Englands Remedy of a Deadly Malady
Englands Remedy of a deadly Malady:
The Wise-womans
SAVING THE CITY ABEL,
BY
Delivering the head of SHEBA, who was a Traitor
to the Common-wealth of Israel.
Which serveth as a pattern, whereby the City of Lon-
don may be saved, by the wise endeavours of the Citizens
therof, like this Wise-womans, (which are upon divine record
both for our learning and imitation) even by delivering up to
Law & justice, the Traitors to the Commonwealth of England.
Otherwise, if they (under the colour of defending themselves,
Parliament, or City) do any longer shelter such wicked men (as vipers
in their bosomes) or take up armes against our renowned Army, or any
having their commission for such a just, reasonable, and lawfull demand,
will they not manifest to the world, that they themselves are not onely
Traitors to the Commonwealth, both in partaking with the wicked,
and condemning the just, but are guilty of whatsoever bloudshed, ruine
or desolation, may possibly come upon them and their posterity?
And the malady consisteth in the Parliaments injustice
of all sorts; self-interests, and grinding the faces of the poore; such as
their illegall sentences, unjust imprisonments, burning by the common
Hangman, the just Petitions of all the free Commons Liberties, detain-
ing the hire of the labourers, not duly regarding widdowes, fatherlesse,
nor maimed Souldiers: variable Votes, forced Covenants, and time-
serving Ordinances, even to justifie the wicked, and
condemn the just; and so to make all freeborne English People the worst of slaves, after they
are brought low by all sorts of oppressions and delusions, under seve-
rall notions, and have both done all their best endeavours, and payed
all beyond their powers.
Printed in the Yeere 1647.
July 10, 1647
1. Needfull Queres to the Parliament.
Right honourable and truly noble, at least should be, like the men of Berea,
NOt to speak of the crying sins and great abominations, whereof the Kings, Parliaments, Priests and People of this Nation are guilty, even surpassing the sinnes of Sodome and Gomorah, Tyrus and Sydon, in so long injoying, and yet never receiving nor obeying the glorious Gospell of Christ, which if they had had, as our Saviour said of Capernaum and Bethsaidah, might possibly have brought forth better fruits then ever England did; neither to insist of the innocent blood, which cryeth from heaven against this Nation, by our betraying, under the colour of helping, that worthy and strong City Rochell, as well by cheating them of their provision in their extreame famine, when they were so straightly besieged, as by advancing their enemies with eight great ships to their utter ruine, starving and desolation, nor yet of the oceans of the guiltlesse blood spilt, and treasures spent, of late daies amongst our selves, to small purpose, yea and much thereof by your corruption, carelessenesse, double-dealing, and other indirect and counterfeit meanes.
Did ever any Nation give better assistance to any Parliament, then this distressed Nation have everie manner of way given unto you? Was it all done to make you Lords and Knights, and our selves but servants and slaves? Was it to set you all in Coaches, and on horse-backe, and our [Page]selves but to run at your feet? Was it not meerely that ye should redresse our grievances, and recover our Liberties, abolish wicked Lawes and establish good Lawes? But have ye performed to us either one or other of these your duties? Have ye not rather made the cure more grievous then the disease, and the last errour worse then the first?
Have ye so often protested, vowed, sworne, and declared before God and the world, that you would deliver us from all oppression and tyrannie? and yet are not ye your selves become greater oppressors and tyrants then ever we had? Have ye not against all Law, justice, reason, conscience and profession, both done many things ye ought not, and left abundance of things undone, which according to the same grounds, ye were bound to doe? Did either Petitions, Informations, or Admonitions ever prevaile with you by word or writing, but rather did you not hearden your hearts, more and more like Pharoah? Have ye not alwaies sought rather to be revenged on such as shew you your hainous sinnes, then any wise (except in hypocriticall Fasts) to amend your faults? Yea, and I appease to your owne consciences, Are not all these but meere shewes which now ye make, to rectifie some of the innumerable things that are amisse by your owne meanes, even rather for slavish and guilty feare of the Armies sword; then out of any dutifull respect or true favour to the Commons of England, who choosed and trusted you, and whom (as yee are bound) ye should both serve and respect, if ye made any conscience of Gods word?