A letter from one of the persons under censure of Parliament,: written upon the publishing of his Majesties late speech in the Vpper-House, with an answer thereunto.

[illustration] a device consisting of an open book with a sword, scepter, and surrounding motto

DOCTRINA PARET VIRTVTEM

A Letter from one of the Persons un∣der censure of Parliament, written up∣on the publishing of his Majesties late Speech in the Upper-House
To his Friend at Oxford.

SIR,

HIs Majesties Speech, which I send you here enclosed, as it is the only theame of our dis∣course, in these parts, so it shall ever be the subject of my grate∣full remembrance, and now the argument of my Letter.

As the goodnesse of God was manifested in the great Act of our redemption, so was his wisdome in the seasonablenesse of the Act, which having first shewed us our heavy doom, then opened unto us a door of Mercy, by whose ex∣ample his Vicegerent (for such he ever was, and now appears,) hath permitted us to be acquainted with our Ruine, that by a due sense of our condition, under the Law, we might be prepared to value his pardon,

and our deliverance: I shall freely in my owne words, deliver the sense, I hope, of thousands, his Majesty knows how to conquer; for in one peace∣able action, he hath won many battels, by enlarging us, he multiplies our captivity, and makes us more his prisoners, then we could have been in the Tower, and if hereafter we forget such a bounden duty, may our names be at once recorded in the book of Infa∣my, and blotted out of the book of Life; The Par∣liament, in their late Votes, procceeded with such freedome, justice, and moderation, that not any, the most concerned, could or durst appeal but the KING, hath, alone, the glory of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great sinceri∣ty in exceeding his own promises and our hopes, modesty in referring his own Interest, to the Par∣liament, and above all, Clemency; in intercept∣ing so deserved a sentence; Certainly, his Majesty, hath an invinceable evidence of his vertue, whilst his actions are thus exalted by his enemies, and cen∣sured of nothing but too much generosity, by a few intemperate royalists, whose eyes, it seemes, are e∣vill, because his Majesties is good, who, methinks should be better satisfied, if they consider, how their Victory is therby compleated, his Majesties Throne established, and he, by Gods blessing, better enabled in due time to reward their merits, then he could have been by exacting the utmost forfeitures. This indeed was the right way for his Majesties cause to prevaile, and extinguish, even the brands, and embers of faction, whilst those, who sought for Par∣liaments, against him, now flee to him from the Parliament, the most Fanatick of Common-wealths men being taught to reverence the name of a KING, and confesse, there might be more, and bet∣ter

use of his prerogative, then they dreamt of: Thus, betwixt the loyalty and gratitude of his people, he will I am confident, need neither guard for his Per∣son, nor taster for his Meat, (but for fashion sake) being protected by his Majesty, his innocency, and his benefits, and may expect such security among us, as no earthly power could afford him; which, that he may find answerable to our duties, and his deserts, shall be the dayly prayer of, Sir,

His Majesties faithfull Beads-man, and your humble servant, W. L.

London, Iuly 28. 1660.