these considerations amongst others induced them to press the Protector to consent to their orderly dissolution which at length he granted and caused to be done by Proclamation thereby putting at that present a check to the design which now hath manifested it self and without all manner of question had been on foot sooner by some months had that power been continued Being freed from that fear they cast about for future security and in order thereto by a Declaration invite the Parliament called by the King chosen by the people and continued by a Law made in full and free Parliament who in the day of Englands greatest straits stood in the Gap and on whose Councells and actions so perfect an Impresse of the power and owning of God was engraven in indelible Characters I say calling to mind what foundations of justice freedom and security to all persons either fearing God or living peaceably was by them laid in the settlement of a free-State without a King or house of Peers they not onely invite them to the exercise of the power from which they were illegally forced by their late Generall but also engage themselves to stand by them and defend them against their and the Nations Enemies Upon their meeting or immediately after the Protectorship ceases and all things are reduced as nigh as may be to the order they were in when the force was put upon them I shall not trouble the Reader with a journall of their proceedings since the Press abounds with subjects of that nature onely in respect I find much dissatisfaction upon the Spirits of some persons that are otherwise well-affected who scruple their right to the exercise of the Supreame Authority and some such other frothy exceptions I shall in a sober manner offer to consideration the following particulars 1. That this Parliament was called by the Kings Writ and freely chosen and sent up by the Country as their Representatives and as such owned by the King 2. Whereas it is objected that the death of the King did dissolve them it is answered That it is true in all Parliaments but this and had not they been continued by an act the death of the King had dissolved them also but if the death of the King could not repeal that Statute which is undeniable then is their power of sitting warranted by Law and in this case there is no Interregnum otherwise by the same rule upon the death of the King all the Lawes of the Land must lose their force and the Government divolve into its first Choas which were madness for any man to imagin 3. Whereas it is further alleadged that although they were continued by an act yet they were then a full and free Parliament consisting of three Estates according to the Ancient Constitution of England it is answered That the peoples Representatives the Commons Assembled in Parliament were the Originall Authors and Founders of that Constitution pleaded for and as former Parliaments had the liberty of establishing that form of Government which in that Age might to them seem good and convenient or at least being under a force notwithstanding many struglings to obtain their Freedomes were necessitated to take what the Tyrants would afford them the truth whereof the contentions between the Kings and people in all Ages about the great Charter of Liberties doth plainly demonstrate I say be it upon which side soever the peoples now Representative have as good a power to alter the form then established and to introduce a new one if by them deemed most suitable and advantageous to the people that intrusted them as the former Parliaments had to establish that otherwise the power of repeal of Lawes though never so destructive to the people is taken from them and they that upon the clearest principle of reason and Law are the most proper judges are rendred but Cyphers altogether useless and unnecessary But as to the main part of the objection the Parliament consisted of three Estates viz. Lords Spirituall Lords Temporall and Commons for in the Constitution of our Parliaments I do wholly exclude the King who is in the judgement of Law deemed Major singulis sed minor universis and so cannot be brought into ballance with the Parliament who according to the practise of former Ages before the Conquest to which Governments the Conquerers submitted Parliaments were the great and onely Conciliators by whose Councells the Kings were wholly directed they having onely a power of advising with but not of imposing upon the Parliament as to the election or repeal of Lawes as by Ancient Records if examined will evidently appeare the late practice now pleaded as a principle having by degrees been introduced and imposed on the people and that which was a violation of their Charter of Liberties onely warranted by Custom against Law But now there are no Lords and not half the number of Commons that by the Law is allowed to constitute an House It is answered That when the Parliament was thus constituted and continued with one consent they agreed in a publick Remonstrance wherein they unanimously declared not onely what were the Grievances of the Nation by reason of the misgovernment of the King and his evil Council but do also engage themselves to act as one man for the reformation of the abuses both in Church and State and this I call the Good old Cause at first owned and asserted by the Parliament In their endeavours to accomplish these ends undertaken so solemnly and upon such serious grounds they meet with many obstructions and the King endeavouring to protect Delinquents by forsaking the Parliament and leavying of war many of the Lords and Commons that had espoused the said good cause and in their judgments declared it to be so basesly apostatized and joyned with the King against the Parliament of whom they were Members and with whom they had engaged for the obtaining a Reformation and I hope if they were called by Writ to sit at Westminster without an adjournment of the whole they could not upon any legal account set up a Juncto at York or Oxford and in doing thereof I hope it will not be denied but that they justly forfeited their priviledge as Members and brought themselves under the judgment of the Parliament for such their treasonable desertion And thus one part of your Lords and Commons so much pleaded for are rightfully divested of that Authority As to your Lords Spiritual They were those that had introduced those Innovations in Church-worship and in order to the supporting themselves therein had set on foot the Scotch war and therefore when they saw the Parliament endeavouring to strike at the root and that they as principal instruments in mis-leading the King were like to feel the lash of the Law they being back'd by a part of the Lords Temporal and Commons engaged in the same compact make a protest against the Proceedings of Parliament and for that unparallell'd and treasonable breach of Priviledge
want of pay the bishops bags either being emptied or shut up now if the Parliament pass an act for so many subsidies upon the confidence of their security then though the King continue them to sit by a Law yet may the Army or a considerable part thereof be by money hired to break them up upon pretence of necessity first created and then pleaded upon which resolution the King is wonne to passe that act so much pleaded as matter of his justification and concessions to the Parliament But whether he did really know or were privy to the after game that was to be plaid upon them after they had granted their supplies I shall forbear to censure onely leave it to the judgement of the Reader upon the consideration of subsequent transactions But this is evident to the knowledge and experience of the Author that accordingly both by Letters and Commissions under the hand and Seal of the King many endeavours were used to engage the Army to breake up the Parliament the forementioned Act for their continuance notwithstanding and upon discovery whereof the Parliament were constrained though by contracting great debts upon the publick to undertake to satisfy the Scots and to pay and disband that Army to prevent the designes that were hatched and carryed on under their covert And this I may call the first visible cause of the Parliaments jealousie that the King although he did seemingly comply with them yet under-hand did depend upon and was guided by other Councells It is not my businesse to give an account of the weekly proceeds of the Parliament onely by generall hints of things to lead you by a succession of some generalls unto the remembrance of such affaires as may be conducible unto the end proposed The business of Delinquents especially the Earle of Strafford and disposition of the Militia were the most considerable visible causes of difference between the King and Parliament other things might and did intervene as additionall fuell to increase that flame which since hath scorched if not burnt all on both sides that had a hand in the kindling of it but probably busie instruments in each party having designes retrograde to the grand end which should have been peace and unity viz. Souldiers of fortune that desired to fish in troubled waters and hoped to rise by others ruines animating the Court to extreames the greatest whereof was the illegall demand of the five Members and others as busie to take that advantage to abet the people in Petitioning with seeming violence for such things as could not but in that juncture of affaires create jealousies and feares in the King I say things being brought thus into a suddain hurry and the people which not many dayes before upon his return from Scotland had entertained him with acclamations of joy now declaiming against him upon pretence of the denyall of Justice And being seduced by the forementioned Counsellours he first sends the Queen for Holland and afterward leaves the Parliament and retires himself from place to place till he arrived at York to whom the Parliament sent an humble Petition praying his return and severall Members are Commissioned to give his Majesty satisfaction touching his demands But the designe for War was laid although peace was pretended and a seeming necessity for his departure pleaded upon pretence of tumults the Parliament was a burthen and must be removed and it is submitted to judgement whether the designe of the Queens going to the Spaw publishâ— long before any of these pretended tumults which never appeared untill the erection of the Guard of Cavalry against Whitehall to hinder the peoples recourse to Westminster though with peaceable Petitions according to their just liberty And his denyall of justice upon Strafford I say it is left to judgement whether the bottom of the business of that voyage was not to buy Armes and engage Orange and the Dutch to grant their assistance towards the carrying on of the intended War otherwise it is not probable that the Jewels of the Crown by her pawned and the money imployed for that purpose would have been hazarded in such a voyage But to proceed To initiate the War instead of returning to the Parliament although often Petitioned to that purpose a guard must be raised for the security of his Majesties person and accordingly is in the meane time severall Members of Parliament whether through fear of the event or hopes or promises of advantage or by what other allurements I shall not determine Betrayed their trusts left the Parliament and went to the King at York thereby not onely giving countenance to those proceedings but also much lessening the power of Parliament In the mean time Commissions were issued under-hand for leavies of men in order to form an Army against the Parliament and Provisions in hand for the erection of his Standard at Nottingham which was soon after put in execution These preparations put the Parliament upon new thoughts and seeing neither Messages nor Petitions could prevaile and that there was a necessity laid upon them either to betray the Liberties of the people that had trusted them and the Lawes of the Nation into the power of those evill Counsellours who had as aforesaid abused and betrayed the King and Kingdome into so many troubles or otherwise to cast themselves upon the affection of their Trustees and the justice of their cause and in defence thereof to raise an Army which they accordingly did and put the same under the Command of the Earl of Essex with Commission onely to defend their Authority and protect the people as much as might be from the force of the enemy I shall not enumerate the various successes of the Armies being unwilling to renew the teares of the Parents Widowes and Orphans made Husbandlesse Fatherlesse and Childlesse in that unhappy War onely in respect of some subsequent transactions I must give a hint or two of some remarkable passages upon the basis whereof a great part of the succeeding narrative depends The War being prosecuted with violence in all parts of the Nation an association of Essex and other Counties was made and a distinct Army raised under the Command of the Earl of Manchester others were on foot in other parts according to their respective necessities under Sir William Waller c. But Manchesters Army being moulded for the most part of sober serious Christians though of different judgements God was pleased signally to own them in their actings and successes more then any other force imployed at that time on the behalf of the Parliament and particularly in that engagement at Marston-Moore and the siege of York The defeat then given being the first considerable weakning that ever the Kings party received I confess there were joyned in the said engagement the Scots who had been called in to the Parliaments assistance But as to their merit in that engagement except some few of the Gentry I think it will become me to be silent the whole
had a desire as is pretended to perpetuate their power the hair-braind actions of the generality of the present Generation doth not treat a real occasion it not being safe to trust unskilful riders with such wild Asses 12. Whether if notwithstanding the present Parliament through the blessing of God shall attain the desired end of peace and freedom by the settlement of successive Representatives and make due provision for the equal distribution of Justice and having established this Nation upon a sure basis or form of Government as a Common-wealth shall in some convenient time dissolve themselves whether I say most persons in England will not have just cause to take shame to themselves for the Slanders Reproches Interruptions and hard Thoughts they have harboured against their faithful Patriots who maugre all difficulties have been supported in their spirits to prosecute their work resting upon the righteous judgment of God and not valuing the threats or tumultuary disturbances of contrary-minded men My Friends pardon my plainness I do not speak from a principle purchased by Reward that which swayes with me to assert the forementioned Premises is a reall knowledge of many of the Gentlemen and of their aym in the general and if the unbelief of England make not their Chariot wheels heavy I am confident that God will make them as great Instruments of good to this Nation as they have been examples of wonder and astonishment to their Enemies abroad and at home But if by Jealousies Murmurings and Repinings Plots Insurrections and Rebellions men will not onely interrupt them in their work but also necessitate them to act upon principles of safety and severity I refer it to all rational persons whether it be likely that they should ever be able to answer those ends which you so much desire and yet by all crooked endeavours hinder How can you expect peace when you design war How can you expect ease from your burthens while you create a necessity rather of encrease of an Army than of lessening it Certainly if men would but consider former Experiences and eye what different methods God hath observed in bringing about his great and unparallell'd dispensations in these Nations contrary to all the designs or expectations of men I say certainly were these things soberly considered it would teach men patiently to wait in hope for the good they expect in Gods own way and not take upon them to prescribe how and in what manner or by what Instruments it is convey'd His Arme is not shortned why then should any man despair of attaining his desires Is it not because he will confine God to such and such means and without it be done in such a way it is presently concluded it cannot be done Whereas both Experience and late Examples manifest that God hath transformed the hearts and judgments and turned the designs of the Great men of the World topsy-turvy beyond all expectation as in the very case of the present Parliament and without doubt when ever they shall cease from designing his glory and the publick good or render themselves unfit Instruments for the work which he is doing in the World then and not till then shall their Counsels fail and they shall be shattered and cast away as uselesse and unprofitable servants others better fitted shall be raised in their stead for God hath a succession of Providences and all his Councils are ordered and sure therefore wait patiently and you shall see the salvations of the Lord LAMBETH August 30. 1659. This is the assured hope and expectation of him that desires to manifest himself Friendly Reader thine in the advancement of his Countries peace J. H. A POST-SCRIPT to the Parliament and Council Right Honourable HAving in the foregoing Narrative taken the boldness to treat of you give me leave now in plainness of heart to speak a few words to you I confess you may justly demand How dares such a poor despicable obscure Creature as I am presume to paraphrase of or dictate to you that are the Princes of our little world I know by sad experience it many times falls out that Integrity is accounted Arrogancy and Singularity Flattery better pleases the eares of great men than plain dealing but I hope better from the greatest part of you however I have not learnt to flatter nor know how to fear therefore my Reward is with that God that knows the bent of my spirit and will in the latter end bear testimony that what I have done herein proceeds from a principle of affection not onely to your persons but to the publick Interest concentred in you Those Travellers that fear dangers or desire safety in their journeys use diligence in their enquiries and receive direction with thankfulnesse but if an unknown or unthought-of danger be discovered unask'd that doubles the obligation and 't is not an unusual thing in long and dangerous travels especially where Enemies are on all hands for such occasions to offer themselves It is an old but true Proverb Standers by see more sometimes than they that play and the reason is obvious high conceit doth usually occasion oversight and we are apter to discern other mens mistakes then our own Self-opinion and Self-love are two of the most dangerous Steers men that can possibly be employed at the Helm and if Captain Humility look not carefully to the Compasse 't is ten to one but the Ship will either be split upon the Rock of Ambition or swallowed up in the Quicksand of Oppression That you have a difficult I may say dangerous Journy to go as being incompassed with enemies abroad I wish I could not say at home too besides the clogs and remora's occasioned by domestick divisions flowing from the difference of Interest and Principles I think will not be disputed or denyed I might to the difficulty and danger adde the distance for if ever you arrive at your journeys end as you have set out from the Wildernesse of Tyranny and Slavery so you must never cease till you have attained the desired Canaan of justice and freedom You know it is said that none obtain the prize but they that run to the end of the Race and truly I may say to you in the same sense that it will not be sufficient for you to bring England to the borders or within the sight of the enjoyment of those promised ends you have so frequently declard for and they have so earnestly desired unless God shall deal with you as with Moses of old and for your transgressions suffer you onely to see the Land a far off but you must with Joshua conduct the people into the possession of your Promises and their Hopes maugre all opposition And though there be many Corah's that create fears and disparage the work both as to the matter and manner of it yet be not discouraged but proceed and consider that if the work was good when you first declared for and undertook it although the way to the