Former Ages Never Heard of, Floating text 20
The DECLARATION of the Lord Generall and his Councel of Officers shewing the Grounds and Reasons for the Dissolving the Parliament, April 20. 1653.
AFter it had pleased God not only to reduce Ireland, and give in Scotland but so marvellously to appeare for his people at Worcester, that these Nations were reduced to a great degree of peace, it was matter of grief to many well affected, in the Land, to see the Cause of God so little forwarded by the Parl. whereupon they applied to the Army, expecting redresse by them, notwithstanding which, the Army being unwilling to meddle with the Civill Authority, in matters so properly appertaing to it, it was agreed, That his Excellency and Officers of the Army should be desired to move the Parl. to proceed vigorously in reforming what was amisse in Government; which having done, we hoped that the Parl. would seasonably have answered our expectations, but finding delayes therein, we renewed our desires in a Petition in August last, and although they signified their good acceptance thereof, and referred the particulars to a Committee of the House, yet no considerable effect was produced, but there more and more appeared among them an aversion to the things themselves, with much bitternesse and opposition to the people of God; which grew so prevalent, that those persons of honour and integrity who had eminently appeared for God and the publick good, were rendred of no further use in Parl. then by meeting with a corrupt party to give them countenance to carry on their ends For which purpose, they frequently declared themselves against having a New Representative, and when they were necessitated to take that Bill into consideration, they resolv'd to make use of it to recruit the House with persons of the same temper, thereby to perpetuate their owne sitting, which intention divers of the most active did manifest, labouring to perswade others to a consent therein; and divers Petitions preparing from severall Counties for the continuance of this Parl. were encouraged by them. For obviating these evills, the Officers of the Army obtained severall Meetings with some of the Parl. to consider what fitting meanes might be applyed to prevent the same; but such endeavours proving altogether ineffectuall, it became most evident to the Army, that this Parl. would never answer those ends, which God, his people, and the whole Nation expected from them. But that this Cause must needs languish under their hands, and be wholly lost. All which being sadly considered by the honest people of this Nation, as well as by the Army, and wisdome and direction being sought from the Lord, it seemed to be a duty incumbent upon us to consider of some more effectuall means to secure the Cause which the good people of this Common wealth have been so long engaged in, and to stablish peace in these Nations. And after much debate it was judged necessary, that the Supream Authority should be devolved upon known persons, men fearing God, and of approved integrity, and committed unto them for a time, as the most hopefull way to encourage and countenance all Gods people, reform the Law, and administer justice impartially, hoping thereby the people might forget Monarchy, and have the Government setled upon a true Basis, without hazard to this glorious Cause, and necessitating to keep up Arms for the defence of the same. And being still resolved to use all means possible to prevent extraordinary courses, we prevai'ed with about twenty Members of Parl. to give us a Conference, with whom we freely and plainly debated the necessity and justnesse of our Proposals, and did evidence that these would most probably bring forth something answerable to that work, the foundation whereof God himselfe hath laid. The which found no acceptance, but it was offered, that the way was to continue still this Parl. as being that from which we might reasonably expect all good things; and this being insisted upon, did much confirm us in our apprehensions, That not any love to a Representative, but the making use thereof to perpetuate themselves, was their aim. They being plainly dealt with about this, and told, that neither the Nation, the honest interest, nor we our selves would be deluded by such dealings, did agree to meet again next day in the afternoon, and nothing in the mean time should be done, that might frustrate the Proposals. Notwithstanding the Parl. next morning did make more hast then usuall in carrying on their said Act, being helped therein by some of the persons engaged to us the night before, none of them endeavouring to oppose the same, and being ready to put the main Question for consummating the said Act, whereby our Proposals would have been made void. For preventing whereof, we have been necessitated to put an End to this Parliament. And desire that all men, as they would not provoke the Lord to their owne destruction, should wait for such issue as he shall bring forth, and to follow their businesse with peaceable spirits, wherein we promise them protection by his assistance.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Vicars, Former Ages Never Heard of (1654)