EIGHTEEN COURT-QUERIES, &c.
I.
WHether this Lord Protectors Patience in letting go his [...]old so calmly, and tamely, were in him a Vertue, or not? and if it were a Vertue, whether Necessity did not make it so?
II.
Whether eight thousand pounds per annum, and withall free liberty to take the Country Air, be not very sufficient an reasonable considerations, and stipend, for the old Protectress; as a very gratefull acknowledgment from our Free-State, of the good service which her husband in his life time did for this Commonwealth? and whether or no she ought in conscience to flight and undervalue this ample testimony of the Officers good af [...]ection, and charity to her?
III.
Whether if the Sky should f [...]ll there world be any work for a Lark-catcher at Whitehall?
IV.
Whether the Army ought not to have given to them, new Red Coats, and black buttons now, to mourn for the Depar ure of this Protector, as well as they had for the Decease of [...]he Old one?
V.
That seeing so it is, and must, and shall be, that the Courtiers must of necessity repair all of them to their respective dwelling, and habitations, bag and baggage; whether it would not be a greater expence and burthen to the States (upon whose hands they yet lye) to send for Mules out of Egypt for their Convoy; than [...] them their next neighbours in James his Park (the Asses) to perform that piece of drudgery?
VI.
VVhether or no Peter Sterry, the Court Confess [...]ur, when he preach'd in the Chapell the very next Lords day after his H [...]ghuesse cied, and uttered in that his Sermo [...] there, words, either these, or to this effect, (viz.) [As certainly as I hold the word of God in my left hand, so certainly is his late Highnesse now at the right hand of God, interceding for the iniquities of this sinfull Nation:] did not commit an high, and most horrid piece of blasphemy? And then, whether He does not therefore very well deserve to be a fellow-seeler o [...] James Naylour's Sentence, and to be as coarsly used as He, who yet continues at his expiatory task of pounding hemp in the House of Correction?
VII.
VVhether or not, Dr. John Owen, and Dr. Thomas Goodwin, would make it any [...] of matter of Conscience to [Page 3] accept of the two Archbishopricks of York and Canterbury if the State could think fit to reward their endeavours with so rich a profer?
VIII.
VVhether it be not very fitting, and necessary, and much tending to the gladding of the Hearts of many men, that the Banquetting house at Whitehall be speedily remoov'd from thence, and carried crosse the way to Wallingford-house, for the noble Officers of our invincible, and successefull Armies, to triumph in, after all their encounters, and valiant atchievements? And whether the State would not do well as to that end and purpose, with all expedition possible, to make all the Citizens Pioneers for the carrying on of that Great Work.
IX.
VVhether these Proverbs following 1. That some man man may better steal a Goose, than another pluck a feather? 2. That bought wit is best? 3. That Occasion makes the thief? be all most true and authentick, and confirm'd by modern experience, yea, or no?
X.
VVhether it may consist with the tender, and delicate education of our new Ladies of Honour, to dabble through the Country dew these Summer mornings with a milking pail on their heads? and consequently, whether it is not likely to be very much prejudicial to their beauties, to go (after this [...]tate) out of God's blessing, into the Warm Sun?
XI.
VVhether illiterate men, partial, covetous, worldly minded, self-ended greedy of gain, having mens persons in admiration, naughty, an hypocritical, be competent judges (according to the Cano [...] of the [...]oly VVrit) of Students in both Universities of our Land, for the discharge of the most sacred Ministerial Function?
XII.
VVhether Mr. Hugh Peters, when he kept daily and [...]ightly correspondence with the Gentleman's wife in the Low-Countries, during the absence of her husband, upon service in the worres, did punctual y perform that [...]readfull threatning of his, in the hear of his Zeal against Popery, That He would lay the whore of Babylon upon h [...]r back? And whether that mad [...] Spirit wherewith he seems alwayes possess'd, becomes a man of peace, or suits with the meeknesse, and humility of the glorious Gospell?
XIII.
VVhether Mr. Needham the Curranto-maker, the Court Pamphleteer, being an impudent fellow, a lye [...], and forger of forein le [...]ters; a mercenary in [...]ormer, an abuser, and base vilifier of worthy and eminent persons; an insulter over gallant mens afflictions, and miseries; A murtherer of mens [...]ame, credit & reputation, to their utter and most inevitable ruine and destruction; does not very well deserve to forfeit his Eares to the Pillory?
XIV.
VVhether all the men of the three Nations that lately made [...] to his Highnesse; are dead or alive?
XV.
VVhether now, Whitehall be not a place commodious to make a Play-house of, having been accustomed for these many yeares to such alteration of Scaenes? and the pensioners, &c. well accomplisht to turn Stage-Players? First, because it is conceiv'd they have now little else to do. Secondly, because they have been bred up upon that Stage, and can act any part; and Thirdly, because they never wear good cloaths longer than the Play continues.
XVI.
VVhether the old Protector's Cradles standing in Westminster Abby in the same place where the High Altar, or Communion Table formerly stood, is not the setting up of one Superst [...]tion where another Superstition (as 'twas termed) was pull'd down? and whether the Essigies, when it was there, might not be call'd, without any abuse of Scripture, the abhomination of desolation in the holy place?
XVII.
VVhether the wainscot Presse that is made in Henry the seventh his Chapell, for reception of the aforementioned Idoll, being as yet empty, and thought unfitting for that Employment, would not serve a great deal better to keep in it the sacred Reliques of VVell-affected Persons in the Commonwealth? as for example, The Lord Brooks's Eye; The flappets of Mr. William Prynn's Eares; My Lord of Essex's Prolifick Instrument; Sir John Hotham's Head; Lundsford's teeth; Mildmaye's Jewels; Dr. Dorislaus's four quarters; Alderman Hoyle's Rope; the dagger that kill'd Watt Tyler; The Lord Pride's slings and tallies; the Lord Hewson's shooing-horn; the Lord Barkstead's thimbles and bodkins; with many other remarkable things of this nature, which it may be else may happen to be lost or forgotten?
XVIII.
VVhether all these eighteen Queries, are not worthy the perusal of every sober, melancholy man? and very mainly effectnal (if they may but be answered according to the earnest longings, gapings, and expectations of the honest people of this Commonwealth) to remove a great many scurvy, base incommodities, dammages, and inconveniences, which otherwise may chance to fall upon us?