XXXI. MADE LOYAL.

WHEN King Edward the First marched into Scotland, the men of the bishopric of Durham refused to follow his standard, pleading for themselves, that they were holy-work folk, only to wait on the shrine of St. Cuthbert, and not to go out of their own country. But that wise and valiant prince cancelled their pretended privileges.

He levelled them with the rest of his subjects for civil and military as well as holy-work folk, and made them to march with his army against his enemies.

If Fifth-Monarchy (alias first-anarchy) men challenge to themselves, that (by virtue of their opinion they hold) they must be exempted from their obedience to the government, because they, forsooth, (as the lifeguard to his person,) must attend the coming of Christ to reign on earth: such is the wisdom of the state, it will make them know they must share in subjection with the rest of our nation.

But charity doth command me to believe that, in stating their opinions, Fifth-Monarchy men’s expressions are more offensive than their intentions, mouths worse than their minds, whose brains want strength to manage their own wild notions: and God grant their arms 219may never have power to produce them into action.