many Centuries of Years laft paft, than any other Island or Nation in the World, though of far larger Dimenfions, and Capacity of People. And what hath been the Occafion of thofe tragical Revolutions which have happened there-in (efpecially in the laft Age) is too eafy for any impartial Man to judge, if he obferve the Series of the feveral Paffages from 1641 to 1659.

The strange Jealoufies of the Government which had crept into the Minds of the People, and the Defire of Change (a thing natural to the Vulgar) together withthe fubtile Artifices of the principal Engines of the late Confufions; who ftimulated the Difloyalty of the People, under a fpecious Pretence of Piety and Reformation, (when indeed nothing but Covetoufnefs and vile Ambition, as the chief End, and Rebellion as the Means to attain to that End, lay like the Snake in the Grafs)did diffufe fuch a general Infection through the Veins of the whole Kingdom, as if nothing but the Swords of the Incendiaries could have been the Inftruments to let out that ill Blood. They directed their Points against the credulous Peo. ple as well as against the King, who they faid had offended: They slaughtered many, and many thoufands of poor cheated and deluded Men, as well as embrued their Hands in the Blood of their facred and lawful Sovereign: They de-ceived their ignorant Fellow-Subjects, as the Turkish Emperors are mentioned in Story to impofe upon their common Soldiers; who when their Armies were to ford any unpaffable River, were wont to perfuade them, that as many of them as would throw themselves in, and make a Pile with their Bodies, which should fill or dam up that Depth, fhould be fure to go to Elyfium.

+

Thus did thefe Time-Reformers wade through the Gore of the ignorant People, till they had arrived to the defired Shore of their Luft and Ambition. But no fooner were they gotten into the Seat of Supremacy, but they fell out amongft themselves (like fo many Robbers for a Booty) who 'fhould have the greatest Share in the Spoil and Havock they had made of a rich and opulent Kingdom; and who fhould be the Governors to prefcribe Laws and Methods of Regimen over the People. And at laft, the ftronger Party of them found it was neceffary to keep that Power they had by arbitrary Government, viz. Force of Arms; fuch a Force as before they dreamed was intended against them.

And when they faw their illegal Form of No-Government was not like to be long-liv'd; and found by Experience, that the Nation could be no longer fupported under, nor relieved from the Exorbitancies of their confufed Anarchy, then they had Wit enough to prove by Arguments, that MONARCHY was the only LEGAL, ANCIENT and NECESSARY Form of Government; though they had not fo much Honefty as to restore that King to his Throne who had Right to rule over them, but endeavoured to fet up an Ufurper: From whence may be concluded, that it was not Monarchy alone they firft ftruck at, but the utter Exclufion of the ROYAL LINE.

And this Artifice had certainly taken Effect, had it not been prevented by the under-hand Policies of Lambert, and fome others of the then Ringleaders: For though Cromwell made a feeming Denial, yet it might have been fatal, to have trufted him too far.

Ꮧ

And now, Reader, having faid this, I think I need not make any Apology for the publishing the enfuing Collection at fuch a time as this is a Time which looks fo black and difmal, which feems to be, as it were, the Ghost or Repre

fentation

fentation in Effigy of 1641; a Time wherein the Government is threatened by two vaft Extremes, and feems to ftand inter Scyllam & Charybdim. Andr could heartily with that a due Confideration of what is herein contained, may, ferve to the converting the Minds of feveral Perfons, who, I fear, are almoft ready to revive the Good old Caufe, and act over the old Tragedy again.

And feeing Regal Government is the great Bafis on which the Welfare of this Kingdom ftands, I wish that all Englishmen would be fo far from thinking of the Alteration of this admirable Conftitution, as to blefs Almighty God that we have a King already; fuch a King, whofe tranfcendent Clemency towards us, hath far exceeded our Deferts; fuch a King, to whom (next under God) we owe our Laws, Religion, Wealth, Liberty, and Property; and who graciously condefcended to pass An Act of Oblivion upon Restoration. Therefore pray for an Establishment of the prefent Government to the end of Days, as prayeth

a

reference to

upon his

Highness the Lord Protector, in reference to what his Highness did yefterday propofe in his Speech, now reported to the House.

Refolved, That this Committee have Power to receive from his Highness his Doubts and Scruples, touching any of the Particulars contained in the humble Petition and Advice formerly prefented; and in anfwer thereupto,' to offer to his Highness Reafons for his Satisfaction, and for the Maintainance of the Refolutions of this House, and such Particulars as they cannot fatisfy his Highnefs in, that they report the fame to the Parliament.

Mr. Lloyd,

Mr. Nath. Bacon,

Mr." "Ingoldfby,

Lord Provoft of Edenb.

Mr. Bedfor

Col. Ireland,
Col. Hacker,
Major Wagstaffe,
Mr. Francis Bacon,
Mr. Downing,
Mr. Price,

Maj. Gen. Whaley,
Sir John Reynolds,
Mr. Steward,

Sir Chrift. Pack,
Mr. Lawrence.
Alderman Foot,
Capt. Lilburne,

Sir William Roberts,
Mr. Trevor,

Mr. Baron Parker,
Mr. Tigh,

Sir John Hobart,

Mr. Hamden,

Mr. Cromwell,

Mr. Throgmorton,

Mr. Fleetwood,

Mr. Philips,

Maj. Gen. Goffe.
Mr. Fowell,
Major Audley,
Col. Wilton,
Major Morgan,
Col. Wood,

Maj. Gen. Berry,
Lord Strickland,
Lord Cleypoole,
Mr. Barkley
Major Burton,
Mr. Dunch,
Col. Markham,
Major Afton,

Maj. Gen. Bridges,

Sir Thomas Roufe,

Mr. Bond,

Col. Fowkes,
Col. Bridges,

Mr. Moody,

Col. Grovefnor,
Mr. Gorges,

Earl of Tivedale,
Sir John Weefnes,.
Dr. Dowglas,
Major Beake,
Mr. Briscoe,
Capt. Stone,
Mr. Lucy,
Col. Harvey,
Sir Liflebone Long,
Mr. Thelwall,
Sir Edward Roads,
Sir Francis Norris,
Col. Sydenham,
Mr. Rouse,

Mr. Tromball,

Mr. Burton

To meet forthwith in the Speaker's Chamber.

1

Refolved, That this Committee have Power to appoint fome of their Number to attend his Highnefs, to defire him to appoint a time when they may wait upon him according to their Votes.

Hen. Scobell, Clerk of the Parliament.

The Lord Whitlock, 11 April.

Only understand, that by Order of the Parliament, this Committee are tied' up to receive what your Highnefs fhall be pleafed to offer, as to your Doubts or Scruples upon this Paper: The very Words of the Order are, That the Committee have. Power to attend your Highness, to receive from your Highness your Doubts and Scruples, touching any the Particulars contained in the bumble Petition and Advice, formerly prefented; and in answer thereunto, to offer to your Highnefs Reafons for your Satisfaction, and for the Maintenance of the Refolulutions of the Houfe; and fuch Particulars as we cannet fatisfy your Highness in, that we may report the fame to the Parliament, what Particulars your Highness fhall think fit to object.

Your Highness is pleafed to mention the Government, as it now is, and feems to fome of our Apprehenfions, as if your Highness did make that an Objection, If the Government be well, why do you change it? If that be intended by your Highnefs as an Objection in the general, I fuppofe the Committee will give you Satisfaction.

Lord

SIR

Lord Protector.

IR, I think that neither you nor I, but meet with a very good Heart, to come to fome Iffue of this great Business; and truly that is, that I can affure you I have all the Reason and Argument in the World to move me to it, and am exceeding ready to be ordered by you in the way of Proceeding, only I confefs according to thofe Thoughts I have, as I have anfwered my own Thoughts in preparing for fuch a Work as this is: I have made this Notion to myself; That having met you twice, at the Committee firft, and returned you that Anfwer that I gave you then; and the House a second time; I do perceive that the Favour and the Indulgence that the House fhews me in this, is, that I might receive Satisfaction: I know they might have been pofitive in the thing, and faid they might have done enough, if they had only made fuch an Addrefs to me; they might have infifted upon it, only to offer it, yet I could plainly fee, it was my Satisfaction they aimed at; I think really and fincerely, it is my Satisfaction that they intend, and truly I think there is one Claufe in the Paper, that doth a little warrant that, to offer fuch Reafons for bis Satisfaction, and for the Maintainance of the Refolutions of the House.

Now, Sir, it is true, the Occafion of all this, is the Anfwer that I made, that occafions a Committee to come hither, in order to my Satisfaction and truly, Sir, I doubt (if you will draw out thofe Reafons from me, I will offer them to you, but I doubt on my part) if you should proceed that way, it would put me a little out of the Method of my own Thoughts, and it being mutual Satisfaction that is endeavoured, if you will do me the Favour, it will more agree with my Method: I fhall take it as a Favour, if it pleafe you; I will leave you to conLider together your own Thoughts of it.

TH

Lord Whitlock.

HE Committee that are commanded by the Parliament, and are here prefent to wait upon your Highness, I do fuppofe cannot undertake to give the Reasons of the Parliament, for that they have done; but any Gentleman. here can give his own particular Apprehenfion for your Highness's Satisfaction; and if you will be pleafed to go in the way which you have propounded, and either in general or in particular to require a Satisfaction from the Committee, I fuppofe we fhall be ready to do the belt we can to give you Satisfaction.

Lord Protector.

Think if this be fo, then I fuppofe nothing can be faid by you, but what the Parliament hath dictated to you, and I think that is clearly expreft, that the Parliament intends Satisfaction; then is it as clear, that there must be Reafons and Arguments, that have Light and Conviction in them, in order to Satisfaction.

Ifpeak for myfelf in this, I hope you will think it no otherwife: I fay it doth appear fo to me, that you have the Liberty of your own Reafons; I think if I fhould write any of them, I cannot call this the Reafon of the Parliament. In Determinations and Conclufions, by Votes of the feveral Particulars of the Government, that Reafon is dilated, and diffufed, and every Man hath a share of

it,

it, and therefore when they have determined fuch a thing, certainly it was Rea fon that led them up into it; and if you fhall be pleafed to make me Partaker of fome of that Reason, I do very refpectfully reprefent to you, that I have a general Diffatisfaction at the thing; and I do defire that I may be informed in the Grounds that lead you, whom I prefume are all fatisfied Perfons to the thing, and every Part of it; and if you will be pleafed to think fo fit, I will not farther. urge it upon you: To proceed that way, it will be a Favour to me; otherwife I fhall deal plainly with you: It doth put me out of the Method of my own Conceptions, and then I fhall beg that I may have an Hour's Deliberation, that we might meet again in the Afternoon.

פירל.

TH

Lord Chief Justice.

HE Parliament fent us to wait upon your Highness, to give your Highnefs any Satisfaction that is in our Understandings to give: The whole Paper confifts of many Heads, and if your Highnefs intends Satisfaction, the Propofitions being general, we can give but general Satisfaction; and therein we are ready, if that be your Highness's Meaning: I think we fhall be ready to give Satisfaction, as far as our Understandings.

Lord Protector.

F you will please to give me leave, I do agree, truly the thing is a General, as it is either falling under the Notion of Settlement: That is a General that, confifts of many Particulars; and truly if you call it by that that it is tituled, there it is General, it is Advice, Defires and Advice; and that (the Truth is) that I have made my Objection in, is but to one thing as yet; only the last time I had the Honour to meet the Parliament, I did offer to them, that they would put me into a Condition to receive Satisfaction to the Particulars: No queftion I might easily offer fomething particular for Debate, if I thought that that would anfwer the end; for truly, I know my end and yours is the fame, that is, to bring Things to an iffue one way or other, that we may know where we are, that we may attain that general end, that is, Settlement; the end is in us both, and I durft contend with any one Perfon in the World, that it is not more in his Heart, than in mine. I could go to fome Particulars to afk a Question, or afk a Reason of the Alteration, which would well enough let you into the Bufinefs, (that it might) yet I fay it doth not anfwer me: I confefs I did not fo ftrictly examine that Order of Reference, or whether I read it or no, I cannot tell you; if you will have it that way, I fhall (as well as I can) make fuch an Objection as may occafion fome anfwer to it, though perhaps I fhall object weak enough, I fhall very freely fubmit to you.

1

Lord Chief Justice..

HE Parliament hath commanded us for that end, to give your Highnefs Satisfaction.

Lord Commiffioner Fiennes.

AY it please your Highness, looking upon the Order, I find that we are impowered to offer any Reafons that we think fit, either for the Satisfaction of your Highnefs, or Maintenance of what the Parliament hath given

you