COuld I ever deny you any thing, I should now believe it as reasonable as ever it could be; your questions being equally as hard to be determined, as the breasts of men are to be known: yet, as far as I am able, I will give you my judgment what is the designe of ma­ny, and what will be the necessity of all; for it is not now as immediately after the end of the Warre, before designes of Self-ambition had been practised, and the Nation had not been made wise by so many cheats; for now, succeeding Juglers must have the disadvantage to go about to practise those tricks that have been done before. Demonstration onely makes common people wise; and till experimentall feeling gives the sense, profession takes up the place in their opinions. But no new promise can now be made to restore them their Trade and Freedoms, but it must be of some of those natures which has been impos'd upon them already; for so various have been the Revolutions that have cast power unto men of seve­rall judgments, that there is little that bears the name of Go­vernment, that has not been resembled in something lately obey'd. Those two grand Contestors for the best Government, a Single Person, or Many; Monarchy, or a Common-wealth; have both been here practised, little to the composure of the Nation in Peace and Plenty; whence justly may arise a Question, What else can possibly protect, where neither of these two can pre­vail; they being, without dispute, the best of others, what ever precedency they have with one another? The Solution of this Question will bring me to answer your Demands, I hope, with [Page 2]a truth, that I wish were convincing to all Mankind, that too great a fondnesse might be no longer shew'd to Power, which always must prove as certainly mutable, as it is evidently unjust.

After the end of this Warre, we saw, how many sunck under the temptation of Ambition, when Success gave it a toung to speak; and many without doubt, that suspected no such guilt in themselves, found it lay concealed from all things but the search of Interest and Ambition. I know not where I may fix this modest Character upon one, Whether he designed as little as the most moderate, since he reacht at more than the most ambiti­ous; I mean, the first Protector, Oliver, who wrought himself by degrees into power, that he kept almost as unexpectedly, as it was unjustly gotten; but all things so contributed to his at­tempts, that he received not lesse capacity from accidents, than he did from his own abilities. His reputation was highest, in the declining time of the Warre; and when he was ready for For­tune, Fortune appear'd prepared for him; and Victory was ful­ly got whilst he was amply famous, before time or chance could work any thing to the lessening of his Reputation; The Nation too was as ready to obey any thing, as he was to com­mand all things; and, wearied with Warre, disputed not the nicety of a Person, but the necessity of a Peace; they had yet something left, and fear'd more the effects of a Warre, than the the Usurpation of Any. Peace and Plenty caus'd the people to be wanton at first; Warre and Scarcity, by the same reason, brought them to be tame at last. To enlarge their obedience to him, a victorious Army was at his command; having first made himself Generall of them, before he attempted to be Prince of others, creeping by degrees into power, and leaving himself at a latitude to obey what successe offered to him: Thus, as Peace grew sleighted by long enjoyment, & was the fate of one Man's Power, the want of it now was the life to his; The disesteem of Good brought an end to what was Just, and the want of the same Good gave a beeing to what was Bad; shewing, Man necessarily must be miserable, unlesse moderation and firm principles go­vern his opinion; that the reall nature of the thing, and not want or enjoyment, makes it more or lesse.

Upon these Bases he stood, whilst that which was his pre­servation seem'd daily turning to his ruine; The want of a just [Page 3]Title grew chargeable, and the Army grew every day sensible they could as well make Power, as preserve One; and he had no balance upon them but his own subtlety. The expectation of the people grew every day lesse and lesse answer'd; they began to discern, that the Charge to maintain an usurp'd Power was the same as the expence of Warre; and the preservation of such a One needed more Intelligence, and as many Arms, as was re­quisite to purchase Conquest; for the same numbers that reacht Victory, were not judg'd enough to preserve what was gotten, but Militia's in every County were added to the Militia of all the Nation; fain'd Quarrells too, were as necessary to keep the Army in peace, as Play-games are to keep children quiet, the Mutiny of the Nation being lookt upon of lesse consequence than that of the Souldiery: This employ'd the Navy in Voy­ages to the other World, found out Warre with the Spaniards and Dutch, and rendred Peace almost as ill-favoured as Warre; their esteem grown equall by their resembling charge. Hence a Debt grew contracted, of so vast a proportion, that the Nation must needs tremble at it, who were sure to be the Pay-masters: Like the feign'd torments of Titius, feeding a Vulture with his own Liver, they fed a gnawing Army with their own Sub­sistances.

Whilst thus evidently every thing was contributing to his fall, the Army beginning to be too wise and insolent, the Na­tion to be too knowing and poor, and he had met occasions enough during his busling in Power, to act all his cheats and subtleties, which, like Juglers tricks, were not so fit to be shew'd again, of consequence the Army appear'd designing to be the Judges of all power, the Nation enclin'd to obey none, and he sinking from the capacity of cousening either, longer.

Whilst all things seem'd thus ready to contribute to his ru­ine, Fate seem'd to prevent that which Fortune design'd for him; and that reputation which his life could not long have held up, his death preserv'd, and by dissolution liv'd in his ill-coveted fame.

He left behind him a vast contracted Debt, vast in it self, though not so great, circumstantially consider'd, for one to run into, that had an unjust Title to maintain, a Nation to cousen, and many Parties to betray; so that none needed more Power or Intelligence to preserve himself, and ruine others.

[Page 4] These fatal circumstances he left fix'd to that Throne that his son Richard was to ascend, who quickly found that ruine, which perhaps would have been slower-pac't to his father; since the assistance that nature and fortune gave to one, was want­ing to the other. The father made his steps to power by the knowledge of men and victory; the son was wholly unpractiz'd in either, to whom the Army had no Obligation; nor was capable of laying any on the Nation. He had never been engag'd so much in War as to attempt the one. And his father had left him too poor to perform the other. All he was able to do, was to increase the Armies insolence, by courting them; and the Na­tions disobligation, by paying them: Yet, in the Parliament he called, he found a temper exceedingly civil to him; certainly to have preserv'd him great enough by another, or too great by himself; and by so publick an endeavour of his preservation, speedily urg'd on his ruine; rousing the suspicious Army to put an end to his power, before they knew what to set up in his place; that principle ever being prevalent with them, never to like what the Nation would preserve. This appear'd meerly the rash reason of the Army for what they did; for when they had threatned him so fax as to make him dissolve all his interest and honour with the Parliament, these were still to seek what to do, making it evident that the destroying part onely, dwelt with Armies; and rendring it as visible, that the Nations interest and theirs were very different, What they did next could not appear the design of those neer relations to the Protector that manag'd the injustice they offer'd him; and forc'd him to offer others, by doing as much to his power, as they compell'd him to do to the Parliament's, making shipwrack of their own Soul, and his Honour, in their sins by the breach of Oaths; in his Crimes, by his breach of Honour. In this giddinesse, the next object their violent eyes lay'd hold on, was a remnant of a Parliament, which before had joyn'd with them in such an injury to the Nations freedom, that the Army could not doubt they would be now lesse ready for actions of the same nature. These people famously know by the name of the Rump, resum'd their Seats again by the favour of the mad Souldiery; and presently made an Order to keep out those Members that they had joyn'd with the Army in secluding before, making haste to shew they continued as bad as they had ever been, or as they could now desire them to be, [Page 5]believing it perhaps their onely interest to appear to the Army worse then others, that they might think of imploying none else.

These parcel of Ambitious men, notwithstanding forgot not their old, fair, and religious pretences, though they could not be ignorant that the people had as little belief for them, as they had real designs to merit it. The first thing they complain'd of, was the vast debt the Protector Oliver had contracted; as a ble­mish to the Government of a single person; believing the dispute was onely between One and Many, when it was indeed onely in matter of Title; being apparent, all Goverment was ill alike that was equally chargeable; which any must be, that depended more upon a mercenary force, than a National interest. For these could not forget, nor was the Nation ignorant, they had been as ill husbands for them before as the Protector had been, and could not expect they should be better now, whil'st their Title was no better to their power, nor their kindnesse more to their freedoms, hardly believing those would redresse their grievan­ces, that denied them their lawfull means to have them repre­sented. Nor had they given small demonstration what expence­full Governours they were, when the Treasure of all those vast Sates was not enough to defray the charge of their Ambitious ruling nor did it seem rational that they should condemn a Go­vernment, for the same Crime that their's was sure to be guilty of. But their policy was only by expectation to keep others quiet till they were safe, that none might use power till they were fast in theirs; not caring how many faults the Nation could find in them, when they were render'd too weak to redresse them.

They presently next made it appear they were sensible that the services they received from Fleetwood and Disborow (especi­ally) was more from accident then inclination, and rewarded them accordingly, giving Disborow cause to lament his affected roughnesse and imprudent rashnesse, and leaving Fleetwood stu­pid in his old insensible easinesse.

The Army having thus forsaken the Protector, they immediat­ly call'd in all those Officers that both the Protectors had forsa­ken. Among the rest Lambert appear'd, and in a little while com­manded their forces against the Rising in Cheshire; where he gain'd a victory more fatal to himself then the worthy Sr. George Booth, whose sufferings for a free-Parliament, render'd him more safe, [Page 6]than the other was by Conquest that fought against it. So heavy must the Nation's interest weigh in any Scales, held by the hand of time.

The victorious Lambert now returning, brought more fears than joy to his Governours; he seem'd too great and glorious to obey, unlesse he were willing: and they doubted his inclina­tion to obedience, when ever he believ'd his Commands would be receiv'd: nor durst they stay long from attempting to lessen him, since they doubted not but his abilities, and interest in the Army after this successe, would make him capable of improving time more then they could do. Judging therefore his power might be more; and their's not encrease; they presently let him see what he was to expect, and forc'd him to attempt their dis­solution, with the same men that had before brought them to­gether: this too with some little difficulty he perform'd, and in their places erected a Committee of Safety; every Bear bringing forth a Whelp, that was never to be lick'd into any form.

The news of these alterations came to General Monck in Scot­land, who soberly weighing the difference between something like a Government, & that which had no resemblance to any, and looking perhaps with a prudent eye upon the effects, that the declar'd spirit of the Nation would at last produce; with a wise swiftnesse, and a bold spirit, suddenly alarm'd his Army: and ha­ving snatch't them into a Declaration for himself, presently declar'd his dissent for what the Army had done in England, to­wards whom Lambert speedily advanc'd, equally full of error and haste: and Portsmouth presently after General Monck, de­clar'd also, and received some of the forc'd-out Members.

These various Turns a little time produc'd, and shew'd the Nation that alike misery attended the Impositions of all Parties, and nothing could be true judges of the way and means to their setlement, but their own Representatives, free, and fully chosen: any thing lesse is but imposition; and all other pretended paths to setlement, are indeed but high-wayes to confusion, since any thing contrary to the Nation's judgement, must be chargeable to their purses. Under the want of the least pretence to this, Lambert and his party sunk, the Nation declining that most which had the least shew of Government. All these things alarm'd that part of the Army that Lambert had left behind him in Lon­don, who immediatly fell to their ancient custome of undoing [Page 7]what they had done, not seeming to believe that actions of contrary natures could be blemishes to their infallible purity; and presently drawing together, did invite that parcell of men to sit again, whom they had forc'd from their Seats before. This act of theirs here in London took the same impression in the Army under Lambert's command at Newcastle; so that with­out a blow he found himself o're-come, and forsaken by all those Troops, which a little before seem'd unquestionably at his Devotion.

Thus, freed from a Potent Enemy, Generall Monck, victo­rious without a Conquest, marcht towards London, receiving from all Counties as he past along their Resolutions, to assert their own Right in a Free Parliament; and comming within a day's march of the City, he received from them an Addresse of the same just nature. He was no sooner come to White-hall, but immediately the violent Rump prepared an employment of an unheard-of nature for him; which he obey'd, and entered the City, imprisoning some of the considerable men, throwing down all their Gates, to make them look as ready for ruine as was possible, so to frighten them into obedience; and spread his Tent to the publick view, beholding him gone in to deflowre their Freedoms. These two things the passionate Rump design'd, to render all people they had to do with, either by oppression or odium, uncapable to hurt them, having an equall kindnesse for him that profest their service, and for those that avow'd the contrary, their jealousies being the true issues of their crimes, unlimited to all alike.

Yet this storm battered not the City's Resolution, who still continu'd resolute to keep those poor, that design'd to make them miserable; with whose just and generous resolution the Nation comply'd, and it grew presently discernable, how hard it was for any Power to subsist, upon the dependance onely of an Army's strength, if the Nation did once resolve to over­come them by those silent wounds, of denying Payments and Taxes of all natures, but such as should be impos'd by all their Representatives. This, with the remembrance of those Addres­ses he had received, seem'd to waken the Generall, and pre­sented to his new open'd eyes the strange employment he had undergone, together with the just apprehensions that others of [Page 8]the same injurious nature would suddainly be impos'd upon him, to make him incapable of any thing but their passionate commands, by rendring him as infamous as themselves: These considerations perhaps threw him upon treating with the se­cluded Members; at which alarme, the Rump presently voted the filling up themselves, but with such Qualifications, that they shewd as little kindnesse to the Nation in their submit­ting to fill up the House, as they did before in their denying to have it enlarged. This unlegitimate Child therefore dyed in its birth, and left none to mourn the losse of such a loath'd Issue from such hated Parents; and the Secluded Members were now lookt upon as the onely present shew of Power, that was rea­dy, in this exigent of time, to act some suddain relief for the Nation.

All this while the Generall stayed retired in the City, hea­ring the reasons of both sides, which were with so many ad­vantages excelling on the Secluded Members part, that assi­sted by the danger of ever more trusting the always furious, and now disoblig'd Rump, he permitted them to enter into those places, from whence they had been with-held by force.

This Prospect, Sir, I thought fit to give you of things past, that you might, by the fresh remembrance of these changes, judge of the reasons I shall offer in relation to future Events; it being now seemingly probable to guesse, what all things must center in, though it be impossible to judge of man's in­tentions; affairs being now as much govern'd by Necessity and Exigence, as by Designe or Intention. Nor perhaps is there much of either now grounded in many men by right principle, since Occasion every day is seen to soften men, like Wax, ready to receive the impression of the next Honour or Advantage. The Generall and the Secluded Members are now upon the Stage; and no doubt there are yet mingled with the last some persons, so wholly wedded to private interest and ambition, that they daily endeavour to obstruct the common advantage, being such as would engrosse the Sun, not share in its influ­ence; that would subject Power to their selfish Passions, and not submit to it reasonably plac'd, impudently laying their own privat interest in one ballance, against the Nation's weigh­ing in the other. The effect of this has already appear'd by ob­structions [Page 9]that every day happen to that haste that is required to be made, for the determination of this Parliament; and by the harsh and splenetive clauses that are offer'd to be added to every Act and Qualification, it being their interest that have alwayes liv'd in bloud to keep all wounds still open. Nor do's lesse su­spitions and jealousies attend the General, who so darkly car­ries himself, that he rather seems to wait upon opportunity then principles, and yet seems more affected to his private opi­nion then the Nations judgement, having declar'd his own, be­fore they have given their's. But to how little purpose it is, as well as how unjust, I hope I shall easily shew you; and I doubt not but it may as easily be discern'd by any that will consider (with passion laid aside) the late revolutions I have presented to you, by which their reasons may be directed to find the one ly grave to bury all former animosities and future charges in.

The dispute of late years has fondly been concerning what Goverment is best, and in this many have engag'd as their inte­rest have led them, and it is very true, it might in respect of ma­ny of their particulars merit the name of a Question; especial­ly in all those that judge their power and advantages would be greatest by one or t' other: but admitting nothing to receive any consideration but the Nations good in general, then it will not seem a question, for both have been tried in a resemblance enough to demonstrate, that they are equally prejudicial to the Nation's good, for both alike must of necessity supply their want of Title with Armies; and the charge being the same, it matters not to dispute the difference of the imposers, the Na­tion being too poor to wait the tedious effect of any pretended good cause: nor is it reasonable to expect good from profession and opinion; when it is sooner to be compass'd by demonstra­tion and action.

I call that a true Title that the Nation will judge so, for that of consequence is the best, whether by one or many, since that Government may venter to depend soly upon the National, not the Military interest, whereby the Nations charge may be contracted, their Trade restor'd, which under a power pre­serv'd by force is impossible to be, no more then house-keeping is to be made lesse chargeable, and the family still left uncon­tracted.

[Page 10] The General cannot but see this; If he design's to make him­self great, he must surely reflect upon the certain ruine he run's into, if he remembers but what successe others had in the pur­suit of it, and how much more faire it stood when Oliver Pro­tector attempted it, than it now do's for him. The reasons I have laid down before, and in short they are to be thus reduc'd. The Nation is grown wiser and poorer, and therefore the unlikelier to be cousen'd again, or to be longer fantastick. He will discern too, he cannot subsist without power enough to force the Na­tion to a subjection they are not inclin'd to, and he may as well fear he must be put to pay them by some other means, than out of the purses of those, he fixes slavery and discontent on. Next, the uncertainty of Souldiers may shake his unjust thoughts (if he has any,) and let him see he ought not to depend upon a certainer temper in them, than they have alwayes exprest inhe­rent in themselves. His Army now cannot shew greater affecti­ons for him, than they themselves and the other Army have ex­prest to others, and yet have turn'd from all that profession into a violent extream. Lastly, 'tis evident the Nation's poverty and disaffection will make him uncapable of rewarding the expe­ctations of those that should raise him to a desir'd Greatnesse: they would set so vast a rate upon their merits, that he must be their glorious slave, and wear a mingle of Majesty and Shackles; not daring to command those, whom he is unable to reward; and from natural necessity they must become the executioners of that power they gave him. All this by experiment and reason must be visible to him; unlesse the temptation of present Am­bition dazels his eyes from seeing the future hazards: few men being warned enough by the destiny of others; but are so fond as to believe that they have kinder Stars then the whole World besides. I wish, this may not be the General's fatal perswasion, but that he may perpetually preserve himself in just honour, and reasonable safety, answering the wishes and expectation of the whole Nation; in continuing to defend them, in what they shall judge fit for themselves, and to confider how all previous engagement, of never so fair a nature, is but robbing them of that judgement which purely ought to flow from themselves. Of equal fate and injustice it will be for him to persist in the im­posing many Governours: to tender his opinion may resemble [Page 11]duty, but to second it with force is usurp'd Dominion: and he will appear equally just, and kind, to usurp Dominion him­self, or to assist others in the usurpation of it, since every Go­vernment contrary to the Nations judgement, must be as charge­able in their own defence, as they are unjust in their own impo­sitions. Nor can such ill men as now perhaps add to his temp­tations agree long with him, or one another, in the sharing of power; The modesty that is found in the pursuit, is lost in the acquisition. And late experience is seconded by reason to assure us, that such mens knowledges of one anothers Crimes and Subtilities, divide those plots among themselves they once de­stroyed others by. Like those that rose together from the earth by the sown-teeth of Dragons converted presently their ori­ginal malice among one another.

No Stories has shown us precedents of mischiefs that we have not equall'd in our Revolutions. The Roman Army, never made and unmade Emperours faster, than Ours has set up and pull'd down Governments; so that a reasonable man would think it impossible, that ever any person should be so infatuated as wholly to throw himself upon them more;or so unchristian-like as to suffer the almost-shipwrackt Vessel of the Nation to be yet exposed to more Army-storms, since things are now growing to that Exigence, that the General must chuse safety and honor with the Nation, or hazard and uncertain glory with an Army. It being possible that an Army may be preserv'd un­der the Nation's Government, but never the Nation under the Armie's.

And now, Sir, I shall give you my judgement of what I sup­pose the Nation will onely be able to reston. It will be, To find out such a Government as may compose all differences, confirm all sales, and make Oblivion and Indempnity perfect: and when none shall want pardon or security, there will not be so many enemies left, that will put the Nation to maintain such charge­able defences for their ruler; That which onely can do this, is the ancient constitution of King, Lords, & Commons. For to defend any Usurper against the King's title will be chargeable; to keep him out makes all indempnity imperfect; and none can imagine they shall safely enjoy their purchases, unlesse they were sure that no chance, or revolution, shall ever throw that [Page 12]into his power, which we deny to give him; nor will the Na­tion ever be content to pay the Souldiers Arrears, till they pur­chase by it a setlement according to their own judgement.

The King is now fit in all respects to be treated with: The pre­servation of his religion, his being free from engagements with forreign force, unblemish'd from any injury he ever did the Nation, may reasonably assure us, that he is both capable to forgive, and would be willing to confirm; rather to make a grave to bury all disputes, than by ravelling into former actions raise new ones; and would certainly be convinc'd that the Ju­stice of restoring all purchas'd Lands, would be over-weigh'd by the necessity and justice of confirming them; since the inju­ries by confirmation may be sooner repaired, then the preju­dice restoration will bring. For by such moderate wayes they may be setled, that no parties will have cause to be griev'd, if all will be content but to share with the whole Nation in some dammage.

And if the Nation makes not themselves capable thus to re­ceive an oblig'd Prince, they will probably admit a victorious One, and be ever wretched under the effects of Conquest; he notwithstanding will be free before God for recovering his rights by such a way, when he is deni'd it by a Moderator, and at their doors the sin will lye, who still design the Nation to be their slaves, or force them to be so unto another, unlesse his vertue frees them from that condition, which the Crimes of others threw them into.

Thus, Sir, I have delivered my particular opinion, and I hope there is no man living that owns this Nation for his Countrey, but will submit to the judgement of it, oblig'd to no particu­lar designs by private passions, but bound to obey the judge­ment of those, who onely can determine what is conve­nient for themselves; so that 'tis not the Title of any single man, nor the pretences of many, that ought to be preferr'd before the Nation, or to be impos'd upon the people; nor either of these justly to be refus'd, if the Nations good shall appear to consist with the Government of either. To the free Parliament therefore, let every man appeal, and there indeed he may embrace a certain good cause, since such a one is sure to be for his Countrey's good, that wholly resigns himself to their judgements.

[Page 13] I hope, Sir, these Reasons will make an impression in your breast, and I wish it were possible they might have the same effects on every individual man, that the Nations conscience and interest may at last meet, which has been so long separated by the succeeding ambitions of a few men, nor have I deliver'd you any opinion, which shall not be asserted, when occasion requires it, with the life and fortune of