hink their
Counsels to be other then good for me, which have so long maintained a
War against Me.

The Victory they obtained that day, when my Letters became their
prize, had been enough to have satiated the most ambitious thirst
of popular glory among the Vulgar; with whom prosperity gaines the
greatest esteem and applause as adversity exposeth to their greatest
sleighting and dis-respect: As if good fortune were alwayes the shadow
of Vertue and Justice, and did not oftner attend vitious and injurious
actions, as to this world.

But I see no secular advantages seem sufficient to that cause, which
began with Tumults, and depends chiefly upon the reputation with the
vulgar.

They think no Victories so effectual to their designs, as those that
most rout and waste My Credit with My People; in whose hearts they
seek by all means to smother and extinguish all sparks of Love,
Respect and Loyaltie to Me, that they may never kindle again, so as to
recover Mine, the Laws & the Kingdoms Liberties, which some men
seek to overthrow: The taking away of my Credit, is but a necessary
preparation to the taking away of my Life and my Kingdoms; first
I must seem neither fit to Live, nor worthy to Reign: By exquisite
methods of cunning & crueltie, I must be compelled, first to follow
the Funerals of my Honor, and then be destroyed: But I know Gods
un-erring and impartial justice can & will over rule the most perverse
wils and designs of men; he is able, and (I hope) will turn even the
worst of mine Enemies thoughts and actions to my good.

Nor do I think, that by the surprize of my Letters, I have lost any
more then so many papers: how much they have lost of that reputation,
for Civility and Humanity (which ought to be paid to all men, and
most becomes such as pretend to Religion) besides that of Respect and
Honor, which they owe to their KING, present, and after-times will
judge. And I cannot think that their own consciences are so stupid,
as not to inflict upon them some secret impressions of that shame &
dishonor which attends all unworthy actions have they never so much of
publick flattery and popular countenance.

I am sure they can never expect the divine approbation of such
indecent actions, if they do but remember how God blest the modest
respect & filial tenderness which _Noah's_ Sons bare to their Father;
nor did his open infirmity justifie _Cham's_ impudency, or exempt him
from that curse of being _Servant of Servants_;