Page:Eikonoklastes - in answer to a book intitl'd Eikon basilike - Milton (1649).djvu/13

 the cause both of beginning it so late, and finishing it so leasurely, in the midst of other imployments and diversions. And if the late King had thought sufficient those Answers and Defences made for him in his life time, they who on the other side accus'd his evill Government, judging that on their behalfe anough also hath bin reply'd, the heat of this controversie was in likelyhood drawing to an end; and the furder mention of his deeds, not so much unfortunate as faulty, had in tenderness to his late sufferings, bin willingly forborn; and perhaps for the present age might have slept with him unrepeated; while his Adversaries, calm'd and asswag'd with the success of thir cause, had bin the less unfavorable to his memory. But since he himselfe, making new appeale to Truth and the World, hath left behind him this Book as the best advocate and interpreter of his owne actions, and that his Friends by publishing, dispersing, commending, and almost adoring it, seem to place therein the chiefe strength and nerves of thir cause, it would argue doubtless in the other party great deficience and distrust of themselves, not to meet the force of his reason in any field what feeder, the force and equipage of whose Armes they have so oft'n met victoriously. And he who at the Barr stood excepting against the forme and manner of his Judicature, and complain'd that he was not heard, neither he nor his Friends shall have that cause now to find fault; being mett and debated with in this op'n and monumental Court of his owne erecting; and not onely heard uttering his whole mind at large, but Rh