THE Fidelity, Obedience, and Valour Of the ENGLISH-NATION, DECLARED, By way of Pacification of His Majesty, and desire of a reunion between His Majesty and the Parliament.  
As also, That the present Forces now ready to bicker here in England may be turned to revenge the loss of the Protestants blood in Ireland, shed by those barbarous Irish Rebels.  
Written by Walter Meredith. Gent.  
LONDON, Printed by E. Griffin. 1642.   

The Fidelity, Obedience, and Valour of the English NATION.  
I Drew my breath first in the happy reign of that most famous and unparaleld Queen Elizabeth, between whom and her people there was so sweet a harmony of Concord (above four and forty years together) as well by the people's obedience to Her in admitting of Her just Prerogatives, and she again not trampling on their Liberties and Privileges, that the whole World admired at their unity.  
Out of that heavenly unity, the English Nation, who were naturally valiant and active, (and indeed her times produced great and Noble Actions) were kept from sloth and idleness, for what with her Majesty's assisting the French King in his Civil war, her relieving the States of Holland against Spain's tyranny, Her wrestling in Ireland, to civilize and suppress those notorious and barbarous Rebels, and the many voyages made out of this Kingdom to unknown parts of the world, the English were so employed (and so well they managed their employment) that they brought home to their Prince Glory and Honour, and to themselves Renown and Riches.  
It pleased God I lived to see the period of Her Reign, after whose death some great change (because it was not vulgarly known who should be her Successor) was much feared, and expected. But see the mercy of God, a bright Star from the North appeared, that enlghtned this Kingdom, and dried up the Tears of sorrow, which were shed for Her loss, and filled our hearts with joy, by sending us a King for a Queen, nay, a King of the Protestant Religion, a Solomon for Wisdom, King James the blessed father of our now Royal Sovereign Lord King Charles, He brought with Him another Kingdom, Scotland, and so had his temples circumferenced with three Crowns, and as Henry the seventh His grandfather joined the Roses, so this James joined the Kingdoms in union.  
At such time, as it pleased God to call Queen Elizabeth, to the resignation of Her Crowns here, and to receive a Crown of Immortality in Heaven, an English Gentleman and friend of mine was then in Paris, and accidently happened to be in the French Kings Court, when news was brought of Her Majesty's death the King being at dinner▪ one of His Gentle●●●… 〈◊〉 waited at His Table, told His Majesty, he had received Letters out of England, that Queen Elizabeth had finished her days; at which the King 〈◊〉 and demanded who succeeded Her? the Gentleman told him, that James the sixth King of Scotland was proclaimed King, and settled in Her Throne, and with that produced the Proclamation; which the French King reading, and musing thereupon, suddenly broke forth into a passion of admiration, and clapping his hand on the Table said, Is it possible that the King of Scotland should come to the Crown of England, and not one box of the ear given for it? The Gentleman made him this answer, Yes sir, His access to the Crown was with so sweet and general applause, that it might well have been thought, there had never been enmity between the two Kingdoms; whereupon the King advancing himself from his Chair, swore a great oath, That King james was the happiest King in the World, for that he was become King of a people (meaning the English) who were the most faithful and obedient in the time of Peace, and the most valiant in time of War.  
These virtues Henry the fourth, that magnanimous French King was pleased to attribute to the English Nation, out of gratitude to them who had assisted him in his war, and had shown themselves brave men on his part. Certainly, he himself was a valiant man, and therefore loved valour in others; and as he commended their valour, he forgot not their fidelity and obedience to their Prince, the Queen, in preserving Her (under God) often, from the hands of ●hose bloody ministers, whom the Pope and Spain had appointed, and corrupted to destroy Her. Great pity it was so brave a Prince as he was, had not the like obedience and fidelity in His Subjects, the want whereof brought him to an untimely end, for he was by that parricide Raviliack murdered, by a stab at his heart, passing in his Coach through a street in Paris at noonday.  
Our good King James much lamented his death, and so did all good men of the Protestant Religion, of which it was thought he was one, but for some worldly respects durst not profess it openly, which some attribute an error in him, of dissembling with God, who therefore suffered him to end his days by violence.  
King james was no dissembler, for he professed the true protestant Religion, and maintained it with His Pen, witness His Apology to all Christian Princes, and other excellent books of His, which are His living Monuments, He was a peaceable Prince, He kept war out of His Dominions, when all the Princes of the World besides were in Combustion; such was His gentle nature, that he chose rather to spend a mass of money in Embassies and treaties for peace amongst foreign Princes (to save the effusion of Christian blood) then with His Sword to side with any of them.  
This kept him from having enemies abroad, and He is to be accounted famous for it; but had He drawn His sword in some actions (as without scruple of Conscience, he might justly have done, in that of the Palatinate) the English Nation had not so long (like blades still kept sheathed) rusted in their scabbards; for to say truth, they were grown weak and effeminate for lack of employment, but that was not altogether the people's fault, for had they been permitted (as in Queen Elizabeth's time they were) freely to make voyages into all foreign parts of the World where they list, upon discoveries, or to trade, both they had preserved their vigour and strength, and this Island had been enriched more than it is, but they were prevented of this good by a late trick of binding up the trade and traffic into foreign parts in parchment, the free subject cannot trade beyond seas for himself, unless he be free of such and such a Company, which hath been a means that Noblemen and gentlemen's younger sons have kept home, lived idly and effeminately, and so ruined their fortunes, when they might have done their Prince and Country good service, and gotten to themselves honour, knowledge and wealth.  
Queen Elizabeth and King james both had the wisdoms and happiness to keep the Wolf from their own doors, and to live in great peace and tranquillity, within themselves. Next to the blessing of God, I must attribute that happiness to the Accord of Sovereign and Subject, (woe be to them that have now caused a discord.) And that blessing God gave for the great care both Princes and people had to Religion, and clearing the true light of the Gospel out of the mists and dark clouds of popery and superstition. And in those times, I must tell you, I observed those Venerable and Reverend Fathers of the Church whose Name and Title is now despised, (I mean the Bishops) were great actors and instruments in the practice of piety and preaching.  
It was then frequent with the Bishops to preach at the Court, Pauls-Crosse, Spittle, nay and in private Parish-Churches, at such time, as either they were called to Parliaments, or had other business in London; and from their lips the people sucked both Milk and Honey, so that then there was as much running and crowding to hear a Bishop preach, as now there is to hear such as would abolish our common-prayer-book, and make men believe the Lords Prayer is not to be used. Some of those reverend Fathers are still living, and those that are dead, live in their works which they have left to posterity, as monuments of their learning and virtues.  
England then received much delight and comfort by their sound and orthodox doctrine, for as then I must tell you those Bishops did not in Pulpits either blow up the Prince's Prerogative, nor infringe the Subjects privileges, neither did they teach any seditious doctrine, no, their Sermons were instructions of a good life and conversation, to do good and eschew evil, mingling mercy with justice, and setting forth the rewards of righteousness, and the punishments of vices and wickedness. They spared not at Court to teach good government, and abroad to instruct the people in obedience to that government. They were valiant Champions for Christ, and stood stoutly out for the maintenance of the truth of the holy Gospel, and as their Texts served, they never came out of (their stand) the Pulpit, before they had given Popish doctrine such wounds, as all their papistical Holy-water mixed with the Milk of Mary, could never yet cure, nor will so long as the Pope claims the supremacy Ecclesiastical out of his own Diocese. But of late (with grief of heart I speak it) some of that venerable and holy calling, by participating too much with temporal affairs of state, as too ambitious of Lordly titles and dignities, which withdrew them from the true exercise of their pastoral Calling, and in their Prelatical government used too much austerity, introducing abolished ceremonies, and pressing the use of them too hard upon nice consciences, and so failing to pursue the good precedents of their predecessors, have drawn upon themselves, and that holy Calling, scandal and contempt.  
And since by chance I have touched upon the word Ceremony, I cannot but grieve, that now, some so strive to have no Ceremonies used about the service of God, that they would also banish all decency and seemly gesture of reverence and honour in the performance of our duty and service to the Majesty of Heaven. These men look for reverence to be done to themselves, and yet they will deny it unto God; for which of them would not think his servant a saucy companion to wait at his Table, or come to require something at his hands with his cap on his head? shall we then be ruled by such? No, let others do as they will, the saving Name of Jesus shall have my reverence, whilst I have an Ear to hear, and a Knee to bow. And as at the rehearsal of the Creed (in ancient times) the people stood up, and every man drew his Sword, intimating thereby they would defend their faith with their lives, I hold that standing up so excellent a posture that I will use it also whenever I hear, Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the holy Ghost pronounced.  
The present troubles of the times with us here in England do much amaze me, and those troubles have brought to my memory the attributes given to the English Nation (by Henry the fourth of France) of valiant, faithful and obedient people; there was never a more fit time to show these virtues then now. For consider well between whom the present distractions in England are, Is it not between Sovereign and Subject? What's the cause? a misunderstanding between His Majesty & the Parliament. Is the fault in His Majesty, or the Parliament? I say in neither, for under Heaven there is not a sweeter Prince of nature and disposition; nor ever was there a more faithful & wise Council assembled in Parliament. Sure there are some Achitophel's in England, that under hand have incensed His Majesty and made him angry, it behoves us Subjects to beware, for the anger of a King is like the roaring of a Lion, and the raging of many waters. But I hope my Lord the King will neither show the fury of the one, nor the mercilessness of the other upon His Subjects; and that His Majesty may be the better appeased let us all like true hearted English men (as we are) show our obedience and fidelity to His Majesty and Parliament, they cannot, must not, ought not to be separated; for they that profess themselves singly for the King, with an intention to set a separation between Him and His Parliament, are but mere Sycophants, and for the time do but flatter for their own ends; let the King come to any distress (which God forbidden) he shall soon find them like vermin steal from him. And they that are only for the Parliament exempting the King are fools that dote upon a body without a head; God hath joined them, let no man separate them.  
But woe is me, what do I see? great preparation for battle: with whom? even with ourselves; if God prevent it not, our English Nation is at the point of destroying one another, when all the force of foreign Princes from abroad could never prevail to do it.  
Oh where are our reverend Divines to stand in the gap for us? Have we not one Father of the Church left to intercede between the King and us his Subjects, as Abraham did with God for sinful Sodom and Gomorah, and say, wilt thou slay the righteous with the wicked?  
Let not my Lord the King be angry if I put Him in mind of the day of His return from Spain, I remember it was a day of much rain, but I conceive the Heavens wept for joy; however I am sure, there was such an expression of love to him, by all true English Protestants, man woman and child, that I have never seen heard or read of the like in England; the Bells in steeples chanted, the flames of Bonfires ascended even to the region of fire, and the people so feasted themselves, that I can witness for one little Village within five miles of London, where I than was, there was not any from the age of ten to threescore, but at night after their mirth and jovialty all the day in the wet without, that went to bed dry within for very joy, the then Prince, our hopes, and now our Sovereign Lord the King, was safely returned amongst us. And as for the Cities of London and Westminster, and the places adjacent thereunto, they began their Christmas then, and never ended their mirth and joy for having their Prince again, till Lent came that they must make themselves apt by prayer and fasting to condole the sorrows of our Saviour's sufferings for our sins.  
All this joy (I confess) was but our duties, and I hope my gracious Lord the King, like to Almighty God (whose Vicegerent over us here on earth he is) will accept it graciously, though it were our duties, and remember it proceeded out of a faithful and cordial love to him, and remembering it now in his greatest anger, may allay his wrath, and move him to love and embrace us like a loving and gracious Sovereign. And then he shall see the fidelity and obedience of the English Nation towards him is not one jot abated, but much increased for His honour and safety. Oh royal Sovereign try, and if it prove not so, hang me up for a liar.  
And let not my Lord the King be angry with me for speaking this one time, for I speak out of the abundant desire of my heart to preserve my King and Country from destruction. I have hitherto observed Gods wonderful preservation of His Majesty and this Kingdom, and that God hath done by us as our Saviour did in the Gospel, when he cured the blind man, by applying that to restore his sight, which (to man's sense) would have put out his eyes, Spittle and Clay; so by contrary means, God hath wrought honour to our King, and happiness to our Nation. I thus apply it, the Kingdom of Scotland lately issued forth an Army upon us, and His Majesty (offended at it) raised a Counter-Army here against them, there wanted nothing but to charge the onset: then see the wonders of the Lord, the English continuing still their love and obedience, petitions the King for admittance of a treaty, He heard them, and by God's blessing an everlasting peace (we hope) between us and that Nation was confirmed. So that as it is truly said, Henry joined the Roses, and james the Kingdoms, I may justly say that Charles hath joined the hearts; So that what was left unperfected by His Royal Father, is now perfected by him. Glory be to God, and honour to His Majesty for the same.  
Here are now our weapons drawn, shall we sheathe them in our own bowels (God forbidden) upon the bended knees of my heart, I beseech God His Majesty will deign to accord and hearken to His Council the Parliament in this contest, as he did to his English Lords in that; and no doubt but another great addition of fame and honour, will thereby redound to His Majesty. Speedy love and peace here in England will do it, otherwise not: Let my Lord the King, and Parliament consider, there is now ready in the North a great Army, and preparation for other force here in the South, if they clash, they cannot long continue, but as was well observed, by an Honourable person in this Kingdom, that the one must suddenly ruin the other, or both destroy the Kingdom: If King and people join here in peace, the cost of those preparations need not be lost, for God hath given us an opportunity to turn the points of our Swords another way, I mean toward Ireland, the safety whereof much concerns all His Majesties other Kingdoms. There is just cause of revenge for the blood of so many poor Christian Protestants of this our English Nation, spilt by those barbarous and cruel Rebels, whose savage cruelties cannot be paralleled; So may my Lord the King perfect that work there which his Noble Progenitors left unperfect, that is, to root out that hollow-hearted people, the popish Irish (who as long as they adhere to the Pope's supremacy, can never be loyal subjects to their King) and plant good men there, that truly fear God, who may serve his Majesty with all fidelity and obedience in times of peace, and valourously in time of war, as his loyal Subjects the English have done and ever will do to the world's end. And so God save the King and Parliament.  
FINIS.