A Happy Handful, Statement 26
AN ALARUM TO THE COUNTIES OF ENGLAND AND WALES.
With the Ab-renunciatiation of the OATH.
By Tho. Fuller, B. D.
OUr Nation, which long ſince hath loſt the Luſtre and Well-being, now at laſt-ſtrugleth for the Life and Being thereof. Our many [temporal] miſeries are reducible to two principal Heads.
Daily
1. Decreaſe of Trading.
2. Increaſe of Taxes: So that every hour the Burden groweth weightier, and the Back of our Nation weaker to ſupport it.
2. 'Tis ſad to ſee, in Cloathing Countreys, what ſwarms there are of poor people, the true objects of Charity; if any were as able to give, as they worthy to receive relief: for they would work, and can work, yet cannot work, becauſe there are none to employ them.
3. As for the Sea (which is the Land of Port-Towns) it returneth ſmall benefit; for ſince Dunkirk was ours (more to the credit than benefit of our Nation) the fire of Searobberies is removed out of the Chimney, and ſcattered about the Houſe, not leſſe deſtructive, but more diffuſive: So that our Merchants could better guard themſelves againſt that Single Staple of Pirates, than many leſſer ones ſprung ſince every where, the cauſe why rich men will not (as poor cannot) adventure.
4. Our ſecond miſery is, increaſe, yea, ſuperfetation of Taxes, ſo long as ſo numerous an Army is maintained: For though ſome of their Souldiers will preach gratis (conſcientious to take nothing for that which they know is worth nothing) yet none will fight at ſo cheap a rate.
5. Some will ſay, that what the Souldier receiveth with one hand, he returneth with another, expending his pay in Victuals, Cloaths, &c. whereby Coin, by circulation, is continued in our Country. This I deny; for ſome Grandees greatned by the Times, have made their Monies over in Banks beyond the Seas, which are put into MORTMAIN, or a Dead hand, whereby no profit accreweth to our Commonwealth. Others having gotten the Eſtates of Lords, live after the rate Yoomen, whoſe diſcretion therein is to be commended, for proportioning their expences (for fear of afterclaps) rather according to their original, than preſent condition.
6. The increaſe of Taxes muſt inevitably cauſe the ruine of our Nation: For though ſtill there be wealthy men left (as they ſhew it in their cowardiſe, and fear to engage for the general good) yet they grow thinner every day whilſt ſuch as are left no root of their own, rather than they will wither will turn Suckers on the Stock of others. So that the greateſt happineſs rich men can promiſe to themſelves, is only to be laſt devoured, though the comfort of the lateneſs will not countervail the ſadneſs for the certainty of their deſtruction. Indeed it is miraculous that our Nation hath ſubſiſted ſo long, and few there are that would believe that the whole Candle of our Engliſh wealth could laſt ſo long, as we have beheld it burning in the Socket, but now giving the laſt blaze, if God be not merciful, and men diſcreet to prevent it.
7. Paſs we from the ſad Malady, to the ſole Remedy thereof, I ſay ſole, not excluſively of divine miraculous power, but according to humane apprehenſion, this is a Free and full Parliament. Indeed Free-Parliament is a Tautology, like a Reaſonable-man, who, if not reaſonable, is no man; as the other, if not free, no Parliament. But the late frequent forces put on Parliaments hath made the needleſs Epethite become neceſſary, to expreſs what kinde of Parliaments we deſire. Not ſuch in which every word muſt be ſpoken under correction of the Sword, but wherein every Member, without fear of violence (to interrupt or diſſolve them) may follow the dictates of their own judgement.
8. Nor ought a Parliament onelyonly bee free from Force, but alſo from any Abjurations, or previous Engagements. Let them take heed of renouncing any thing, ſave what is ſimply ſinful in it ſelf, as the forſaking of the World, Fleſh, and Devil, as was ſolemnly promiſed for them in their Baptiſm. But it is bad to bee buſie with other Ab-renunciations, eſpecially of the Royal Family.
9. Look backward, and we may ſay with David, The Vows of the Lord are upon us; I mean on ſo many of us as are of fifty years of age. The Oath of Supremacy (not to mention the Covenant) is the eldeſt Brother, to whom the inheritance of our Conſciences do belong.
10. Look forwards, it limiteth Gods Providence, which is an hainous offence; wee know not what a day, month, year, &c. may bring forth. This Age hath the leaſt reaſon of any to meddle with the edge-tools of ſuch Oathes which in a ſhort (but ſtrict) time hath ſeen ſo many ſtrange things, that now nothing is ſtrange unto us. Have wee not ſeen O. Cromwell from a private Gentleman gradatim aſcend to bee Protector of three Nations, and by his Courage and Wiſdome rather than any right) a more abſolute Power poſſeſſed by, and larger Tribute paid unto him than to any King in England. His Son and Succeſſour (counted bad by many for his goodneſs and milde ſpirit) for eighth months was congratulated by the moſt conſiderable Perſons of our Nation. Now if ſome twenty years ſince an Oath had been tendred unto us to abjure the Family of Cromwels from ever having the Supream Magiſtraey in our Nation; ſuch an Oath would have ſeemed ſafe, but yet it was not lawful to take it, becauſe none knew what was in the Womb of Teeming Time, though utterly improbable to our belief.
11. Beſides, the Impoſers of this Oath may miſs the mark they propound to themſelves, viz. aſſurance of their own, and diſcovery of the oppoſite Party; for many now paſs not for the taking or breaking of any Oath, and aſſurance of ſuch is hard in keeping, and indeed not worth the having. Other will behold the Oath as temporary, and expiring with the power of the Impoſers. As for the conſcientious indeed, Eſfuſing it out of pure principles of piety, it is a barbarous act for perſons in power, to turn Executioners to ſtrangle tender Conſciences, whoſe cordial fear of an Oath ſhould be encouraged.
12. As the Parliament muſt be free, no Vaſſal, but enfranchiſed from the Sword, ſo muſt it bee full, no Cripple, but entire and compleat in all the Members thereof. Our Land hath lately groaned under the moſt grievous Monopoly as ever was, or can be, when a handful of men have graſped to themſelves the repreſenting of a whole (not to ſay three) Nation, moſt of them being but Burgeſſes, who though equal in Votes, are not equal in their Repreſentation with the Knights of the Shires. If they preſume that the reſt excluded by them (far more conſiderable for Birth, Eſtates, Number, Love of the People, and what not?) are vertually included in them, it is an intollerable PRESUMPTION. That what pertaineth to all ſhould be handled by all, is a Truth ſo clear and ſtrong, that they muſt offer a Rape to their own Reaſon that deny it. Such alſo is this Maxim, Ʋnrepreſented, Ʋnconcluded: So that if ſo few have in them the notion of a Parliament, it is a bare Notion indeed, eſpecially ſeeing this handful of men were (ſay the Cavaliers) diſſolved by the death of the King; diſſolved (ſaid Cromwell) by his Sword; diſſolved (ſay ſome Great ones) by an Act of their own (entred into the Journall Book of the Parliament) diſſolved muſt their own Conſciences ſay, by their voluntary accepting of Elections in later Parliaments.
13. Now the Members of a Free and full Parliament (the onelyonly Hope of Humane help) ought thus to be qualified:
1. Let them be Godly, and Well-affected indeed, and not in the canting language of the Times.
2. Men of Eſtates, who will be tender in taxing others, as ſtriking them thorough themſelves, whilſt ſuch who bear nothing care not how much they burthen others, as if paying were as eaſie as voting, and Money as free as words.
3. Men of ſpirits, no dull Souls, all the ſparks of whoſe activity are quenched in their own flegm.
4. No Gainers by the continnance of the Army. Demetrius the Silver-ſmith was no fool (what ever elſe he was) ſo ſticking for the ſhrine of Diana, by which Craft he got his Gain.
5. Men of Moderation, a quality not oppoſed to Diligence, but to Violence, not unactiving men, but regulating their Activity.
14. This their Moderation muſt appear in conſidering all Intereſts, ſeeing there be no two Intereſts in the Nation ſo contemptible, which if united, and twiſting their diſcontents together, cannot draw trouble on all the reſt: Eſpecially the Sectarian (though preſented I beleeve by their party, through a multipling Glaſs) are conſiderable on a politick ſcore of their numbers and pious account of their conſcience; for, though many of them carry the latter in their Purſes, who when they finde the moiſture of Profit to fail them, will fall off like leaves in Autumn; yet can I not be ſo uncharitable, but to beleeve that many of them (having the heat of their affections above the light of their judgements) follow erroneous Conſciences; Beſides, having gone looſe ſo long, they muſt needs ſwell, if hardly girded on a ſudden.
15. This moderation alſo muſt be uſed by all other Perſons, to work themſelves to be (if not pleaſed) contented with the deciſions of a free Parliament. All muſt ſit down Loſers ſave ſuch alone, who can plead, that they have been no Sinners in our Nation. The Grand deſign muſt be to have none, or, (if that be impoſſible) as few as may be, utterly ruined. I confeſs two hungry meals makes a third a Clutton, and ſuch who have long faſted from their detained Eſtates, will be not onelyonly greedy but ravenous to recover them. Yea, ſuch will ſhrewdly plead, that they now expect moderation from them, who never uſed moderation to them. However, in ſuch a general danger, men muſt depoſe their animoſities, labouring, firſt, to reconcile their ſpirits, then, their perſwaſions, the later being at leſs diſtance than the former. And men muſt divide, where they cannot get the whole, ſeeing few will pity his ſtarving who will eat no bread at all, becauſe he can recover but half of his own loaf.
16. It will be objected that ſuch a full P. is ſtill but an empty Parliament, having no Houſe of Lords therein: But know, if both hands of a man be bound, no hope of liberty from himſelf; but if one be untied, it may do the brotherly office to unlooſe the other: Let us be content to row in a Sculler till we can get a pair of Oars. And ſuch ſurely is the Ingenuity and publick ſpiritneſs of the Peers, that laying aſide perſonal Intereſt (which upon debate may appear more) they will ſuſpend their Rights, Immunities, and priviledges, and ſubmit all to the determination of a Free Parliament to acquieſce therein.
17. God give our Nation ſeaſonably to underſtand their own ſtrength, that the Wars begun may be ended amongſt our ſelves before Forreigners become the Arbitrators of our differences, who will demand great wages for little work, yea and turn their owne Paymaſters thereof. And may that great General (whoſe Intentions long have ſtood in the dark to our Nation, whilſt our Nations deſires were all the while in light to him, underſtand that Vox Populi is Vox Dei, and interpret, that God calleth unto him by the Declarations of all Counties, to be chiefly inſtrumental in aſſerting our Liberties, and we ſhall have cauſe for ever to bleſs the day of his Nativity.
18. Indeed had Providence fixed our Nativities under the Duke of Muſcovy, whoſe Liſt is his Subjects Law, we would (becauſe we muſt) work our ſelves patiently to the obedience of his power. But ſeeing God hath given us, with St. Paul, to be free-born, Acts 22. 28. (though alſo, with the Centurion, we have given great ſumms, not to obtain, but contrive this freedome) let us not tamely loſe our Birth-right, and vigorouſly endeavour their preſervation.
19. The Story is well known of the old Woman, who having but a ſmall parcel of Wood, would leaſurably roaſt her Gooſe▪ſtick by ſtick, till her wood was all burnt, and her Gooſe ſtill raw. If the ſeveral Counties ſingly engage one after another, all will be overthrown, and nothing effected as to our relief. Let the two and fifty Shires of ENGLAND and WALES (with the City of LONDON, which eminently is two and fifty more) be all as one, and unanimouſly advance the Work, and not doe as they dealt with poor CHESHIRE, uſing it as Joab uſed Ʋriah, putting him forward on action, then falſly ret, eating from him, and leaving him a prey to his enemies. But I hope our old Shipwracks will be new Sea-marks to us, documented by former nocuments, to ſteer a courſe for the general good.
20. There is ſo Engliſhman ſo inconſiderable, but he may, at the leaſt in a ſingle capacity, be contributive to the happineſs of his Native Country, the Wiſe with their Brains, the Rich with their Purſes, the Learned with their Pens, the Strong with their Perſons, all with their Prayers. And if now they ſuffer this opportunity which God puts into their hands, to ſlip through their fingers, they may hereafter have more years to bemoan their folly, than minutes to amend their miſery; it being better now to ſay, We will not, than three years hence to ſay, We cannot pay our Taxes.