ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΑΣΤΗΣ In Answer to a Book Intitl'd ΕΙΚΩΝ ΒΑΣΙΛΙΚΗ, The PORTRATURE of his Sacred MAJESTY in his Solitudes and Sufferings. PROV. 28. 15, 16, 17. 15. As a roaring Lyon, and a ranging Beare, fo is a wicked Ruler over the poor people. 16. The Prince that wanteth understanding, is also a great oppreffor; but he that hateth covetoufnele fhall prolong his dayes. 17. A man that doth violence to the blood of any perfon, fhall fly to the pit, let no man stay him. Saluft. Conjurat. Catilin. Regium imperium, quod initio, confervandæ libertatis, atque augendæ reipub. caufà fuerat, in fuperbiam, dominationemque fe convertit. Regibus boni, quam mali, fufpectiores funt; femperque his aliena virtus formidolofa eft. Quidlibet impunè facere, hoc fcilicet regium eft. O defcant on the misfortunes of a Perfon fall'n from fo high a dignity, who hath alfo payd his finall debt both to Nature and his Faults, is neither of it felfe a thing commendable, nor the intention of this difcourse. Neither was it fond ambition, or the vanity to get a Name, prefent, or with Pofterity, by writing against a King: I never was fo thirsty after Fame, nor fo deftitute of other hopes and means, better and more certaine to attaine it. For Kings have gain'd glorious Titles from their Favorers by writing against private men, as Henry the 8th did against Luther; but no man ever gain'd much honour by writing against a King, as not ufually meeting with that force of Argument in fuch Courtly Antagonists, which to convince might add to his reputation. Kings most commonly, though ftrong in Legions, are but weak at Arguments; as they who ever have accuftom'd from the Cradle to use thir will onely as thir right hand, thir reafon alwayes as thir left. Whence unexpectedly conftrain'd to that kind of combat, they prove but weak and puny Adverfaries. Nevertheless for their fakes who through cuftome, fimplicitie, or want of better teaching, have not more seriously confiderd Kings, then in the gaudy name of Majefty, and admire them and thir doings, as if they breath'd not the fame breath with other mortall men, I shall make no fcruple to take up (for it feemes to be the challenge both of him and all his party) to take up this Gauntlet, though a Kings, in the behalfe of Libertie, and the Common-wealth. And furder, fince it appeares manifeftly the cunning drift of a factious and defeated Party, to make the fame advantage of his Book, which they did before of his Regall name and Authority, and intend it not fo much the defence of his former actions, as the promoting of thir owne future defignes; making thereby the Book thir own rather then the Kings, as the benefit now must be thir own more then his, now the third time to corrupt and disorder the minds of weaker men, by new fuggestions and narrations, either falfly or fallaciously representing the state of things, to the dishonour of this present Goverment, and the retarding of a generall peace, so needfull to this afflicted Nation, and fo nigh obtain'd, I fuppofe is no injurie to the dead, but a good deed rather to the living, if by better information giv'n them, or, which is anough, by onely remembring them the truth of what they themselves know to be heer missaffirmd, they may be kept from entring the third time unadvisedly into Warr and bloodshed. For as to any moment of folidity in the Book it felfe, stuft with naught els but the common grounds of Tyranny and Popery, sugard a little over; or any need of answering, in respect of staid and well-principl'd men, I take it on me as a work affign'd rather, then by me chos'n or affected. Which was the cause both of beginning it so late, and finishing it so leafurely, in the midst of other imployments and diverfions. And if the late King had thought sufficient those Answers and Defences made for him in his life time, they who on the other fide accus'd his evill Government, judging that on their behalfe anough also hath bin reply'd, the heat of this controverfie was in likelyhood drawing to an end; and the furder mention of his deeds, not fo much unfortunate as faulty, had in tenderness to his late fufferings, bin willingly forborn; and perhaps for the present age might have flept with him unrepeated; while his Adverfaries, calm'd and affwag'd with the fuccefs of thir cause, had bin the lefs unfavorable to his memory. But fince he himselfe, making new appeale to Truth and the World, hath left behind him this Book as the best advocate and interpreter of his owne actions, and that his Friends by publishing, difperfing, commending, and almost adoring it, seem to place therein the chiefe strength and nerves of thir cause, it would argue doubtless in the other party great deficience and distrust of themselves, not to meet the force of his reason in any field whatsoever, the force and equipage of whose Armes they have so oft'n met victoriously. And he who at the Barr stood excepting against the forme and manner of his Judicature, and complain'd that he was not heard, neither he nor his Friends fhall have that cause now to find fault; being mett and debated with in this op'n and monumental Court of his owne erecting; and not onely heard uttering his whole mind at large, but answerd. Which to doe effectually, if it be neceffary that to his Book nothing the more refpect be had for being his, they of his owne Party can have no just reason to exclaime. For it were too unreafonable that he, because dead, should have the liberty in his Booke to fpeake all evill of the Parlament; and they, because living, should be expected to have lefs freedome, or any for them, to speake home the plaine truth of a full and pertinent reply. As he, to acquitt himselfe, hath not spar'd his Adverfaries, to load them with all forts of blame and accufation, fo to him, as in his Book alive, there will be us'd no more Courtship then he uses; but what is properly |