THE PREFACE.
of Majesty, and admire them and thir doings, as if they breath'd not the same breath with other mortall men, I shall make no scruple to take up (for it seemes 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, since it appeares manifestly the cunning drift of a factious and defeated Party, to make the same advantage of his Book, which they did before of his Regall Name and Authority, and intend it not so much the defence of his former actions, as the promoting of thir owne future designes; 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 suggestions and narrations, either falsly or sallaciously 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 so nigh obtain'd, I suppose 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 resembling 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 solidity in the Book it selfe, 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 assign'd rather, then by me chos'n or affected. Which was
