AMongst the many Mercies of GOD to these poor Nations, your peaceable Restauration is not the least: it is His work alone, and to Him belongs the glory of it: and I esteem it as a great effect of His good­ness to me, that He was pleased to make me amongst many worthier in your service, some way instrumental in it. I did nothing but my duty, and do not deserve to receive so great honour and respect as you are plea­sed to give me at this time and place; which I shall ever acknowledge as an high mark of your favour to me. Sir, I shall not now trouble you with large Narratives, only give me leave to acquaint you, that as I marcht from Scotland hither, I observed [Page 4]the People in most Counties in great and earnest Expectations of Settlement; and they made several Applications to me, with numerous Subscriptions: the chiefest heads of their Desires, were, For a Free and Full Parliament; and, that you would determine your sitting; A Gospel-Ministry, Encourage­ment of Learning and Ʋniversities; And for Admittance of the Members secluded before 1648. without any previous Oath or Engage­ment. To which I commonly answered, That you are now in a Free Parliament; and if there be any force remaining upon you, I would endeavour to remove it; and that you had Voted to fill up your House, and then you would be a full Par­liament also; and that you had already de­termined your sitting: and for the Mini­stry, their Maintenance, the Lawes and Universities, you had largely declared in your last Declaration; and I was confi­dent [Page 5]you would adhere to it: but as for those Gentlemen secluded in the year 1648 I told them you had given Judgment in it; and all People ought to acquiesce in that Judgment: but to admit any Members to sit in Parliament, without a previous Oath or Engagement to Secure the Government in being, it was never yet done in Eng­land. And, although I said it not to them, I must say with pardon to you, That the lesse Oaths and Engagements are imposed, (with respect had to the Security of the Common Cause) your Settlement will be the sooner attained to. I am the more particular in these matters, to let you see how gratefull your present Consultations about these things will be to the People. I know all the sober Gentry will heartily close with you, if they may be tenderly and gently used; and I am sure, you will so use them, as knowing it to be our Common [Page 6]Concern, to expatiate, and not narrow our Interests; and to be carefull neither the Cavalier nor Phanatick Party have yet a share in your Civil or Military Power; of the last of whose impatience to Govern­ment, you have had so severe Experience.

I should say something of Ireland and Scotland: Indeed Ireland is in an ill condi­tion, and made worse by your sudden In­terruption, which prevented the passing an Act for the Settlement of the Estates of Adventurers and Souldiers there, which I heard you intended to have done in a few dayes; and I presume it will be quickly done, being so necessary at this time, when the wants of the Commonwealth call for supplies, and People will unwillingly pay Taxes for those Estates of which they have no Legal Assurance. I need not tell you how much your Favour was abused in the Nomination of your Officers of your Ar­my [Page 7]there; their Malice hath been suffici­ently manifested: I dare affirm that those now that have declared for you, will con­tinue faithfull, and thereby evince, that as­well there, as here, it is the sober Interest that must establish your Dominion.

As for Scotland, I must say the People of that Nation deserve much to be cherished; and I believe your late Declaration will much glad their spirits; for nothing was more dreadfull to them, than a fear to be over-run with Phanatick Notions.

I humbly recommend them to your Af­fection and Esteem, and desire the intended Act of Union may be prosecuted, and their Taxes made proportionable to those in England, for which I am engaged by Pro­mise to be an humble Suitor to you. And truly, Sir, I must ask leave to entreat you to make a speedy Provision for their Civil Government, of which they have been [Page 8]destitute near a year, to the ruine of many Families; and except Commissioners for Management of the Government, and Judges to sit in Courts of Judicature, be speedily appointed, [...] Country will be very miserable. I directed Mr. Gumble lately to present to you some Names, both of Commissioners and Judges: But by reason of your great Affairs, he was not re­quired to deliver them in writing to you; but I now humbly present them to your Consideration.