The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their…

But I must add, 1. That if in any point I differ from men in the matters of their own Profession, modesty requireth me not to be too peremptory, but to suspect my own understanding. 2. And that I blame not Historians for describing Tyrants and bad Rulers as they were, when they are dead: For our duty of obeying them, and much of honouring them, is then at an end. God will have the name of the wicked to rot: And truth is the daughter of time: True History is necessary to the living, both Princes and people. If Doctor H[…]ylin give so ill a note of good King Edward 6th. no wonder if he take more liberty in describing King Henry 8th. And if he take liberty to characterize so disgracefully Arch-Bishop Grindal, Abbot, Usher, &c. no wonder if others speak worse of worse Arch-Bishops and Bishops.

But I must add, 1. That if in any point I differ from men in the matters of their own Profession, modesty requireth me not to be too peremptory, but to suspect my own understanding. 2. And that I blame not Historians for describing Tyrants and bad Rulers as they were, when they are dead: For our duty of obeying them, and much of honouring them, is then at an end. God will have the name of the wicked to rot: And truth is the daughter of time: True History is necessary to the living, both Princes and people. If Doctor H〈…〉ylin give so ill a note of good King Edward 6th. no wonder if he take more liberty in describing King Henry 8th. And if he take liberty to characterize so disgracefully Arch-Bishop Grindal, Abbot, Vsher, &c. no wonder if others speak worse of worse Arch-Bishops and Bishops.

I will add here honest Erasmus his Image of a Good and of a Bad King, as recited by Alstedius, Encyclop. de Polit.

I. If you will paint a good Prince, you shall deline some celestial wight, liker to a God than to a man; absolute in all the numbers of virtues; given for the good of all, yea given from them above to support the affairs of mortals; who being most discerning observeth all, and looketh to all; to whom nothing is more regarded, nothing sweeter than the Commonweal; who hath more than a Fatherly mind to all; to whom every ones life is dearer than his own; who day and night doth and endeavoureth nothing else but that it may be very well with all; who hath rewards ready for all good men; and pardon to the bad, sobeit they will amend; who desireth so freely to deserve well of his subjects, that if it be needful, he will not stick to look to their safety by his own danger; who taketh the profit of his