Sir John Lenthall in particular, who is notoriously knowne and reputed so grand a Knave and Tyrant, by thousands that know him, as England hath not his fellow, being at this present Outlawed, and hath so continued 3-yeers, and of whom for murder, Cruelty, Bribery and Arbitrary Government, and what not, there hath so many complaints been made to this present Parliament, (though little effect they have taken, by reason of the Speakers Power and Interest) whose common practise it is, to walke in a constant contempt and violation of the knowne Laws of the Kingdom, and to the making of them null, and of none effect, as much as in him lies, to the ruine and destruction of thousands of the free Denizons of England.

For though the Law provide, that if a man in Execution escape or walke abroad out of Prison, the Jaylor is lyable to pay his debt, yet for his own gaine he doth constantly doe both, and the undone and wronged Creditor can have no satisfaction of him, neither Law nor Justice against him, by reason of the Speaker his great faction in the House, supporting of him.

Sir John Lenthal, besides his Outlawries, hath dozens of executions upon him, and yet walkes abroad, and continues keeper of Kings-Bench Prison, and Justice of Peace, and as it is reported, is Chairman of a Committee, by means of which, he is invested into a Power to crush and destroy every honest man that but opens his mouth to speake of his basenesse and injustice, the height of his injustice and of his Arbitrary and Tyrannicall Government, scarcely in Strafford to be parralell’d, which is so insupportable to the poor oppressed Prison in Kings Bench, that they have got a proverbe amongst them in these words;

The Lawyers rule Committees, the Speaker rules the Lawyers, Sir John Lenthall rules the Speaker; Thomas Dutson rules Sir John Lenthall, and the Devill rules Dutson.

But for all Bastwicks brags of Sir John Lenthalls innocency, if he please to doe the State so much service, as to prevaile with his good friend the Speaker, to procure the same Court Marshall in London that sate upon the Hothams, as soon as the Ordinance is past, hee shall have the names of some of reputation in the Kingdome, that will before that Counsell accuse Sir John Lenthall of High Treason, and hazard the losse of their lives upon the proof of it.

In the last place, the Parliament men swear to be at enmitie with indifferencie or newtrallity, which newtrallitie in the Covenant, is branded as detestable by them, and yet notwithstanding, divers of them cannot indure them that would have an end of these warres speedily; but hate and abhorre all those who with all their might indeavour the end of them: and though such men walke by better principles then taking the Covenant, even by Principles ingraven upon their soules by God himself: yet unlesse they will take this (impossible to be kept) Covenant, (the framers and makers of which have runne into wilfull perjury themselves) they must be turned out of Committees and their Regiments disbanded (as in Hartfordshire, &c. and Newters put in their places, that are neither hot nor cold, nor have any other principle whereby to walke, but base pecuniary principles and self-Interrests and by this meanes the Kingdome is in danger to be utterly destroyed, even by such covetous newtrall indifferent Committie-men, and men of excellent publique principles, disfranchised, and undenized, contrary to the fundamentall Constitutions of the Kingdome, which doe allow none to be so dealt with, but only for an act done or committed against the welfare of the Publique.

And though many conscientious men have laid out their witts, their time, their paines, their purses, their blood; yea, and all that in this world is most precious to them for the preservation of the Publique, yet they must not sit in Parliament, though never so fit and able, unlesse they will take this make-baite (persecuting, soul-destroying, Englands dividing, and undoing) Covenant; I shall therefore desire all the Commons of England, and the Parliament themselves, seriously to read over some part of their owne words, in their Exhortation to the taking of the Covenant, the words thus follow:

O that the Parliament would mind these their owne words, and give free leave to some of their honest fellow Commoners to remonstrate the inconveniency and mischievousnesse of this Covenant, and I am confident, it would easily and cleerly be made appeare to themselves so wild, that they would never inforce it any more, but rather recall it again. Judg. 11. 30. Est. 3. 10. Dan. 3. 3. &c. Mark. 6. 23.

12. Whether it be not most agreeable to Law, Justice, equitie and conscience, and the nature of a Parliament mans place, that during the time of his being a member, hee should lay aside all places of profit in the Common-wealth, and tend only upon that function, for which he was chosen; or if he be poor, or have lost his Estate, whether he ought not at present, to be content with his masters wages, that is to say, with so much a day, as the Common-Wealth by the Law of the Land is to pay him for his dayes labour, which is expressed in 33. H. 8. 11. to be 4s. per diem to every Knight, and to every Citizen and Burgesse 23. a day, or more, as heretofore hath been accustomed, &c. or with some reasonable Competency, being the Commonwealth is grown so poor, that it is not able to pay her common Souldiers their 8d. a day, though they constantly adventer their lives to preserve her, which the Parliament men seldome doe, and not to thirst after great and rich Places, farre lesse to possesse or enjoy them.

Seeing by woefull experience it is found, that the possessing of them breeds nothing but factions and base cowadlinesse, yea and sowing up of mens lips, that they dare not speak freely for the Common-wealth, nor displease such and such a faction, for feare of being Voted, and thrust out of their unfit to be enjoyed Offices, the Common wealth hath just cause to fear they will set up an interest of their owne, destructive to that common Interest and Freedome, whereof the poorest free man in England ought to be possessor, and so make this present Parliament an everlasting Parliement, and the Warre a never ending Warre, seeing it tends so much to the inriching of Parliament men and their Officers, who have already wisely, as they thinke, senced themselves with an Ordinance made the 26. of June, 1645. That they shall not be called to account for their Masters the Common-wealths money, nor Plate that once commeth into their fingers.

Object. But would you have those Parliament men, that had their Places before the Parliament sate, turned out of theirs?

Yes, I would have Sir Henry Mildmer, Sir Henry Vane the younger, Soliciter Saint-John, Mr. Holland, &c. turned out of their Places at present, though I conceive it just they should be secured of the injoyment of them againe so soon as the Parliament is ended, for their present injoying thereof, sowes but up their lippes, and makes them they dare neither speake nor doe that they should, and without them is hoped they would (and for avoiding the jealousie of partiallity) I thinke there is as much Justice, to turne them out during the Parliaments continuing, as to turne out Mr. Greene, Sir Robert Harlow, Sir Walter Earle, Mr. Reynolds, the Speaker, Mr. Prideaux, &c. and all the Chancery Judges, for to me it is one of the most unjust things in the world, that the Law-makers should be the Law executors, seeing by that meanes, if they doe never so much injustice and oppression, a man may spend both long time, and all he hath besides, before ever he can get any Justice against them, yea, and it may be, hazard the losse of his life too.

And therefore it were a great deal better for the Common-wealth, that all the executors of the Law should be such persons as doe not in the least belong to the Parliament, that so they may not be able to make any factions to save their Lives and Estates, when they doe injustice: and I am confident, there is never an honest-hearted Parliament man that meanes well to the Common-Wealth, but he will upon the debating of this needfull point, be of my minde, though it be never so contrary to his owne particular Interest and profit.

But you will say, This will fetch that gallant man Cromwell from the Army, which will be a mighty losse to the Kingdome, seeing he is so able and active a Souldier, and so extraordinarily beloved of the Officers and Souldiers in the Army, yea, and such a stay to that unparralleld Generall, Sir THOMAS FAIREFAX.

I answer, it is very true, that the Kingdome will have a mighty losse of him indeed, if he should be taken out of the Army, and be made unserviceable to them any where else; but if he come into the House of Commons (that proper seat whereunto hee was chosen,) and doe them ten times more service there, then he doth, or can doe in the Army, what losse hath the Common-Wealth then? Consider seriously the grand service he did the last Winter, when hee was in the House, and see whether any action that ever he did in his life can be parralleld to it, and I beleeve it will be found good to have him at home: for he is sound at the heart, and not rotten cored, hates particular and selfe-Interests, and dares freely speake his minde.

Therefore home with him, as well as the rest of Parliament-men, according to their owne Ordinance, and let him perfect what he began, and either lay Manchester flat upon his back, or himself, for the best service can be done the Kingdome, is to pull out home-bred Traytors, and to helpe to keep and preserve the Great Counsell aright: for if there be Twenty Armies abroad, and your Counsells be not absolutely safe, sound, and Unanimous at home, you are not safe, but still in danger; besides, I have heard it reported, that hee was about a designe of getting a Committee set apart, and an Order made and published to the whole Kingdome, that if any man were unjustly oppressed by any Member of Parliament, Committeman, or any other Officers or Ministers, let him bring his complaint, and hee shall have a just and a faire hearing, and Justice done not in words, but in actions upon the Transgressour.

O for selfe-denying Cromwell home againe, to set this on foot, which would be a salve for all our sores, and would gaine the Parliament more ground in one moneth, then their forcing the Covenant will doe in a hundred; And if you will seriously meditate upon these things, you will finde there was a hidden mystery in sending him from the Parliament, when he had impeached Manchester, the fresh pricking of which veine againe, would cause good blood to grow in the body of our Common-wealth; and besides Cromwell may reasonable well be spared now from the Army, seeing there are so many gallant, brave, and true-hearted Englishmen there besides himself, who are well knowne for their Honesty, Parts, Valour and Souldiery to the Noble Generall: and besides, Cromwell, if he were at the House, might (if it were thought fit) now and then visite the Army, to solder them together, if there should be any disjoynted, (as I hope there will not) in which Art hee hath good skill, and unfainedly hates all factious pertaking, and base selfe-gaining.

Againe, Whether is it not agreeable to Law, Justice, Equity and Conscience, seeing that by the 4. of Ed. 3. 14. that there should be a Parliament once every yeere, and more often, if need require, and in the 36. of E. 3. 10. it is inacted, That for maintenance of the Laws, and the redresse of divers mischiefs and grievances, which daily happen, a Parliament shall be holden every yeere, as at another time was ordained by a Statute, that seeing this present Parliament, (by reason of the extraordinary necessities of the Kingdom) have sate foure yeeres, and many of the members betray’d their trust, and those that remaine, ingross Law-making, and also Law-executing into their own hands contrary both to reason, and to the true intent and meaning of the Law, which saith, delayes in judgement in other Courts shall be redressed in Parliament, as also false judgements and difficult Cases that shall happen, shall be there decided: Read the 14. E. 3. 5.

By which manifest abusing, negligent and not true using the Lawes, oppressions, mischiefes and grievances are no lesse (if not far more) increased; then they were before the Parliament began; and many times by the powerfull Interest of a Faction in the Parliament, to save some one, two or three of their Members, undeserving credits; they so violate the known, unrepealed, and declared law of the land, yea and their owne Votes, Ordinances, Declarations and Protestations, as if they had never made them; I say, all these things considered, ought not the Free-men of England, who have laboured in these destroying times, both to preserve the Parliament, and their owne native Freedoms and Birth-rights, not only to chuse new Members, where they are wanting once every yeere, but also to revue and inquire once a yeere, after the behaviour and carriage of those they have chosen.

And if they finde that since they came into the House, they never made any motions for the publick good, nor so much as for theirs that sent them, but doe sit like so many Ninneys and Groles, that have no more wit in them, then will reach from their noses to their mouthes, as Doctour Bastwick saies, or have any way been unfaithfull and unserviceable to the publique, or groundedly suspected so to be, that then those that chuse and sent them, may have liberty to chuse more faithfull, able and better men in their places, for standing water will speedily corrupt, if it have not fresh running springs to feed it, though it were never so pure at the first.

Therefore I earnestly desire all true-hearted Free-men of England, to have a care in their present new choices, and seriously consider, that Gallant man, Major George Withers advice to them in his late Book, especially his 20. page, who there saith, Some men give their voices to their friends, some to their Landlords, some to the richest (and hee forsooth must needs be the wisest) mens merits are measured by the aker, weighed by the pound, so let a Beast be Lord of beasts, and possesse many acres of durt, hee shall be preferred to be a Parliament-man, in admiration of his wealth, and not wit: although (as Varro saith of a swine) he hath no more soule then will serve in stead of salt to keep his body from putrifying.

But who thinkes upon the poor wise man, who as Solomon saith, saved the City? who thinks of the just man, whose integrity keeps Gods blessing amongst us, and us together amongst our selves? No not one; who wonders then to see a crooked representation of a crooked Commonwealth it is no true glasse that calls not a shadow as crooked and deformed as the substance: but above all others, have care of chusing Lawyers, as the same Author in his late Poems called Vox Pacifica, page 183. saith of them; for if the Common-wealth had Peace with their professed enemies; yet they will reincrease.

———Your Quarrells, else, assigne as you agree:
By their formalities, and slow proceeding,
Your remedy for injuries is made
A mischief, the disease oft times exceeding;
And if some eye unto them be not had,
So many places in your Parliament,
They will supply, and fill so many Chaires
In your Committees; that, much detriment
Unto the Subject; and some close impaires
Of Publique Freedomes (e’re you be aware)
Which slip upon you, if you have not care.

So strong a party they have alwayes had,
That your great-Charter, which doth interdict
Delay of Justice, was in that point made
(Ere since the Grant) a Law without effect.
But when their Courts, and practises have reach’d
Oppressions height; they, as the Clergie were;
Shall downe into another Orb be setch’d,
And taught to keep a constant motion there:

This worke, upon some Courts hath been begun,
Another time, it shall be fully done.

And as the worthy Authour of that late sheet of paper, called Some Advertisements, for the new Election of Burgesses for the House of Commons, saith in his 6. page.

Take heed how you fill up Elections with these kind of men (meaning Lawyers) the Recorder of every Borough will of course looke to be chosen; as being the mouth of his Corporation: but it is a Custome not fit for the necessitie of these times, our affaires require rather States-men then Lawyers; my Reasons against such Elections follow:

1. The Knowledge of the Common Law, doth no way conduce to the making of a States man: it is a confined and topicall kind of learning, Calculated only for the Meridian of Westminster-Hall; and reacheth no further then Dover. Transplant a Common Lawyer to Calice, and his head is no more usefull there, then a Sun-dyall in a grave: who ever heard of the Polyticks written in Law-French?

2. If the making and penning of good Lawes were the worke of these times (as they are not) it were not wisedome to chuse Mercinary Lawyers to make Lawes: because they are the first men to invent subtilties to evade them, and make them uselesse; and will pen them obscurely on purpose to procure themselves work in the interpretation.

3. Lawyers, being a bold and talketive kinde of men; will intrude themselves into the Chaires of all Committees, where (being accustomed to take fees) they will under-hand protect delinquents, and their concealed Estates with tricks and devices.

4. The Reformation of Courts of Justice, is a worke of absolute necessity, without which (though the sword of the Lord returneth again into its scabbard, so that you have no warre yet) you shall have no Peace: but if you have many Lawyers, they will never suffer any effectuall Law to passe for this purpose: Because they yet move by the corruption and delayes of the Law, then by the Law it self:

5. It is necessary to make a Law for limitation of exorbetant fees, extortion, and prevarication (or collusion) amongst Lawyers, as it is used in other Countries.

6. It is necessary to limit the certaine number of practisers in each Court, that they swarme not (like Locusts) over the land, devouring and impoverishing it.

These blessings you will never attaine unto, unlesse God give you the wisedom to avoide such Elections: lay to your hearts sinne as well as the shame and smart, of oppressions and transgressions of lawyers; and you will finde that the cries of the oppressed have been a principall motive to draw downe Gods vengeance upon this mournfull Land.

Was ever so desperate a wound given to the Lawes, Liberties and properties, as the predetermined judgement of Ship-mony. Who gave that blow? Judges. What were they? Theeves cum privilegio Rege majestatis who bought Justice by whole-sale, and sold it by Retaile? Who assissed them? Lawyers, who undertaking to pleade for their Clyants against it, (pretending one thing, and doing another thing) for the most part; and betrayed the Cause, all to get favour and proferrment; and yet such proceedings were both against the Judges, and the Caronation Oath; upon an extrajuditiall opinion collusively given: (for saith the Record) Sacramentum Domini Regis ergo populum suum habent ad custodiendum. But our Judges, (though more wicked) have the happinesse to live in a more wicked age, and out live their crimes, paying onely a small part by way of fine: and enjoying the rest of their stollen treasures : and after they had made Peace as devouring as warre, and the Law as cruell as the Sword; who’s that is not a better Christian then these Brothers of the Coyse, brothers in evill: will not cry out with Epicures, that God takes no more care what men doe on this earthly bulke, then man doth what doth what Ants doe on an Emmett-hill; when Verres: being Consull of Cicily,) had pilled that Province, and (other Pro-Consulls, and Pro-Pretors were punished for lesser Extortions) he laughing at their foolish moderation, vaunted to his Brother Tymarkedes: that he had got enough to buy the freindship of the Senate and commendation, of a rich and Honourable man: So our Judges enjoy their crimes, and the prize and reward of them: Nay, they grow fatt and prosper upon the anger of God and man, whilest this Land groanes under the sad weight of the Sword, Pestilence, and famine, the effects of their injustice: but through whose favour is it they have not expiated their Crimes with their blood: and washed away the Guilt of the Land; but the Lawyers? who wisely consider it may be their own Case another day.

I have shewed you how unsafe it is to trust Mercenary-men with making or keeping of your Lawes; I will epitomize what I have said in Pliniea’s words (in Panegyr ad Trajanum) Hereto one we were laden with our Crimes, now we are oppressed with our Lawes: and it is to be feared, least the Common-wealth (though founded by the Lawes) be confounded by the Lawes (or rather by the Lawyers.)

Likewise to this purpose read what the Author (reputed to be a member of the Assembly, as well as he that writes the Brotherly and friendly Censure of Mr. Prinnes 4. late Queries;) in his Antidote against the same 4. dangerous Queries, pag. 3. saith, That if the thing be granted, that he disputes, for Judges will be taught, That they judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is with them in judgement, people will grow more peaceable and free from continuall contentions: Lawyers shall not get the wealth of the Land into their hands by fishing in troubled waters: incouraging men in unlawfull and quarrelous suites, pleading wicked Causes for large Fees, prelonging suites; and making men spend in long suite unto twise the value of their just Right, and debt for which they sue, and by taking treeble fees, and keeping them, though they faile their Clyant, and have beene imployed at other Barres, when his Cause was to be pleaded.

Godlinesse and true Religion being increased by faithfull Preaching and godly Discipline, in the hearts of men, will make the Common-wealth free from the necessity of many Lawyers, which the learned Philosopher held to be a Plague in a State and Kingdome: and therefore it is no marvell that the corrupt ones of that Profession, are deadly enemies to the Maintenance, Honour, and other incouragements of the true Ministery of the Gospel.

Also: Read what that honest Author (and true principl’d Common-wealths man:) of the little booke intituled, A Helpe to the Right understanding of Mr. Wil. Prynne, saith of Lawyers; and lay all the aforecited Authors together, and you will easily finde, they make it evidently appeare, that there is as little use of Lawyers to be in the House of Commons, as there is of a Plague or Pestilence or of the Bishops and Popist Lords in the Honourable House of Peeres; their Interest being both as Delatory, and as destructive to the true Peace, Prosperity and well-fare of the Common-wealth of distressed England: for the procuring of which, as principall helpes and meanes under the powerfull and wise disposing Providence of the Lord JEHOVAH, who in his owne due time, (as Mordecai said to Esther, Est. 4. 14. and Isa. 63. 3. when all means faileth, is alone able without and beyond all meanes, to bring Salvation by his owne out-stretched Arme, Yet let not us be idle or secure, but observe and indeavour these insuing means for our part.

I. By Petitioning, and by all other lawfull wayes and addresses, strive to procure from the Parliament, and all other just Authority, than they (according to their duty, Oath, and Profession; yea, and our trust reposed in them) will Administer JUSTICE impartially, (according to that loud and earnest desire of distressed and Imprisoned Lieutenant Colonell LILBURNE, in that late Letter, (which frequently is called his,) and according to those sad and lamenting Expressions in that just complaining Epistle (of an Utter Barrester to his speciall freind,) called Englands Misery and Remedy,) and that without turning either to the right hand, or to the left, or knowing of any Relation either to Father, Mother, Sister, Brother, Kinsman or other; or without regarding of any Faction, either Popish, Episcopall, Presbyterian, Independant, Separate or Anabaptist, but Cordially to doe every one Justice, because it is just: and severely to punish all perverters of Justice; whosoever they be: one Moneths doing of which, would procure the Parliament more Cordiall freinds then the fighting of all their Armies, or the forcing of all their Covenants, or the Pressing of all their Souldiers, or persecuting all their Sectaries will doe in ten moneths space.

II. To endeavour to set the City of London right in the enjoyment of her Priviledges: (being the Metropolis of England, that shee may indeed be a true President to all the Cities and Corporations in the Kingdome, and a ballance to all the Tyrants, or Arbitrary-principled men in the same:) the means to set her right, is first, for the Commons to get a Copy of their Charters, and translate them into English, and print them, that so every free-man may see and know his own rights, and endeavour the more earnestly the exemplary punishment of the infringers and incroachers thereupon.

III. To rise as one man under faithfull, honest, experienced, constant, well-affected Commanders, such as those that rise, shall chuse to adventure their lives with, and beleager all the Kings Garrisons before the storme grow so great in the North, that no man dare travell under paine of his life, according those honest and good Directions lately printed, which are intituled, Englands Cordiall Physick.

IV. To call to a just and strict account all Fingerers, and Receivers of money, whatsoever, even Parliament men as well as others; for they are all but the Common-wealths servants) and severely (according to the greatest pennalty of any declared and unrepealed Law) to punish all those that have any wayes cheated and cozened the Common-wealth, and unjustly made themselves rich by her treasure now in the time of their great riches, and her extreme poverty; and for future time, to make a Law to punish with death all such grosse transgressors, who deserve to have their skinnes flaid off, and stopt full of straw, and being up publikely in the places where they so unjustly executed their undeserted Offices, and deceived their owne Nation to inrich themselves, to the terrifying of all such as shall succeed them in their places, from the acting of such unchristian yea and worse then Heathen-like Roaguery.

For I am confident, that the portion of all such covetous State-robbers, Nationall Fellons, mighty thieves, and secret Traytors will be such as are described (or painted lively in their colours) throughout the Twentieth Chapter of Job, from the fourth Verse, which I expresse here at large, and more Scriptures after them, for the use of those that have no Bibles, to read (they are become so dear, and Monopolized like other things, as shall yet hereafter appeare,) the words are these.

Knowest not thou this of old, since man was placed upon the earth, that the triumphing of the wicked is short and the joy of the hypocrite bilt for a moment. Though his Excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the Clouds, yet he shall perish for ever, like his owne dung: they which have seen him, shall say, Where is hee?

He shall flie away as a dreame, and shall not be found, yea, he shal be chased away as Vision of the night, the eye also which saw him, shall see him no more, neither shall his Place any more behold him. His Children shall seek to please the Poore, and his hands shall restore their goods: His bones are full of the sinne of his youth, which shall lie downe with him in the dust. Though wickednesse be sweet in his mouth, though hee hide it under his tongue: though be spare it, and forsake it not, but keep it still within his mouth.

Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of ashes within him. He hath swallowed down riches, and hee shall vomite them up againe, God shall cast them out of his belly: He shall suck the poyfon of Aspes, the Vipers tongue shall slay him: He shall not see the Rivers, the floods, the brookes of honey and butter; That which he laboured for, hee shall restore, and shall not swallow it downe; according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoyce therein.

Because he hath oppressed, and hath forsaken the poor, because he hath violently taken away an house which be builded not: surely hee shall not finde quietnesse in his belly, hee shall not save of that which hee desired.

There shall none of his meat be left, he shall be in straites; every hand of the wicked shall come upon him: When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall raine it upon him, while he is eating.

He shall flie from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through: it is drawne, and commeth of the body: yea, the glistering sword commeth out of his gall; terrours are up in him: all darknesse shall be bid in his secret places; & fire not blowne shall consume him: it shall goe ill with him that is left in his Tabernacle. The heaven shall reveale his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him: the increase of his House shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath? This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.

Cnsider and apply these Judgements to your selves yee wicked Lawyers, (if you apprehend your selves to be guilty of the blood, and of grinding the faces of the poor, by your professions, and especially you grand Lawyers, (who are out of your element) in the House of Commons, by your practises.)

And as the Psalmist saith well of wicked men, Psal. 73. 5. &c. They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men: their eyes stand out with fatnes, they have more then their heart can wish, they are corrupt and speak wickedly concerning oppression, they speake foolishly, they set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth: therefore the people returne hither, and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. And they say, how doth God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High: Behold these are the ungodly who prosper in the world, they increase in riches.

But in the 18. verse it is said, Surely thou (O Lord) didst set them in slippery places, thou castest them down into destruction.

And in the 49. Psal. 16. hee saith, Bee not thou afraid, when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased, for when hee dieth, hee shall carry nothing away, his glory shall descend after him, &c. And in the 50. Psalm. 16, &c. But unto the wicked, God saith, What hast thou to doe with my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my Covenant in thy mouth: seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. When thou sawest a thief, then then consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with Adulterers. Thou givest thy mouth to evill, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother, thou slanderest thine owne mothers sonne. These things hast thou done, and I have kept silence: thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thy self; but I will reprove thee, and set them in Order before thine eyes. Now consider this, yee that forget GOD, lest I teare you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. Whoso offereth praise, glorifieth me, and to him that ordereth his conversation aright, will I shew the salvation of God.

But as the Prophet Jeremiah saith, chap. 23. &c. But this people hath a revolting and rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone: neither say they in their heart, let us now feare the Lord, our GOD, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter in his season, hee reserveth unto us the very appointed weeks of the harvest: your iniquities hath turned away these things, and your sinnes have withdrawen good things from you. For among my people are found wicked men; they lay wait, as hee that layeth snares, they set a trap to catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit, therefore they are become great, and waxed rich. They are grown fat, they shine, yea, they overpasse the deeds of the wicked they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherlesse; yet they prosper, and the right of the needy doe they not judge.

Shall I not visite for these things, saith the Lord, shall not my soul be revenged on such a Nation as this? A wonderfull and horrible thing is committed in the Land, the Prophets Prophesie, falsly, and the Priests beare rule by that means, and my people love to have it so, and what will yee doe in the end thereof.

But to returne to our former matter, especially the grievances of the Nation; (through the mistake of the Printer, in omitting of some Manuscripts) and the absence of the Author, when the Monopolies in the former part of this Book were expressed; as chiefly that soul-starving, or murthering Monopoly, in hindering the free passage of the Gospel, by extorting the prices of Bibles, which the false self-loving Stationers, as deadly enemies to all goodnesse, have been enterprizing a long time to obtaine, and against all common freedom, to engrosse into their owne hands the sole and only selling of them, by which meanes, they intend to tell at what rates soever they please, though already they sell at double the rate that honest wel-affected Common-wealths men may print and sell them, and also be conscionable gainers by them:

So of all Monopolies or Patents, next the monopolizing, of ingrossing the Preaching of Gods Word into the Tything and gripeing clawes of the Clergy: this is the most wicked and intollerable, because it deprives many, both poore servants, and others of meane condition to buy any Bibles at all, by reason of the extraordinary dearth or dearnesse of them, that thereby they might be instructed in the way to heaven and happinesse; and taught their duty also towards their Masters, and the Magistrates; whereby it is evident, that those Stationers, thus enterprising, are self-seekers, and as great enemies to the Common-wealth, as they are to all goodnesse.

And besides, they employ the Bishops old Theeves and Roagues about their robbing affaires, as Hunscott their Beadle for one, and a tall pale-faced fellow for another, who lately with their base crue of robbing Partners, under pretence of Parliamentary Authority, to search for dangerous Bookes, have robbed divers honest mens houses in London, who have been the Parliaments best friends and servants, and particularly. Lieutenant Colonell Lilburnes house, who being Prisoner in New-gate, and his wife with him, and she great with Childe, and neer her time, those robbers took advantage of their absence.

And none being in the House, but an old Gentle-woman at that time, whom they much frighted; as they did a young Gentle-woman in another place, to the great danger of her life (insomuch that she cryeth out in her terrible Fever, (Hunscott, Hunscott) ) they ranne up into the Chambers & stole out of his wives Drawers, divers pieces of her Child-bed linen and such other things as they pleased, and refused to shew the Old-woman what they had stollen, though shee earnestly intreated them.

And in other the Parliaments freinds houses, under the colour of Parliamentary Authority, they at least doe rob all choice old books, as well as new, upon all occasions of such grievous oppressions, and unexpected persecutions.

And not only hath this base fellow Hunscott this so needfull and profitable Office of Robbing, but it is reported, that hee hath also another as needfull and profitable, for he gathereth the Excise for Cattell, and Hats, &c. which with the former, is esteemed to be worth 500 l. per aunum to him.

Oh! what a cleer demonstration of future and intended slavery may be well and cleerly perceived by any (who have but halfe an eye) to begin againe among us (though after more hidden and obscured wayes then formerly) when such sturdy Roagues, bold Robbers, shamelesse covetous, and impudent Tyrants as this, or his fellows, are authorized and sent from bigh Judicatories, upon such ungodly & barbarous designes, & inhumane enterprizes, & yet found good enough also to be imployed in the great Affaires of the Kingdom!

Is there never a conscientious nor honest man left unkilled, exiled or imprisoned, that hath the feare of God, & done good & faithfull service to the State, there would be some colour of excuse, that such abjects and off-scourings of mankind should be accepted, and well-deserving worthy men quite rejected? Well, these are brave times for the wicked, who are advanced by the ruine of the godly, the allowed thiefe permitted to rob and destroy the honest man, the rich to rob, plunder, and sequestrate the poore, untill they can get no more, but when they have gotten all, and done with all what they please, it rests only that the poore also, in their turne, render them the like measure, and finde out their Riches for the States service, which all this heavy time they have saved, whiles poore mens estates have been exceedingly destroyed.

But as the Water-men at Queen-hive doe usually cry, Westward hough, hough, so according to the present current of the times, most honest men have more then cause to cry in the Water-mens language, Ægypt hough, hough, the house of Bondage, slavery, oppression, taxation, heavy and cruell, heavy and cruell, wee can no longer beare it, we can no longer beare it, wee can no longer beare it, wee are as much provoked & forced to cast off all our yoakes and crosses from our shoulders (except only that of Persecution) as ever any people or Nation, though no People or Nation under heaven have been more free, beneficiall and helpfull to those whom wee intrusted to help and deliver us from oppression, which saith the Wise-man, is enough to make wise men mad.

According to the Parliaments Declaration, in their own words, expressed on the second page of this book, is it not justly said, that if the Generall of an Army should turn the mouthes of his Cannons against his owne Souldiers, would not that his attempt contrary to the nature of his trust and place committed unto him, ipso facto, estate the Army in a right of disobedience, (even by standing on their own defence, as the Parliament themselves doe (and we also in helping them, or else where had they been, against the fury of the King, which Salomon calleth, like the roaring of a Lion; except wee thinke that obedience binds men to cut their owne throates, or at least their companions, so (as they truly teach us) it is the equitie and not the Letter of the Law, unto which wee must have recourse in our greatest necessity, as the Parliament themselves were forced to doe, and still doth in this their owne extremity.

But some will say, that our bondage is not yet so bad as that of Ægypt was, for all the Jewes were in great bondage under the Egyptians, and yet many of ours are exempted; unto that I yeeld, and doe confesse, that few of our great and mighty men doe either work the clay, or make the bricks; but they lay either all, or most part of the burthen on the poor by heavy labour, and sweat of their browes in the heat of the day, not only in working the clay, and making of the bricks, but if they doe complaine to Higher Powers, upon their cruell and Tyrannous Task-masters, they are so farre from getting any kind of Justice, that because they moaned and complained, and groaned under such heavy and grievous burdens that they were not able any longer to beare or indure, they are further ordained (even for their complaining) to gather stubble too, because they are so idle.

Innumerable instances there are throughout these three mourning and bleeding Kingdomes, to prove all these businesses, but I will onely chuse a Citie instance, and let every man who is in his profession after that manner grieved and wronged, turne the simile home to himself, according to his smart; Though the poore Hatmakers, who earne their living with heavy and hot labour, both early and late, doe pay Excise both for all the materialls, and fire which they use, for the bread they eate, for the liquor they drinke, and clothes they weare, yet when they have made their Hatts, and done all they can with great trouble and toyle, day and night, they are forced to pay Excise over againe out of their very labour, notwithstanding it was both so deare and heavy in buying all the necessaries before.

O cruell, pitifull, lamentable and intollerable Bondage, no longer to be indured, suffered, nor undergone, the burdens being far heavier then the poore labourers can beare; and yet the Spirituall Task-masters doe gape, and roar like Lions for their prey of Tythes, also over, above, and besides all, without any kinde of pitie, compasion or commiseration, in these grievous daies of affliction.

When this Kingdom was in any way or possibility of subsistance, the anntient custome was, that Taxations should be raised by way of Subsidie, which is the most just, equitable, and reasonable way of all, for it sets every tub on its owne bottome, it layes the burthen upon the strong shoulders of the rich, who onely are able to beare it, but spareth and freeth the weake shoulders of the poore, because they are scarcely able to subsist, pay rent, and maintain their families.

But our new invented pay, layes the burden heavily upon the poore, and men of middle quality or condition, without all discretion, and scarcely maketh the rich touch it with one of their fingers: yea, many of them are more and more advanced in their prosperous estate, through the great ruines, distractions, and miseries of the Kingdome, by their great salleries they have for executing their places, as 500l. 1000l. 1200l. and more, per annum, besides all the bribes they get, and the false Accounts they make; So that in this life, the rich have their pleasures, but poore Lazrus paines.

Seeing the Parliament ordained, that none should be accepted to be a Parliament-man, that had been a Monopolizer to the Kings Counsell, and false Judges against the Liberties of the free-men of England, is it not as unjust to imploy any man in a place of Trust, Credit, or profit now in Parliament time, that have been known to be a Monopolizer in any place or Office to or for the Parliament, to the prejudice of the Free-men of England?

Further it was omitted in the former part of this book, where complaint is made both of injustice to well-doers, and no justice to evill doers, that (according to the Parliaments booke of Declarations, pag. 259. and 260.) Whosoever shall save or assist the King in these Warres, are Traytars by the fundamentall Lawes of this Kingdome, and have been so adjudged by two Acts of Parliament. 11. Richard 2. 1. Hen. 4.

And pag. 576. of the said book, It is declared by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that whereas the King, seduced by wicked Counsell, doth make warre against his Parliament and People, and for the promoting of that war, divers forces both of horse and foot have been, and are leavied and raised by severall persons, and his Majesties good Subjects are most crueliy robbed, spoiled and slaine.

To the end that no man may be misled through ignorance, the Lords and Commons in Parliament declare, that all such persons as shall upon any pretence whatsoever, assist his Majestie in this warre with Horse, Armes, Plate or money, are Traytors to his Majestie, the Parliament, and the Kingdome, and shall be brought to condigne punishment for so high an offence.

Yea, and according to the book of Articles for Warre, pag. [Editor: missing text] It is enacted to be death unto any whosoever, who holdeth Intelligence and correspondency with the enemy.

All which Sir John Lenthall, and the Speaker his Brother have done, and yet is must neither be proved against them, nor they tryed nor arraigned, but altogether excused, cleered, and freed, even by Vote of Parliament, and the accusers both prisoned and arraigned for them; yea, & a Committe chosen to devise and inflict punishments against the Accusers, so that still the just are condemned, and the wicked absolved.

Psal. 9. 18, 19. For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poore shall not perish for ever: Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail, let the Heathen be judged in thy sight. And 12. 5. For the oppressions of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD, I will set him in sefety, from him that puffeth at him. And 35. 10. All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee! which delivereth the poore from him that is too strong for him; yea, the poore and the needy from him that spoileth him? And. 37. 14. The wicked have drawne out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast downe the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

And 62. 9, 10. Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie, to be laid in the ballance, they are altogether lighter then vanity. Trust not in oppression, become not vaine in robbery; if riches increase, set not your hearts upon them. And 74. 19. O deliver not the soul of thy Turtle Dove, unto the multitude of the wicked, forget not the Congregation of thy poore for ever. And 82. 3, 4, 5. Defend the poore and fatherlesse, doe justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poore and needy, rid them out of the hand of the wicked, they know not, neither will they understand: they walk on in darknesse, all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

And 92. 6, 7. A bruitish man knoweth not, neither doth a fool understand this; When the wicked spring as the grasse, and when all the workers of iniquity doe flourish, it is, that they shall be distroyed for ever. And 118. 8, 9. It is better to trust in the Lord, then to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord, then to put confidence in Princes. And 146. 3. Put not your trust in Princes, nor in the sonne of man, in whom there is no helpe.

Isaiah. 10. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and write grievous things, which they have prescribed. To turn aside the needy from judgement, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that Widdows may be their prey, and that they may robbe the fatherlesse. And what will ye doe in the day of Visitation; and in the desolation which shall come from farre? to whom will ye seek for help? and where will ye leave your glory? Without me they shall bow down under the Prisoners, and they shall fall under the slaine, for al this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocriticall Nation; and against the people of my wrath, I will give him a charge to take the spoile, and to take the prey, and to tread them downe like the myre in the streets.

The chiefe faults escaped in the printing, either through the Authours absence, or the Correctours negligence.

In page 4. l. 22. read the last but one of. p. 5. l. 2. read and that. & l. 7. read for the same. p. 7. l. 37. r. and justly for hence justly. and read may condemne for may not condemne. p. 9. l. 20. r. of which you may. and l. 32. r. are rulpable. p. 10. l. 19. r. publick for bublick p. 15. l. 18. r. that call evill good, and good evill. and adde to the next line, Joh 14. 4. Who can bring a clean thing out of an uncleane? not one. read 25. 4. and Psalm. 51. 5. p. 16. l. 16. r. to prison without cause shewed. and l. 18. r. to force him to commit a crime. & l. 26. r. and then make for and then to make p. 17. l. 14. r. strengthned for streightned, l. p. 37. l. 18. r. suites for suite, p. 39. l. 1. r. according to those, for, according those. p. 40. l. 23. r. consuler, for cnsider. p. 43. l. 16. r. If there were, for, Is there.