excepting many of the Senators as wel as others, and made for
ever incapble of any trust in the Commonweal. Afterwards, they
took the same cours with as many of Catilin's fellow-traytors
& Conspirators as were worth any thing; and had no doubt
sufficiently paid Cæsar's Abettors in the same Coin, but that
he wore out all opposites with his prosperous Treasons, This
also hath been the practise of Florence, Luca, Siena, Millain,
and the rest of those States when they were free, as it was also
among the Swisses and Hollanders, in the infancy of the Helvetian
and Belgick Freedoms, who took the same cours with
all those unnatural Parricides and Apostates, that offr'd first
to strangle their Liberty in the Birth, or afterwards in the
Cradle, by secret Conspiracy or open violence. Nor ought
this to seem strange, since if a Right of Conquest may be used
over a forain, who onely is to bee accounted a fair Enemy,
much more against such, as against the light of Nature, shall
engage themselves in so soul practises as tend to ruine the Liberty
of their Native Country.
Seeing therefore that the people in their Government upon
all occasion of Civil War against their Liberties, have
been most zealous in vindicating those attempts upon the
heads of the Conspirators: seeing also that upon the close of
a Civill War, they have a Right, and not only a Right, but
usually a very great resolution to keep out those Enemies of
Liberty whom they, conquer, from a participation of any
Right in Government; therefore in this Case also, as well as
the former, we may conclude; That they in their successive
Assemblies are so far from Leveling the Interest of Government
into all hands, without distinction, That their principall
care is ever to preserve it in their own, to prevent the return
of new Wars, old Interests and confusion.
From Edenburgh, March 6.
There are consultings among some of the heads
of the Kirkists, about sending to the Reformed
Churches beyong Sea for their advice, how they
shall carry themselves in this time of tryal.