Considering that in this present Juncture of time a few seasonable words will be useful to the Peo­ple, who have opened their mouthes, and pant­ed a long time for ju­stice, as a tired Hart af­ter the Water-brookes, concerning the monies due unto many of them upon the Publique Faith, and Debenters; and because they may not count [Page 4]my labour concerning the same, or their disburse­ments, or publique services for the Common-Wealth as utterly lost, notwithstanding the disso­lution of the late Representative, unto whom I have been an importunate Solicitor in much wea­riness, and diligent attendance, for the space of 15 months last past, for satisfaction of the said Debts, at the intreaty and earnest desire of many well-affected people who intrusted me with the manage­ment thereof; I do hereby declare to all the said Creditors of the Common Wealth, that they need not be discouraged by what hath lately hap­ned to those men who were then in present Autho­rity; for there is no cause to believe otherwise, but that this late and suddain change will work a more speedy settlement of security, and general sa­tisfaction to all the good people of England, with­out such importunate solicitations for justice to those whom God by his Providence setteth over Us. For albeit it is a rare thing to find Rulers sui­tably qualified according to the Rule, able men in judgment, fearing God, and hating Covetousness; yet it's hoped our future Governours will prove better then them of late. Nevertheless, this my Hope is not without some doubts and fears, lest the continual sins of the people, and their impeniten­cie, provoke the Lord of Hosts to give children to be their Princes, and Babes to rule over them. Al­though my earnest desire is otherwise, that our Of­ficers may be Peace, and our Exactors Righteous­ness, that so the Widdows and Fatherless may no [Page 5]more be forced to complain of the vanity and de­ceit of men in high degree; nor shed their preci­ous tears upon the foot steps of their Oppressours, as water spilt upon the ground, which no man ga­thereth up. For doleful Experience teacheth Us what Fountains, Rivers, and Streams of teares, have issued from the bleeding Hearts of the sighing Spi­rits of the groaning, afflicted, and needy people, to water the face of the Earth with continual springs from soules that wept in secret, and so cover'd the Altar of the Lord that no Sacrifice could be regard­ed or received with good-will at the hands of their Religious Oppressors. So that when they stretched forth their hands, the just God hid his eyes from them, and though they made many prayers he would not hear them, because their hands were full of bloud. For indeed the price of bloud is very pre­cious; and the loss of life is the loss of losses, which was little regarded by them. For many of the said Creditors have ventured their lives; many of them lost their bloud, and the primest of their strength; many of them lost their husbands, their fathers, their brethren, and neer friends, and deer relations, in the late wars, whose Heirs or Executors they are, and could not have satisfaction for their Arreares, the price of their bloud, unless they would sell the same at an inconsiderable value, or double the like sums upon the Credit of the Common-wealth, which abundance of them could not do; many of them freely and voluntarily lent their Monies and Plate, with other useful Materials, for the use and benefit of the Common-wealth upon the Publique Faith, [Page 6]and Propositions to be paid again out of Delin­quents [...] of them borrowed upon credit [...] of the Common­wealth, pay [...]g [...] r [...]st for t [...]e same unto this day; a [...]d many of them being in extr [...]am pover [...]y suffering imprisonment, and seeding continually upon the bread and water of affliction for want of that mo­neyes to relieve their necessities, and satisfie their Creditor, many of the faces of the poor Creditors have been ground away by reason thereof; as wit­ness their countenances; and many have been forced through their extream necessity to sell their Bills and Debts for 5 s. 4 s. 3 s. yea, less then 2 s. per pound, their [...]ys failing with longing expectations for the performance of the Parl. promises upon their Declarations and Ingagements, they having deeply suffered for their constant good affections and adhe­rence to the Publique, and fainted with sighing, and had no rest; For the rich men by these deficiences, and taking advantages by the unrighteous Decrees, and grievous prescriptions of the Parl by which they sold justice for nine parts in ten, were tempted more and more as it were to pant after the dust upon the heads of many of the poor Creditors, which made them weary; and in the bitterness of their hearts, in the middest of their pining and perishing conditi­on wish for a new Representative, which might make better provision for them. Besides, divers well-affe­cted persons having money due from the Common­wealth, upon the credit of the late King, Queen, and Prince; and in great necessity for want of it to sup­ply themselves and families, yet could not obtain it. [Page 7]In the midst of the peoples cloudy calamities they knew not what to do or say, they having waited so long, many of them above seven or ten yeares, and still to have their hopes deferred from time to time made their hearts sick, and their spirits so dead, that they could not commend the PARLIA­MENT to GOD or MAN for any good, And no marvel that they lost the affections of the People, for they sold the Needy (as it were) for silver, and the Poor for a pair of shooes, having more respect to their bruit Beasts, then to men who were made in the Image of God: No truth or constancie was found in them; for amongst 30 or 40 Orders gotten with much ado, from them, for the Publique Faith, they kept but a tenth part of them; and those three or four which they observed were altogether ineffectual by their dela­tory proceedings, cloathing justice with sack­cloth, and turning judgment to wormwood and gall. Although they were chosen and put in trust to keep judgment, and do justice, and to use their utmost diligence and best endeavours for the good of those who had intrusted them for their weal and not for their woe. And they had professed, that justice they would not sell deny, or defer, much less tire our the people and make them faint and perish at their feet with fruitless attendance: yet they altogether broke the yoak of their Engagements, and burst the bonds of their Promises, which they se [...], appointed, and made to the Creditors of the Common-wealth, put­ing [Page 8]them off with Orders from day to day, from week to week, from one fortnight to another, from month to month; yea, and we may say from year to year; for by their Order in January 1652. they faced about as they were in Ianuary 1651. as may appear by the books left in the Parliament House. So did they make the poor Publique Faith to go round like a horse in a Mill, and thereby ground the faces of the Poor, and stopt their eares at their cry.

Oftentimes have they been earnestly desired to make no further delay, but to ascertain and satisfie the said Debts by Discoveries, Cathedrals, and other Particulars, according to their own Orders and Acts read in the House, and several times by them­selves appointed to be read again.

Therefore, the Creditors did make it their hum­ble Request, that the same might be done without fail, and have a free and speedy passage, as adjudging it to be both honourable and advantagious to the Common-Wealth, and much tending to the glory of God, and the just, equal, and orderly satisfaction of the many Thousands of their well-affected Cre­ditors, who drew out their Souls for Good in times of publike and general calamities; and for whose re­lief, reparation, and just satisfaction, the Parliament would have been more forward, if they had loved the Common-Wealth better and preferred the Pub­lique good before their private self-interest.

And although it concerned them in an especial man­ner to vindicate the credit and reputation of the Publike Faith to succeeding Parliaments, that after ages in cases of eminent danger & extreme necessity might not star­tle at the engagement upon the Publike Faith of the Commonwealth of England, but respect, credit, & look upon it, as the most substantial security in the world. Yet they pretended other business intervening, that they could not dispatch this business of great importance, al [...]hough they oftentimes ordered it to be done the first business, yea and nothing to intervene; and entred the same in their Books, which were daily before them in the House: yet neither their own words de die in diem, and Orders, to make speed in the business, would drive them, nor the excessive pains of the Solicitors for the Publike Faith draw them, nor the multiplicity of their promises and engagements in conscie [...]ce oblige them, nor the cries of the poor (following them in the streets and at the Parliament-doors) terrifie them, nor the fair speeches of their cordial and bosome-friends woo them nor the extreme necessities of the Creditors com­passionately move them, nor their own Honour which lay at the stake rationally perswade them to be true and faithful in their promises to the Creditors of the Com­monwealth of England; but they, like men of high de­gree, not being as good as their words, but breaking their own Orders, Promises, & Engagements from time to time, as if the just God had given them up to hard­ness of heart; and the selfish cares of the world choak­ed them, and covetous thoughts stupified their senses, and made them (like men bewitched with their own fancies) both sensless and shameless.

Therefore the poor people were put to a stand, not [Page 10]knowing what was the matter; for they were more and more distressed; and their Solicitors spent their preci­ous time in fruitless attendance: for they saw there was little good to be expected, without great pains, and im­portunare sollicitations a whole yeer, for that which might be done in a day, because there was no good set­tlement, nor a total removal of corrupt Lawyers, and other mercenary self-seekers, out of the House, who were the prime obstructors of the Act for the ascertain­ing and satisfying of the debts of the Nation, and were averse to all discoveries which should be made for the benefit of the Commonwealth (saying, Tush, they will come to nothing) as if they feared lest themselves, or some of their relations, should be called to account concer­ning the Publike Revenue, although they had passed the Act of Oblivion.

And the pretences of such corrupt men in great places being foreseen by the well-affected, divers fair Propo­sals were made and presented to the Committee of Par­liament for matters of great importance, with the en­gagement of the undertakers, tending to the full and speedy satisfaction of the debts of the Nation, to be sa­tisfied out of Delinquents estates undisposed of, and not remitted in the Act of General Pardon and Oblivi­on, And all the concealed estates of the late King, Queen, and Prince, Bishops, Deans, Deans and Chap­ters, & Prebends, &c. and All moneys in Treasurers and Collectors hands, which they have not yet accounted for, but concealed from the Commonwealth; And (eve­ry particular mans just right and legal interest preserv­ed, and industry considered) the Mynes, Forests, and Waste lands, and other particulars justly belonging to the Commonwealth, and of little or no use or benefit to [Page 11]the State (as the Popish Cathedrals) were proposed for the satisfaction of the publike Debts.

And by the Order of the House April 27. 1652. the aforesaid Committee was appointed to sit in the Court of Wards, to receive Proposals for the Publike Faith; and according to the appointment of the Chair­man of the Committee, the Undertakers (which were Thomas Pride, Dennis Gourdaine, Daniel Norman, Francis Finch, Francis Bloomer, Roger Smith, Thomas Sherman, Ro­bert Mallory, Clement Oxenbridge, Esquires; William Allen, Hoogan Hovel, and Praise Barbone, Citizens of London) had notice given them to meet in the Court of Wards; and accordingly coming there, where they sate in Commit­tee upon the business, there they owned the En­gagement, which they subscribed and undertook, in relation to the satisfaction of the debts of Nation, to manage the business, and disburse all sums of money requisite for all incident charges whatsoever thereunto belonging; provided they might be reimbursed out of the discoveries; for the undertaking of which worthy work, they deserve to be had in perpetual remem­brance. For whose encouragement, divers other Gen­tlemen of good rank and quality engaged to disburse one moyety for promotion of so good a work, and to be reimbursed with them, and to take the security of the aforesaid Undertakers for the same.

The engagement of the Undertakers, and Proposals being received by Order of the House, it was expected that the Committee would have made a speedy pro­gress, and that the House would make an Act to im­power the said Undertakers accordingly for ascertain­ing and satisfying of the Publike debts, according to the former Proposals.

But contrary to expectation the Committee took no care of this weighty business of the Commonwealth, neither could they be got together without great diffi­culty, at the times and places appointed by the House; for one or other would be still wanting: and when there was a full number for a Committee, the Chair-man would be absent, and they would not appoint another in his room; and people in waiting on them were put to much difficulty to keep some of the Committee toge­ther, whilst they fetcht more. And when they had brought them in, then sometimes the first would slip a­way, pretending other business. Many a weary step have some of them taken, to finde them out in their nooks and crooks; with lanthorn and candle light have they been sought; by night and by day have they been fol­lowed; whether Frost or Snow, Wet or Dry, 'twas all one. The necessicies of the people were such, that they could admit of no delay: Their patience was used, and also abused; with much ado, were they perswaded to hold it fast, without using violence to the violators of their promises, but that the Solicitor for the publike Faith pacified them with his constant attendance and great patience, for experience sake, to see the end of their many Orders, promises, and fair speeches, which most deceived the people, and did the greatest injury, as is thought by some who admired at the patience of o­thers: but Solomon saith, Better is the end of a thing, then the beginning of a thing; and the patient in spirit, is better the preud in spirit.

But though it was more difficult to get a Committee together to do us any good, then to hale five Bears to a stake; yet we had Committees divers times, through much industry and importunity, but when they came [Page 13]they did little or nothing but trifle, and spin out the pre­cious time, and took upon them to amend the Bill, when the House & pressed no such thing in their Or­ders, but only for the names of the Commissioners; And they razed out such lines which most savoured of honesty, and tended best to the satisfaction of the peo­ple, that the Act might begin with these words, Be it Enacted, without expressing a ground for it, so making as if the Parliament were to rule by their own Wills, and not (like the best law makers) to render a Reason for the Laws they make, whereby the people should be informed, and have some ground work to obey through love, as well as serve in fear.

And when the Committee mer, and altered a few lines, they thought they had made a large progress in it, enough for a whole week; a line or two to be men­ded was well the week following: another day to mend a word or two was something; at another meeting to change or alter a letter was good. But all was as good as nothing: what catches and snatches, was at it! one while they were of one mind, at another meet­ing of a contrary opinion, doing and undoing, playing fast and loose, as if they had a mind to undoe the Cre­ditors of the Commonwealth, and had agreed together to weary them out, and keep the Solicitors for the Pub­like Faith to serve apprentiships, to follow their foot­steps in their delatory proceedings. And when the business depended before the House, much adoe there was to get any thing done to good purpose, for they resolved to pass Acts for Delinquents Estates, upon doubling; and do other things that might prove as spoaks in our carriages, and thereby strike off the Cha­riot-wheels of that gallant Bill, depending before them (and lying now in the Speakers Box) for general satis­faction [Page 14]of the debts of the Nation, relief of the poor, and other Publike uses, in order to the easing of the people, which they read 30. Novemb. and by several Orders, Ordered it be read againe the second time, the first business and nothing to interveen, the first business and no­thing to intervene, yet they never did it first nor last, when they could they would not, and now if they would they cannot, God hath removed them, and now I find the words of understanding men to be true, which they have often spake at the Bell-savage, and elsewhere; & which I desired might have proved otherwise, That the work which I had in hand was too good, & too great for God to honor this Parliament with, And whereof I did admonish them in my printed books which I deli­vered at the Parliament door. But I thought I would never give over, till I saw the utmost of it, believing the words of the wise would prove true, He that being often reproved, and hardeneth his neck, shall sudden­ly be destroyed and that without remedy. For I had a designe in it for God (and for the reputation of the Nation) beyond the satisfaction of a thousand men, who under their hands entrusted me to act and manage their business for them.

But the Parliament still pretended other weighty business, and that some­thing else must be done before; and to say the truth, they sate so little a while together, but three hours in a day, and four dayes in a week, that is twelve hours in a week, but a dayes work at the most, but fifty two dayes in a yeer, that they could not do much good for the Nation, so that justice at the most came by drops, and did not run down as it ought, like a mighty stream. And how was it possible for weighty matters to be well done and dispatcht, when there was so much time spent in idleness between? And by Calculation they have not sate of this thirteen yeers, the space of three; for twelve hours in seven dayes, is but according to one yeer in seven yeers. Therefore the Triennial Parliament, upon this account, would not have ended their three yeers sitting, till the time of three Apprentiships were com­pleat and fully ended.