A Second complaint being an honest letter to a dovbtfvll friend : about the rifling of the twentieth part of his estate.

To his much esteemed friend and Kinsman Sir H.W. at his house in Westminster.

SIR,

THe indisposition of my body hath confined me to my Chamber, we must now therefore discourse by let∣tors; your Petition for peace I see is not so happy as to finde successe in Parliament, at which while I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I began to consider the reasons, which are divers ••s the persons opposing it. Therefore you must first 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the opposors; and then the reasons will be evident. It is not fit the Houses of Parliament should deny the obedient Citizens of London any thing, for that may bee distastefull to the City; nor yet grant the Request of the Petition; for that may be distructive to the Profit of many Members of both Houses, and to some even of the City it selfe. It was there∣fore wisely done of my abortive Lord Major and his Zeelous Sectaries to attempt the strangling of it in the birth, by committing some that were active about it; the Reasons are Reformation of Religion, that is, abolishing the Booke of Common-Prayer as Popish, though justified by the Compa∣sers Martyrdome under the popish tyranny, but that will make way for their new Doctrines and extemporary bablings, next the dissolving of Bishopricks and Deanries will repay the mo∣ney lent upon publique faith, for advancing the Lords warre, (for so they miscall treason) & to conclude, that being the Lords debt, it is fittest to be paid out of the Lords inheritance, then Bishops being eradicated, Elders may grow up and flourish as in Susannaes dayes. And it is Considerable, that the estates of Malignants, will be just rewards for the godly laborers in this harvest, all which will be lost by a beggarly accommodation.

Touching the Houses of Parliament which consists of a∣bout 140. Lords, and 500. Commoners, of which not a fift part do attend in their severall Houses, some being voted out,

others committed for not conforming their Consciences to the sence of the House, and very many, disliking the proceed∣ings and tumults, left the House and repayred to the King, with whom a greater part I am sure is then attend both Houses, being come to preserve their oathes of Allegiance which is personall to the King.

Take (Sir) but a view of such as fit and act the businesse in the Houses of Parliament, observe who among them have Commands and places of profit in and about this warre, then examine their small estate, with the great debt and charge; the rich profit of their command with their poor Revenew. You may find the Earles of Northumberland, Pembrook, Rut∣land, Salisbury, Holland, sitting in the Lords House; and in the House of Commons Sir Edward Hales, Sir George Stone∣house, Sir Alexander Denton, M. Edw. Waller, M. Maynard, M. Thomas Cooke, Sir Thomas Hutchinson, M. Philips, M. El∣lis, and others, all voting for Peace, to preserve the estates they have, not find them in the list of Officers to get mainte∣nance. All men know my misled Lord of Essex lost the best of his estate in lost Ireland, and his whole debt, and great Ac∣compt to his Nephew Shirley is to be paid out of a small Re∣mainder, hath not my Lord of Warwick sould all he can, but yet his creditors take new promises for old debts, though he be responsall for 400000. pound prout per accompt? are the Lords of Peterborough, Stamford, Say, and Brook, necessi∣tous? their debts and charge pressing? then their com∣mands are double; both Horse and Foot. The Lords Hastings, Rachford, Wharton, S•• Iohn, Mandevill, Feelding, Gray of Grooby, Sir Hugh Chamley, Sir Samuell Luke, Sir Iohn Merrick, Master Nathaniel Fines, Mast. Martin, Mast. Wingat, Mast. Walton, Mast. Cromwell, Collonell Venne, M. John More, and others, are men whose credit (as appears by Screveners bookes) is as great as their estates, not invited to Commands by the profit of the places, but by their Consci∣entious zeale to the Cause, others of the Houses (least

any water should runne beside their mill) preferre their Sonnes, Brothers, and neere Friends, to places and imploy∣ments of profit about this warre, as M. Pym his sonne Alex∣ander, Sir H. Mildemay his brother Anthony, my Lord Say his son Iohn, and others other friends, while some men of the House have confest that the pay made them undertake the cause, and which of all these, save Sir Iohn Merrick, knowes ought of his place but the profit? Nay, many of them for the better service fight by their Lieutenants, as they pay debts by their sureties, and how many of them, save two or three which are taken prisoners, received a wound, or struck one blow in the late battels of Edge hil and Branceford, what hopes then that these men wil give their Votes and 12. or 1500. l. per ann. for a barren peace? will my Lord Major subscribe a Pe∣tition that shall take away his toll, 12.d. for Passes out of London? or Colonel Mannering, the crased Mercer, Captain Basse, the Lace-man, Captain Mason, the Button maker, Cap∣taine Witherly, the Pewterer, Captaine Capcote the Broaker, Captaine Lee the Vintner, with the Cunnyskin-Captaine in Southwark, and divers other Debt-compounding-Citizens, their pay and protections against Creditors, and leave them∣selves nought but a Gaole to live in? What can you hope for by your Petition that these men, and the like, can hinder?

Now surveigh the Popish and beggerly Lords and Cava∣liers for and about the King, as the Duke of Richmond, the Marquesse Hartford, Earles of Cumberland, Darby, Lindsey, Bath, Dorset, Bridgwater, Denby, Leicester, Devonshire, North-Hampton, Chesterfield, Bristoll, Westmerland, Barkshire, New∣castle, Carnarvon, Kingston and Thanot. The Lords Mowbray, Mountague of Baughton, Daincourt, Shandoys, Spencer, Gray, Mohume, Dunsmore, Newarke, Seymore, Capell, and others: Then of the House of Commons, Sir Christo. Hatten, Sir Iar∣vas Clifton, S. Guy Palmes, Sir Iames Thinn, Mr. Iames Coventry, Mr. Henry and Iohn Bellassey, Sir Thomas Fanshaw, Sir Richard Lewson, Sir Thomas Danby, Sir Iohn Packington, Sir Ric. Lee, Sir

Charles le Grosse, Master Catline, M^r. Holborne, M^r. Bridgeman, Mr. Chadwell, S^r John Stangwayes & his sonne, M^r. John Digby, Sir Edw. Deering, Sir William Widdrington, Master Venables, Baron of Kinnerton, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Newport, Sir Edward Alford, Mr. Whitmore, Mr. Chuchley, Mr. Edgcome, Sir John Stowell, Mr. Crooke, Mr. Nowell, Mr. Sutton, Sir Will. Oagle, Sir Wil. Poole, & one hundred more then my paper will hold, men of under∣standing and known integrity, & which of all these whose age & health would permit, adventured not their lives and estates in this war with the King? Now let us examine their Religion, you shall finde them daily at Sermons and Service with the King, hearing and practising the same Protestant Religi∣on and Liturgie, that saved our Fathers, and hath beene in our Church ever since the Reformation, and which we have vow∣ed by the late Protestation to maintain, then (no doubt) nei∣ther the King nor they are likely to bring in Popery, nor bee Separatists.

That they are men of Estates the Counties that elected them (if not the Kingdom) knows, and which of them hath any profit by the warre: which of them goes not himselfe and servants to the warre at his own charge? Nay, which of them have not otherwise in a large manner contributed to the maintenance of the Kings Army, and that without any Com∣mands of an Ordinance; yea, even against the Declaration of the House? what would they land others then have done, had an Order of the House directed it as on the other side? By this then you see they are neither Popishly nor beggarly; nor can have any reward or hopes of repaire out of the estates of the adverse party.

But they would induce arbitrary government: I pray what proofe is there of that? what one act hath the King done since the Commence of the Parliament that favours of arbitrary justice? whom he hath distrained, committed, or turned out of the Towne for not lending? Nay, what hath hee not done to assure us the contrary? Reade His Declarati∣ons

observe his regall promises and Protestations, and then tell me what Christian (that hath charity) or what man (that would be beleeved) will not beleeve him? Hath he not regu∣lated the Councell Table? damned the Sipwrits? supprest the high-Commission and Martiall Court? Nay, hath he not left all things to be tryed by strict proceedings of Law?

Whom can arbitrary justice more prejudice, then those now about and with the King? the Rich and wealthy men? surely then they will not be a meanes to induce that Law that shall undoe, & inslave them, their children, families, & estates. Yet must we lend money, send horses, and raise Arms against these popish and beggarly Cavalliers. For it is not against the King, that were Treason, and breach of our late Protestation, which is to defend his Majesty, yet was the Kings Person in danger at Edge-Hill Battle, when the undistinguishing shot tooke some persons about the King, but God did then, and I hope always will cover his head in the day of Battel.

Upon these considerations, Sir, I cannot beleeve or feare the reducement of popery or arbitrary Justice; nor thinke my conscience, person, or estate, tyed by the necessitous Or∣dinance of both Houses (for want of an act of Parliament) to pay, or let the twentieth part of my estate (which you know may come to three or foure hundred pound) be taken to sup∣port a war, wherein the person of the King (which God for∣bid) may be hurt.

I am sure that while God promised the Scepter to Juda, he put the Law-giver between his feet, to let us know, That the legislative power is neither above or without the King. And I know the King by His Writs, doth call them to advise with him, not to resolve without him. I will therefore keepe my hands from giving; and so preserve my conscience; I will fast bolt my doores, and so preserve my person and estate untill a stronger then I come. For I had rather others committed trespasse in taking, then I treason in giving. And I am sure that both Armies are not on the right side, but one, with all

their voluntary maintainers and abetters, must, without Gods infinite mercie be guilty of the blood of all the men slaine on either side. I shall therefore, for my particular beleeve and follow the rule of the Apostle, to obey the King, for Hee is set over us by God, rather then runne with the new opinions and contrary doctrine of our militant Evangelists, Dr. Bur∣ges, Dr Downing, Mr Marshall, and Sedgwicke, whose con∣sciences start out of the way at a white Surplesse, but never boggle at garments rolled in blood. There are other things considerable with us Citizens also, as the returne of Sir Faithfull Fortesoue, Lieutenant Colonell Wagstaffe and my Lo: Essex favourite, Captain Scrimpshaw, unto the King, next the danger and jealousie we are in, that even some of the great ones will follow, (for these are but harbengers,) and rather then come empty handed to their King, will make us their peace offering.

Let us consider the event of war, wherein we can yet boast nothing but our successe at Winchester. But had wee had the day at Edge hill, and totally routed the Cavalliers, would that have determined the warre? I feare rather have called in all the Monarches of Christendome, to maintain Monarchie, and then were we engaged like the Low Countries, in perpetuall blood. How great then is our straight, for if we succeede wee undoe our selves. If the King by victory (or treachery of our Commanders) the labour is saved us then, for having re∣fused his mercie, we must expect his justice.

I have now, Sir, unbosomed my selfe to you my friend, let therefore my errors finde a friendly reproof, rectifying my mistakes by your advice, which I shall take as Commands, re∣turne you the thankfull acknowledgement of

Read and burne.

Your friend ane Kinsman T. R.

Milkestreete London, 28. December. 1642.