Downright Dealing, OR The despised Protestant Speaking plain English 

To the Kings most Excellent Majesty  
The honourable houses of Parliament.  
The City of London.  
The Army.   AND All other Peace-desiring Commons of this divided and self-destroying kingdom.  
Written by J. H. an impartial observer of the present transactions of the Court, City, and Camp.  
A kingdom, City, or House, divided against itself cannot stand.  
Printed in the Year of Discoveries. 1647.   

To the Reader.  
Reader,  
WHat ere thou chancest to be, I neither fear, nor care: the frown of the mighty; the fleer of the froward, nor the censure of the severe, shall neither distaste, nor deter me from publishing these few following pages: only to prevent prejudicacy, know, that these are not the fruits of discontent, nor blessinge● of Fact●●●… neither are they intended to kindle that fire, which already (though seemingly smothered) blazes too fast, but rather to quench it: It may be one will tax me of Arrogancy, another of simplicity, a third of singularity, 'tis no matter for that, what i have writ, I have writ, truth it is i am sure, and more i believe then some will be willing to hear, let him that is the most guilty be the least offended, lest they make the Proverb true, and prove his own discoverer. All i desire is that who ever shall vouchsafe to peruse these following pages, would do it seriously and judge impartially, and then let them praise or dispraise, frown or smile, I care not:   


TO The King's most Excellent Majesty.  
Most gracious sovereign,  
LEt it not be thought a crime unpardonable, if one of the poorest of your subjects (presuming on your clemency) doth offer unto your Majesty what he hath observed to be destructive to the peace of this poor kingdom, and dangerous (if not speedily prevented) to undermine not only the honour and safety of your Majesty and royal posterity, but also the supporters thereof; (to wit) the Law of the kingdom, and peace of the people; in the ruin whereof your Majesty and posterity must certainly bear the greatest share, and sustain the greatest loss; the law of the kingdom, and the people's peace, being altogether essential with the honour and kingly domination, of your Majesty, and without which, both King and people must necessarily run into confusion, the truth hereof your majesty hath had experimental knowledge of for these late years, and at this day cannot want examples to demonstrate the truth of this particular.  
Now forasmuch as what is past recall, is also past cure, since what might have been commanded cannot now be entreated, since power cannot, policy must, since rage cannot prevail, let reason reconcile, make necessity a ve●●…e, and rather conquer by courtesy, then compel by sovereignty.  
And now most gracious and great Prince, suffer this humble but serious capitulation▪ Can it consist with wisdom▪ if it be according to God) to esteem any thing to great or good to be parted withal▪ for the 〈…〉ence, for the making up so large a breath? for the stopping the torrent of such a deluge of crimson confusions, as have already and do daily again threaten to break in upon your kingdoms? A good shepherd will give his life for his sheep, a gracious King for his people▪ And will not your Majesty part with a superfluous sprig, a mere pun●●●…o, or thread bare excrescence of honour or power for the saving of your poor people? What man would not lose one member to save all the rest? Are you so far in love with the shadow that to preserve it, you will hazard the loss, nay ruin of the substance? Are you so far in love with some few (perhaps flatterers) if ●…ot traitors) that to be merciful to them, you will be unmerciful and unjust too, to all the kingdom; certainly most gracious sovereign, there may be wisdom in so doing, but it cannot proceed from God, neither can it conduce to the good of yourself, posterity of people; surely, if your people were made for you, you were likewise made for them, one for the good of the other, and not one to destroy another; you were made a sovereign that they might be Subjects, not slaves, that you might protect them, not devour them; that you might do justice and execute judgement, to the poor and to the rich impartially, not suffer the rich and mighty to eat up the poor and devour the widow: The Magistrate (that is of God) is not a terror to good Works, but to the evil, not a persecuter of the people of God but a protector and preserver of them, and what Magistrate▪ soever shall pretend to have received a power from God, if he employ it not in all things according to God's end, he will certainly come to nought, he shall perish, and those whom he hath cast down and endeavoured to destroy, shall rise up against him, and he shall not be able to stand in that day, but shall ●lee● before them▪  
To conclude, if your Majesty (according to your so often reiterated expressions in your Declarations) do really intend to take all oppertunities to save this poor kingdom in a right sense, now is the time to manifest yourself herein and by some self denying testimony effectually act for the re-establishing the poor Commons of England in their ancient birth rights, and securing them therein, providing for a due execution of justice, and countenancing of godliness in your dominions, which being speedily, cordially, and effectually done, your Majesty need not doubt but to find, your present loss to produce a future gain, by the increase both of your power and love of your people, which will cause such a mutual confidence betwixt you and your subjects, as will both comfort your heart and strengthen your hands against the secret complotments of foes at home, or public attempts of enemies abroad, and cause all your now discontented, and distrushing people to be united, and with one heart and assent to cry▪  
Long live our gracious sovereign, &c.   

To the Parliament.  
Grave Senators,  
AFter seven year sufferings, and tedious expectation to be delivered from our then declared pressures and grievances, give us leave, (for losers should have leave to speak) to tell you, we cannot but with bitterness of Spirit declare, That we wonder by what strange and unheard of precedents, this Parliament hath acted; there having been never before any visible rule for such actions, in or by any Parliament. But leaving things that are past cure, let us come to expostulate with you about future security.  
Can it, think you, consist with the peace and welfare of the kingdom, especially considering the state and temper of the people, and the present exigences of the State. That you who should be acting jointly for the securing of the King's authority, and Subjects liberty, should be divided into Factions and acting for your own particular interests? Is this to discharge that trust which you have in the presence of God sworn to perform? Surely so long as you thus continue to beat and bandy one against another, to pull down one faction to set up a second; a second to set up a third; to hang one thief that you may make another; so long as you are thus selvish and partial in sparing men, (I was about, nay I will say, knaves) because they will side with you in carrying on your own designs, so long we cannot hope for any good either by you or from you, so long we are confident (what ere you may pretend) you intend no good to the King or kingdom, neither can any thing you do, compose or perfect that great work which you were called to and undertook, (to wiy) to ease us of our burdens, and establish justice with righteousness; since 'tis a mere contradiction; and contrary to sense or reason for us to think that ever we can be eased of oppression by oppression, or obtain justice by injustice: 'tis true your great oppressions of late years may make us forget our former petty sufferings, but never settle us in a true course of freedom, nor secure us for the future from injustice.  
Therefore to conclude unless you do immediately lay aside all by-respects and your own interests, and unanimously join and act for the securing of the kingdom, and give a speedy testimony thereof, by your walking in the parts of justice and righteousness; unless you do immediately administer justice and execute judgement impartially and endeavour to settle a firm and lasting peace, whereby the King may be with due honour invested, and the kingdom in its just liberty secured; truly the kingdom shall not only have been by you already exposed to many hazards, (besides the large expense of blood and treasure) but shall for the future be necessitated, to curse the time that ever they entrusted you; and be forced in justice to prosecute you as persons which had power, but not wills to restore them to their ancient liberties, and that which might have been an honour to you and your posterities in the generatons to come, will be recorded as a brand of obloquy, That such a Parliament sat seven years, to enrich themselves, enslave, the whole Nation.   

To the City.  
Grave Citizens,  
IN whom wisdom was once chiefly resident, though now (it is to be feared) a great stranger; how comes it to pass that such a Spirit of giddiness possesses you? What, have you found out new ways to make yourselves famous? (I fear miserable.) you that were the glory of the Nations, the envy of your Foes, and the admiration of strangers, are now become the amazement of your friends, the scorn of your enemies, and a byword to all Nations▪ cast but an eye upon your follies, and see into what a condition your Division, nay, your Prlde hath brought you: you that exalted yourselves almost above the heavens, are now fallen, if possible, lower than the earth; your towering pride is now buried in the dust of Division; you have been long time in travail with joy, and now are delivered of sorrow: I wish you could yet see in this your day the things that belong unto your Peace; What, hath the love of money, eaten up your love towards one another? hath your earnest pursuit of Religion, forced Religion to a squat; truly you have hunted fairly, you have strove so much for Religion in the Church that it is to be feared you have lost it in your hearts; these are the fruits of Division, your Presbytery, and Independency, your outward forms and formal circumstances; what, have you strove so long for the shadow that you have lost the substance; have you forgot That it is neither Circumcisiou nor uncircumcision that availeth aught, but a new creature; have you forgot that love is the fulfilling of the Law, and a gospel duty: surely, this Division is of the devil and not of God, for God is love, and his people are carried out with a spirit of Love, and not of hatred and contention, envy and emulation.  
Therefore dear Friends and fellow Citizens, I beseech you lay your condition ro heart, examine the ground of your Division, and you will find it to be the pride of your hearts, your self-conceitedness, &c. and clothe yourselves in self-abhorrency, let him that would be the greatest be the least among you, let him that would or thinks himself wise, be a fool for Christ's sake, learn to bear with one another, labour to see that you are members of one body, united unto one head, and love one another, and administer unto the necessities one of another, so shall your love increase and your Divisions die, but if you shall continue to widen the gap, confusion will enter, and what will ye do in that day?   

To the Army.  
Gentlemen,  
ACtions are always honourable that are compassed by just ways, and aim at good ends, for we ought not to do evil to produce good, neither should there be public pretences made use of to advantage or secure private interests, I hope the contrary now, but yet I fear the event; when the fabric is larger than the foundation, there is great danger in the building; so when the undertaking is greater than the power of the undertakers, truly 'tis to be feared there will be more hurt then good, more detriment than advantage accrue to the persons concerned therein.  
Gentlemen, your undertakings and engagements thereupon I have seriously observed, and impartially scanned, I find the end good, but the manner and prosecution hitherto, hath not been so good as I could wish; and the temper, nay, necessity of the kingdom doth require: you engaged, if I mistake not, not to give over, nor look back until you had to the utmost of your powers made provision (not only for yourselves, and own interests as soldiers) but as Commoners; and with yourselves, all the free Commons of England, that they and you together might be for the future protected and secured from all violence and oppression whatsoever, and in whomsoever and that there might be a due administration of justice and judgement, with righteousness: Now give me leave to demand the cause of your retreat from the pursuance of this so honourable action? How comes it to pass, I hear so many private whispers among you; That you have nothing to do to meddle with any thing that concerns the kingdom, but merely what concerns yourselves, and your own particular actings: was it just or lawful for you to enter into an engagement, to perform that, which you now seem to disown, as unlawful: Surely, either there wanted a serious consideration at first, or else interests hath abated your Resolutions at last; which if either, how dishonourable it will be to yourselves, how destructive to the kingdom, be your own Judges.  
If the welfare of the people be the supreme Law, as you have sometimes granted, yea affirmed; Then whatsoever is contrary or standeth in opposition to that, is destructive to that main end, and therefore not only to be avoided at present, but prevented for the future. But oppression and injustice particular interests, &c. are direct in opposition to the welfare of the people and altogether destructive, therefore to be prevented and removed. And certainly what cannot be repelled by policy, maybe by power, for if there be not a sufficient means left for the attaining the end, it is altogether vain and to no purpose.  
But to every end there is a sufficient means, therefore if the welfare of the people cannot be secured by one means, it may by another, if not by policy, then by power according to the Parliaments ow● language to the King, The kingdom must not be without a means to preserve itself. And truly if the kingdom hath a means to preserve itself against the King, being then acting against the welfare of the kingdom; It hath a power likewise to secure itself against the Parliament, and Army too, if they shall act, in the same way, and shall not prosecute the main end (to wit) the people's welfare.  
How comes it to pass I beseech you that there is such sidings among you? one great man favours another, and stomachs his opposer; and let him be never so bad, so he will side insecuring some great persons particular interests in power among you, he shall not only scape Scot-free, but be countenanced and protected among you: Little thieves are hanged and great ones let go. Is this to be single hearted? will you that have taxed the King and Parliament of partiality, be partial too? what a blemish will this be to all your former actions? That you should now fawn upon those for favour, who would have rejoiced to have seen both you and the kingdom weltering in floods of blood and confusion; and who, it is to be feared by your too great indulgence and credulity, are plotting your destruction.  
I beseech you gentlemen consider, you stand upon a sandy place, which will, if not carefully looked to, devour you, Lay aside all interests and be what you have pretended to be, let not your own honour or promotions be only aimed at, but have sole respect unto the peace of the kingdom. I have with sorrow observed. That there are, I may say too many among you, too great in power, who are swayed by passion not reason, who speak much against injustice in others, but never knew what it was to be just themselves; men neither of discretion nor religion, what ere they may pretend, who do vehemently act for to gain applause and the favour of great men, and not for any love to the peace of the kingdom: now it is very unlikely that ever such a man can do (or at least intends) a general good, unless it may advantage his own interest. I beseech you observe and beware of such persons, you may easily find them; for such persons in your counsels will do you more hurt than all your other enemies, be not deluded by pretences though never so specious; those persons that plead so much for delay, and argue so critically, intend no good to you, but carry on a dangerous design against you and the whole kingdom. And you may assure yourselves the Adversary, with whom you now run a contest, could never have gained so much time, nor brought you to such an exigency, had they not been encouraged, nay, assisted by some that have too much power and influence in your council.  
Gentlemen, the eyes of the kingdom are upon you; and unless you answer their expectations and perform your promises and engagements, and that speedily; truly, you will stand at as great a distance in their affections as others have done before you; lose not this opportunity, seek the peace of the kingdom now, and seek yourselves afterward, lest while you contend so earnestly for a shadow, you lose the substance, be for pure justice without respect of persons, and let the kingdom see, That you will not favour or disfavour any person for siding with or against you, or for being of this or the other judgement. But that all persons of each party shall receive from you equal respect, according to their merit. But if you shall appear partial to some, and severe to others; if you shall do the works yourselves, which you condemn in others: if you shall pretend to free us from one form of slavery to involve us in another, assure yourselves, Division and Confusion will follow, and a worm will rise from your own bowels which will certainly devour you and consume your former glory.  
Read and practice, prevent. farewell.   

To my fellow Commons which desire Peace.  
MOderation in a multitude is (Rara avis in terra) especially in England, of late years▪ where rage, not reason, hath had the Rule and sovereignty; when the reins of the bridle are thrown in the neck the unruly beast runneth where he listeth; And truly such hath been the practice of you my Fellow-Commons for this seven years almost; although you have received many a curb, and oft bit of the bridle for it, yet still like a headstrong horse you are stubborn and untamed, fearing neither Switch nor Spur; and it is to be feared you will still persist until you are quite tired; To prevent which give me leave to expostulate with you a little; It hath been often said, that misery is a schoolmaster to wisdom, and that wit is the best when it is dearly paid for, and truly I believe you have paid enough for it, Hath not the plundering of your estates, the burning of your houses, the murdering of your children, the enslaving of your persons, taught you to hate War and love Peace? How comes it to pass then that there are so many murmurings amongst you, one part for the King, another for the Parliament, another for the Army, another for neither; what are you frantic? hath reason given place to rage, wisdom to folly, meekness to madness? Have you been so patient under seven years' sufferings by War, and cannot you contain yourselves one year in peace; what, like children, all at an instant or none at all? Just like a fool that because he could not be rich in one day, would be a beggar all his life. Certainly a spirit of fury (I may say folly) hath bewirched you, and put you upon the purchase of perpetual desolation to yourselves and posterities; and you with eagerness pursue it, in despite of those that would prevent it.  
In a word; know therefore, unless you do with patience wait for the establishing of that peace which you desire, and give limits to your unlimited contentions, unless you lay aside your prejudicacy and censuring until you see the event, unless you seriously apply yourselves to make up the breach between yourselves and your sovereign, the Parliament, Army, and City, and one another, and every one in his place and relation set his hand to the reducing of things to their proper centre, unless both Magistrates and persons do I say with one accord, seek peace and establish judgement and righteousness, in vain are and will be all these mutterings and commotions, and do what they and you can, confusion and desolation will break in upon them and you, and then when it is too late you may repent, but not prevent your destruction.  
This is the sense of him that sees great cause to fear this will be the end of all this division if providence do not interpose very suddenly.   

Postscript.  
I Beseech you labour to love one another, and to be faithful each to other. Let sovereigns seek the good of their Subjects, and Subjects the Honour and Peace of their sovereigns. Let Parliaments be faithful, and people peaceable: Let soldiers be valiant for Justice, but not factious for preferment; Let King, Parliament, City, Army, and People unite and join in the bonds of love, and leave judging, suspecting and reviling one another. Then shall you see and enjoy a happy peace and the fruits thereof; Then shall the Lamb lie down with the Lion; Then shall not the voice of the oppressed be heard in our streets, but joy, peace, plenty, and the most wished delights that are, or can be imaginable, or desired, be freely communicated unto you by the hand of Jehovah, who is the God of Peace, and hath annexed a blessing to the lovers thereof. Farewell.  
Thine, if thou studiest the Peace of England. J. H.   
FINIS.