WE seriously pondring the Folly and Ignominy we were exposed unto , by reason of the impertinent and unseasonable Actions of some few in our own Station : thought it our Duty and Interest to vindicate our selves from the many Defamations and vile Aspersions that are cast upon us by some few detracting Momus's , who , like

And by those that continually vilify and defame any that are upright in Life and Conversation , though they are endow'd with the greatest Loyalty imaginable : and by such that delight to render honest Designs odious , that their own deeds of Darkness may not appear , and be the less suspected

In the first place , 't will be very requisite , to satisfy the Publick , by giving some tolerable Reasons Why we ingaged our selves in such an Affair , and to inform the whole World , That it was not out of Ambition to be Knighted , nor to obtain the most sumptuous Treats , that others have immerito met with .

Secondly , To vindicate the Method by which we have proceeded .

To the first Question , Why we concern'd our selves , in Things not properly belonging to us , considering we are Apprentices ? We answer , Why were some in our Station incouraged ( by such who would be fain accounted WISE MEN ) to intermeddle with State Affairs , that are infinitely above any of their Degree or Competency of Judgment ? thereby giving an Ill Example to others , whose thoughts and inclinations were otherways bent ; till they had gotten an ill Precedent , which by the Influence and Instigation of some soft-headed Gentlemen , they were prevaled upon to Imitate .

BUT Our chiefest Reason was to manifest our Loyalty to his Majesty , and our Veneration for Parlaments , notwithstanding some Thrasonical Parasites , would have all men believe , That they Omne tulerunt Punctum , and were the only Loyal Apprentices , when in Reality , their number was Insignificant , their Civility little , and their Loyalty least of all .

For , what they did , it was not out of a Principle of Loyalty , but primarily to advance themselves : and for the sake of some sordid Lucre , They may justly be compared to the Wolf in the Fable , which promised to keep the young the Sow had just pigg'd , not out of any Love to the Sow ; but in hopes to obtain them as a prey to himself . And many subscribed it , to gratify their own Friends , and their Masters Customers ; as several of them have since ( to the great dishonour of their Proceedings ) voluntarily Confessed . And it s well known , That many of them have recanted for being so foolish as to gratify any of their Friends ; or Masters Customers by rendring themselves ridiculous , in medling with things beyond their Sphear or Concernment .

But whilst we are accusing Others as culpable , least any should condemn us ; we declare to all whether near or remote , That it was not out of any factious Design , to disturb the Peace , or cause more Divisions amongst our selves ; for , ah alas ! our Breaches are too wide already : but mearly to manifest our Innocency , and how amiable a life of Tranquility is to us , and how little pleasure we take in medling with State Affairs , because they are things of too great a Sublimity for our flender Capacities to aspire unto : Though we can ( thanks be to God ) affirm our Judgments and Discretions are as intelligent and Comprehensive as any of theirs . And to demonstrate , that altho many of us , that read their Address , did not subscribe it , because we feared it might seem of a tendency dishonorable to Parliaments : yet we will not be behind any of our fellow-Apprentices in Demonstration of Loyalty even to the last drop of our Blood ( to his Sacred Majesty , whenever his service shall require it , against any Trators or Rebels whatsoever . Which Demonstration , we can't but admire , that any one that is Compos mentis , or truly Loyal , should condemn , vilify and reproach it ; since the thing is so honest and full of the highest Expressions of Loyalty imaginable . But what can we say or do , since the world abounds with too many that Arcem ex Cloacâ facient , that will make a Mountain of a Molehill , that care not to call Light Darkness , and true Loyalty to Kings , and Veneration for Parliaments , Rebellion and Faction : whose chiefest Aims are to Advance themselves in honour and wealth ; who to obtain Preferment and forbid Lucre , will freely pawn their Souls and Bodies .

Oh! That they who so much pretend to the true Protestant Religion , that they Compel their fellow - Protestants to joyn with them in giving their Assent and Consent to such things as they themselves acknowledg indifferent , and what the Scripture no where warrants , would act like Q Elisabeth's Protestants ; in desiring , That more faithful Laborers should be added to Gods Vineyard , than that they should be supprest : and that they would put on those Bowels of Mercy , Compassion , Moderation and Charity , as becometh true Protestants : and that they would put as candid a Construction on all their Actions as they justly merit : and when they do declare , protest and perspicuously manifest the sincerity and integrity of all their Enterprises : and their Loyalty in the Superlative Degree . They would not asperse them with notorious Falsities and unchristian-like Scandals , when their Civility , Innocency and Integrity of Life merit othewise .

Secondly , We proceeded by such a Method , as but few will or can take just exceptions at , unless they will Nodum in Scirpo quaerere , seek a knot in a Bull-rush ) when they are rightly informed of it , which was as followeth ; When we met together , we consulted the best means we could devise for the carrying of it on ; We advised all that we knew concerned in it , to behave themselves civilly to all , and to procure Subscriptions without any Riot or Disturbance of the Peace ; and it has been carried on with great Prudence and Civillity , notwithstanding the numerous Affronts and Provocations we have met with by some rude , idle and impertinent Fellows in tearing our Address : Yea , though we have lost 5000 hands , yet there has been no illegal Proceedings against any of them . We entreated all to get Subscriptions in a decent manner , and not by Compulsion , or forcing any one beyond his own voluntary Consent , but to read it over to all that were willing to Subscribe it , if they approved of it , and when it was read , if they made any Objections ( as few did ) then we satisfied them with suitable Answers , and informed them the chief design and tendency of it ; we also told them our Loyalty to His Majesty should not be wanting ; and as we would always be Obedient unto him , so we would as far as in us lay , give Parliaments their due esteem and respect ; because they are an essential part of the Government , and best Counsellors a Prince can consult . Plautus saith , Nemo solus sapit , and since Council is absolutely necessary in Government , they are the fittest Persons to inform their Prince of , and to advise Him in redressing the Grievances of the Nation , who are as so many Spectators of the Indigencies and woful Misery it groans under . For as Creon in Euripidem in Phaenisses , says , {αβγδ} , Unus vir non vidit omnia , no man sees all things ; Plus enim vident oculi quam oculus , and as they are the best Counsellors and wisest Senators , so they are the most potent to assist him in securing us from all Foreign and Domestick Enemies , and in a word , to make the King and Kingdom happy .

We have so great a veneration for Parliaments , That we abhor and utterly detest to see them depraved of their Ancient Rights and Priviledges ; And when their Aims and Actions are only to secure the King , His Subjects and the Protestant Religion , that an Ill Construction should undeservedly be put upon them , and they trampled upon , aspersed and defamed ; and that any derogation from their undoubted Power and Priviledges should be suffered to proceed from any Popish Observator , or Brazen-fac'd Heraclitus , or any Debauc'd , Whoring , Damning , Tantivy Massmonger whatsoever .

The wisest Persons are of Opinion , That a happy Union of King and Parliament , is the only means to heal our Breaches and compose our Differences in Church and State ; and we read , That the wisest Princes became both Happy and Potent by consulting their Senates and most skilfull Lawyers : We shall instance several that were egregious for Wisdom and Power , viz. Aurelius Antonius Philosophus , who ( as our Author says ) ut Princeps per omnia Moderatissimus , ita Fortissimus fuit Imperator , Qui praeter alia Hoc , tulit Elogium , quod Dion . & Suidas refert . {αβγδ} . Quod sui semper similis in omnibus fuerit , neque ullam re unquam variabilis , aut mutabilis : revera bonus Vir , nequicquam habens simulati . Is verò Tantus etiam prudens Imperator , nec Imbecilis Rebus , nec in civilibus negotjis , quicquam agere solitus fuit sine Consilio Senatûs , & Jurisperitorum . Quam ob causam a quopiam Reprehensus , quod nimio plus tribueret Amicorum Concilijs : Quanto ( inquit ) aequius est me tot , & tales amicos omnes ; meam unius sequi voluntatem ? Sentiens nimirum cum , qui de suâ unius sententia omnia gerit , super bum magis , quam sapientem judicandum esse . This valiant wise Prince would act nothing of Moment without the advise of the Senate and most skilful Lawyers , for which a certain person reproved him , for overmuch compliance with the Counsel of his Friends , to whom he very humbly replied , It is much more reasonable that I alone follow the Opinion of so great a number of my good and faithful Friends as ye are ; than that so many Wise menshould follow the Opinion of ME alone : Thinking he that Acts all things according to his own Judgment , should be accounted a man full of Pride rather than Wisdom ; For the Poet saith , Consilio Quicunque suo sapit , haud sapit ille . Consilio Alterius , qui sapit , ille sapit . And as our Author says , Things determined and resolved by many Brains are always wiser , safer and better ordered , than by the Resolution of one man . And Solomon says , In the midst of Council there is safety .

We see also that the Ancient Romans and Commonwealths well governed , have always followd and observd , that which by plurality of wise mens voices was concluded and determined , and truly , the wiser a Prince is , the more he will suspect his own Opinion , for the same Wisdom which is in him will perswade him not to credit himself too much , and to suspect his own judgment , in his own case , and so to suffer himself to be governed by his Council . Our Authors say further , If a Prince be not endued with much Wisdom , yet if he resolves to Govern by Council , his Affairs will be better managed than they could be by his own Head . In all cases presupposing that his Council be compounded of good and capable men , which have always before their Eyes , the service and utillity of their Prince , which is no other but the Commonwealth .

Charles the VIII . of France , though he was a King of no great understanding of wisdom , yet the Estates that were Assembled at Tours gave him good Councel , which they chose of fit and capable persons , Annals of Franckford . 1484. by which Counsel the Kingdom was well governed , and under Alexander Severus the Affairs of the Common-wealth were well Governed by means of good Counsellors .

We hope these our moderate reasons why we have so great an Esteem and Respect for Parliaments , will be Candidly accepred by those that may read them : And now having clearly evinced the Benefits which attend the King and Kingdom by reason of Parliaments , we admire that any Persons can pretend to Loyalty , and to respect the King and Government , who are at the same time labouring manibus pedibusque Tooth and Nail to subvert an essential part of it , and to perswade him to lay afide his best Friends and Wisest Counsellors ( we mean Parliaments ) whose Advice and Assistance is the wisest , best and safest , for the making any King not only Rich and Potent , but also him and his Subjects always happy , as we have undeniably proved before . And since Parliaments are a considerable part of the Government ; We think Th. R , and the Authors of Heraclitus , who contrary to Law , defame and villify them , and render them as odious and contemptible as any base Fellows whatsoever ; ought to suffer the greatest and severest punishments the Laws will allow , for the notorious impudency and detraction they are guilty of : most people know what Sordid , Popish Mercenary Fellows they are , and t is the desire of all good Protestants that {αβγδ} in time their deeds of Darkness may be made more manifest . As for that old , mercenary , carping Zoilus R. he is sufficiently known as to his Debauched and Unchaste Life , wicked Principles and Popish Designs , insomuch that many say ,

Therefore we amicably advise Mr. Proteus , who would by all means ( whether fair or foul ) be accounted a great Loyallist ( Woen as his Service to the King is such As Atheists unto God , and scarce so much . ) Not to decieve himself , by fancying that by such intollerable Actions he shall be the Mark of the Kings Favour , lest Haman like without thinking , a Halter should choak his Ambition , for certainly no Prince will deem that persons Loyalty good or true , whose chiefest aims and endeavours are to make him out of Love with his People , and consequently they defective in Allegiance to him ; thereby causing perilous differences to arise between Him and His Subjects . And if our merciful King and his People should ever disagree ( which God forbid , ) it must only be imputed to such Rascally Politicks , who foment Differences by pressing both sides to extremities . Were it worth while to Answer the Carpings of this temporizing Popish Factor , we might lay him open in his proper Colour , and clear our selves from the inveterate Mercenary Pen of this common Hackney Scribler , but since his Tongue is no Slander , we shall imitate Horses and great Beasts , which pass by Barking Currs with Contempt ,

Candid Reader , we intreat thy Pardon for this long deviation , for we assure thee we should not have troubled our selves so much with him , had it not been absolutely necessary to inform many unintelligent persons , what Debauched , Mercenary Popish Tories , our Accusers and Abusers are ; that they may not any more be imposed upon by such Papistical Parasites .

And having manifestly evinced the Innocency and Loyalty of us Addressors , the goodness of the Address , and with what Decency , Civily and Prudence it has been managed aboro usque ad mala , from first to last ; and though our number of Subscribers are very many , yet none of them were obtained by such pitiful means as Pots of Ale , nor the Threats or Allurements of any Person whatsoever ; but it was our own voluntary Act and Deed , not to obtain Bucks or Sumptuous Treats , or in hopes to be young Knights of the Craving Fobb , but ( as we have said before ) to manifest our Innocence and Loyalty , and the great esteem we have for Parliaments .

Having now ( as we hope ) satisfied any honest rational man with sufficient Reasons why we engaged our selves in such an Affair , we shall at present forbear to write , till our Opponents shall think fit to reassault us ; and shall cast any more is merited false Aspersions on our Proceedings .