I. I would Quere first, Whether the late Protector did not work over his Council to some things illegal?

Here is a departing from the old Rule, De mortuis nil nisi bonum, Of the dead we should say nothing but good; and here [Page 5]is not onely that that is not good, but that which is not true; never was his Council wrought over to any thing illegal: be­sides, here's a low and a vile esteem secretly laid upon those Counsellors, which like leaden Rules in his opinion, might be so easily made to stand bent any ways; 'tis certainly a bold and a very segacious presumption, to infer (as the Author doth by this Quere) that the late Protector did work over his Coun­cil to some things illegal, which neither he nor they, nor any one else can discern, so as to discribe or give a name to them, so that when I have said, that such reproachfull things, may amuse and stagger some weak judgements, and put them to gazings, and to doubtfull standings in their thoughts, that this was the very end and purpose in the Author.

Quere 2. Whether Kings formerly, and the Protector lately did not wax wanton, and providing for some few of their Creatures, neglect the Commonalty?

What Kings formerly did, is not to come now into any dispute; but by the Authors linking of them together, I suppose that I deem not much awry, that 'tis in his projection to bring a disgust, and an odium upon the one as well as the other; and since that of Kingship has been decryed, and has met with its doom and determination, is it not more then conjectural, that 'tis in the wishes and hopes of some, that the Protectorship shall meet with a speedy, though not with the same exit; and how the late Protector did wax wanton, I think it is not in any mans power reasonably to make out, and for providing for any of his creatures, (as he call them) never heard of any Sommerset or Buckingham that he had: And for the neglecting the Commonalty, a thousand gladded mouthes will speak the contrary, Did he not alwayes deliver the poor that cried unto him? Did he not relieve and com­fort the fatherless, the husbandless, and him that had none to help him? Did not the blessings of them that were ready to perish come upon him? And did he not often cause the widows hearts to sing for joy? And so I shall pass from his Quere and the spightfulness that is couched in it, and come [Page 6]to the next, with the slanderous scandal that is in that.

Quere 3. Whether our late experience of a single Person can­not testifie, that though for a small time he seemed to favor honest men and things, yet when he thought himself seated, whether I say, he did not then slight both them and it, and become a Favorer of the contrary? And whether our late Court did not shew more growth and increase of Rogues, Bauds and Whores, then in all the time of our Government by a Commonwealth:

Here's a home-thrust as with an envenomed poniard; here are poisonous arrows shot, even bitter words; and the yet fresh, and precious, and blessed memory of his late Highness is stabbed and wounded with insufferable obloquies. Scandala Magnatum was of old a heinous thing; it was so highly cri­minal, that it always wore a most severe and signal mulct: And the toleration that it seems to make use of in this and some such printed Papers, I believe is usurpt and stolne, rather then any ways else indulg'd or licensed. For a small time (says he) the late Protector seemed to favor honest men and things. How small a time? Indeed the whole time of his Protector­ship (being well neer about that which Jacob served Laban for Rachel) seemed but a few days. But does he mean that? No, says he, When he thought himself seated, he slighted both them and it, and became a favorer of the contrary. So that here's a double charge; here's a laying by and a disrespect, a dis­countenancing, a discouraging, a forsaking of his Friends, whom I suppose he intends by honest men; and here's an ad­hesion to, an embracing, and a falling in with (as he says) and a favoring of the contrary. So that this forked arrow wounds dangerously and doubly, and like a pestilential contagion fastens upon the very vitals and seat of life (as it were) of that so much renowned person, which is his honor; to render him wavering and unstable, to render him a person given to vacillation and changings, and to charge him with neglects and slightings and disregardings to his friends, or honest men or things; what greater vilipendings, what lower or meaner thoughts or words, or more dishonorable, can be cast upon any man?

For the rest of his so broad, and foul, and unhandsom, and unbecoming language, I shall pass that by, as people do by ill and offensive scents, with an aversion and flopping of the nose: And shall say only thus much of his late Highness's Family, (which he so much vilifies and postpones to the Chimera's of a fancied Commonwealth) That it may be truly said of his Oeconomy, what was said of George Prince of Anhalt's houshold, that there was in it Ecclesia, Academia & Curia; And of his late Highness his person (of whom it may be said, as the Jews did of Moses, that his soul was suckt out of his mouth by God as it were with a kiss) of his person I may say, as one being asked what a kind of man Basil was, he presented him with a Pillar of Fire with this Motto, Talis est Bafilius: And such a Talis was his late Highness, all on a fire with a fervencie and an unquench'd zeal for the honor of God, and the good of his Country.

Quere 4. Whether a Confederacy has not been made abroad with our secret Enemies at home, that so a single Person might the better suppress those that see the wickedness of his designs.

What wicked design this may be, and what that Confe­deracy is that he speaks on, that has been made a broad with secret Enemies at home, I cannot ghess no otherwise then by the Authors following words, in the conclusion and wind­ing up of his Queries, he speaks more plainly there, what he says here but gutterally, and leaves to conjecture his meaning; I shall therefore pass this over whilst 'tis thus muffled, and speak to it, as 'tis more bare fac'd, and as I shall there meet with it in his conclusion, and come to the next Quere.

Quere 5. Whether the single person now pretending to Go­vernment, though the Son of a subtil man, be a wise man, fit to dispose of Commonwealth Treasure.

If he that useth the word Racha (which signifies but pish, or fie, or as other that derive it from Rec, which signifies empty) lies under so hard a reprehension that he's in danger of a Council, and if he that sayes to his brother, Thou fool, be in danger of Hell fire; what a fearfull increpation does the [Page 8]Author of this Paper lie under, who is guilty of little less then the worst of those expressions, wherein is contained and couch­ed a most bold, and a most notorious scandal; a scandal that contains in it all the degrees and dimensions, and acceptations that a scandal is rendred, or maybe taken in: for if it be conside­red, as it is laid down under the word [...], which is a stumbling stone, it is that; if it be considered, as 'tis called [...], which is a gin or a snare,'tis that; or if it be considered as 'tis termed [...], which is a sharp stake, it is that also; so that as it is a sharp stake to offend and wound the reputation and renown, and prudence of his present Highness, so 'tis also a stumbling stone, and a gin, and a snare, to entangle and strapple some feeble judgements, so as to bend them to some kinde of per­swasion that wayes tending, which should it grow up into a belief, would prove a fearfull and a horrible, as well as a dan­gerous stone of offence: 'Tis therefore well rendred by the Greeks, who when they would shew the abhorrency and the odiousness that they conceived to be in Scandal, that they called calumny by the name of [...], as, who should say, it was a blasphemy to calumniate, especially those in high place, whom the Scriptures have termed to be as Gods.

But I shall hasten from these words, which are as full of ill vapors as those Fens were, which Hanibal passing through lost his eye, and are of as sulphurous and stifling a nature, as report gives to be in the Lake Asphaltites, which if a Bird flies over it, it choaks and kills ; and shall leave them wrapt up together as they be, and shall onely add this note in the general, that the steps of Machiavel are herein followed, who advised, That if any Prince were disgustfull, to asperse and calumniate him; for sayes he, adhaerebit aliquid; no matter for the truth of what is said, slander him, sayes he, and some­thing will stick upon him. These things in the late Kings dayes were look'd upon as of a most dangerous consequence; and therefore said an eminent Divine in those times, If a Minister pray for the King, so as to send him the Spirit of Wisdom; to pay for him that he may be temperate, mercifull, or just, was in [Page 9]effect to scandalize him, and to throw abroad a Speaking-Libel of him, and to infer as much, as if he had plainly said, that he either wanted wisdom, temperance, justice and mercy, or that he was a departing from them. Certainly, here's as much and more set down in this Paper then was said then, and surely the remedies and experiences for the anticipating and prevent­ing and silencing of such exorbitances, is as requisite and ne­cessary now as ever.

Quere 6. Whether the good people of this Nation be not very sensible of the expensiveness extraordinary of a single Person more then of a Commonwealth? and whether they do not find a want of that vast Treasure expended upon Baubles, Toyes, and trifling Gugaes, such as we of late have had too much cause to speak of? and whether the cause of the Peoples poverty has not been by means of purchasing Land to the Family of the late Protector, as well as High-Spaniola Business.

Here's three things especially found fault withal, That (as he sayes) has wasted and expended so much Treasure, and that's 1. Baubles. 2. The purchasing of Lands; and 3. High-Spa­niola Business. By the Baubles, whom he further call Toyes and trifling Gugaes: I do suppose he may have in his eye the solemn and decent Funeral of his late Highness, and by the disrelishing and sleight and superficial terms that he gives it, 'tis easily seen how he was affected with it: But for the pomp of that Funeral, it was no more then the worthiness of his late Serenity deserved, and the Granduer of the Nation requi­red; And is it not Recorded of Asa, that he was buried in his own Sepulchre which he had made for himself in the City of David, and that he was laid in a Bed (you may con­ceive it a Bed of Honor) which was filled with sweet odors, and divers kindes of spices, prepared by the Apothecaries Art, and they made a very great burning for him? And if the Scriptures allow of such solemnities, as 'tis frequent in them that they do; why is it found fault with, and quarrel­led at now, especially when they give so mean a Character of an obscure Burial, as to call it the burial of an Ass? For [Page 10]purchasing of Lands to the family of the late Protector, I think there was no such purchase, (nay I am assured of it) that might any ways cause the peoples poverty: Treasurers and other Officers to some late Kings (not to speak of any Officers of nearer times)I am confident have purchased more to their families, then his late Highness ever did to his. And for the Hispaniola business, it was a designment and an undertaking of such noble gallantry, that had it been as well prosecuted and managed, as it was well advised, contrived and set forth, and had it met with that success as was very probable and likely that it should, never was there an At­chievement from England set on foot, that could have brought more splendor and glory to this Nation, then that had done. But this mismanagement or miscarriage of one Expedition, blasts and effaces the victorious and prosperous successes of many other, which he that runs may read almost in every place within the bounders of three whole Kingdoms, with advantage.

But (he says) This Nation is sensible of the expensiveness ex­traordinary of a Single person, more then of a Commonwealth. If he means by that Commonwealth the Long Parliament, (as I suppose he does) 'tis easily seen what a vast deal that was more costly: For what they gifted one to another, and what they other ways expended, as Records will yet shew, and the people of this Nation do yet feel ; 'tis easie to believe that they consumed and wasted more treasure (to speak no further) then has maintained most of the Kings and their Courts ever since the Conquest.

Quere 7. Whether the late Person set up, did not judge himself above Law? and whether he did not tyrannise over mens persons, restraining both them and their liberties? and whether the mercy be pretended to in the execution thereof, hath not been very cruelty?

So now by this, as what has gone before, hand what follows, may not we think it high time to wish or look out for Davids Harp, or some other Instrument that may be as efficacious, [Page 11]though not so pleasant, that may appease and lay that evil and raging spirit that has entred into some such opinionated persons as this Author seems to be, who we may justly fear may not stick (too soon) to take up the Javelin, when there's nothing but handfulls of dirt already thrown upon the sace of the most precious memory of his late Highness.

The late Person (says he) set up, did not he judge himself above Law? From what premisses does he bring in this in­ference? when in the whole series of his Government there appears not so much as a personal fault, that was any ways damageable to the Publique: Yet young and Infant-States and Governments must have strong swadling-bands, which though they may seem stubborn, yet are of necessary use and concernment. For his Tyrannising over mens persons, and re­straining their liberties, where was there any such action that might justly have annexed to it such an epethite? And for the mercy he has pretended, to be very cruelty, this is to spoil him of his chief and most embellished ornament, and to rase out one of his most Princely Motto's, which had very much af­finity with his Royal genius; and he sate down best con­tented, when he might shew his delight that he took in Peper­cisse rather then Perdidisse. Much of his late time was taken up with a perpetual war either against his Enemies, or himself, and he was still Victor over both. In all his government, that that might seem to bear any semblance of hardness or restraining (as he calls it) might be for some season under the Major-Generals; and what was then acted, was not beyond parallels in former days.

Alfred (a little before the Conquest) who was stiled the Mirror of Princes, divided the Land into Shires, Hundreds, and Tythings, so as we finde it to this day; to this end chiefly to prevent any insurrections that might otherwise happen, and so might justle, if not push down and overthrow a then young and infant Government; no Englishman then should be deem'd to live legally, except he were of a certain Hun­dred or Tything, out of which he was not to remove with­out [Page 12]security; and if he did remove after such security put in, then all the Hundred and Tything were fined to the King. And this Law William the Firs, when he came to think of a secure settlement, found to be better to his turn, then any that he could devise; and he called it the Borough-Law, wherein the Commons of every Hundred stood Borough or Surety for each other, and the Master stood Borough for his Servant. And this Citadel, as 'tis termed, built for a Guard to the Publique peace, kept the Nation so regularly, that no popular insurrection was ever heard of before the Conquest. So that the policie of these Major-Generals might be admitted to subscribe bonum, however some of the Ma­nagers of that Policie in their deportments may have miffed to have it attested for them that they did it bene. But whether this be meant or no by the Author, I shall not much be sol­licitous of; but I am certain, the expressions here thrown out do deeply wound the Honor of his late Highness: And the Reputation of Great persons is as the delicate skin that covers some delicate fruit; if the skin be scratched and pluckt off, the fruit will presently discolor and fall away. So 'tis time that there should be some care taken of these bold and rough fingers; and that his late Highness, who was one of the Glories, as well as the amazements of Princes, and one whom the chief Potentates of Christendom at one time or other courted, that his memory should not be suffered to be thus blanched arid trampled on.

Quere 8. Whether the late Single person, to uphold his and his Courtiters voluptuousness, has not been ready to uphold what Monopolies he found on foot, and likewise to devise new ways to the same purpose? And whether the Citizen has not had experi­ence of Court-payment, and the Countryman (though sad) of the spoiling of his fences, destroying his crop by them that belong to the Court, and that they please to call their game: And if these be the beginnings, what will the end be? And therefore for a closure I must say, What shall we say or do more, then the King-Protector has said or done?

This is to usher in his Conclusion a Muncer redivivus is very visible in both; he in the confines of Turingia invented a Doctrine contrary to the Roman and Lutheran both; he fain­ed he had power to depose Princes, and substitute others, and that all goods should be common, and such like tendencies to popularity, he put to this an austerity of life, and whilst he seasoned many falshoods with some seeming truths, the incon­siderate vulgar, that could not well distinguish betwixt them, admired, and swallowed all; the sad effects that these things wrought, the Phlebotomy that wrought the cure, and what is so frequently recorded of them, can still testifie: And how near the Author stears a course by this compass, any discern­ing eye may easily judge, and whilst he proceeds in his so peremptory increpations and directions, he may seem to per­swade us to renounce day-light, to contemplate onely, and to study by his candle. But why is there a redarguing of volup­tuousness either in his late Highness or his Courtiers? certainly, there was more care taken to prevent the least declension that wayes, then any Court in Christendom besides can show.

The truth of this is obvious to any understanding, espe­cially, when it shall be remembred, that no man has passed without some remarkable punishment, that has but swerved from that Golden Rule of Temperance, that both his late Highness and his Houshold so punctually observed; so that a Detractor is sometimes a persecution and a scourge to him­self; for when he shall lay down too palpable and too perspi­cuous shall falsities, it will infringe and cripple his credit so, that he shall not gain a belief, though he lays down somtimes truths. I shall pass therefore from his upholding Monopolies that he found on foot, and his setting up of others, as from things that have no proof with them, nor have they (with these that follow) any savor or relish, save of calumniation: For when had the Citizens ever better payment made, then they have and had from Court? Or where is any Country-man made sad, by his fences spoiling, or destroying his crop by any Courtiers that follow (as he calls it) their Game? I be­lieve [Page 14]a horse may be rid to death, (as the saying is) before such querulous Language shall be heard, though the Author should take the pains, and go in person instead of his Paper to all the Shires throughout the Nation; and whereas he may think that he has hit the Nail on the head, when he has added, What shall we say or do more then the King-Protector has said and done? If he would but say and do with that mode­ration and temperature as the late Protector, but no King, has said and done, there needed not then neither Queries nor Answers. And so I shall directly pass to the view of his Conclusion, which when I have done, I shall briefly winde up all, and conclude also.

And here he begins to unmask, and the Visard that was put upon the fourth Quere, by the words, Confederacy made abroad with our secret Enemies at home, is here pluckt off; and here he comes to retaile what he bound up there in gross to­gether, and comes to particularizing, so that we are not left to uncertain and floating conjectures, he puts it to a serious weighing, Whether by present Action, and past Management of State Affairs, of some being Lawyers, &c. (raised from a low estate to sit in Council) and become great Favorites at Court, it may not be found and clearly seen, that they have a design to bring in Charles Stuart; For if they bring in a single per­son, and grant that, the next dispute will be, whether the one Fa­mily or the other has most right; and who have most inte­rest Charles or Richard, I think asketh no long time to Answer.

Here's no ventriloquy, or speaking inwardly, or through the teeth, with broken and half expressions, but here's a down right quarrel to the present and past management of State Affairs; the mis-actors herein he names to be some Lawyers, raised from a low estate to sit in Coun­cil) and to become great Favorites at Court; who these are (though it may possibly fall within the bounds of a probable surmise) yet I shall forbear their names, in re­gard they cannot be reasonably deem'd to be so impru­dent, [Page 15]and so inconsiderate, (not to say improvident and irrational) as to be so solicitous, and to take up such indefatigable industries, as to assert that wholy deniable in the Father, which they might be induced afterwards by any overtures to concede and establish in the Son: Therefore his inference is very improper, and small weight there is in his words, when he sayes, 'Tis clearly seen that they have a design to bring in Charles Stuart, and his rea­son he renders is as far from the mark; for (sayes he) if they bring in a single Person, and grant that, the next di­spute will be, whether the one Family or the other has most right; and whether Charles or Richard most interest will ask no long time to answer. To unravel or untie this knot, 'twill not be amiss to cast an eye backwards some several Centuries of years, and there we shall finde, that the Line Masculine of Normandy expired in the third Inheritor, as if to begin the fate laid on all the future successes hitherto, wherein the third Heir in a right descent, seldom or ne­ver enjoyed the Crown of England, but that either by ex­trusion, usurpation, or extinction of the male blood, it re­ceived an alteration; that so to know whose indubi­tably the Right was has pusled Parliaments, and has un­sheathed the Sword often to determine; nay, the last has confuted the formost, and what the great Council has set­led one wayes, dint of sword has established another, and that alwayes has been held an Argument of such force and efficacy, (and retains the same vertue still) that it may take up no time at all, to assert whose title's best, either Richard's or Charle's, for a pluckt Rose will quickly wither: There might be added what the Switch at Croydon might possibly have pro­duced, by which it might very easily appear with what af­fection the English did put on the Scotch Yoke, when they generally reputed King James at the best but a King-in-law, without any natural affection to this Nation (as one has well observed) and if we should listen to Parsons the Jesuite, who puts the Infanta the first, to fourteen titles to the Crown [Page 16]of England, with that of King Jame's, there would be much to do, to finde out so ready an interest as is talked on to James's grand-child. But I shall leave this Goardian knot as 'tis now cut in pieces as by another Alexanders sword, in the hands of the present Possessor, and shall say upon the whole, that this Paper holds forth, which being for the most part false suggestions, and so are like false Gems, which though counterfeit, they may be so set, that they may seem to have one good light to be seen by; yet that light is but an erroneous and a false one, and like an ignis fatuus will mis­lead the followers of it into-perplexing and fatal, as well as dangerous precipices; and whilst the Author is thus back­ward, and behinde hand to acknowledge and congratulate his present Highness, Is not that in effect to withstand and op­pose him? and whilst he casts such stumbling blocks in his way, Is it not to hinder him from standing clear, though he cannot from standing high? and whilst he blackens and clouds the splendor of his present Highness, who is in all opi­nions a precious and a good man, It is not to induce a perswa­sion upon some, that he may be deem'd to prove a bad Prince? Is not this (in what he can) the setting of the Na­tions against him, (as the Prophet speaks) on every side, that they may spread a net over him (which God divert) and that they may take him in their pit? Is not this to build for him the house of the Moath, or to make for him a Booth or a Tent that may be removed and pluckt up at pleasure? Is not this as the East-winde, which when it touches the Vine, it causes it to wither in all the leaves of its Spring, as the Scripture speaks? or is it not as a storm to hurle him out of his place, as Job has it? But let the great God of Heaven, by whom alone Kings and Princes Reign, let him be his ex­ceeding great Salvation; let him be his Jehovah Jireth, his Jehovah Nisi; let him be his Lord Protector, and the Lord his Banner and Shield; and let him bring him from Ribroth­bataavah to Hazaroth, horn these Graves of lustings, to Palaces of Paradices of Rest and Tranquility; That he may be like [Page 17]a handfull of Corn in the Earth upon the top of the Moun­tains; the Fruit whereof shall shake like Lebanon, whilst we his Subjects (both in City and Country) may flourish, and grow green as grass upon the Earth; let his prosperous Raign be to us as the Dew is to the tender Herb, that we may grow up still, and never have cause to fear either a Drought or a Sithe, and that under him we may be delivered from all deceits and impostures, as well as the violences of men; and that all such Papers, to which this is an Answer, may become as a dream, that when we awake the image of it may be despised; and that his Highness (notwithstanding such foul Papers) may meet with a long and a happy Government, and may become a Prince of all our Affections, as well as all our Countries, and that he may pass from these Beth-maacahs, or Houses of bruisings, to lasting Beth-hanans, or Houses of Grace and mercy; and that he may remain for ever, as a Crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord, and as a Royal Diadem; and that he may never be called forsaken, nor his hand be termed desolate; but that he may be called Heph-zibah, and his Land Beulah, for that the Lord delights in him; and his Land shall be married.