ANte mare & terras— as the wanton Poet sings, rudis erat molis quem dixere Chaos. It might be well wished the sober heads of these times could use the Poets words, erat ante: but as if Fortunes Wheel were turned upside down, we may seem to be in the first conditi­on of things again, ubi mollia pugnant dur is. The Tail commands the Head, and all things are out of course; insomuch as a Solon was never any where more need­ful. And the childrens burthens are grown so great, as if a Moses appear not in time, it may be feared de­liverance will come too late. After Nebuchadnezzar knew that the most high bears rule, his Kingdom was restored. England no doubt wishes their Rulers had learned the same lesson; and if they have, that the practice thereof may appear in publike: for though the Sword seems satiated with bloud, yet the E­lements threaten Vengeance if we return not: And though for Rulers offences the People suffer, yet they seldom escape Scot-free. It were to be wished, exam­ples hereof were not so obvious in this Generation as they have been. Oh that Englands Rulers may see the work of the day! that Pride, Tyranny and Oppres­sion may receive their reward: which, whilst men accused of greatest crimes sit as Judges in their own cause, cannot be expected; nor whilst any of those who have voices in making Laws, shall be admitted the Sanctuary of a Prison, to shelter themselves from [Page 2]the penalty thereof, can be hoped for. O horrenda & impudica rabies! And that the People follow their Guides, is sadly witnessed by this days Verdict of a Devonshire-Jury at the Upper Bench Bar, who (in de­spight of the Judges honest, honourable and wary Advertisements) betrayed the Innocent to the Fury of her over-potent Adversary, and set the guilty free; whereby they have used their utmost endeavours to prostitute their maids, daughters and wives to the lustful abusion of the wicked at their wills.

It were happie if every day spoke not the same or worse language, so much resembling that of Babel or Sodom, as nothing ever appeared so like the Poets old Chaos as this present Age. These few particulars, amongst the innumerary numbers of Babylons brats daily dispersed to the abusion of all that hath any re­semblance of Goodness, compels that hand which never intended any such thing, to command the Press, which now hath liberty beyond measure, to mea­sure even Immensity it self; not purposing to accuse any for robbing the Publike, to erect a Private inte­rest; nor for pretended relieving the Publike, to strain the strings of their Inventions, to contrive new Impositions; nor yet for pretended Frugality to the Commonwealth, to destroy thousands of the Com­mons, by denying justice, thereby cherishing all vil­lany and wickedness in the highest measure.

But when the Publike Faith of a Nation turns Bankrupt, who shall be accused? the Borrowers, or the Lenders? Sure if the Borrowers had not promi­sed fair, the Lenders had not been. O unhappie hand, that ever drew Sword to countenance such things, as the Paper blushes to bear the news of! [Page 3]Yet O happie age, that affordest Hands to effect what Heads cannot do! Yea, O happie people, who live in such an Age where God commands the meanest of things to be means of Deliverance! Surely he hath Mercies yet in store for such a people, if embraced: if not, let Moses and the Prophets declare the issue; or rather, the Saviour of the worlds weeping over Jerusalem, admonish, to beware of what that rebelli­ous City shortly after suffered.

And if any shall say these Lines fell from Rabsha­keh's Pen; let them consider, their origine, their birth and growth, is from Chaos. But the Poets word ante gives hopes, that as his ante was the fore-runner of better composures, where was mare, coelum & ter­ras; so this present time elapsing, this Generation may hope to see mare & terras in their proper places, and coelum supervolutans, illuminans, & recreans. For never had Nation a Magistracie better schooled and discipled, nor did ever Magistrate govern a people so generally capable of the best Rule of Government, as this is. But if, with Miles the Frier's man in the Fable, we flout and abuse this coy Mistress TIME, and improve not the advantage and opportunity thereof, she will be gone, and then repentance may come too late.

Now that Chaos-like, out of which Order was produced, matter may be administred for the fra­ming of such a structure of Laws and Regiment, or at least some Instruments brought to search for some Foundation, or to discover some Quarries or other materials fit for so great a Fabrick, which is not to be expected to be done all at once, and all in one day, by any one private hand, nor yet from all the heads [Page 4]of our Governours at present, whose cares for spee­dy remedy to prevent imminent dangers; takes away much of their time from these other contrivances. And though no one piece of what shall here be of­fered, shall be found fit stuff to build withal, yet may other more dextrous Artists be hereby invited to furnish the proper materials for the very work it self.

Chaos never travelled; or if she did, it was when she was in the womb of Nothing. So she brings no customes from other Countries, nor Laws from o­ther Lands: onely as the birth is produced in its proper dimensions, not respecting any other feature or proportion in the whole frame of Nature, who lest any part or member thereof should steal ano­thers right, hath framed all creatures, Animate, and Inanimate (if such a conjecture may be imagined) in a convenient disparity each to other: yet so, as there is still an harmonious parity in the whole. So Chaos neither doats upon her neighbour-customs more then is convenable, nor is she affected with strange novelties fetcht from far Countries, so ar­dently as to surfeit thereon: she is neither bewitched with the beauty and riches of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, neither is she enamoured with the Canto­nian formalities. All the Mitres in the Conclave of Rome, cannot invite her to fetch her Laws from Italy; nor all the Decencie and Liberty of Amsterdam fur­nish her with more then some miss-shapen pieces, which she purposes to polish for her own purpose. She purposes not to pry too deep into the Spaniards Sun-burnt Inquisition, nor yet roave too far in the frigid Zone of the Tartarian Territories; but out [Page 5]of her own store, Chaos-like, is her furniture; onely the deck and dress may seem to be sometimes bor­rowed from one, sometimes from another. Yet un­less she be new built, so as to suit with the temper of her own climate, she will be unserviceable, and her fruit abortive.

Chaos considering that in six days a Creation of excellent beauty and proportion, suiting to the ma­gnitude thereof, in number, weight and measure, was by an all-powerful hand produced, has pro­pounded to her self fix days work for perfecting of her intended Creation. (Creation she calls it, because she finding all the Rafters of her old Building rot­ten, and the Mortices and Tenons full of rubbish, all the Pins either broken or pull'd from their places, all the Beams battered and bruised, and indeed the whole Fabrick ready to fall about her ears.) As Light was the first thing in the Creation, and so properly called the work of the first day; so for her first days work she propounds for the Balancing of Interests, and reducing each piece to its proper place, (the praecognita being first allowed of, viz. a time prefixed (as already in great wisdom the present Rulers have done) for the Parliaments fitting; with­in which time if they be idle, their work will be left undone; and what will be their Reward, if so?) So as if any one piece seem to be wrested out of its place, the weight and frame of the whole prevents it.

It is proponed, that one Common Interest be ere­cted, whereof each member shall share, as well in re­ceiving protection from, as giving contribution to; and to be so incorporated, as no variant opinion, ei­ther [Page 6]in Religion or Policie, shall be able to weaken the whole: (but if any shall endeavour it, it shall by weakning and destroying it self; adde still to the whole.

And as a light to the ensuing Intendment, Chaos propounds, That in this Island of Great Britain (heretofore consisting of many, but of late days of three distinct Principalities; heretofore divided in­to many, but now either all speaking, or all under­standing one and the same language, and also incor­porated into one Commonwealth) be one Law, and one Registery, dispersed into the several parts there­of; and so disposed, as each part shall be subservi­ent to other, and each communicative to other, and all to the whole; not purposing to deprive the Head of his due respect, neither the Body, or any member thereof, of their proper dues, according to each ones particular propriety and proportion, without destru­ction or diminution of any Right, Franchise or Pri­viledge due to any Lord of Mannor, or other Propri­etor whatsoever, or detraction from the just freedom of any English-man: wherein is proposed to the Magistrate, Honour & respect; to the Lawyer, Profit; to the People, enjoyment of Magna Charta; and to the Republike, the enjoyment of all. The distribution whereof, Chaos propounds to be, National, Provin­cial, Sub-Provincial, and Parochial; each Registry to have his Court and Officers. To which Courts and Registeries all matters of Civil concernment shall be reduced: and this to be erected within eight months, so that the present Magistracie may have the honour to lay the foundation thereof, and to reap the benefit also, when others shall come in their [Page 7]places, to ease their shoulders of the burthen of Go­vernment, which none or few in the Nation are or can be enabled to go thorow so dexterously as they now are, who are at present entrusted therewith. In the interval of which time, Chaos propounds (as that light may appear to be the fruit of this first days work) that all Suits in Law or Equity may be determined within six Months; and to that end, that sufficient time be alotted to the Judges Itinerant in the several Circuits, for hearing and determining of all matters which shall be brought before them: and that within one month after the Circuit, ano­ther Term be kept in Westminster, where all further Issues may be joyned; and another Circuit a month after that, for finishing the whole business as to mat­ter of Law.

And for all Actions depending in Equity, let Judges in Chancery sit de die in diem, and cause spee­dy examinations of all things needful to be made, and bring all to hearing in Michaelmas Term next, or shortly after, upon pain of great Fines to be imposed upon the Judge or Judges who shall be remiss herein, and absolute loss of the Cause to the Clyent, whether Plaintiff or Defendant, that shall endeavour further delayes; and let Judges enow be appointed for that purpose at the Commonwealths charge. The like course to be used by all Committees; and that no new Suits be in the Interim commenced: That pub­like notice hereof be given to the whole Nation, at or before the next Assizes; and this to suffice for the first dayes work: onely to shew what's intended for further light to the whole Creation, which is to re­ceive Life and Perfection in the following days, with­in [Page 8]in the time allotted, is promised Rules for the five dayes work to come, viz. For the

2. Rules for Registers, which shall but be one to all proposers, but distributed into its several parts.

3. For the Law and Jurisdiction of each seve­ral Registerial Court.

4. For future Elections and Transactions of Par­liament.

5. For Assesments, Customs, Excise, and Provi­sion for the Poor. And

6. For Trade and Husbandry; under which the Militia shall be comprehended, as also Provision made for the Ministry and Schools of Learning, as the perfection of the work: upon each of which, if this be approved of by Authority, and a Fiat put to the first dayes work, already proposed, a several Dis­course is intended for each succeding dayes work, in their proper times, by