THE SPEECH OF His Highness the Lord Protector, TO THE PARLIAMENT, UPON His dissolving of the House on Munday last, being the 22. of this instant January; with the Grounds and Reasons thereof. And a Declaration to be published to all the People in England, Scotland, and Ireland. Also, a Declaration of the manner of the Parliaments proceedings immediatly before their breaking up; Read and assented to by the Members.
London, Printed for G. Horton, 1654.
The Lord Protectors Speech to the Parliament in the painted Chamber on Munday last, being the 22. of this instant January.
HIs Highness the Lord Protector, having with much prudence seriously weighed the Debates and Transactions of the Parliament; and after mature deliberation and consultation [Page 4]with his Honourable Councel, upon the vast expence of time, and the few things done therein, resolved to put a period to their present sitting; and accordingly on Munday, about ten of the clock in the forenoon, his Highnesse came in his Barge from VVhite-Hall to VVestminster, being accompanied by divers of his Lords and Gent emen; where, coming into the Painted Chamber, the Parliament were sent for; and upon their attending his Highnesse. He delivered himself by way of speech as followeth;
That he could not but take notice of the variousnesse of their Debates; and of their prolonging of time to little purpose; That he was sorry to behold such a Spirit of Averse esse, that in so many moneths nothing could be established and confirmed for the good of this Church and State, and the peace and tranquility of the three Nations of England Scotland, and Ireland; whose welfare and preservation, He desired to prefer before all particular Interests whatsoever; That he did protest in the presence of Almighty GOD, (laying his hand upon his Breast) he never did seek his own Honour but desired rather, that the publique Affairs of the Common-wealth might [Page 5]be so ballanced in the Skales of Equity and Righteousness, that all things might conduce to the glory of God, and the Peoples Comfort; And as touching his desire in the least to have his Sonne Henry (or his Posterity) Hereditary, he protested against it; assuring them, He was very well satisfied, in their voting of the power and Authority of Lord Protectors for the future to be Elective; as knowing it to be the onely Basis of the Peoples Rights and Priviledges.
And lastly, He exhorted them to peace and Unity using many Scripture phrases; and interwove his speech with many admirable and singular Texts; declaring the Grounds and Reasons of his dissolving that present Session; which done, He took his leave, and retiring forth, each Member departed, and the Mace was taken, and the Parliament door shut up.
This sudden change causeth no little admiration, but a Declaration will be published to give the People satisfaction.
A Declaration of the proceedings of the Parliament immediatly before their diffolving, &c.
THe parliament having spent much time upon the Articles of Government, and having run through the several Chapters thereof, insisted upon the BILL for setting the Government, which being ingrossed, was reported to the House, and read; at which time many provisoes were offered to be added thereunto as part thereof, whereof this was one, That it be provided, that this Act for the Government do not extend nor be construed to extend to abrogate, alter, or diminish, any [Page 7]the Charters, Customs, Liberties, or Franchises of the City of London, or any other Cities, Towns, or Burroughs within this Common-Wealth, saving in such things, whereby any alteration is thereby particularly made; but that the said City of London, and the aforesaid places, shal and may enjoy their said Charters, Customs, and Liberties, notwithstanding the said Act, or any thing therein contained: After which another proviso was offered to be added to the BIL for setling of the Government; and particularly one about the Militia, which was to this effect, That the Militia should not be raised or formed, but by consent of parliament, and to be used for the preservation of this Common wealth, and not otherwise.
Upon his Highnesses dissolving of the House, it is to be further noted, that some words passed in reference to the late Plot but especially touching their Transactions, and the Peoples dissatisfaction; who (according to the trust reposed in them) have long expected to have reaped some fruits of their Representatives Labours: But to the end that general satisfaction may be given throughout all the three Nations, touching this present Change and Revolution, a Declaration is drawing up to evince and set forth the Grounds thereof.