Treasons Masterpiece, Date · Date 7
The Lord Protector, April 21. 1657.
My Lord,
I Think you may well remember what the iſſue was of the laſt conference I had with you, and what the Stick was then, I confeſs I took occaſion from the order of Parliament, in which they gave you power to ſpeak with me about theſe things that were in the body of that inſtrument and deſire, which you have been pleaſed to ſpeak with me; but that I might conferre with you about thoſe particulars, and might receive ſatisfaction from you as to them, whether a good iſſue will be to all theſe affairs or no, is onelyonly in the hands of God, that's a great ſecret, and ſecrets belong to God, and things revealed to us, and ſuch things are the ſubject matter of this inſtrument of yours, and are as far as they may, have relation to me, that you and I may conſider, what may be for publick good, that ſo they may receive ſuch an impreſſion as can humanely be given to them. I ſhould be well underſtood, and that I ſay the former debates and conferences have been upon the Title, and that reſts as it did, ſeeing that, as I ſaid before, your order of Commitment, doth as well reach to the particulars contained in the inſtrument, as to that of the Title, I did offer to you that I ſhould deſire to ſpeak with you about them alſo, that ſo we may come to an underſtanding one with another, not what the things is in parts, but what it is in the whole conduceable to that end, that we all ought to aim at, which is a general ſettlement upon good foundations; as truely, as I have often ſaid even to the Parliament it ſelf, when they did the honour to me, to meet me in the Banqueting-Houſe, ſo I muſt ſay to you, that are a Committee, a very conſiderable repreſentation of them, that I am hugely taken with the word ſettlement, with the thing, and with the notion of it, I think he is not worthy to live in England that is not, no, I will do my part ſo far as I am able, to expell that man out of the Nation, that doth not of that in the general to come to a ſettlement, becauſe indeed it is the great miſery and unhappineſs of a Nation to be without it; and it is like a Houſe, and ſo much worſe then a Houſe divided againſt it ſelf, it cannot ſtand without ſettlement; and therefore I hope we are all ſo far at a good point, and the Spirit of the Nation, I hope in the generality of it, is ſo far at a good point, we are all contending for a ſettlement, that's ſure; but the queſtion is de modo, and of thoſe things that will make it a good one if it were poſſible: that's no fault to aim at perfection in ſettlement, truely I have ſaid, and I ſay it again, that I think that that tends to the making of the Nation, to injoy the things we have declared for, and I would come upon that iſſue with all men or any man; the things we have declared, that have been the ground of our quarrelling and fighting all along, is that will accompliſh the general work; ſettlemeet is the general work, now that which will give the Nation to enjoy their civil and Religious Liberties, that will conſerve the Liberty of every man, and not to rob any man of what is …uſtly his; I th…nk thoſe two things make up ſettlement; I am ſure they acquit us before God and man, who have endeavoured as we have done, through ſome ſtreamings of bloud to attain that end, if I may tell you my experience in this buſineſs, and offend no good man that loves the publick before that which is perſonall, truly I ſhall a little ſhortly recapitulate to you what my obſervations, and endeavours and intereſt hath been to this end, and I hope no man that hath been interreſted in traſactions all along will blame me, if I ſpeak a little plainly, and he ſhall have no cauſe to blame me, becauſe I will take my ſelf into the number of culpable perſons, if there be any ſuch, though perhaps apt enough out of the ſelf love I have, to be willing to be innocent, where I am ſo, and yet to be as willing to take my reproach, if any body will lay it upon me where I am culpable; and truely I have through the providence of God, endeavoured to diſcharge a poor duty, having had as I conceive a clear call to the ſtation I have acted in all theſe affairs, and I believe very many are ſufficiently ſatisfied in that, I ſhall not go about to ſay any thing to clear it to you, but muſt exerciſe my ſelf in a little ſhort Chronology to come; to that I ſay is really all our buſineſs at this time, and the buſineſs of this Nation to come upon clear grounds; and to conſider the providence of God, how they have led us hither unto. After it pleaſed God to put an end to the War of this Nation, a final end which was done at Worſter in the determination and deceſſion that was there by the hand of God, for other War we have had none, that perhaps deſerves the name of War, ſince that time, which is now ſix years in September, I came up to the Parliament that then was, and truely I found the Parliament, as I thought, very diſpoſed, to put a good iſſue to all thoſe tranſactions, that had been in the Nation, and I rejoyced at it, and thought I had not been well skilled in Parliamentary affairs, h…ving been near ten year in the field, yet in my poor meaſure my deſires did tend to ſome iſſue, believing verily that all the Blood that had been ſhed, and all that diſtemper that God had ſuffered to be amongſt us, and in ſome ſence God hath raiſed amongſt us, that ſurely fighting was not the end, but the means that had an end, and was in order to ſomewhat, truly it was then, I thought ſettlement, that is that men might come to ſome conſiſtencies, and to that end I did endeavour to add my mite, which was no more, then the intereſts of any one Member that was there, after I was r…turned again to that capacity, and I did, I ſhall tell you no fable, but the things that divers perſons here can tell, whether I ſay true or no: I did endeavour it, I would make the beſt interpretation of this, but yet this is truth, and nothing of diſcovery on my part, but that which every body knows to be true, that the Parliament having done theſe memorable things, that they had done things of honour, and things of neceſſity, things that if at this day you have any judgment, that there lyeth a poſſibilitie upon you to do any good, to bring this Nation to any foot of ſettlement, I may ſay you are all along beholden to them in a good meaſure, but yet truly as men that contend for publick intereſt are not like to have the applauſe of all men, nor juſtification from all hands, ſo it was with them; and truly when they had made preparation that might lead to the iſſuing in ſome good for the ſettlement of theſe Nations in points of libertie and freedom, from Tyranny and oppreſſion, from the hazard of our Religion, to throw it away upon me that deſigned by innovations to introduce Poperie, and by complying with ſome Nations introduce arbitrarineſs upon a civil account, why they had more enemies then friends, they had ſo all along, and this made them careful out of Principals of nature, that do ſometimes ſuggeſt beſt, and upon the moſt undeniable grounds they did think that it was not fit for them preſently to goe and throw themſelves, and all this cauſe into hands that perhaps had no heart nor principle with them to accompliſh the end that they aimed at, I ſay perhaps through infirmity they did deſire to have continued themſelves and to have perpetuated themſelves upon that Act which was perhaps juſt enough obtained, and neceſſarily enough obtained when they did get it from the King, though truly it was good in the firſt obtaining of it, yet it was by moſt men, who had ventured their lives in this cauſe, judged not fit to be perpetuated, but rather a thing that was to have an end, when it had finiſhed it's courſe, which was certainly the true way of it, in the ſubſerviency to the bringing in that which might be a good and honeſt ſettlement to the Nation. I muſt ſay to you that I found them very willing to perpetuate themſelves, and truly this is not a thing of reflection upon all, for perhaps ſome were not ſo, I can ſay ſo of ſome of them, the ſober men that I had converſe with, they would not have, but the major part I think did over rule, in that they would have continued; this is true that I ſay to you, I was intreated to it, and adviſed to it, and was by this medium to have accompliſht it, that is to have ſent into the Countrey to have reinforced their number, and by new elections to have filled them up, and this excuſe it had, it would not be againſt the libertie of the people, nor againſt the ſucceſſion of men to come into Rule and Government, becauſe as men dyed out of the houſe, ſo they ſhould be ſupplyed, and this was the beſt anſwer could be given to that objection that was then made, that the beſt way to govern, is to have men ſucceſſive, and in ſuch great bodies as Parliaments, to have men to learn to know, how to obey as well as to govern, and truely the beſt expediment that we had then was, that I tell you, the truth of it is, this did not ſatisfie a company of poor men, that had thought they had returuned their lives, and had ſome thoughts, that they had a little intereſt to enquire after theſe things, and the rather becauſe really they were invited out, upon principles of honeſty, conſcience and religion, for ſpiritual liberties, as many as would come, where the cauſe was a little doubtful, there was a declaration that was very inviting, and men did come in upon that invitation, and did thereby think themſelves not to be mercenary men, but men that had Wives and Children in the Nation, and therefore might a little look after a ſatisſaction in what would be the iſſue of the buſineſs, and when this thing was thus pre…t, and it may be over preſt, that a period might be put, and that, that might be aſſertained, and a time fixt, why truely, then the extremity ran another way, this is very true that I tell you, though it ſhame me, I do not ſay it ſhames all that were of the Houſe, for I know all were not of that mind, why truely when this was urged then another extremity; what was that? why truely then it was ſeeing a Parl ament might not be perpetual, the the Parliament might always be ſitting, and to that end there was a Bill framed, that Parliaments might always be ſitting, that as ſoon as one Parliament went out of their place, another might leap in, and when we ſaw this, truly we thought we did but make a change in pretence, and did not remedy the thing, and the upon that was purſued with that great heat, I dare ſay there was more progreſs in it in a month, then was with the like buſineſs in four, to haſten it to an iſſue, that ſuch a Parliament might be brought in, and would bring the ſtate of the Nation into a continual ſitting of Parliaments: we did think, who are plain men, and I think it ſtill, that that hath been according to the fooliſh proverb, out of the frying pan into the fire, for looking at the Government, they would then have, it was Commonwealths Government? why we ſhould have had fine work then, we ſhould have had a Council of State, and a Parliament of 400 men, executing arbitrary Government without intermiſſion ſaving of one Company, one Parliament ſtepping into the ſeat of another, while they left them warm, the ſame day that one left, the other was to leap in, truly I did think, and I do think, however ſome are very much enamoured with that kind of Government, why it was no more but this, that Committees of Parliament ſhould take upon them, and being in ſtead of the Courts at Weſtminſter, perhaps ſome will think there had been no hurt in that arbitrarineſs in Committees, where a man can neither come to prove nor defend, nor to know his Judges, becauſe there are one ſort of men that judge him to day, and another ſo…t of men to morrow, this ſhould have been the Law of England, and this ſhould have been the way of judging this Nation, and truly I thought that, that was an i…l way of judging, for I may ſay to you with truth to …hat after it pleaſed God your poor Army thoſe poor contemptible men came up hither, it was ſo, an outery here in this place to ſee a cauſe here, determined and judged, and Committees erected to fetch men from the extreameſt parts of the Nation to London to attend Comm…tees to determine all things, and without any manner of ſatisfaction, whether a man travel never ſo right or wrong he muſt come, and he muſt go back again as wiſe as he came, this truly was the caſe and our condition, and truly I muſt needs ſay, take all in that was in the practices, I am ſorry to tell the ſtory of it, though there was indeed ſome neceſſity of the buſineſs, a neceſſity of ſome Committees to look to indemnity, but no neceſſity of Committees inſtead of Courts of Juſtice, but it was ſo, and this was the caſe of the People of England at that time: and that the Parliament aſſuming to it ſelf the authority of the three Eſtates that were before, it was ſo aſſuming that authority, and if any man would have come and ſaid what are the rules you judge by? Why, we have none but we are ſupream in legiſlature, and in judicature, this was the ſtate of the caſe & I thought, & we thought, & I think ſo ſtill, that this was a pityful remedy, and it will be ſo while and when ſoever a legiſlture is perpetually exerciſed, when the legiſlative and executive powers are always the ſame, and truly I think the legiſlature would be almoſt as well in the ſour Curts of Weſtminſter Hall, and if they could make laws and judges too, you would have excellent laws, and the lawyers would be able to give excellent counſel, and ſo it was then: this was our cond…tion without ſcruple and doubt, and I ſhall ſay no more to it, but truly it was offered then truly and honeſtly; and deſire, and begg that we might have a ſettlement, and that now is here, that is propoſed a ſettlement: it was deſired then, it was offered & deſired that the Parliament would be pleaſed either of their own number, or any elſe to chuſe a certain number of men to ſettle the Nation, this is unſettlement, this in confuſion: for give me leave, if any body now have the face to ſay, and I would die upon this, if any man in England have the impudence or the face to ſay, that the exceptions of the Parliament was the ſear of their haſty throwing of the liberties of the people of God and the Nation into a bare repreſentative of the people, which was then the buſines we oppoſed, if any man have the face to ſay it now, that did then, or I will ſay more, ought then to judge it had been a confounding of the whole cauſe, that we had fought for, which was, I would look upon that mans face, I would be glad to ſee ſuch a man, I do not ſay there is any ſuch here, but if any ſuch ſhould come to me, ſee if I would not look upon him and tell him he is an hypocrite. I dare ſay it, and I dare to die for it, knowing the Spirit that hath been in ſome men to me, they come and tell me they do not like my being Protector. Why do you not? Why? becauſe you will exerciſe arbitrary Government, why what would you have me to do? Pray turn Gentlemen all again, and we will like you exceeding well, I was a child in its ſwadling clouts I cannot tranſgreſs by the Government, I cannot do nothing but in ordination with the Council, they feared arbitrary Government by me upon that account, but if returned to be General, then they were not affraid of Arbitrary Government: ſuch as theſe, are ſuch hypocriſies as theſe are, ſhould they enter into the heart of any man that hath any truth or honeſty in him, and truely that is our caſe, and finding our caſe to be thus, we did preſs the Parliament as I told you, that they would be pleaſed to ſelect ſome worthy perſons, that had loved this cauſe and the Liberties of England, and the intereſt of it; and we told them, we could acquieſce and lie at their feet, but to be thrown into Parliaments, that ſhould ſit perpetually, though but for three years they had the experience of.
The experience of which many remain to this day to give ſatisfaction to honeſt and ſober men, why truly we thought it might ſat…sfie, but it did not, and thereupon we did think that it was the greateſt of dangers, to be overwhelmed and brought under a ſlavery by our own conſent, and iniquity to become a law: and there was our ground we acted upon at that time, and truly they had perfected the Bill for perpetuating of Parliaments to the laſt clauſe, and were reſolved to paſs it as a Bill in paper, rather than comply with any expedient, if your own experience add any thing to you in this, in this point, whether or no in caſes civil and criminal, if a Parliament ſhould aſſume an abſolute power, without any controul, to determine the intereſts of men in property & liberty, whether or no this be deſirable in a Nation: if you have any ſence, as I believe you have, you have more then I have. I believe you will take it for a mercy that, that did not befall England at that time, and that's all I will ſay of it, truly I will now come and tell you a ſtory of my own weakneſs and folly, and yet it was done in my ſimplicity, I dare avow it was, and though ſome of my companions and truly this is a ſtory that would not be recorded a ſtory, that would not be told, but when good uſe may be made of it. I ſay it was thought then, that men of our judgment, that had fought in the Wars, and were all of a piece upon that account, why ſurely theſe men will hit it, and them Men will do it to the purpoſe whatever can be deſired, truly we did think, and I did think ſo, the more to bl…me of, and ſuch a Company of Men were choſe and did proceed in action, and truly this was the naked truth, that the iſſue was not anſwerable to the ſimplicity and honeſty of the deſign, what the iſſue of that meeting would have been, and was feared, upon which the ſober Men of that meeting did withdraw, and came and returned my Power as far as they could, they did actually the greater part of them into my own hands, profeſſing and believing that the iſſue of that meeting would have been the ſubverſi…n of your Laws, and of all the Liberties of this Nation, the deſtruction of the Miniſters of this Nation. In a word, the confuſion of all things and inſtead of order, to ſet up the judicial law of Moſes, in abrogation of all our Adminiſtrations, to have been adminiſtred the Judicial Law of Moſes, pro hic & nunc, according to the wiſdom of any man that would have interpreted the Text, this way or that way, and if you do not believe that they were ſent home by the major part, who were judicious and ſober and learned, the worſt upon this account and with my conſent alſo à parte poſt, you will believe nothing, for the perſons that lead in the meeting where Mr. Feake and his meeting in Black fryars, Major General Har…ſon, and thoſe that aſſociated with him at one Mr. Squibbs Houſe, and there were all the reſolutions taken that were acted in that Houſe day by day, and this was ſo de facto, I know it to be true, and that this muſt be the product of it, I do but appeal to that Book, I told you of the other day that all Magiſtracy, and Miniſtery is Antichriſtian, and therefore all theſe things ought to be aboliſhed, which we are certain muſt have been the iſſue of that meeting, ſo that you have been delivered if I think right, from two evil…; the one evil a ſecular evil, that would have ſwallowed up all religious and civil intereſt, and made us under the …orrideſt arbitrarineſs that ever was exerciſed in the …rld, that we might have had five or ſix hundred ſ…ds, with their friends, to have had a judgment of a …, and to have judged without a rule, thinking that the power that ſwallowed up all the other lawful powers in the Nation, hath all the power that ever they had, both a legiſlative and judiciarie, I ſay that which ſwallows both the civil and religious intereſt. And the other meerly under a ſpiritual intereſt, had ſwallowed up again in another extream, all our civil and religious intereſt, and had made our miniſtrie, and all the things we are beholding to God for: truly we think we ought to value this intereſt, above all intereſts in the world, but if this latter had not been as ſure deſtroyed as the former, I underſtand nothing, and having told you theſe two things, truly I muſt needs ſay, it makes me in love with this Paper, and with all things in it, and with theſe additions, that I have to tender to you, and with ſettlement above all things in the world, except that where I left you the laſt time, and for that I think we have debated: I have heard your mind, and you have heard mine, I have told you my heart and my judgment, and the Lord bring forth his own iſſue, I think we are now to conſider not what we are on the foot, and of the Government that called this Parliament, which till there be an end put to it, is that that hath exiſtence, and I ſhall ſay nothing to that, if that accompliſheth the end of our fighting, and all thoſe bleſſed and good ends that we ſhould aim at, if it do I would we might have that, and remain where we are, if it doth not, I would we might have that which is better, which truly I now come out of my ſelf to tell you, that as to the ſubſtance and body of your inſtrument I do look upon it as having things in it (if I may ſpeak freely and plainly) I may, and we all may, I ſay the things that are provided for in this Government have the Liberties of the people of God, ſo as they never had it, and he muſt be a pitiful man that thinks the people of God ever had that Liberty, either de facto, or de jure, that is to ſay, de jure, from God; I think they have had it from the beginning of the World to this day, and have it ſtill but aſſerted by a jus humanum; I ſay they never had it ſo, as they have it now, and I think you have provided for the Liberty of the people of God and of the Nation, and I ſay he ſings ſweetly that ſings a Song of reconciliation betwixt theſe two intereſts, and it is a pityful fancy, and wiſdome, and ignorance to think they are inconſiſt…nt, and may conſiſt, and I ſpeak my conſcience in this Government, I think you have made to conſiſt; and therefore I muſt ſay in that and in other things you have provided well, that you have; and becauſe I ſee the root of the Parliament gives you leave to ſpeak with me about the particulars. I think the Parliament doth think, that any Member they have is not to be neglected in offering of any thing that may be of additional good, and upon that account I having a little ſurveyed the inſtrument, I have a paper here to offer to you upon that account, and truly I muſt needs ſay and think, that in ſuch a caſe as this where ſo new a work, and ſo ſtrange a work as this that is before you, it will not be thought ill of. I do with a little earneſtneſs preſs to you ſome explanations in ſome that may help to contemplate, and leave me; for it is only handled with me, this tranſaction is onelyonly handled with me at this time which you and the Parliament, whom you repreſent. I ſay I would be glad that you might leave me and all oppoſers without excuſe, as well as that I could wiſh that you ſhould ſettle this Nation to the uttermoſt good of it, in all things I have to offer to you, they are not very weighty, they may tend to the complexion of the buſineſs, and therefore I ſhall take the freedom to read them to you.
In the fourth Article and ſecond Paragraph you have ſomething under that head that reſpects the calling of Members to Parliament, you would not exclude thoſe that (were under Duke Hamilton) made that Invaſion, becauſe it hath been ſaid to you perhaps, that if you exclude all, you ſhall have no Members from Scotland, I hope there be perſons of that Nation, that will be ready to give a better Teſtimony of their Country than to admit of that argument, & I hope it is none, but if it be one, then truly to meet with the leaſt upon that certainty of the qualifications, you ſhould indeed exclude men of your own Countrey perhaps upon better crimes, and hold them of upon ſtricter Characters; it is thought that that qualification that ſaith, that the teſtimonie that they ſhall have, that they are men that have given good teſtimony in their peaceable and quiet living, why truly for divers years, they have not been willing to do other, they have not had an eaſie poſſibility to do otherwiſe, to live unquietly, though perhaps have been the ſame men many of them; though I know many of them are good men, worthy men, and therefore whether it be not fit, in that place to explain ſomewhat elſe, and put ſome other Character upon it, that may be accounted a good teſtimony, of their being otherwiſe minded, and of their being of another judgment, I confeſs I have not any thing here to ſupply it with, but certainly if it ſhould be ſo, as it is in your article, though they be never ſo indiſpoſed and enemies and remain ſo, yet if they have lived peaceably, where they could neither will nor chuſe, they are to be admitted; I only tell you ſo, being without any amendment for it, and when I have done I ſhall offer the whole to you, this is the ſecond Paragraph.
In the third Paragraph of the ſame Article, whereas it is ſaid that the perſons in Ireland be made uncapable, to elect or be elected, that before the firſt of March 1649. have born Armes for the Parliament, or otherwiſe given teſtimony of their good affections, and continued faithful to the Parliament, and are ſince revolted, whether it be not neceſſary that it be more clearly expreſt, it ſeeming to capacitate all thoſe who have revolted from the Parliament, if they have born armes for the State before the firſt of March 1649. it ſeems to reſtore them, but if ſince then they have revolted, as many I doubt of our Engliſh-Iriſh have done, why then the queſtion is, whether theſe men, who have lately been angry and fled to armes, whether you will think their having born armes formerly on the Parliaments ſide, ſhould be an exemption to them, that is but tendered to you that ſome worthy perſon here will give an anſwer unto.
In the fifth Paragraph of the ſame Article you have incapacitated publick Preachers from ſitting in Parliament, and truly I think that your intention is ſuch as have Paſtoral function, ſuch as are actually and real Miniſters, for I muſt ſay to you in the behalf of our Armie, in their next place to their fighting, they have been very good Preachers, and I ſhould be ſorry they ſhould be excluded from ſerving the Commonwealth, becauſe they have been accuſtomed to preach to their Troops, Companies, and Regiments, which I think have been one of the beſt bleſſings upon them, to the carrying on of the great work. I think you do not mean ſo, but I tender it to you, that if you think fit there may be a conſideration had of it; there may be ſome of us, it may be, that have been a little guilty of that, that would be loth to be excluded from ſitting in Parliament. In the ſame Paragraph there is care taken for the nominating Commiſſioners to try the Members which are choſen to ſit in Parliament, and truly t…oſe Commiſſioners are uncertain Perſons, and it is hard to ſay what may happen, I hope they will be alwaies good men, but if they ſhould be bad, then perhaps they will keep out good men: beſides we think, truly if you will give us leave to help, as to the freedom of the Parliament, it will be ſomething that will go rather harſhly down, than otherwiſe, very many reaſons might be given, but I do but tender it to you, I think if there be no Commiſſioners, it would be never a whit the worſe, but if you make qualifications, if any man will preſume to ſit without thoſe qualifications you may deal with them; A man without qualifications ſitting there, is as if he be not choſe, and if he ſit without being choſen, and ſo without a qualification, I am ſure the old cuſtom was to ſend him to the Tower, to impriſon ſuch a one, if any one ſit there, that have not right to ſit there, if any ſtranger come in upon his pretended Title of election, then perhaps it was a different caſe, if any ſit there upon pretence of a qualification upon him, you may ſend him to Priſon without any more adoe; whether you think fit to do ſo or no, it is Parliamentary buſineſs, I do but hint to you, I believe if any man had ſat in former Parliaments, that had not taken the oathes preſcribed, it would have been a fault enough, &c. I believe ſomething of that kind, would be equivalent to any other way, if not better. In that Article which I think is the fifth Article, which concerns the nomination of the other Houſe, in the beginning of that Article, it is that the Houſe is to be nominated as you deſign it, and the approbation is to be from this Houſe, I would ſay to be from the Parliament, it is ſo; but then now, if any ſhall be ſubſequently named a ter this Houſe is ſat, upon any accidentall removall or death, you doe not ſay, though it ſeems to refer to the ſ…e that the firſt election doth, yet it doth not refer clearly to this, that the nomination ſhall be, where it was in the chief Officer, and the approbation of the other Houſe, if I do expreſs it clearly that you pardon me in, but I think that is the aim of it, it is not clearly expreſt there as I think you will be able to judge whether it be or no.
In the 7. Article that which concerns the revenue, that is the revenue that you have appointed to the Government, which you have diſtributed 300000 l. of it to the maintenance of the civil Authority 1000000 l. to be diſtributed to the maintenance of your Forces by Sea and Land, you have indeed ſaid it in your inſtrument, and we cannot doubt of it, but yet you have not made it certain, nor yet thoſe temporary ſupplies which are intended for the peace and ſafety of the Nations. It is deſired that you will take it into your thoughts, and make both thoſe certain, both as to the ſum and time, that thoſe ſupplies ſhall be continued, and truly I hope I do not curry favour with you, but it is deſired, and I may very reaſonably deſire it, that theſe monies whatever they are, that they may not if God ſhall bring me to any intereſt in this buſineſs, which lyeth in his own power, that theſe monies may not be iſſued out, by the Authority of the chief Magiſtrate, but by the advice of his Councel, ſeeing you have in your inſtrument made a coordination in general terms, that this might be a reſerved thing, that the monies might not be diſtributed, it will be a ſafety to whomſoever is your ſupream Magiſtrate, as well as ſecurity to the publick, that the monies might be iſſued out by the advice of the Councel, and that the Treaſurers that receive this money, may be accountable every Parliament, within a certain time limited by your ſelves every new Parliament the Treaſurer may be accountable to the Parliament for the diſpoſing of the Treaſury, and there is mention made of the Judges in the 9. Article. It is mentioned …hat the Officers of State, and the Judges are to be choſen by the approbation of the Parliament, if there be no Parliament ſitting, if there be never ſo great a loſs of Judges it cannot be ſupplied, and whether you do not intend, that it ſhould be by the choice with the conſent of the Counſel in the intervals of Parliament to be afterwards approved by Parliament.
The 12. Article relates to ſeveral qualifications, that perſons muſt be qualified with, that are put into places of publick Office and Truſt, now if men ſhall …ep into publick Places and Truſt, that are not ſo qualified they may execute it, an Office of …ruſt is a very large word, it goeth to almoſt a Conſtable, if not altogether, it goeth far, now i… any ſhall come that are not ſo qualified, they certainly do commit a breach upon your rule, and whether you will not thi k in this caſe that if any ſhall take upon them an Offi e of Truſt, that a penalty ſhall be put upon them where he is excepted, by the general rule wheth…r you will not think it ſit in that reſpect to deterr men from accepting of offices and places of truſt contrary to that Article, the next is fetcht in ſome reſpects I may ſay by head and ſhoulders in your inſtrument, yet in ſome reſpects it hath aff…nity with it, I may ſay I think is within your order upon this account, I am ſure of it, there is a mention in …e laſt parts of your inſtrument, of your purpoſe to do many good things, I am confident not like the Gentl…man that made his laſt will, and ſet down a great number of the names of men, that ſhould receive benefit by him, and there was no ſum at the latter end. I am confident you are reſolved to deal effectually in the thing at the latter end, and I ſhould wrong my own confidence, if a ſhould think otherwiſe: I hope you will think ſincerely as before God, that the laws may be regulated, I hope you will. We have been often talking of them, and I remembred well at the old Parliament, that we were three months, and could not get over the word Incumbrances and then we thought there was little hope of regulating of the law, when there wa… ſuch a difficulty as that, but ſurely the laws need be regulated, and I muſt needs ſay, I think it is a Sacrifice acceptable to God upon many accounts; and I am perſwaded it is one thing that God looks for and would have. I confeſs if any man would ask me, why, how would you have it done? I confeſs I do not know how, but I think verily at the leaſt, the delaies in ſuites, and the exceſſiveneſs in ſees, and the coſtlineſs of ſuites and thoſe various things, that I do not know what names they bear, I heard talk of demurrers and ſuch like things which I ſcarce know; but I ſay certainly, that the people are greatly ſuffering in this reſpect, they are ſo; and truly, if all this whole buſineſs of ſettlement, whatſoever the iſſue of it ſhall be, it comes as I am perſwaded that it doth, as a thing that would pleaſe God by a Sacrifice in, or rather as an expreſſion of our thankfulneſs to God: I am perſwaded that this will be one thing that will be upon your hearts, to do ſomething that is honourable and effectual in it, that truly I ſay, that it is not in your inſtrument in ſomewhat that relates to the reformation of manners; you will pardon me my fellow ſouldiers that were raiſed upon that juſt occaſion of the inſurrection, not only to ſecure the peace of the Nation, but to ſee that perſons that were leaſt likely, to help on peace or continue it, but rather to break; diſſolute and looſe perſons, that can go up and down from houſe to houſe, and they are Gentlemens ſons that have nothing to live on, and cannot be ſupplied to live to the profit of the Common-wealth, which I think had a good courſe taken with them, and I think that which was done to them was honourable, and honeſtly, and profitably done; and for my own part, I muſt needs ſay, it ſhewed the diſſoluteneſs which was then in the Nation, as indeed it ſprings moſt from that part of the Cavaliers, ſhould that party run on, and no care be taken to reform the Nation, to prevent perhaps abuſes that will not fall under this conſideration; we can ſend our children … France, before they know God or good manners, and return with all the Licentiouſneſs of that Nation; neither care taken to educate them before they go, nor to keep them in good order when they come home; indeed this m…kes the Nation, which not only committing thoſe abominable things, moſt inhumane things amongſt us, but hardens men to juſtifie thoſe things: and the Apoſtle ſaith, not only to do wickedly themſelves, but take pleaſure in them that do ſo; and truly, if ſomething be not done in this kind, without ſparing that condition of men, without ſparing mens Sons, though they be Noble mens Sons, let them be who they will is deboiſt, it is for the glory of God that nothing of outward conſideration ſhould ſave them in their debauchery, from a juſt puniſhment and reformation; and truly, I muſt needs ſay it, I would as much bleſs God to ſee ſomething done, as to that heartily, upon this account, not only to thoſe perſons mentioned, but to all the Nation, that ſome courſe might be taken for reformation, that there might be ſome ſtop put to ſuch a current of wickedneſs and evil as that is; and truly, to do it heartily, and nobly, and worthily: the Nobility of this Nation eſpecially, and the Gentry will have cauſe to bleſs you, and likewiſe that ſome care might be taken, that thoſe good Laws already made for the puniſhing of vice, may be effectually put in execution. This muſt I needs ſay of our Major Generals that do you ſervice, I think it was an excellent good thing, I profeſs I do, and I hope you will not think it unworthy of you, that when you have ſeen that, though you have good againſt the common countrey diſorders, that are every where, who is there to execute them: really a Juſtice of peace, ſhall from the moſt be wondred at, as an Owl, if he go but one ſtep out of the ordinary courſe of his fellow Juſtices, in the reformation of theſe things, and therefore I hope may repreſent that to you, as a thing worthy of your conſideration, that ſomething may be found out to ſuppreſs ſuch things, I am perſwaded you would glorifie God in it, as much as by any one thing you can do, and ſo I think you will pardon me. I cannot tell in this Article that I …m now to ſpeak unto, whether I ſpeak to any thing or nothing: There is a deſire that the publick Revenue be not alienated, but by the conſent of the Parliament, I doubt publick Revenue is like Cuſtodes libertatis Angliae, that is a notion only, and not to be found as I know of; but if there be any, and God bleſs us in our ſettlement, there will be publick Revenue accurring, and whether you will ſubject this no any alienation without the conſent of the Parliament, is that which is offered to you; truly this thing that I have further to offer to you it is the laſt in this paper, and it is a thing that is mentioned in the 16. Article, that you would have thoſe Acts and Ordinances that have been made ſince the late troubles during the the time of them, that they ſhould if they be contrary to this advice, that they ſhould remain in ſuch force, in ſuch manner, as if this advice had not been given; why that that is doubted, is whether or no this will be ſufficient to keep things in a ſettled condition, becauſe it is but an implication, it is not determined, but you do paſs by the thing without ſuch a foundation as will keep thoſe people which are now in poſſeſſion of eſtates upon this account, that their Titles may be queſtioned and ſhaken, if that be not explained; and truly I believe you intend very ſully in this buſineſs if the words already do not ſuffice, that I ſubmit to your own adviſement, but there is in this a very great conſideration; there hath been ſince the Government ſeveral Acts, and Ordinances, that have been made by the exerciſe of that Legiſlative power, that was exerciſed ſince we undertook this government, and I think your inſtrument ſpeaks a little more faintly to theſe, and dubiouſly than to the other; and truly I will not make Apology for any thing, but ſurely two perſons, two ſorts of men will be meerly concern'd upon this account; that is, they that are exerciſed, and the perſons who are the objects of that exerciſe, it diſſettles them wholly, if you be not clear in your expreſſion; in this buſineſs, it will diſſettle us very much to think that the Parliament; that doth not approve well of what h…th been done upon a true ground of neceſſity, as far as it hath ſaved this Nation from m…ing in…o total arbitrarineſs, or ſubiect it to any ſort of men that would perhaps do ſo. We think we have in th…t thing deſerved well of the State, if any man w…ll ask …e, but al… Sir, what have you done ſince? why ah, as I w ll confeſs my f…ult where I am guilty, ſo I think taking the things as they were, I th nk we did the Co… …n wealth ſerv…ce, a…d we have in that made great ſettlements, that have we, we have ſetled almoſt all the whole affairs in Ireland, the rights and intereſts of the ſouldiers there, and of the planters and adventurers; and truly we have ſetled very much of the buſines of the Miniſtry, and I could wiſh that that be not to ſecure the grave men, I wiſh it be not, but I muſt needs ſay, if I have any thing to rejoyce before the Lord in this world, as having done any good, or ſervice, I can ſay it from my heart; and I know I ſay the truth, that it hath been, let any man ſay what he will to the contrary, he will give me leave to enjoy my own opinion in it, and conſcience, and heart, & dare bear my teſtimony to it, there hath not been ſuch a ſervice to England, ſince the Chriſtian Religion was perfect in England I dare be bold to ſay it, however here and there, there may have been paſſion and miſtakes, and the Miniſters themſelves, take the generality of them, they will tell it is beſides the inſtructions, and we did take it upon that account, and we did not upon, to do that which we did, virtute instituti as a Jure Divino, but as a civil good, but— ſo we end in this thing, we know not better how to keep the Miniſtry good, and to augment it to goodneſs, than to put ſuch men to be Triers; men of known integrity, and piety, Orthodox men, and fai hful, we know not how better to anſwer our duty to God, and the Nation, and the people of God, in that reſpect in doing what we did, and I dare ſay if the grounds upon which we went, will not juſtifie us, the iſſue, and event of it doth abundantly juſtifie us, God having had exceeding glory by it, in the generality of it, I am confident forty-fold; for as heretofore the men that have been admitted into the Miniſtry in times of Epiſcopacy, alas what pityful Certificates ſerved to make a man a Miniſter; if any man could underſtand Latin, and Greek, it was as if he ſpake Welſh, he was ſure to be admitted, which I think in thoſe days went for Hebrew with a great many; but certainly the pooreſt thing in the world would ſerve turn, and a man was admitted upon ſuch an account, I, and upon a leſs, I am ſure the admiſſion that had been to thoſe places ſince, had been under this Character, as the rule that they muſt not admit a man, unleſs he be able to diſcern ſome of the Grace of God in him, which was ſo put to, as that it was not fooliſhly or ſenſleſly, but ſo far as men could Judge according to the rules of Charity; but ſuch a man whoſe good life and converſation they could have a very good teſtimony of four or five of the neighbour Miniſters, who knew him, nor could they admit him, unleſs he could give a very good teſtimony of the grace of God in him; and to this I ſay, I muſt ſpeak my conſcience in it, though a great many are angry at it, all are angry at it, and how ſhall you pleaſe every body: then ſay ſome, none muſt be admitted, except perhaps he will be baptized, this is their opinion, they will nor admit a man into a congregation, except he be ſo much leſs to be a Miniſter; the Presbyterian he will not admit him, except he will be ordained, generally they will not go to the Independants; truly I think if I may not be partial, I think if there be a freedom of judgment, it is there. Here is three ſorts of Godly men that you are to take care for, and that you have provided for in your ſettlement; and how could you now put it to the Presbyterians, but you muſt have done it with a poſſibility of excluſion of all thoſe Anabaptiſts, and of the Independants; and now you have put it into the way, that if a man be of any of theſe judgments, if he have the root of the matter of him, he may be admitted; this hath been our care and work, by ſome Ordinances of ours, both laying the foundations of it, and many hundreds of Miniſters being in upon it, and if this be a time of ſettlement, then I hope it is not a time of ſhaking, and therefore I hope you will be pleaſed to ſettle this buſineſs, that you will neither ſhake the perſons that have been poorly inſtrumental, to call you to this opportunity of ſetling this Nation, and doing good to it; nor ſhake thoſe honeſt mens intereſts that have been thus ſetled, conſidering ſo much good hath been wrought by them, and ſo I have done with the offers to you: But here is ſomewhat that is indeed exceedingly paſt my underſtanding, for I have as little skill in Arithmetick as I have in the Law; there is great ſums it is well if I can count them to you. The preſent charge of the forces both by ſea and land, including the Government, will be 2426989 l. the whole preſent Revenue in England, Scotland, and Ireland, is about 1900000 l. I think this was reckoned at the moſt, as now the Revenue ſtands: Why now toward this, you ſettle by your inſtrument 1300000 l. for the Government, and upon that account to maintain the force by Sea and Land, and this without land Tax I think, and this is ſhort of the Revenue, that now may be raiſed by the Government, 600000 l. becauſe you ſee the preſent Government is 1900000 l. & the whole ſum which may now be raiſed, comes of the preſent charge 542689, and although an end ſhould be put to the Spaniſh War, yet there will be a neceſſity of the preſervation of the Peace of the three Nations, to keep up the preſent eſtabliſhed Army in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and alſo a conſiderable Fleet for ſome good time, until it ſhall pleaſe God, to quiet, and compoſe mens minds, and bring the Nation to ſome better conſiſtency, ſo that conſidering the pay of the Army, coming to upwards 1100000 l. per annum, and the Government 300000 l. it will be neceſſary, that for ſome convenient time, ſeeing you find things as you do, and it is not good to think a wound healed before it be; that there ſhould be raiſed over and above 1300000 l. the ſum of 600000 l. per annum, which makes up the ſum of 1900000 l. that likewiſe the Parliament declare how far they will carry on the Spaniſh War, and for what time, and what farther ſum they will raiſe for the carrying on the ſame, and for what time, and if theſe things be not aſ…ertained, as one faith, money is the cauſe certainly, what ever the cauſe is, if money be wanting, the buſineſs will fall to the ground, & all our labour will be loſt, and therefore I hope you will have a care of our undertakings
And having received expreſſions from you, that we may believe, we need not offer theſe things to you, that theſe things will be cared for, and theſe things have all of them been made overture of to you, and are before you, and ſo hath likewiſe the conſideration of the debts, which truly I think are apparent, and ſo I have done, that I have to offer you; I think I have truly for my part, and when I ſhall underſtand where it own me to do further, and when I ſhall underſtand your pleaſure in theſe things a little further, we have anſwered the order o Parliament, in conſidering and debating of theſe things, that were the ſubject matter of debate and conſideration, and when you will be pleaſed to let me here further of your thoughts in theſe things, then I ſuppoſe, I ſhall be in a condition to diſcharge my ſelf, as God ſhall put in my mind, and I ſpeak not this to evade, but I ſpeak in the fear and reverence of God, and I ſhall plainly and clearly, I ſay, when you ſhall have been pleaſed among your ſelves to take conſideration of theſe things, that I may hear what your thoughts are of theſe things, I do not ſay that, as a condition to any thing, but I ſhall be very free, and honeſt, and plain, to diſcharge my ſelf, of what in the whole, upon the whole, may reaſonably be expected from me, and God ſhall ſet me free, to anſwer you in.