The shepherds letters: 1 To his soveraigne lord King Charles his sacred Majesty. 2 To the renowned noble princes, grand-sonnes to great James of famous memory, late west-emperour of the world, Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice. 3 To all the late bishops, doctors, and ministers reputed malignants in the kingdomes of England and Scotland give these.

Most Noble Princes:

THe remembrance of that happy Government of these King∣doms under your Grand-father forbideth my very Consci∣ence to keepe backe my counsell when it may doe good to his Posterity; wherefore I humbly Petition your Princely Persons patiently to heare me speake without offence, though for the pre∣sent it be not pleasant to you, yet afterward it may be profitable for you and yours. I need not be tedious to dispute the Cause, the case is so plaine that Shepherds, Swineherds, Coblers, and off-scourings of the Kingdomes doth and m••y discerne, that this great Conflict consists in transferring the Land from Protesta∣nisme to Papisme, which if it please your Princely minds well to remember, what perelous Pro••ects they have plotted against your Predecessors and others yee would loath to love or be though in the least fellowship with them, as the Powder Treason, in which their onely aime was to have blowne the glory of the World, with all his Noble Parliament into the Skies like Chaffe, which vene∣mous invention was so very monsterous that Historians write, the very Heathens hisse to heare it. King John denying their request, being farre unfitting for a Prince to grant them, was forced to Farme his owne Inheritance for it. And Henry the fourth Empe∣rour of that name, for not reserving the Temple of Jerusalem for the Popes purpose, was set to fit bare-foot at his Gates without admittance to his presence till he bought it with a summe of mo∣ney, farre more then sight of him was worth; and after shew of Absolution he sent a Bull of Excommunication to gore the Empe∣rour through, commanding Rodolfe his German Deputy to rise in Armes and rende away his Crowne, which precept being put in present practice, and Justice justly tooke his life away, the Empe∣rour set his eldest Sonne to rule the States of Germany in his stead. But marke, I beseech you, to make their matchlesse malice more appeare, Pope Hildebrand sent his second Bull of Excommunication againe to gore the Emperour, commanding the Sonne in Armes against his Father, which Action is so repugnant to Order, so odious to Reason, so urgent to Nature, so contrary to Custome, nay the very Conscience and all, I beseech you to consider it, &c. But to leave relating their impious Projects in these places, their limbes unluckely leapt to our English Stage to act the like Tragedy, which in the Reigne of Elizabeth Queen of famous memory, the Earls Rebellion in the North will well witnesse, and many may

remember to this day, that being insatiable they ceased not to as∣sault her Successor with the Powder-plot, as is said, &c. But now to keepe their gall of bitternesse in continuall action, with all their Fox-like subtill Sophismes, they have assaulted, seduced, deceived and drawne away our Soveraigne Lord the King from his royall Throne, and edged him in Armes against his Parliaments of both Kingdoms, which I dare ingage both life and soule is as truly No∣ble, Learned, loyall and loving Subjects as ever King have had that wore these Crownes, so that with the Prophet I may truly say, There is a wonderfull and horrible thing committed in the Land, the Prophets have spoken falsly, the Priests beare rule thereby, the people please to have it so, but what will be the end thereof, Jeremiah 5. Wherefore I most intirely supplicate your Princely minds very seriously to consider for what cause God hath appointed you to spring from the loynes of Prin∣ces, surely to have regard to Gods eternall Decree, and to be Fronteers in fighting of his Battailes against such Butcher-like, bloody, and tragecall attemptors, and to apply your Princely pow∣ers to deliver our Soveraigne Lord the King from their poluted Papist Jaile whether he be holden by force or by perswasion. But if they say they be good Protestants I doe answer; If the Tree be good let his fruit declare it, for I finde Divinity-Logicke in a short rule, He that is not with me is against me, &c. now seeing Reli∣gion is of highest concernment, I beseech you remember, If one man trespasse to another a Judge may determine, but if a man fight against God none can releeve him: Wherefore, howsoever bring our Soveraigne Lord the King to fit upon his Throne, to Governe the many Thousands of Israel, to the great joy and comfort of us all, for it is the onely very ordinary meanes for preservation and continua∣tion of his Crowne, State, and Dignity to him and his for ever, and also for his Princely Power, with Potent strength to establish Peace in the Palatinate Countries, for the endlesse good of you and yours, that so all our Israel from Dan to Beersheba may sing Ha∣lelujah to the Lamb of God for so great deliverances; which Graces I beseech God of his great mercies in his good time grant us, to the good of his Church, and the praise of his glorious Name, to whom be all glory and praise for ever.

His Majesties abject Subject, whose prayers passeth to God for the preservation of his sacred Person, with the continuation of his Crowne, State, and Dignity to him and his for ever.

The Shepherd of Easeington. Tho. Ellyson.

January 1645.