It is true, the lenity of the Parliament on the one side, and the cruelty of the other party on the other 1side, hath been a great prejudice to the one, and advantage to the other: How many delinquents that have been complained of, and brought up with great charge to the country, yet have gone away insulting? but whosoever comes under the power of the other, either must yield, or is undone; yea, it may be undone, though then he yields. What blood hath been of late shed by them, even in cool blood? But how unreasonable is this so to reason, The Parliament is more just and gentle, the other more cruel and mischievous, therefore I will leave the Parliament to sink for any help it shall have from me, and join my self with the other party. God will judge these evil thoughts of yours, and yet you may be mistaken, in this your device to save your estate, you may prove false to the Parliament, and yet ⟨p. 66⟩your estates not so safe as you think; it may befall you as it hath done others, that when these plunderers come to you, if you tell them you are for the King, you are no Round-head, then they reason thus with you, If you be indeed for the King, you will be willing to have your estates go to be helpful to him, and so they may reason you out of all you have, and so you may be deceived of what you aimed at, by discovering your selves not to be Round-heads. Whatsoever you be, yet if they prevail your goods will be found to be Round-heads. They are a little fair mannered now and then as yet, because they have not the day; but if once the day be theirs, and they have power in their hands; then they will call your goods by what name they please. Platina tells us, that when the citizens of Papia in Italy were at dissension by reason of the faction between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines: The Ghibellines procured a favourer of theirs called Facinus Cajus to assist them, covenanting that he should have the goods of the Guelphs for his labour; but he being once come into the City and prevailing, he spared the goods of neither of them: whereupon the Ghibellines complained, saying, that their goods also were spoiled; he answered them that they themselves were Ghibellines, but their goods were Guelphs. You may perhaps be Royalists, but your goods will be Round-heads.
It is true, the lenity of the Parliament on the one side, and the cruelty of the other party on the other 1side, hath been a great prejudice to the one, and advantage to the other: How many delinquents that have been complained of, and brought up with great charge to the countrey, yet have gone away insulting? but whosoever comes under the power of the other, either must yeeld, or is undone; yea, it may bee undone, though then hee yeeldes. What blood hath beene of late shed by them, even in coole blood? But how unreasonable is this so to reason, The Parliament is more just and gentle, the other more cruell and mischievous, therefore I will leave the Parliament to sink for any help it shall have from me, and joyne my selfe with the other party. God will judge these evill thoughts of yours, and yet you may be mistaken, in this your device to save your estate, you may prove false to the Parliament, and yet ⟨p. 66⟩your estates not so safe as you thinke; it may befall you as it hath done others, that when these plunderers come to you, if you tell them you are for the King, you are no Round-head, then they reason thus with you, If you be indeed for the King, you will be willing to have your estates goe to be helpefull to him, and so they may reason you out of all you have, and so you may be deceived of what you aimed at, by discovering your selves not to be Round-heads. Whatsoever you be, yet if they prevaile your goods will be found to be Round-heads. They are a little faire mannered now and then as yet, because they have not the day; but if once the day be theirs, and they have power in their hands; then they will call your goods by what name they please. Platina tels us, that when the citizens of Papia in Italy were at dissention by reason of the faction betweene the Guelphes and the Gibellines: The Gibellines procured a favourer of theirs called Facinus Cajus to assist them, covenanting that hee should have the goods of the Guelphes for his labour; but he being once come into the Citie and prevailing, he spared the goods of neither of them: whereupon the Gibellines complained, saying, that their goods also were spoiled; he answered them that they themselves were Gibellines, but their goods were Guelphes. You may perhaps be Royalists, but your goods will be Round-heads.
- 1Answ.
