THAT wee have desperately adventured in defence of this poore oppressed Kingdome ; it is sufficiently known : And truely for our owne parts , we may too sadly speak it , that we have more sought the publique good , then we have our owne welfare . Yet that the world may know , that notwithstanding , our long filence that we are still touched with the sense of publick calamities , And willing , so farre as in us rests , to put a period to the distractions of this Nation , and to prevent whatsoever mischiefes may accrue , and arise from the dangerous designes of many adversaries in this City , glossed over with deluding pretences , we are bold to publish to the world these ensuing lines .

This Kingdome not many years since , it was ( gloria mundi ) the beauty and glory of the world : who ever entred its confines , that beheld not matter of great applause ? It was once propugnaculum salutis Regnis vicinis ) S●●tlands and Irelands Fortresse , but alasse ! ( horribile dictu ) with astonishment and pity , may we speak it , and too truely say , invidia Gentium , It is now become the scorne of Nations : Et aperto praeliis , and she lies open to all for a prey . It is true , some , like so many Heroes , appeared , in principio calamitatis in the beginning of her travels , and pretended strong friendship each boast ng no lesse th●n the Mid wives skill . But alas ! how r●sts England ? doth not she lie still in pain ? Are not her pangs now greater then ever ? Who sees it not ? Who heares not her groans ? O England where are now thy deliverers ? thy friends are become like passengers , that rather laugh , then in the least kinde seem to condole thy misery ? And whence ariseth this strangenesse ? whence comes this dire Alarm , but from hypocriticall hearts , and such sycophants , such base and false pretenders , as never before was bred within thy borders ?

't is high time to appeare , since such pretending Friends are become thy greatest Foes ; and those who were intrusted for thy welfare , and thy good and happinesse , sentence , as it were , thy dismall doom : Surely , hee that abhors that tongue that speakes otherwise then the heart thinketh , can no longer contain himself from waving the devouring Sword , were he fure to have it suddainly pierce his owne bowells .

Who is there that is not now throughly sensible , how vainly wee have a long time been deluded ? How unfortunately wee have been misled in a good opinion and protection of such whom wee find have but studyed for these many yeares to inthrall us ? who , in stead of effecting a Reformation , have wrought a deformation ; in stead of Order , confusion . Men thought it the greatest happinesse that could come , that they had obtained a publick Auditory , whereby they might have redresse both of generall and particular grievances ; nothing more welcome then a Parliament , and especially such a one as was invested with the Regall Power : but alasse , Clamat pauper & nullus exaudit , He that was now bettered could hardly be made worse , if we look back upon the frequent Declarations and Protestations published to this Kingdom , truly we shall to our grief and shame , find that both the men and wits come farre short of what was expected . O England , England ! hadst thou been as fortunate in the choice of thy Nurses , as now thou maist be happy through sight of thy misery , thy Cities then had needed no sconces , thy Townes no bulwarks , thy Countries no guardians , thy Castles no Commanders ; thou mightest still have had what now thou wantest , Peace within thy self , and plenty within thy Palaces .

How great trust didst thou repose in them whom thou didst elect as men m●et for places of honour and trust ? as men impartiall , uncorrupt , self-denyers , but oh , hard hap , homines mutantur , thy bosome freinds are become actors for thy ruine , and truly long thou mayst groane , and sigh , and sob , and besmeare thy selfe with blood , and wash thy selfe in teares , before thou finde such as may prove reall freinds ; Those that were intrusted for the generall good , have brought upon us a generall calamity , those that were intrusted for our particular safeties and preservation , have layed the way open for our adversaries : The sword hath not devoured more abroad , than by Votes have beene consumed at home , thy adversaries have been succoured , while thy compassionate freinds have beene ready to perish , the Committees have seized upon thy incomes , and strangers have taken up thy dwellings . All parties pretend well , but none act aright : all would boast of something done , if it bee but that they have undone all . Armies that once incountered for thy peace , now retard thy rest , sed pax in fine thou maist reape some good by thy sufferings , thou maist finde such a freind or freinds as may ease , if not fully release thee ( & ecce veniunt ) and behold they come .