A Seasonable Word, &c.
I Do not write out of an itch of Scribling, or to support a Faction my Duty bids me write.—Nor do I love Hard words, or Many Plain, and Few, suit all Capacities and Leasures. I would be Read by all, and Understood by all: for my Businesse extends to all.—Not to spend time in Complement, or Apology; The Reader's Wisedom, or the Authors Weaknesse, is not the Question. The Nation is in Distress, and every honest English man must lend his hand to save it. Nay, That must be done Quickly too, and Vigorously; Delay is Mortal. Can any thing be more Ridiculous, then to stand Formalizing, in a Case, where 'tis impossible to be too early, or too Zealous. The event of things takes up our thoughts, more then the Reason of them; what News, more than what Remedy: As if it concerned us rather to know, whose Fools and Slaves we shall be next, than to be such no longer. That which completes the wonder, and the Oversight, is, That the Miseries we suffer, were before hand, as easily, to be Fore-seen and Prevented, as they are now to be Felt: and we are only to look Backward, to take a perfect measure of the Future; so obvious, and formal is the Method, that leads to our Destruction. If we are not in Love with Beggery, and Sondage; let us at last bethink our selves of Freedom, and from a due Enquiry into the Rise, the Growth, and present State of our Calamities, learn to be wise, and Happy, for the time to come.
It may be observed, that since Church-men dabled in Politiques, and Statesmen in Divinity, Law and Religion have been still subjected to the Sword: and in effect, those same Excursions, and Adulterate mixtures, are but the workings of a Party already in motion toward that end. He that designs a Change of Government, must begin by imposing a Delusion upon the People: and whatsoever is Necessary to his Purpose, must be Accommodate to their Humour.—The Pulpet, by false Glosses, and Puzzling distinctions, under the doctrine of Conditionate Obedience, sugg [...]sting Liberty, cousens the Multitude into a Rebellion. Oaths and Covenants, are but like Jugglers knots, Fast, or Loose, as the Priest pleases—The weaker sort being thus prepared, and poyson'd, by a Seditious Clergy; 'tis then the Statesman's part to push those Mutinous Inclinations into Action: and to divide the Cause betwixt Consc [...]ence, and Property, the better to involve all Interests in the Quarrel.—Under the Masque of Piety, and Publiquenesse of Spirit; of Holy men, and Patriots; the Crafty cheat the Simple; engaging [Page 2]by those specious pretenses, the Rash, mis-judging people, (with good Intentions; but wanting Care and Skill) in Sacrilege, and Treason.
This was the very Root, and this hath been the process of our Evils. Under the Notion of God's glory, the Safety, and the Honour of the King:—the Fundamental Lawes, and Freedoms of the people:—the Privilege of Parliaments, &c. the Kingdom was gulled into a Complyance with an Ambitious, and Schismatical Faction. The main Pretense, was the Assertion of the Subjects Legal Rights, against the grand Prerogative; and That,—directed only to the Limitation of an Intended, Arbitrary Power:—the Regulation of such and such Misgovernments, &c.—and all this—Saving their Allegiance to His Sacred Majesty; whose Person, Crown, and Dignity, th [...]y had so often, and so deeply sworn to maintain.—This was a Bait so Popular, it could not fail of drawing in a Party; and That produced a warr,—The Formal Story of the Quarrel, is little to my Purpose: the Logique of it, Lesse,—How, by the same Authority of Text, and Law, both King and People, could be Justified, one against th' other; I meddle not. Let it suffice; that after 6. years Conflict,—a vast profusion of Blood, and Treasure, —The King, a Prisoner,—and his whole party scattered, and disarmed, the Commons found themselves dispos'd to end our Troubles; and passed a vote to Treat with his Majesty in order to a settlement. This met with little opposition, except from those, who having Gorged themselves already upon the publique ruine, were not yet satisfied, without their Soveraigns Blood;—The death of Monarchy it self; —and the subjecting of a Tame, and Slavish People, to a Conventicle of Regicides. There were not many of so deep a Tincture; but what these few could not effect by number, they did by Force. For, upon the 6th. of Decemb. 1648. Sir Hardresse Waller, Pride, and Hewson,—Seized, and imprisoned 41. of the Commons House;—Clapp'd Guards upon all passes leading to it;—Some 160. more, were given in upon a List to those that kept the Door, with an expresse direction from several Leading Members to oppose their entrance;—a matter of 40. more withdrew, for fear of violence. Their Crime was only the carrying of a Vote for Peace already mentioned) the day before. This Action was so Enormous, that the very Contrivers of it, were ashamed to own it: transferring that upon the Army-Officers, which was done by their own appointment. They passed however a Formal disallowance of the violence, and ordered their discharge; which yet the Officers refused (upon a Combination now most evident)—Observe this,
That, which in 48. they told us was an Act of the Army-Officers, in 59. they call a Judgement of Parliament; and they justifie and continue that very seclusion, by a Vote of Jan. 5.59.—Which they themselves Condemned and [Page 3]Discharged by several Orders in Dec. 48. The Particulars of these Transactions, are excellently delivered by Mr. Prynne, (the Honour of the age) in his true and perfect Narrative, as also, in the Declaration of the true state of the Secluded Members, and in the History of Independency, (two other choice pieces)
Return we now, to the great Test of the Spirits, and Designs of the several Partyes, and Members of the House, and from that Judgement, and Discrimination of Persons, and Humours, we may learn seasonably to provide against After-claps. This Blow brake the House of Commons into Three Pieces. One Party,—adhered to the Vote,— opposed the Violence;—Declared against it,—Claimed from time to time, their own and the Peoples Rights, —Pleaded the Covenant, and their Declarations, and stood it out. The Second sort, was not so well prepar'd for Martyrdom; a kind of Barnacle, neither Fish, nor Flesh. This was a Party, that Flew off at first, but soon retracted;—Hearded again, and went along for Company; my Charity perswades me well, of diverse of them, and that they mixed, rather in hopes to moderate the Rest, then in Design to strengthen them: A Party rather Weak, and Passive, than Malicious. But nothing can excuse those sons of Belial, the perjur'd Remnant; no, nor express them—Beside their Oathes and Covenant, they have above an hundred times, in Printed Declarations, renounced the very Thought of what they since have executed. Read the Exact Collections, We are (say they) so far from altering the Fundamental Constitution, and Government of this Kingdom, by King, Lords, and Commons, That we have only desired, that with the consent of the King, such Powers may be setled in the Two Houses, without which, we can have no Assurance, &c. These are the very words of their Declaration, April 17. 1646. published by the House of Commons, alone, toward the end of the war, and most remarquably entituled,—A Declaration of their True Intentions, concerning the Antient Government of the Nation, and securing the People against all Arbitrary Government.—(Let this Q [...]otation serve for All, lest I exceed my Limits. Nor to insist upon things known, and publique.—How faithfully these People have managed their Original Trust,—how strictly they have kept their Oaths and Promises, —how tenderly they have observed the Laws, and asserted our Freedoms;—how Poor they have made themselves, to make us Rich;—how Graciously they have assumed the Leg [...]slat [...]ve power; and then, how modestly they have exercis [...]d it:—In fine; —How Free, & happily we lived under their Government; till Oliver play'd Rex among them, and threw them out by a Trick of their own Teaching. This was in April 1653. It were worth the while, to enquire into the good they did us, during that 6 years Session, but that I leave to Needham. Nor shall I far examine the Protectors Reign;—by whose [Page 4] advice;—by what assistance;—or by what Laws he Ruled?—how many of our late Republicans forgate themselves, and sware Allegiance, to a single Person. How many things like Parliaments, he dispersed, (for the Army has gotten a Jadish Trick, and will hardly leave it)—It is enough; at last, he Dyed. Dyed,—in Despight of Priests, and Poets; Goodwin, and Waller: the former telling him from Heaven, that he should scape that Fit, the Other telling us,—(so needlessely.)—
His Highnesse, having other things to think on, left his successor doubtfull, till (as they say) His Secretary, (Then, one of Ours, now) with Goodwin, (His Prophetique Confessour) Swore his son Richard into the Protectorship. But he (Good Gentleman) did not much hurt; but peaceably resigned to Fleetwood, and Disborough; (not a word of Sir Henry Vane, for he desires to be private) and They, quite at a Losse, for want of Brains and Courage, call'd in the Fag-end of the old House, to their assistance: So that those Members, which Dived, in April 53. came up again, upon the 7th. of May, 59. and acted as impetuously as ever: Till they were, once again unseated, by the Army; the 13. of Octob. last, and then, the Committee of Wallingford house was invested with the Supreme Authority: ('Tis but a slippery Title, that of the Sword) This Change, gave General Monk occasion to shew his Charity to his Native Country; by whose Generosity, and Conduct, the Honest and Suffering Party was relieved, and the Phanatique Army, dispersed, without Blood. Hereupon, the Souldjery tack'd about once again;—Lamented their Back slidings; and on the 26th. of Decemb. following, the Good-Old-Cause men, re-enthron'd themselves: more eager now, than formerly, against the Re-admission of the secluded Members. This barbarous, and Arbitrary proceeding, put the whole Nation upon a necessi [...]y of procuring a Free and Full Representative: to whi [...]h end, they proposed Modestly, and Fairly, the Restoring of the Excluded Members, and filling up the House; or else, the Liberty of a New and Legal choice. For bringing Letters to this purpose, Sir Robert Pye, and Major Fincher were imprisoned. This was an Insolence too grosse, to doe much Mischief, but to themselves. Are these the men, (the People cryed) that put the King to death, only upon pretence of a Design, to erect and uphold in himself, an unlimited, and Tyrannical power, to Rule according to his w [...]ll and to overthrow the Rights, and Liberties of the People; Yea, to take away, and make void the Foundations thereof, and of all redresse, and Remedy of Mis-Government, which by the Fundamental constitutions o [...] this Kingdom, were rese ved on the Peoples behalf, in the Right and power of FREQUEN [...] AND SUCCESSIVE PARLIAMENTS? (these are the words of the charge)—That which was Treason in our Lawfull Prince, how coms it to be Law, now with these Fellows? They [Page 5]took away the Kings life, for but Intending, the very thing they Act; and we are to be Hang'd, for Asking only That, they sware they Fought for. No;—they are a Pack of Cheats; they Murthered Him, that they might Rule themselves. The Plot was grown so Rank, the Commune-People smelt it; and without more ado, associated, to free themselves, from an Infamous, and perpetual Bondage. Witnesse that Union, in their Declarations, both of Demand, and Resolution; against the Equity whereof, no man hath hitherto pretended the least Objection.—The Supreme Trifle; perceiving, an Universal Application to the General, in his Passage; and all, speaking the same Sense; Finding withall, that his Excellence suspended, till he might hear Both Parties; and Conscious to themselves, of no Imaginable Reason to oppose; Beside:—Seeing themselves Declined, and Hated;—Nay, and Endangered, by a Peremptory Agreement of the Nation;—They did, at last, most graciously descend to promise us a f [...]ll Representative; but no Secluded Members, to be admitted, nor, in effect, any other then Phanatiques.
His Excellency, well weighing, what was Reasoned, pro & con: made way for the Return of the Secluded Members. This Justice, brake the neck of a Design, just then on Foot. This is the short on't, —the People were to be held at Gaze, in expectation of a further satisfaction; till those Troops which the Backside had ordered to that purpose, should have sersed all the considerable Persons of the Kingdom. Nay, they were impudent enough, to tempt the General himself into a Complication with them: But he was too discreet, not to distinguish where to observe, and where to leave them. In fine, That providence, which stills the raging of the Sea, and the madnesse of the People, hath put a check to their Impetuous, and Brutish Fury.
Next to our Gratitude to Heaven, let's have a Care, not to be wanting in point of prudence to our Selves. Nothing undoes us but Security. We see, who are our Friends, and who our Enemies; whom we may trust, and whom we must not. We have paid dear for our Experience, and, sure, we have a Title to the Benefit of it. We must look Back, and learn, from Thence, the manage of the Future.
It is a tedious while, this Nation ha's been toss'd betwixt two Factions; One in the Army, the Other in the Counsel Both, well enough Agreed to destroy Us, but Jealous still, One of the Other, as Don sayes of Ignatius, concerning his Competitor in Hell, He was content he should be damn'd, but loath he should govern. That's all the Quarrel: the Vizor of Religion, is thrown aside long since. The Conventicle cheats the Souldjour This day; and he falls upon the Rump, the next. In short, they do [...] [...]her, at the Publique Charge; they may snarle where [Page 6]they please, but they bite none but Us, and at the worst forgive their Fellow-Theeves for robbing Honest men. This hath been their practice near these dozen years. Are we not yet convinc'd, that 'tis impossible it should be otherwise, while the same people Govern us, with the same Aym, and Bound up by no other Laws, than their Own Wills? I do not presse any Resistance, now; but, certainly, a Readinesse to protect Honester men, in Case of an Attempt, were not amisse. We see, how dirtily they have used the General, and how unworthily their Instruments have laboured the Army into a direct Tumult; And all this, in order to a New Violence upon the House. We see, what Juggling is used in the MILITIA: as foysting in false Lists, to cast the strength of the Nation into the hands of mean, and Factious Persons. What Industry, to hold us still unsetled. by throwing in Impertinent, and dangerous Scruples, to divert (at the Fairest) if not disturb the long desired Peace we pray for.—He that ha's either Honor in his Blood, or Honesty in his Heart, is reproached with a King in his Belly.—Then, for the Qualifications, these goodly Squires would have thrust upon us, are they not pleasant? One Man of Forty shall be allowed to Vote, or sit, and the other 39. must call That a Free-Parliament, and swear, it Represents the People.—We are not so Blind yet, nor so Forgetfull, as not to see, and know, some Foxes, and some Asses, in the Medly; All are not Saints we call so.—We do remember, who they were that ruled in 48. and we are sensible, what they would do still, if they had Power.—We know, who brought in, who; but the Market's raised; our Heads will not off now at Fifty shillings a Hundred, as formerly. In fine, let the General, the secluded Members, and the Honest Souldjers, live long, happily, and beloved; and let the Rest take their Fortune. I could only wish his Excellency had been a little civiller to Mr. Milton; for, just as he had finished his Model of a Common-wealth, directing in these very terms, the Choyce men not addicted to a Single Person, or House of Lords, and the work is done. In come the secluded Members, and spoyl his Project. To this admirable discovery, he subjoyns a suitable Proposition, in favour of the late sitting Members, and this is it; having premised the Abilities and Honesty, desirable in Ministers of State, he recommends the Rumpers to us as so Qualified; advises us to Quit that fond Opinion of success [...]ve Parliaments; and suffer the Persons then in Power, to perpetuate themselves under the name of a Grand, or General Counsell, and to rule us, and our Heirs for ever.—It were great pirty these Gentlemen should lose their Longings: One word, and I have done. We live in daily Expectation of Writs for another Session, if they leave us as free, as they found us, 'tis well: if not, 'tis but to turn the Tables, and try their menage of a Losing Game.