Echos from the Sixth Trumpet, Part 20 – Part 22
Letters of Advice touching the Election of Knights, Citizens and Burgeſſes in PARLIAMENT. Imprinted 1644.
AMong other things offered by this Author to be heeded, as pertinent to the Common Welfare, he publiſhed a Book ſo called, touching the Choice of Knights and Burgeſſes, to repreſent the Commons in Parliament, and other Publick Miniſters; to which purpoſe he offered ſomewhat in his Perpetual Parliament, mentioned in this Review. Therefore this being overlarge to be wholly inſerted, no more ſhall be here added, but ſome part of what is therein contained, in relation to the due Qualification both of the Electors, and Perſons to be Elected which perhaps will give occaſion of better heeding what hath been heretofore neglected. It was thus expreſſed, pag. 2, in Proſe.
Being wofully experienced in the manifold Miſchiefs whereinto this Nation hath been plunged by the Corruption or Inſufficiency of Perſons heretofore choſen (or preſumptuouſly intruding upon that Truſt) and perceiving no publike means provided for preventing the like Miſchief hereafter, nor any thereto privately contributing his Advice, I have haſtily ſent abroad theſe Letters, not arrogating a ſufficiency to give ſuch directions as may not be excepted againſt, but rather in hope it would give occaſion to ſome of better Judgment to perfect what I have imperfectly begun according to my Talent:
Leſt by that Courſe which we at preſent run,
Both Good and Bad together be undone.
That my Propoſals may be the more willingly entertained and proſecuted, I will briefly offer to heed, firſt, The Miſchiefs we incur by inconſiderate Elections, and how traiterous thereby we are to our Countrey, and to our ſelves. Secondly, I will preſent you with the neceſſary Qualifications of thoſe who are to be Elected. And laſtly, By what Expedient I conceive Abuſes in that kind may be beſt prevented, if we are not grown ſo corrupt a Body, that we neither will nor can be repreſented by honeſt and diſcreet perſons.
I need not particularize into how many Miſchiefs this Nation is now, and hath been heretofore plunged by the rottenneſs and giddineſs of ſome formerly choſen to repreſent the Commonalty; or how perfidiouſly they have diſſerted or betrayed their truſt, to an endangering of our being everlaſtingly expoſed to the ſlavery of temporal and ſpiritual Tyrannies, no leſs accurſed and intollerable then the Egyptian Bondage: For, we give them power not onelyonly to make us Slaves, Beggars, and liable to the Hangman at their pleaſure; but to ſubject us alſo unto thoſe Decrees which may (gradatim) bring us or our Poſterity to be Papiſts, Turks, Pagans, and Vaſſals to the Devil, if the Profeſſors of Popery, Turciſm, or of any other damnable Impieties ſhould obtain a temporal Soveraignty over us. If this▪ you believe not to be poſſible, (becauſe not yet come to paſs) believe at leaſt, that which you ſee of their practiſe and condition who have been unworthily and unwarrantably choſen; and how far they have already brought back upon us thoſe Antichriſtian Slaveries which we thought paſt fear of reviving.
But perhaps Miſchiefs and Inconveniences of leſs concernment will ſtir up ſome to be more cautious in their Elections then theſe. Let ſuch take notice, That by beedleſneſs in this duty, they ſhall make Fools and Tyrants Lords over them, who will fawn and court them, till they are in Power, and then ſcorn and trample them under foot; putting ſuch immeaſurable differences between themſelves and others, as if the reſpect due to the whole Nation, were due to their ſingle Perſons. And they will then ſo take upon them, and ſo demean themſelves, as if to favour the Clients, to ſuppreſs thoſe whom they diſaffect, to ſtrengthen their own Faction, and to maintain their Uſurped Perſonal Priviledges (though to the utter ruine both of all Publick Liberties, and true Piety) were the chief End of their Power; What good can be expected from ſuch a Choice? or what better Choice can be made, unleſs you more ſeriouſly, more prudently, and more conſcienciouſly manage your Elections?
When Wolves are by the Sheep for Guardians choſe,
Who marvels if their Skinnes and Lives they loſe.
The onelyonly means in Humane Prudence to be delivered from ſuch miſchiefs, is by humbly ſupplicating Divine Mercy by truly repenting our ſins, and by taking more heed hereafter, that we be not Traitors to our ſelves, in fooliſhly giving the diſpoſure of our Eſtates, Lives, Liberties, and Conſciences, to them who will ſell us for old Shooes; and ſerve us onelyonly to ſerve their own turns, though to our deſtruction. Therefore I beſeech you to be wary whom you ſhall now and hereafter Elect; and make us not irrecoverably unhappy, by liſtning to the Inſinuations of unworthy perſons, who will importune you by themſelves and others, to put our Bodies and Souls into their hands; complying with all ſhews of Curteſie and Humility, till their purpoſes are obtained; and never afterward regard our Petitions, our Cauſe, our Miſeries, or our Perſons; but overlook us with ſuch pride, as if they had neither received their Power from us, or for our Welfare; but meerly to exalt their own vanity, &c.
Therefore to remedy preſent Evils, and to eſtabliſh your juſt Priviledges, for preſervation of the Common Intereſt hereafter, let your care be to avoid the choice of ſuch as theſe:
I. Men overlaviſh in ſpeaking, and in taking extraordinary pleaſure in hearing themſelves talk; for a man full of words is neither good to give, or keep Counſel.
II. Notorious Gameſters; for, I never knew a prudent or juſt man, a Common Gameſter: How can they be juſt, whoſe practiſe is to cheat other men of their Eſtates? Or prudent managers of publike Treaſure, who expoſe their own Eſtates to the uncertain hazard of Chance?
III. Men much addicted to Hunting or Hawking; for moſt of theſe, ſo they may preſerve and encreaſe their Game, and enlarge Priviledges for their own pleaſure, will not much care though it were to the depopulating of the Countrey, and to the multiplying of wild Beaſts deſtructive to the Nation.
IV. The Houſhold Servants, or dependants on ſuch Peers, as expect from their Creatures the promotion of their own Deſigns and Intereſt, how repugnant ſoever to the General Good.
V. Courtiers depending meerly on the King or Queens Service; for the enlargement and continuance of their Favour, depend on that which they call Royal Prerogative; and the more that may be improved to an infringement of the Subjects Right, the richer and the more powerful theſe will grow.
VI. Chuſe not ſuch as are evidently Ambitious or Covetous; for how prone theſe will be to ſell their Countrey and Religion too, for Titular Honors and Wealth, we have had too frequent experience.
"The Peoples Truſt and Freedoms to betray,
"To be a Lord is now the neareſt way.
VII. Elect not perſons enſlaved to Wantonneſs, and impudently perſevering in Carnal Vncleanneſſes; for ſuch will not onelyonly give away your and their own Eſtates to ſatisfie their Luſts, but betray alſo their Countrey, and their Saviour, to pleaſe their Dalilahs.
VIII. Take heed of chuſing men ſuperlatively proud: For they will be ſo puft up with their Legiſlatorſhip, that after they have ſate a while in the Houſe, you will hardly know how to ſpeak unto them, or of them, without being queſtioned either for tranſgreſſing againſt good manners, or for breach of their Perſonal Priviledges; which they prefer before the Priviledges of the whole Nation.
IX. Chuſe not men over-much affected to Popularity, or factiouſly oppugning Soveraignty; for they will not be juſt or true to the Intereſt of King or People, but ſo far onelyonly as it may advan…e their own Will.
X. Chuſe none generally reputed vicious in any kind; for they will be open or ſecret Oppoſers of all Laws or Ordinances reſtraining Enormities, and hinderers of bringing Delinquents to condign puniſhment.
XI. Make not choice of Irreligious perſons, or ſuch as are inclined to ancient Superſtitions, or modern Novelties; for theſe will not willingly aſſent to the eſtabliſhment of ought ſave what may advance their private Fancies.
For how can he affect true Reformation,
Who neither hath right Rule or firm foundation?
XII. Make not choice of Children under Age; for we ought not to commit the management of the moſt weighty Affairs of the Commonwealth to them who are not capable by Law of diſpoſing their own Eſtates; eſpecially ſeeing the major part of Voices, (which an ignorant Child may help to make up) will be ſufficient ſometimes to confirm a Reſolution to the Publike Damage.
XIII. Chuſe not Perſons Outlaw'd; or ſo far endebted, that they dare not walk abroad without a Protection; for what can be more unjuſt, then to let them ſit as Law-makers, who ſubmit not to the Laws in force, and to render the Fountain of Juſtice obſtructive unto it ſelf.
XIV. Laſtly, Avoid the choice of thoſe who make means to have themſelves choſen; for it diſcovereth ſo much arrogance and ſelf-conceit, that they are worthy to be rejected; and doubtleſs they more intend that which may advantage themſelves, then to be ſerviceable to their Countrey. The Deliverers of GOD's People in diſtreſs, were ſuch as modeſtly ſought rather to put off, then to intrude upon Publick Employments; yea, Saul was fitter to reign when he hid himſelf among the ſtuff, then when he took care to be honoured before the people.
"The curſed Bramble ſought not to be choſe
"The King of Trees, till they did him propoſe.
There were alſo ſome Propoſals and Caveats concerning thoſe who are Electors, and as touching the making choice by Lot; to the peruſal whereof you are referred in the Original Tract.
A Cauſe Allegorically Stated. Imprinted 1657.
THis was publiſhed among other things, during Oliver Cromwel's Reign, with an Appeal therein to all Impartial Cenſurers.
A Goodly Ship, with precious Lading fraught,
Late in a dark night, nigh to Land was brought.
Through many dangers, & much bluſtring weather,
GOD's Providence had ſafely brought her thither;
And by the Waters motions, and the humming
Among the Shrouds, another ſtorm ſeem'd coming.
The Place arriv'd at, was a dangerous Bay,
From which, into the Port, two Channels lay,
Divided by a Quick-ſand, with great ſtore
Of Shelves, and ſharp Rocks upon either ſhore.
She had a choice Commander, Merchants many,
Stout Seamen, Pilots too, as good as any;
With Paſſengers of all ſorts, among whom
Some could (had need been) have ſuppli'd the room
Of well-experienc'd Seamen, and advis'd
Such things as Prudence would not have deſpis'd.
But theſe, among themſelves divided were, (ſteer;
Through which of thoſe two Channels they ſhould
One Party thinking that the ſafeſt way,
In which the other thought moſt danger lay;
And in the dark it could not well be ſeen
In which the greateſt hazard would have been.
Nor were they in leſs hazard to lye there
At Anchor, till the day-light did appear.
A poor old man was at that time aboard,
To whom GOD had been pleaſed to afford
A Faculty to ſee things in the dark,
Which others could not view, or did not mark:
He knowing what great ſtreights the Ship was in,
(And what their loſs was likely to have been)
Call'd out to thoſe there had chief Command,
And ſaid, There ſtands a Rock, here lyes a Sand;
Another yonder; and a Whirl-pool there:
Be very careful therefore how ye ſteer;
Bear up a little while into the Wind,
(Although a ſhew of danger there you find)
And take heed that a cauſeleſs fear or doubt,
Makes you not over-ſoon to Tack about,
Leſt in the way you ſtrike upon a ſteep
Sharp Ridg, and over-ſet into the Deep.
Firſt, on the Starbordſide a compaſs fetch
Half way to yon Point, to avoid that Breach;
And then upon the Larbordſide again
Wheel off, and you the Harbour ſhall attain.
Thus ſpake the old man; for although 'twere night,
He ſaw as well as when the Sun gives light;
And they who had a willingneſs thereto,
Did that which he adviſed them to do.
The greater part not heeding what they heard,
(Nor knowing their own danger) grin'd and jeer'd,
And from the Hatches crept into the Hold,
Leaving the Ship to what befall it ſhould.
But they who more deſir'd to have their Will,
Then to be counſell'd, whether well or ill;
Diſdaining (as it were) to be advis'd
(Though for their weal, by one whom they deſpis'd,
Did not alone purſue him with deſpight,
But with Oppreſſions alſo him requite:
Now therefore, in what this man ſtands oblig'd
To thoſe, let it impartially be judg'd:
And▪ whether ſuch as they deſerve not all
Thoſe Plagues which now are feared may befall,
Till that Ingratitude they ſhall repent,
Which juſtly merits that ſad Conſequent
This is a Caſe (though heeded but of few)
To ſome known, as expreſt here, to be true.
MERCURIUS RUSTICUS. Imprinted without Date.
THis was compoſed in or about the firſt year after the late unhappy Warre between the King and Parliament, in imitation of the Weekly Intelligencers, then publiſhed; being a Ruſtick Diſcourſe, offering between jeſt and earneſt, ſome particulars to conſideration, relating both to Civil and Military Tranſactions; and hinted Notions then pertinent to thoſe Times, and not wholly impertinent to theſe. But no more of it ſhall be here inſerted ſave the beginning of the Book; and that alſo to no other purpoſe, but to diſtinguiſh it from a Book of the ſame Title, publiſhed by another man; which this Author now having ſeen, is unwilling to have it imputed to him, (as he hath heard it is) how worthy ſoever it may ſeem to be owned. His Book (which he thinks none will be ambitious to father) thus begins.
By your leave Gentlemen; when ſeriouſneſs takes not effect, perhaps trifling may. Every man hath ſome Toyes in his head; and I have too many. One will now diſcover it ſelf, which hath itched in it ever ſince laſt night. Mars had lately tired me with long Marches and Skirmiſhes. Jupiter hath caſt ſuch ill Aſpects upon me, that I cannot be jovial. The Moon is in the wain; Venus retrograde; Apollo would not lend me his Fiddle to prevent my being oppreſſed with Melancholly by the Influences of Saturn; and therefore I compli'd with Mercury in making a Ruſtick Progreſs, and (now underſtanding that variety of News is much deſir'd) I am bold to preſent you with ſuch gleannings as I gathered up in the Countrey.
And though I am not ſo witty as my Friend Britanicus; nor bring you Narratives that ſo well deſerve the Whetſtone as Monſieur Aulicus; nor come ſo furniſhed with Novelties as Maſter Civicus; nor ſo ſupply'd with Paſſages as the Weekly Intelligencer; nor am at leiſure to ſum up all Occurrences, as the Accomptant; nor ſo large in Promiſes as the Scout, the Informer, and the reſt of your diligent Mercuries; nor ſo impudent as to aver I preſent you with nothing but Truth: Yet I have brought you that with which you may perhaps be for once well contented to read or hear, though they be but ſuch gatherings as I had from the Mill, the Alehouſe, the Smiths Shop, or the Barbers; for theſe are our Countrey Exchanges, wherein we talk of a many things with as little good ſucceſs as they do at Weſtminſter; and otherwhile alſo to as ill, and to as good purpoſes.
This being ſufficient to diſtinguiſh his from the other Book bearing the ſame Title, no more ſhall be here inſerted.