low, they first made War against him; for no Body elfe ever did, against whom they could poffibly defend him nor did their Actions, in offering the firft Violence, lefs declare who began the War, when having an Army ready to invade him, before he fet up his Standard, they both followed and fet upon him, as they did at Edge-bill. Go as far as you can, you will ftill find the Scots (whofe Quarrel the Parlia ment took up at the fecond Hand, as well as they followed their Examples) were the first Beginners of all.

This being granted, how the King could afterwards do lefs than he did, I cannot understand: Firft, he was bound by the Law of Nature (which you fay is Legislative, and hath a fufpenfive Power over all Human Laws) to defend himfelf. Secondly, By his Coronation Oath, which he took to keep the Peace. And how could he do that, but by his raifing Power to fupprefs thofe who had already broken it? Thirdly, By the Laws of the Land, which, you fay, trufted him with the Power of the Sword. And how could he preferve that Truft, if he had fate fill, and fuffered others, not only to take

take it from him, but to ufe it against him?

But it is moft probable that he never intended it, elfe he was very unwife to let them be before-hand with him, in feizing upon his Caftles, Magazines, and Ships; for which there can be no Reafon imagin'd, but that he was loath to give them any Occafion (in fecuring them) to fufpect he did but intend a War. And by all this, I doubt not but it appears plain enough to all Rational Men, that he was fo far from being the Caufe of the War, that he rather fell into it by avoiding it; and that he avoided it fo long, till he was fain to take Arms at fo great a Difadvantage, as he had almoft as good have fate ftill, and fuffered. And in this youhave ufed the King with the fame Jaftice the Chriftians received from Nero, who having fet Rome on Fire himself, a Sacrifice to his own wicked Genius, laid the Odium of it on the Chriftians, and put them to Death for it.

But this way you found too fair and open for your purpofe, and therefore declined it; for having proved his Intentions by his Defires, and his Actions by his Intentions, you attempt a more

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prepofterous Way yet to prove both, by what might have been his Intentions: And to this purpofe you have the Confidence (in fpight of Senfe) to make Contingencies the final Caufe of things, and impolitick, accidental, poffible Inconveniences (which all the Wit of Man can never avoid) the intended Reasons of State. As when you will have the King fight for the Militia, only to command the Purfe of the People; for a Power to make Judges, only to wreft the Laws, to grant Pardons, that publick fpirited Men (as you call them) may be made away, and the Murderers pardon'd, &c. AIL which being Creatures of your own Fancy and Malice (and no part of his Quarrel) you are fo far from proving what he fought for, that when you have ftrained your Ability,all you can fay, is but this, in your own Senfe, That he fought for a Power to do that which he never would do when it was in his Power; but if you take Liberty, I can't but think how you would beftir your felf, if you could but get your God, as you have done your King, before fuch an impartial High Court of Justice as this! how would you charge him with

his Mifgovernment in Nature, for which, by the very fame Logick, you may prove he made us all Slaves,in caufing the Weaker to hold his Life at the Pleasure of the Stronger; that he fet up Sun to dazle our Eyes, that we might not fee; and to kindle Fevers in our Veins, made Fire to burn us; Water to drown'us, and Air to poyfon us, and then demand Juftice against him; all which you may eafily do, now you have the Trick on't, for the very fame Reason will ferve again, and with much more Probability; for 'tis eafier to prove, that Men have been burnt and drowned, and died of the Plague, than to make it appear, the King ever used your finer Device to remove publick fpirited Men, or can you, without extreme Injustice, fuppofe he ever would? for 'tis fo much as very well known, he highly favour ed and advanced his greateft Oppofers, (for fuch you mean, I know) whom he found Owners of any eminent Defert, as he did the Earl of Strafford, and the Attorney General Noy, (and for other honeft Men, as you will have them) whom Frenzy or Sedition fet against him, by your own Confession;

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he did not fuffer those black Stars (very ftrange ones) to fit their Nofes,and crop their Ears.

But now I think these honeft publick fpirited Men, certainly fome of them have not fo good an Opinion of the Honefty of your publick Proceedings, but they would willingly venture, not only their Ears again, (if they had them) but their Heads too, in defiance of your most comprehenfive Piece of Juftice, whofe Caufe, while you take upon you to plead against their Confent, as you have done your honoura-: ble Clients, the People; you deserve in Reason to be thrown over the Bar, by your own Party, for you but confels your own Injuftice, while you acknowledge the publick Honefty of those that moft oppose it.

How folid or pertinent those Arguments of yours have been, let any Man that is fober, judge: But you are refolved, right or wrong, they fhall pass;. to let us know how eafily he that has. the Unhappiness to be judged by his Enemies is found guilty of any thing. they pleafe to lay to his Charge; and therefore, fatisfied with your own E vidence, you proceed to Sentence, and

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