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.

Right Reverend and well beloved:

I Doe stand up to speake unto you; But I professe and also pro∣test, I do it not by way of insultation over your decayed estates, for I doe acknowledge my selfe ten time triple bound to the good mercies of God for preserving me to stand, when he suffereth ma∣ny much better to fall; But I doe it by way of exhortation to your edification and comfort, though I confesse many millions of men farre fitter for it then I, yet I will not suffer great Clearks onely, and to be saved alone, for it is of necessity for me to be saved also: and what the Law saith, it saith to them that are under the Law, whereof I am one, and doth apply that precept of Moses as spoken even unto me, which saith, Thou shalt not hate thy Brother in thy heart, but thou shalt plainely rebuke thy Neighbour and suffer him not to sin; which precept the Apostles doth itterate double and triple over, willing and requiring us to admonish one another, exhort one ano∣ther, edifie one another, &c. which portions of Scripture your selves oft times have treated upon, to the great edification and comfort of your hearers: Wherefore I humbly petition your pa∣tience, permit me to surrender the same comfort to comfort your selves, for your neglect is greatly accused to because of this gseat confusion amongst us, and I do believe it, but that I may not wrong you upon bare report, I desire to examine your Commission, and compare it with your execution of action for mine own discharge. For unto you it is said, Sonne of man I have made thee a Watchman to the House of Israel, &c. if I send a Sword through the Land, and if you give not the people warning, yet they shall die in their transgressions but their blood will I require at thy hand, &c. Here is a fearefull accusation, what excuse can you make? for if you say, The great Archbishops sate in the sterne of the Churches to turne it as their wisdome might direct them &c, It will be replyed, That if they were deprived of wisdome, it is pitty ye were depri∣ved of grace to resist their folly; for when a free Parliament was called you had both place and voice as well as they, so that your best friends can frame no excuse, but that you are so grievously falne that that admoniiton appointed for that great Church of Ephesus may fitly be applyed unto you. Remember therefore from whence ye are fallen and repent.

And you inferiour Ministers, that may seeme to shelter your selves under the shadow of great Doctors, even you also are inex∣cusable, for although for orders sake they did hold priority of

place, yet your Commission for binding, loosening, demolishing, and building is equall to them, so that convincing Truth doth testifie, that with Demas you are falne from Paul and followed this present World, remember therefore from whence yee are falne, and repent.

For my love to the Ministers of the Gospell would willingly solist your cause by excuse if I could finde fit ground for it, but if I should plead your obedience to God from that Precept which appointeth us to Honour the King, I should be answered, that as you have applyed that obedience you have dishonoured both God and the King; you haue dishonoured God which had given an absolute order, that to Aegypt we should never returne againe, for if we did, he ordered two inresistable Armies to pursue and ass••ult us till we be destroyed, for although mercy would willingly pre∣serve us, yet very Justice must justly inflict the Sword and Pesti∣lence upon us; which hath greatly enlarged the Grive revived and advanced Death, which is an enemy to Nature for it destroyeth the Creature, a great dishonour to God, a most grievous fall; remem∣ber therefore from whence yee are falne and repent. And your honour to the King is according to it, for it hath greatly distra∣cted his Government, indangered his sacred Person, demolished the glory of his Kingdomes, which consists in the multiplicity of Subjects, made many a Wife to want her Husband, and many a Wives Sonne hath his blood mingled in the dust, which no doubt will be required at your hands except yee repent.

For if a mans owne transgressions doe often draw him into a dangerous strait, when the blood of many is laid upon him, his condition must needs be most desperate; but my desire is not to drowne you in the deapth of desparation, but to draw you to repent.

For Abraham denyed his Wife, Joseph swore by the life of Pharaoh, David committed two deadly facts, Paul persecuted the Church of God, and Peter forswore that he knew his Master, yet by repen∣tance all these obtained mercy and is amongst the most glorious Sonnes of God; and so may you be if with Peter yee will waite up∣on Christ till he looke backe upon you with one glimpse of Grace, which is indeed the very bottomlesse Ocian of all excellencies; wherefore I beseech you free your selves from all corrupt mix∣tures flowing from humane devices, and receive with meeknesse that which is able to save your soules, to wit, repent.

And if one sparke doe kindle to your comfort, I beseech you certifie our soveraigne Lord the King what dangerous waies you have walked, and informe his Majesty that to goe forward there is no hope, for the Prophet saith, That the true feare of the Lord is to depart from evill. Wherefore perswade his Majesty to use all possible meanes speedily to returne to his owne Jerusalem, to governe his people prudently with all his Power, to the great thanks-giving of us all, &c. I beseech you doe not slight my Petition which doth so neerly concerne your selves, for as I am bold without blush∣ing to speake in the faces of men, I have also a good Conscience in the presence of God, whose Judgements you cannot escape. Wherefore I beseech you, let the remembrance of our mortality by Sword and Pestilence so mortifie your corrupt affections, as to make a true recollection of the time that is past, and apply a true Christian resurrection for the time to come. Henceforth put on such an habit of holinesse as may practice true Piety hereafter, to the praise and glory of God, the prosperity of our Soveraigne Lord the King and his Posterity, the common good of all his Kingdomes, and our eternall Thanks-giving through Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father, and the Holy Ghost one God, be all honour and praise for ever. Amen.

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 the 10th. 1645.

FINIS.