AFter it had pleased God not onely to reduce Ireland, and give in Scotland, but so marvellously to appeare for his people at Worcester, that those Nations were reduced to a great degree of peace, and England to perfect quiet, and there­by the Parliament had opportunity to give the people the harvest of all their labour, blood, and treasure, and to settle a due Liberty both in reference to civill and spirituall things, whereunto they were obliged by their duty, their engagements, as also the great and wonderfull things which God hath wrought for them; it was mat­ter of much grief to the good and well-affected of the Land, to ob­serve the little progresse which was made therein, who thereupon applied to the Army, expecting redresse by their meanes: Notwith­standing which, the Army being unwilling to meddle with the Civill Authority, in matters so properly appertaining to it, it was a­greed, That his Excellency and Officers of the Army, which were Members of Parliament, should be desired to move the Parliament, [Page 2] to proceed vigorously in reforming what was amisse in Government, and to the setling of the Common-wealth, upon a foundation of Ju­stice and Righteousnesse; which having done, we hoped that the Parliament would seasonably have answered our expectation, but finding (to our grief) delayes therein, we renewed our desires in an humble Petition to them, which was presented in August last: And although, they at that time, signifying their good accep­tance thereof, returned us thanks, and referred the particulars thereof, to a Committe of the House, yet no considerable effect was produced, nor any such progresse made, as might imply their reall intentions to accomplish what was Petitioned for: But on the con­trary, there more and more appeared amongst them, an aversion to the things themselves, with much bitternesse and opposition to the people of God, and his Spirit acting in them; which grew so pre­valent, that those persons of honour and integrity amongst them, who had eminently appeared for God and the publick good, both be­fore and throughout this war, were rendred of no further use in Parliament, then by meeting with a corrupt party to give them countenance to carry on their ends, and for effecting the desire they had of perpetuating themselves in the Supream Government. For which purpose the said party long opposed, and frequently declared themselves against having a New Representative: And when they saw themselves necessitated to take that Bill into consideration, they resolved to make use of it to recruit the House with persons of the same spirit and temper, thereby to perpetuate their owne sit­ting. Which intention divers of the most active amongst them did manifest, labouring to perswade others to a consent therein: And the better to effect this, divers Petitions preparing from severall Counties, for the continuance of this Parliament, were encouraged, if not set on foot by many of them.

For obviating these evills, the Officers of the Army obtained se­verall meetings with some of the Parliament, to consider what fitting means and remedy might be applyed to prevent the same; but such endeavours proving altogether ineffectuall, it became most evident to the Army, as they doubt not it is also to all considering persons, that this Parliament, through the corruption of some, the jealousie of others, the non-attendance and negligence of many, would never answer those ends, which God, his people, and the [Page 3] whole Nation expected from them. But that this Cause which the Lord hath so greatly blessed, and bore witnesse to, must needs lan­guish under their hands, and by degrees be wholly lost, and the lives, liberties, and comforts of his people, delivered into their Enemies hands.

All which being sadly and seriously considered by the honest people of this Nation, as well as by the Army, and wisdome and di­rection being sought from the Lord, it seemed to be a duty incum­bent upon us, who had seen so much of the power and presence of God going along with us, to consider of some more effectuall means to secure the Cause which the good people of this Common-wealth had been so long engaged in, and to establish righteousnesse and peace in these Nations.

And after much debate it was judged necessary, and agreed up­on, that the Supream Authority should be by the Parliament, de­volved upon known persons, men fearing God, and of approved in­tegrity, and the Government of the Common-wealth committed unto them for a time, as the most hopefull way to encourage and countenance all Gods people, reforme the Law, and administer ju­stice impartially, hoping thereby the people might forget Monarchy, and understanding their true interest in the election of successive Parliaments, may have the Government setled upon a true Basis, without hazard to this glorious Cause, or necessitating to keep up Arms for the defence of the same.

And being still resolved to use all means possible to avoid extra­ordinary courses, we prevailed with about twenty Members of Parliament, to give us a Conference, with whom we freely and plainly debated the necessity and justnesse of our Proposals, on that behalfe: And did evidence that those, and not the Act under their consideration, would most probably bring forth something an­swerable to that work, the foundation whereof, God himselfe hath laid, and is now carrying on in the world.

The which notwithstanding found no acceptance, but in stead thereof, it was offered, that the way was to continue still this present Parl. as being that from which we might reasonably expect all good things. And this being vehemently insisted upon, did much confirm us in our apprehensions, That not any love to a Representative, but the making use thereof to recruit, and so to perpetuate themselves, was their aim.

[Page 4] They being plainly dealt with about this, and told, That neither the Nation, the honest interest, nor we our selves would be deluded by such dealings, they did agree to meet againe next day in the af­ternoone for mutuall sat is faction, it being consented to by the Mem­bers present, that indeavours should be used, that nothing in the mean time should be done in Parliament, that might exclude or fru­strate the Proposals before mentioned.

Notwithstanding this, the next morning the Parliament did make more hast then usuall in carrying on their said Act, being helped on therein by some of the persons engaged to us the night be­fore, none of them which were then present endeavouring to op­pose the same; and being ready to put the maine Question for con­summating the said Act, whereby our aforesaid Proposals would have been rendred void, and the way of bringing them into a faire and full debate in Parliament, obstructed.

For preventing whereof, and all the sad and evill consequences, which must upon the grounds afore said have ensued, and whereby at one blow the interest of all honest men, and of this glorious cause, had been indangered to be laid in the dust, and these Nations im­broyled in new troubles, at a time when our Enemies abroad are watching all advantages against us, and some of them actually en­gaged in War with us, we have been necessitated, though with much relunctancy, to put an End to this Parliament.

And desire, That all men, as they would not provoke the Lord to their owne destruction, should wait for such issue as he shall bring forth, and to follow their businesse with peaceable spirits, where­in we promise them protection by his assistance.