YOu have long been the object of many good mens pity and prayers, who have judged in charity that the temptations of your late Fathers Court have been too mighty for you. But now you are become the object of their prayers and great expectations; hitherto they thought you unable to prevent the wickedneſſe and apoſtacy which you have often ſeemed to mourn for in ſecret. But now the chief military power derived from any lawfull authority being fallen upon you, and all ſuch Officers and Souldiers in the Army as have any ſenſe of juſtice and honeſty in their uſe of arms, being ready to be commanded by you, and to rejoyce in their return to their firſt principles. They believe that God hath made your way plain before you to vindicate the profeſſion of Religion from the black reproaches that reſt upon it, to reſtore the peoples liberties, the Armies honour, and price of their bloud. And therefore they hope and pray that the Lord may ſay effectually to you upon this opportunity: Be thou ſtrong and of a good courage in this my work, and I will be with thee. But if you ſhould now ſit ſtill, they think as Mordecai ſaid to Eſther that deliverance and enlargement shall ariſe to the people from another; but you and your fathers houſe shall be deſtroyed. Now my Lord, do not imagine us either vain Enthuſiaſts or buſie bodies that thus mind you, what is expected from you. We are ſuch as engaged with you in the war againſt the late King, and do believe that you and we muſt render an account to the dreadfull God of the juſtice and ſincerity of our intentions therein, and our ſouls are deeply afflicted to behold our righteous ends perverted, the bloud of our friends ſhed in the quarrell, trampled upon, the binding power of truſts, promiſes, and oaths, ſlighted, and the ſame (if not worſe) principles of Arbitrary power, Tyranny, and oppreſſion exerciſed, aſſerted, and maintained, againſt which we have ſo earneſtly contended with a prodigall expence of our bloud and eſtates; and our hearts are wounded to hear our old cauſe now made a mock and by▪word by our enemies, and to ſee ſuch a black brand of infamy ſet upon all the Parliaments adherents, as if they had been all the vileſt hypocrites, who made pretences of Religion, and faithfulneſſe to their Countries Laws and Liberties, to be only a cloak for the blackeſt wickedneſſe, as if none of them had ever intended any more, then by force and fraud to fat up themſelves upon the bloud and ruines of other families. But your Lordſhip knows, that the Kings invaſion of our properties and liberties, by taxes, illegall impriſonments, and oppoſition of the Parliament in their ſupreme truſt of ordering the Militia for the peoples ſafety, did neceſſitate us to defend it by arms, as our native right, that the truſt of the peoples ſafety and welfare, their ſtrength, and purſes, was only in the hands of their ſucceſſive Parliaments, and that they ought to be governed only by the Laws: And their conſciences, perſons, or eſtates, to be at no mans will or mercy; And doubtleſſe the defence of theſe Liberties is eſſentially neceſſary to the well being of any Nation, and to the being of publick morall righteouſneſs amongſt men. And your Lordſhip knows that all the ſucceſſes and victories have been owned, as from the wonderfull appearance of God for his people in this honeſt cauſe, and that you cauſed the exerciſe of the chief Magiſtracie in England by a ſingle perſon to be aboliſh'd, becauſe it was dangerous to this righteous cauſe, as well as uſeleſſe and burdenſome. Now my Lord, let us appeal to your conſcience whether we ought not to expect thoſe things we do, we are unwilling leſt it ſhould wound too deep to make a compariſon between the principles of Tyrannie and oppreſſion that were attempted to be practiſed by the late King, and were declared by you to be begotten by the blaſphemous arrogance of Tyrants upon their ſervile paraſites, and thoſe that have been practiſed & avowed ſince God gave us victorie in the defence of our Liberties (and though we confeſſe the greateſt number of honeſt men have hitherto leaſt ſmarted under them, yet they will infallibly have the greateſt weight of them upon their backs hereafter, ſhould thoſe principles get root amongſt us, they being the only likely men to deſtroy them, and however, injuſtice againſt Enemie ought to be abhorred by righteous Men.) But let us tell your Lordſhip that it is the ſecret ſigh of every honeſt heart: Oh that God would now take away the reproach from this People, and their eyes are much upon you in it, and ſhoud you ſlight our eyes and expectations in this caſe, aſſuredlie the blood of our friends ſhed in the Cauſe, will crie aloud for vengeance againſt you.

We have better thoughts of your Lordſhip, then that you ſhould ſeek to ſhelter your ſelf in your omiſſion of ſo great a Dutie, or in your proceeding in the evils begun under thoſe vain ſubterfuges which have been uſed of late: Oh be not deceived with pretences of Providences of God, leading you from your old Cauſe into things not to be juſtified by the morall Lawes. The holie God directs his People only into the paths of Righteouſneſſe, that is ſuch Actions as agree with his Lawes, 1, Iohn 3. 7, 8, 10. He that doth not Righteouſneſs is not of God, His Providences and his Lawes alalwaies ſpeak the ſame things, neither let any man deceive you with pretence of neceſſitie that conſtrains you to deſert your old Principles for the People of Gods ſake and to advance Chriſts Kingdome; For 'tis not poſſible there ſhould be neceſſitie to tranſgreſſe a Divine naturall Law that is Eternall, there may be caſes of extream inevitable neceſſitie, that may diſoblige a man from ſome Divine poſitive Lawes, becauſe a Superior that is a Divine, naturall Law may oblige him in that caſe; Therefore in everie caſe of higheſt neceſſities, the immutable Lawes of Nature ought to be Guides and Commanders of what is to be done: And if your Lordſhip can make your Actions or Omiſſions conſiſt with thoſe, neither God nor his People will blame you. And in ſo doing onelie, you can advance Chriſts Kingdome: For then is he exalted when ſupream Reverence, and abſolute ſubjection is given to his Fathers Lawes in the deniall of our ſelves in all Countermands and Temptations, and when the ſword of the Spirit is uſed to increaſe the number of ſuch Subjects: For this Scepter, Throne and Wars are of and in Righteouſneſs.

Therefore, we beſeech your Lordſhip without heſitation or delay, purſue the exaltation of Chriſt and his Kingdom, in following in ſimplicity and integrity of heart after thoſe righteous ends you propoſed and declared in the late warre, and unto which you have obliged your ſelf by all the ſacred Bonds of humane ſocietie: be not affrighted with ſome Paraſites, bugbears of Confuſion, if you ſhake the Diana, by which they hope to ſubſiſt, fear not aſſiſtance from every honeſt heart in England, and though ſome pretenders to honeſty, may out of cowardiſe, or ambition, or covetouſneſs, cry, ther's a Beare and a Lion in the way, yet even they ſhall run after you when they ſee you forward in your way; And to avoid delayes, let us beſeech your Lordſhip firſt to examine your conſcience preſently what you can anſwer to the blood of any poor Saint ſhed, that cries in your ears to ſettle that Libertie and Juſtice in his Countrie for which he ſhed his blood under your command.

Secondly, what you can anſwer to the blood of Thouſands of the enemies, which are eſteemed by God as murdered by you if the Iuſtifick cauſe of the war be not effectually proſecuted. Will not their blood crie to God, and ſay, Lord, this Fleetwood killed us upon pretence that we ſhould have deſtroied the Liberties of the People of God, in impoſing Arbitrarie power upon them, which we did ignorantlie? And he hath done the ſame thing, and made or ſuffered more heavie Yokes to be impoſed; Pray remember it, The Scripture ſaith, Thinkeſt thou O Man, that judgeſt another, and doest the ſame things thy ſelfe, that thou shalt eſcape the iudgement of God, Rev. 1. 3, 4.

Thirdly, We beſeech you to examine what Cauſe you now maintain with conſtant expence of blood, and the Peoples Eſtates, and how you can give an account to God for it. Remember what are the cauſes for which God alloweth mens blood to be ſhed without blood-guiltineſſe in him that cauſeth it; and trie whether that be one, to make a Nation greater ſlaves to Iohn a Styles and his Confederates, then they would have been to Iohn a Nokes. But we praie your Lordſhip if it be poſſible that anie pretence can be found for it, ſtate a juſtifick Cauſe of your preſent poſture of Arms, that thouſands of tender conſciences may be ſatisfied how to pray for you in any of your preſent deſignes, if God ſhould not honour you in the work which they now expect from You.

Now My Lord, if we would plead with you by worldly Arguments or motives, that concern your ſelf, it were eaſie to evince, that ſafetie, honour, and greatneſs to your ſelf, and familie, can be certainlie compaſſed by no other means, then by returning to the Principles from whence you are fallen, your daily tenors that now attend you and your Counſells, would ſoon vaniſh, you might have above threeſcore thouſand men of honeſt principles that would take themſelves concern'd to be in armes at an houres warning to aſſiſt you, and this without ſecond charge, and an armie of praiers 2. times as great, indeed who would or could hurt you, if you were a naked ſincere follower of that which is good. We appeal to your conſcience, whether you do not believ that your late Father was more ſafe with a Foot-boy onelie following him in the ſtreets when he was believed to intend that good that your Lordſhip may if you pleaſe effect, then he was afterwards (when he was believed to intend his own ambition) invironed with Guards, and encloſed with locks, and bolts without number; Indeed the onelie meanes of ſafetie for ſuch as will exerciſe great power over a people to the ſubjection of their liberties, is a mercenarie Armie. And if that conſiſts of ſome of the ſame people, their intereſt will change as often as they get eſtates that are of more value then their pay, and then they will be readie to conſpire with any of the people to provide libertie and ſecuritie of their eſtate for their children, and then the power of the Tirants ſhake, And of how manie ſlaughters of the Kings of Iſraell do we read by their own ſervice; & if mercenarie ſtrangers be intended to be Guards for Rulers in England, our Anceſtors taught us the way, when they were not ſo well inſtructed in their libertie to ridd our ſelves of them in a night, But if your own perſon could be ſecure for a while; what will be the portion of your familie, if th eir perſons and eſtates be left to the mercie of him that gets uppermoſt, And if you expect greatneſſe or honor, conſider whoſe names are delivered to us from former ages with reverence, and eſteem, and who have been moſt admired, honored, and obeyed, by their countrey and people: Can a Dionyſius compare, command or fain with a Tymoleon; was ever great Cyrus or Alexander obeyed like the poor young Fiſher-boy Maſsinello in Naples, whil'ſt the people imagin'd he ſought a ſettlement of their libertie? But we ſuppoſe the ſenſe and remembrance of your dutie to God and his people, ſhould be of greater weight in your Lordſhips heart then all the conceits of the earth, & therefore we alſo forbear to mind you of the improbabilitie of ſetling this Nation according to the rules of pollicie, upon anie other baſis then their libertie; the lands & intereſts of this Nation being ſo diſperſed & with ſo much equalitie, that whoſoever ſhall attempt to invade our liberties will not find an intereſt able to overballance the peoples intereſt, and therefore cannot long maintain a Dominion over them; But we forbear to mention this Capital politick conſideration to your Lordſhip at preſent, onlie let us beg your ſerious conſideration how much the honor of the profeſſion of the Goſpel is concerned in what we move your Lordſhip to, & expect from you; And that you would ſay to your ſelf, is it not better that I & mine periſh, then that a publick ſcandal be brought upon Goſpel profeſſion by my injuſtice & treacherie to my Countrie under a ſhew of holineſs; & if we ſhall obſerve by your Lordſhips actions from henceforth that there are ſome apearances, that God hath begun to imprint upon your heart the ſenſe of your publick dutie, and that he will put that honor & greatneſs upon you to be the reſtorer of his peoples liberties in this Nation, we ſhall then think our ſelves obliged to write again to your Lordſhip or wait upon you to ſtrengthen your hands; In the interim, we ſhall praie without ceaſing, that wiſdom, courage and ſtrength may be given you from the Father of all mercies, and that out of his fulneſs you may be in all things prepared for the accompliſhing his own work of righteouſneſs; And if in judgement to this Nation your heart ſhould be hardned by theſe poor lines, your Lordſhip will be left more inexcuſable, and however ſome ſatisfaction in the diſcharge of your duties will ariſe to the Conſcices of

WE preſumed lately to mind your Lordſhip of your preſent oportunity, and moſt important duty, and our ſouls wiſh that the the ſecrets of your thoughts upon it were revealed, that our hearts and prayers might be towards you, and for you accordingly we muſt tell your Lordſhip that you have ſince wounded the hearts of many precious Saints, by conducting your Armie officers, in an action of ſuch groſs hypocriſie, and palpable flattery, as that addreſſe you made to your new Protector, we have reaſon to believe that it had been impoſſible for your Lordſhip to have ſaid privately to an honeſt man without bluſhing, what you have ſaid there to the world under your hand, and if your Lordſhip will remember (with God in your eye) what is ſaid of your father, and your brother in it, and of an unknown connexion between his perſon and your cauſe, which a lſo you cannot now, and as now (ſtate to your own conſcience as juſt,) we are confident your heart will ſmite you, and if your own heart condemn you, God is greater then your heart, and muſt much more condemn you. Truly my Lord, we were much ſtartled in our hopes from you, and praiers for you, (and we hear the ſame of others) when we ſaw that addreſſe, yet our remembrance of your ſecret expreſſions even with tears, of your ſenſe of the Armies backſlidings, and your earneſt intreaties of us to pray for you, together with the great reſpect we have, for your Lordſhip hath inclined us ſtrongly to the beſt thoughts of you, ſometimes ſaying one to another, ſurely he had not read our letter before his Addreſſe, yet we have been ſo ſtumbled, that we had troubled your Lordſhip no farther in this kind, if God had not ſo placed the intereſt of his cauſe and people upon our ſpirits, that we are reſtleſſe within our ſelves, untill we have ſaid ſo much, as may be either effectuall upon your heart, or at leaſt diſcharge our conſciences, and leave you inexcuſable. If therefore the Lord hath made us his remembrancers to you, and revived his fear in your heart, whileſt you conſidered what we ſent you, we have reaſon to conclude that you are come to theſe reſolves in your owne breaſt, viz. 1. That the peoples arms of this nation have been committed to your charge in your ſeverall capacities, as a ſteward of that high truſt for them, to imploy them for their benefit, in preſerving their rights and freedome, and that you muſt give an account to the eternall God of that ſtewardſhip.

2. That you are under all poſſible ſacred and indiſpenſable obligations to be faithfull in your truſt.

3. That the cauſe for which you were truſted was to defend and maintain the peoples right to make laws for themſelves, and thereby provide for their own welfare and ſafety, by ſuch perſons as they ſhould chuſe, and that without the negative controule of the King, and alſo to defend the freedome of their conſciences, perſons, and eſtates, in being over the only government of their own laws, without ſubjection to the will or mercie of any man.

And we ſuppoſe you may alſo conclude that you have now power and oportunitie caſt upon you to ſecure this libertie unto Gods people, according to humane prudence beyond the reach of wicked men, and that if you ſhould hide your talent of power, in the napkins of fear, cowardiſe, ambition, or ſelf-intereſt, you will be condemned from the mouth of your own conſcience, for an unprofitable and unfaithfull ſervant.

Now if God hath enabled your Lordſhip thus to conſider, with a pure underſtanding, and with integritie of heart thus to reſolve, we know you are continually ſaying within your ſelf, men and brethren what ſhall I doe, to ſhew my faithfulneſſe to the cauſe of God, and the people, and to vindicate my poſſeſſion from ſcandall; and in hopes that God hath thus diſpoſed your heart, we ſhall endeavour to inquire into your particular dutie.

And in our ſearch we may aſſert this generall maxime, as an infallible pillar to guide you in your preſent dutie to your generation, viz. that the peoples liberties cannot be laſtingly ſecured to them by any other means, then an inſtitution of ſenſe, wiſe order or method, wherein the people may make and execute their own laws, and uſe their own arms and ſtrength, for the common good of the whole ſocietie. This may direct all your Lordſhips thoughts and debates, about a ſettlement, and keep in your eieperpetually the white mark wherein all your deſignes and contrivances of publick concernment, ought to centre; this may prepare you, to paſſe a quick ſentence upon all the ambitious propoſals of your Court-paraſites, this may cut off all thoſe Court debates, about impowering a Prince, to check and controul the people by his negative, in their making their laws. It ought to be no queſtion, whither the people ſhould make their own laws, God himſelf having reſolved it, the very point being the ſingle point whereupon you joyned Battell at firſt with the King, you defending that the Parliaments Ordinance for the Malitia, was a Law without the Kings conſent, and he denying it to be of any force, and affirming thoſe Traitors, that obeied that, and not his Commiſsions of Array (this by the Kings Confeſſion was the firſt quarrel) this libertie then being their bloud, cannot be taken from them, but by the higheſt robberie and contempt of Obligations to God and Man. Therefore your Lordſhips dutie is no more then to contrive the beſt, moſt prudent form, and order, wherein the people may injoy their own, with the leaſt hazard of being preyed upon by Tirants, or being diſquieted by their own ignorant diſorders and confuſions: Your dutie to the people, is like to that of a Guardian to an Heir, Not to give them an Eſtate, but to ſet down rules, how it ſhall be ordered for them, and they put in quiet Poſſeſſion of it, to their moſt advantage and ſecuritie, and this dutie is the more incumbant upon you, becauſe you have broken, and trampled to pieces, beyond repair all thoſe old Chriſtian forms, wherein they formerly injoyed their liberties, though with continuall Diſputes, and ſubject to daily injuries and oppreſſions.

Now before we propoſe to your Lordſhip any Form or Order to be ſettled, it is fit that we diſcover to you the Errours and inconſiſtencies, of your preſent practices, and appearing deſign, both in themſelves, and in relation to the peoples liberties.

Firſt, it's a grand errour in the foundation, if you imagine it poſſible to ſecure libertie or juſtice to the people, onelie by advancing good men to power over them, and truſting to the grace in their hearts, to rule in righteouſneſſe, good men upon the ſingle account of mortalitie, can be no laſting bottom, whereupon to ſettle liberty and juſtice. It's beyond the wiſdome of man, to contrive an infallible proviſion, in the preſent age that the ruling power in the ſucceeding age, ſhall fall onelie into good mens hands, but what age ever produced men of ſuch enlightned pure minds? that of themſelves could diſcern right at all times, without the leaſt cloud of their private intereſt upon their underſtandings, and alſo purſue ſuch dictates of their minds, without interruptions by corrupt affections; we mention this, not as if our Souls did not wiſh, that all powers were veſted in the beſt of men, but becauſe we know that every man is vanitie, and a Lie; and yet we believe, it is often whiſpered in your eares, by ſome weak well meaning men, that honeſt mens liberty would then be ſecure, and they ſatisfied, if they could ſee good men put into power, ſaying we ſhould then need no lawes, for they would be a law to themſelves, having Gods law in their hearts, but thoſe that thus by conſequence beg advancement, know not what they ask, ſcarce intending to be the peoples lords and to rule them as their ſlaves, which is neceſſarily employed in the arbitrarie power they ask; neither do they apprehend, what horrid impietie it is, for any man in England now to erect, and exerciſe an arbitrarie power, they ſee not the blaſphemous arrogancy of ſuch as rule without lawes, being indeed, an attempt to erect their throne, in it's kind, higher then Almightie Gods, who rules and judges onelie according to his lawes, without which there is neither juſtice, nor injuſtice in things humane, or divine, therefore the peoples ſecurity of libertie, and juſtice, muſt be founded upon excellent lawes, or conſtitutions, for the continued order, from generation to generation, wherein the people ſhall chuſe their own lawes and magiſtrates, and if good men in power, will in ſimplicitie and integritie joyn heads, hearts, and hands to eſtabliſh ſuch an order, or forme of Government, they will be worthilie eſteemed the founders, though not the foundation of our Liberties.

Secondlie, 'tis a groſſe miſtake, to think that the ſecuring the peoples Liberties, and the creating of a Soveraign Prince over them, (under whatſoever title) can conſiſt together, we mean ſuch a Prince or Potentate, the tenure of whoſe power, ſhall not be upon the people, and who ſhall not be ſubject, and accomptable to the Lawes of this Commonwealth, doubtleſſe the people may not be free, where there ſhall be a chief Magiſtrate, whoſe deſerved real honour and greatneſſe, may juſtly make him diſdain to look down upon the Throne of the greateſt Monarch, yet if he ſhares in the Soveraigntie, he ſubverts Libertie and the foundation of his own glorie: the very eſſence or formall reaſon of a Nations freedom, conſiſts in the peoples making their own Lawes and Magiſtrates, and therefore it is a contradiction to ſay, we are free under a Prince controling our Lawes in their Creation, or Execution, and impoſing his Officers upon us at his will and the conſequence of that practice, even in our late Kings, hath cauſed all our preſent bloudie ruines, his Officers being naturally inclined, and reſolved to ſerve their Creator, to the ſubverſion of our Lawes and Liberties; beſides, if a Prince be inveſted with the leaſt Punctilio of the Soveraigntie, it is exceeding vain to imagine, that he ſhould not naturally aſpire to the top of it: every thing having an innate deſire of its owne perfection, and there being no other viſible meanes to preſerve from the peoples reach, that part which hee hath, but the deſtruction of their Libertie, you may as well ſuppoſe, fire not to aſcend, as ſuch a Prince not to be wiſhing and aſpiring to be an abſolute Lord, if he had neither ambition, nor pride in himſelf, nor in his appendixes, his Court Paraſites, yet the unavoydable reciprocall fear, in the people, and ſuch a Prince, leaſt each ſhould diſpoil the other of his ſhare of Soveraigntie, will compell the Prince to provide for his own ſecuritie, and do your Lordſhip think he will believe himſelf ſafe, untill he hath ſet himſelf above the peoples reach, and brought them to depend upon his will? It may be he that you would create Prince with a ſmall ſhare of Soveraginty, would at firſt thinke his power great, yet in continuance he would eſteem it ſmal, men naturally reaching beyond what they have attained; Liberty therefore and Principalitie, are incompatible, and can never laſt together: It ſeems ſtrange to a People, that they ſhould be free, and yet ſerve, and be impoſed upon it's ſtrange to a Prince, that he ſhould be chief Lord and not command; The meane of Libertie, is the Mother of Murder, and Tyrannie; any Freedome from Princes Commands being intollerable to them, they by Violence take it away, or attempt it, and that forceth a Violent brutiſh Tyrany, inſtead of Government, We need not look farre for an inſtance of this, the bloud and ſufferings of our Anceſtours, and our own Age, witneſſe it, hath not our Princes and Anceſtours been alwayes ſtrugling for four hundred yeares, and thouſands periſhed in it, that are known, beſides the ruine of many Worthies which no Hiſtory durſt mention, unleſſe with Infamie, to pleaſe the Tyrants, And your Lordſhip hath ſeen, with what an Earth-quake, Libertie ſubverted Principalitie, when it found Opportunitie. Therefore, if you wiſh us, and our Poſterities no greater good then onely Quiet, it behooveth you to make us wholly Free, or wholly Slaves.

Thirdly, It is no ſmall fayler of foreſight, that you may imagine it feaſible in this Nation, at this time, to eſtabliſh a Principalitie, or Monarchie, of any probable continuance, unleſſe you can deſtroy all preſent Reall Properties and veſt all, or moſt of the Lands of ENGLAND, in your Monarch. Every Princes Power of Command muſt ariſe either from a voluntarie Submiſſion, and willingneſſe of a People to ſerve him, as their Lord, or from a Violent Compulſion, of them to be ſubject to Him, and both thoſe are founded upon an inequalitie, between him and them, either reall or apparent. A Peoples willingneſſe to ſerve a Prince (if any ſuch be) ariſeth from their apprehenſion of ſome great inequality and diſpropor • ion between him and them, either in vertue, intereſt, or power. The two firſt are proper to a Prince in his native countrey▪ or one that hath dominion over only a ſovereign Prince▪ who may be thought powerfull to one people, the laſt may be proper to protect a people, and that may be choſen a s the leaſt of ſome impudent miſchiefs; but if any people ever were, or ſhall be voluntarily ſubject to a Prince, upon their high opinion of his unequall tranſcendent vertue, that related only to his perſon, and never was or can be a ſolid foundation for an hereditary Monarchy, but an unequall intereſt in the lands, may be, and is the common cauſe, either of a voluntary or conſtrained ſubjection: no man ſerves for nought, 'tis the need that people have of the Lords intereſt, that procures him ſervants, and enables him to compell ſubjection: ſo Joſeph that new moulded the Egyptian Monarchy, deviſed a way for the King to get all the poſſeſſions into his hands, that ſo the people might ſerve Pharaoh, which was a neceſſary conſequence. 'Tis evident that the relation of maſters and ſervants would ſoon be baniſhed the world, if all mens intereſts, vertues▪ and ſtrength were equall, and much ſooner would the names of princes and ſubjects be for ever razed out of memory; ſurely then (my Lord) 'tis beyond diſpu e that if you intend to ſettle a Monarchy over us, it muſt be by violence, for it cannot enter into your heart, to imagine, that you ſhall find a man, whoſe glorious vertues ſhall be as a Sun amongſt the ſtars compared with all the vertues in this nation, and thoſe alſo to be ſurely intailed upon his heirs, neither can your Lordſhip pretend, to find any family, whoſe intereſt in the lands is now ſo unequall, to the bulk of the people, that the nation ſhould be induced by their intereſt to ſerve them.

Now that a compulſive ſubjection to a Monarchy, muſt be the product of an unequall power, is as good as written with a Sunbeam, he that forceth muſt be ſtronger then-he that is forced, and 'tis as evident▪ that ſuch a power is the only naturall fruit of an unequall intereſt in the lands, upon which the beaſt of force muſt graze, that bears the Monarch power to force a nation, cannot be inherent in a ſingle perſon, and multitudes of hands, neither can nor will ſerve him to ſubj • ct a nation, unleſſe they be h • red, (Chriſt himſelf ſays no man goes to warfare at his own charge) and nothing can afford the conſtant growing hire of the Princes own, but his intereſt in the lands, and if he put the hirelings to rob and pilfer for their own • ire, upon the fruits of the lands, which the people eſteem their own, (that is by taxes) the baſis and root of the power, by which the forces live, hath not an appearance to be in the Monarch, nor do his forces ſeem to have a neceſſary dependance upon him, but may as well rob for themſelves, and at beſt, they muſt remain a fluctuating body without root, the Monarch not being able to plant them upon his lands with condit • ons of ſervice; and therefore they will be eſteemed of the land owners, only as the common thieves, whoſe hands are againſt every man, and ought to have every mans hand againſt them, and the robbery being in ſuch a caſe, to be renewed continually upon the land-owners, and the wound alwaies ſmarting, 'tis of more conſtant danger, to ſubvert the Monarch, then it were for him to cut the throats of ten thouſand land-owners at once, and poſſeſſe the lands, to plant his forces upon, as their ſtanding-quarters upon their maſters own lands, either for their lives, or during his pleaſure. Surely (my Lord) it's not to be denied, that a Monarch in his domeſtick dominions, hath no greater rooted continuing power over a nation, then he hath an intereſt in the lands, ſurmounting in value, the intereſt of the whole people, as that intereſt grows, by murders, oppreſſion, and the other common artifices of Princes, (unleſſe the wrath of God interpoſeth) ſo doth his power root, and flouriſh, all other ſeeming power of a Monarch, hangs as the ignorant uſe to ſay, by Geometry, and is without bottome; 'tis a tree whoſe root is dead, and may be kept up a little while by dead props that decays with it. 'Tis like an armies foraging into an enemies countrey▪ and plundering, not being able to gain the poſſeſſion of a town, caſtle, or houſe there, as a root of power over it. Indeed, no form of domeſtick government can be eſtabliſht to be of duration, in a nation, chiefly living upon their lands, if property in the land do not accompany the Empire, that is, if that order which governs (be it one man, or the few, or the people) do not poſſeſſe a greater ſhare of the land of that countrey, then the reſt of the people that are governed; and therefore where the Adminiſtration is moſt popular; ſervants, and all ſuch as have no eſtates are reckoned to have no ſhare, or voices in the government. And we conceive, thatt the founders of governments, have either framed their models, according to the ballance of property, which they found amongſt the people, or elſe have divided the property, and reduced it to their form. And your Lordſhip may remember when God himſelf formed the people of Iſrael, by Moſes hand, into a free Common-wealth, there was not only a ſuitable diviſion of the lands at the firſt, but a perpetuall law of Jubilee, to prevent alienation of lands, and the growth of any to ſuch unequall intereſt, as his power might be dangerous to the government, and when that people rejected Gods form of their Common wealth for a Monarch, he foretold them, 1 Sam. 8. 11. 17. that the firſt work of their King would be to alter the modell of property in the lands, ſettled by God and take away the beſt of their fields, vineyards, and olive-yards, and give them to his ſervants, for ſtrengthening himſelf, and ſo they ſhould become his ſervants. And if we ſhould not trouble your Lordſhip too much, we would ſhew from Hiſtory, that all the laſting Monarchies that ever were in the world, have been built upon this foundation, of poſſeſſing the greateſt intereſt in their countreys lands, either immediately, or by their Peers and their powers, being the naturall reſult of that, they have had their births, decays, and deaths together. Some kingdomes we ſay have been founded upon the Monarchs immediate intereſt, or property in the lands, as many ancient Eaſtern Kings, and the Turk, with other Eaſtern Princes at this day, who are ſole proprietors or Landlords of the whole Territories where they reign, and the people their tenants at will, or at beſt for life, upon conditions of ſervice in war, proportionable to the value af their farms, whereby the Turk keeps an abſolute power over his ſubject by their dependance upon his will for their bread, and with his own proper revenue is able alſo to maintain an army of ſtrangers to ſtrengthen the other tie, he hath upon his vaſſalls, and upon this root of his property, (to the eye of humane reaſon) his power has grown to that monſtrous height Others kingdomes have been built upon the property in the lands, which the Monarchs, Peers, have had joyntly with and under him: ſo were theſe Weſtern dominions after their conqueſt by the Northern people, who divided a land, when conquered, into ſo many parcels, as they had great Officers, leaving the choice of the beſt and largeſt ſhare to their Prince or leader, he becoming their King, and the chief Officers, holding their large ſhares on him by ſome ſmall acknowledgements, became his Dukes, Counts, and Earls; and the common ſouldiers (who came indeed to ſeek a countrey to inhabit) holding together with the poor natives ſome ſmall parcels of land under thoſe g eat-men upon ſuch conditions as made them wholly dependant upon their Landlords, and thus theſe Dukes and Earls paying homage and fealty and ſmall acknowledgements to the Prince, became princes in their own diviſions, and thus the intereſt of the King and his Peers over-weighed the properties of all other the Inhabitants, whereupon the power of our ancient Monarchy was founded, and the Kings chief Officers were the tenants and vaſſalls of his Peers, to whom he ſent upon occaſion of trouble forreign or domeſtick to leavy arms, who gathered their vaſſalls together, and either aſſiſted the King, or fought againſt him as they l • ked the quarrell, their ſouldiers never daring to diſpute their Lords commands knowing no immediate Lord but them.

Thus was the Kings power leſſe or greater, as he agreed with his Peers they having been able (as your Lord ſhip knows) to make and unmake Kings of England as they pleaſed, and if their propertie in the lands had ſo remained, nothing could have ſhaken the Monarchs power, if he had kept an union with them, but the inferiour people grew by degrees to better their tenures, and to make ſome of their eſtates hereditary upon eaſie fines at every change, as our coppy-holders of inheritance and ſome to have their eſtates their own free hold, and in fine they came to aboliſh in England the tenures of vaſſailage & vill • uinage, which is yet in practice amongſt our neigh-bour natiōs, (whoſe Monarchies ſtand by ſo much the ſtronger) and the people having got a better intereſt in the lands, ſoon obtained ſome ſhare in the government they were then thought fit to be ſummoned to the national meetings then called Gamont, ſince a Parliament, to conſider what way to ſupply their King with money, which was to come only from their purſes and properties (the nobles then (as now in France) payiny no Tax or Tollage) and the ſenſe they had of their own properties in the lands made them ſoon after challenge it as their right, that their King could take no tax, toll, or tollage, unleſſe they were pleaſed to give it him in their Parliaments, and then the peoples yoakes, growing more eaſy, their wealth increaſed, and lands being commonly ſuffered to be alienated, the multitude became the purchaſers, and ſome bought off their ſerviccs that ſtill remained due to their Lords, and others bought their Lords lands, who proved prodigalls, and as occaſion was offered, the Churches lands, and this together with ſome Kings endeavours to abate the power of their Peers in their Countreys, reduced the Engliſh Peerage to an empty name, the greateſt quantity of the lands, and with thoſe, the power being fallen into the Commons hands, before the Warr, who being then ſenſible, they neither depended upon the King nor his Peers for their Bread, conceived themſelves obliged to ſerve none but God, and therefore ought not to be commanded, or to have lawes impoſed upon them by the King or his Peers, judging it the right of a people, whoſe property rendred them free, and independent to chuſe their own lawes and Magiſtrates, being intended onely for the preſervation of their own properties and liberties; and thus did our Houſe of Commons gradually grow to that power which in latter time proved formidable to the Kings, there wanting nothing to the deſtructon of the Throne, whoſe pillars were broken, but an occaſion for the people to feel the power they had, & this was the naturall cauſe of our late Kings projecting to have brought German Horſe, or an Iriſh Army into England, a mercenary Army being the laſt refuge of a Monarch, deveſted of his Nobility, (though that alſo will prove but a violent dead prop, and ſoon rotten, unleſſe he can ſuddainly reaſſume a greater property, & give them root by an intereſt in the lands upon conditions of ſerving him) And this was the cauſe of the Kings raiſing his Guard at York, and leaving the VVarre; being the laſt means to ſupport his power; therefore we may ſay, that the dying pangs of a Monarchial power in England, cauſed our VVarrs, as his violent ſtranglings for life, much rather, then that the VVarre cauſed the deſtruction of Monarchiall power; the Parliaments Army did indeed prevent a poſſibility of the reſurrection of that power, by a forcible changing the property in the lands, and ſo reviving a new Monarchy; but the old was dead by a kind of natural deſolution before the Parlament voted it uſeleſſe, burdenſome, and dangerous; for ſurely 'tis neither of the three, where, and ſo long as it's ſingle property in the lands, or in union wlth his Nobility, makes the people live upon him and them, though 'tis moſt certainly all the three, where it muſt be fed upon the peoples properties; like the Snake in the Ruſtick's houſe, till it be able to oppreſſe them.

My Lord, wee hope it will be clear to your Lordſhip, that England is now become an unnatural ſoyl for a Monarch. The Governor of the World by various providences hath ſo divided the land amongſt the bulk of the people, that they can live of themſelves without ſerving, and it is prepoſterous to impoſe a Monarch upon us, as to make a law, that the weaker ſhall alwaies binde the ſtronger; we believe it no leſs impoſſible to eſtabliſh a laſting Monarch in England without alteration of the intereſt, the multitude hath in the lands, and naturall power, then it were to ſettle a firm laſting free State, or Commonwealth in the Turkiſh Territories, ſuffering the Ottoman to Family to remain the ſole Landlord of the Territories, as now he is; and we ſuppoſe, that obvious objection, that England hath been a Monarchy for many hundred years, is clearly anſwered, from what we have ſaid, if you will take us as conquered, as much by your Army, as by the Normans, and think to ſettle a Monarchy like theirs, in a new line; you ſee the Materialls, for your building and theirs, are of a different form, and can never make a like building; England then yielded earth to the Conqueror, by vaſt Earldomes, and Baronies, for the plantation of his new Potentates, and a few confiſcations or forfeitures made his own and his creatures intereſt in the lands to exceed all the reſt; beſides, the temper of the people, to whom any property in the land was left, was much different from that you now finde, they being then bred to learn, and know no better; now being bred in ſome liberty, and the continuall claim of the whole. Neither can your Lordſhip with reaſon hope to prop up a new Monarchy, by an Army of Natives, to be paid by Taxes, if you conſider how ſoon their Eſtates of inheritance and naturall love to poſterity, with their independency upon the Monarch, a diſguſt of the univerſall Odium, they muſt live under by extorting Taxes, will make them eſpouſe the nationall intereſt as their own, as did the forreign plants of the Normans, when rooted in lands of inheritance, ſo that no ſort of Armes, to be maintained by a meet Tax, can long ſupport a Monarch, becauſe the very Tax, if nothing elſe, create's and maintain's him Enemies that have roots in his dominions, when his friends have none: we could now ſhew your Lordſhip invincible difficulties (as our Caſe is) to found a Monarchy though you ſhould confiſcate to your ſelves moſt of the peoples ends, to make your land property over weigh al the reſt but we believe the confiſcation of a people, that have never fought againſt you, but whoſe armes you have borne, to be an act ſo unnaturall and ſo full of blackneſſe and horrour, that it can never be admitted room in your thoughts, and therefore we ſhall ſay nothing of it.

Fourhly, but my Lord thereis a fourth miſtake that deſerves the firſt place in the file of Errors, that is, to conceive it poſſible to ſettle your Brother Richard and his heirs as our Prince, to ſhare in the Sovereign power, if the wounds of Monarchiall power in England, were not mortall, doubtleſſe his art and experience renders not him to be a Surgeon fit for the cure; it was poverty and famine that ſhot his deadly arrow into the heart of our Monarchy, and no plaiſter can heal it, but Mammon to make it ſelf new friends, and do your Lordſhip judge his eſtate and property ſufficient to make him friends enough to compell this Nation to ſubjection? what can a prudent man fancy as a foundation of his Empire? wherein is the equality between him and the people, even in your opinion, or the dictates of the preſent Armies conſcience? it was ſaid in the laſt Parlament frequently, that he was a ſtranger to the people of God, unknown to the Army, having never actually drawn ſword, and one that was never obſerved to have had any affection for the Parlaments Cauſe; if your Lordſhip pleaſe to conſider it, you will finde ſuch diſadvantages attends your Brother, in his aſpiring to the Throne, as would render his ſettlement very doubtfull, if the baſis for Monarchy ſtood firm in England; We pray your Lordſhip think of the primary of his Education, the tenderneſs of his years, the meaneneſſe of hisnatural Authority, the ſlenderneſs of his reputation as ſoldier, or Counſeller, and above all, the hatred and contempt the people hath conceived him; either of which, is ſufficient to ruine a ſettled Prince; and adde unto theſe, the claime and pretence he ſets up, by pretending to be our Prince, for Charles Stewart againſt himſelfe: (whoſe intereſt and friends forreign and domeſtique may at the leaſt be put in the ballance with your Brothers) which gives life to a growing root of a civill Warr; and adde farther, your rendring all knowing conſcientious men deſperate of their liberty bought with their bloud, & then remember the feeble intereſt and repute of his Lords, who in ſtead of ſupporting his Throne, as their predeceſſours did their Princes have need to be ſupported by it. And once more adde, that his onely hope and refuge being an army for Gods aſſiſtance in ſuch deſignes, ought not to be expected) that thoſe are natives, not his ſervants, nor obliged to any dependance upon him, who muſt againſt their truſt and oarhs, fight againſt their own countrey, and their own intereſt, (which is to tranſmit to poſterity their eſtates in ſecurity and fr •• dome) and that all their pay muſt be extorted from the people (wherein their relations are concerned) by taxes and collages, and that your Brother muſt have the greateſt ſhare of them to ſubſiſt upon in his pomp, and that many of thoſe think their own merit and value equall to your Brothers, and may not be full proof againſt ambition, and that they will not diſcern what aid he contributes to the paying of the taxes, whereof he ſpends ſo much; nor what need have they of him. Then your Lordſhip will paſſe a deliberate reſolve, whether it be probable to ſettle your Brother as your Monarch, eſpecially if your Lordſhip remember w th what difficulty fear and danger your father was ſupported for three or foure years only under moſt of the contrary advantages, and above all his pretence to army and people (believed by many) that he abhorred the thoughts of the reviving the old Monarchy, and intended to procure a ſettlement of true liberty.

Now my Lord, when we think upon theſe things, and the work you are called to, 'tis evident to us that God hath hedged up all the by-waies from your duty with thorns, or rather ſeas and mountains of difficulties, and made the path of righteouſneſſe plain and eaſy. 'Tis your duty to reſtore the people to their liberty, and lay ſolid foundations of common right and juſtice amongſt them, and in the natural courſe and order of things, it appears almoſt impoſſible to make them ſlaves. Oh then give glory to God, vindicate the profeſſion of religion, and make your own name as ſweet odours to all generations in doing your duty, as a freewill-offering, chearfully and ſpeedily, leaſt your own neceſſities, and the peoples confuſions ſhould extort it from you. Your only buſineſſe then my Lord) is to ſettle the order for the continuall ſucceſſive aſſemblies of the people, to make their own laws and Magiſtrates, all preſent forms being broken by you, and an abſolute neceſſity upon you, to appoint what ſhall be next, though you would return back to that imperfect form of Parliaments that's now become unſuitable for us as a free people. For it is eſſentially neceſſary to the ſecuritie of freedome, that the ſame aſſemblie ſhould never have the debating and finally reſolving power in them, leaſt it ſuddenly degenerates into an Oligarchie or Tyrannie of ſome few, that aſſembly being in ſuch a caſe able to perpetuate themſelves. Of this the providence of God hath given as an experiment in the long Parliament, who exerciſing both the debating and determining power, were ſtrongly tempted to have made themſelves perpetually legiſlators, and what elſe they pleaſe, and to have governed according to their private intereſts, which if it had taken effect, would have as much deſtroyed the common intereſt and common right, vertue and liberty, as the ſame power exerciſed by a ſingle perſon, who doth alſo naturally make his whole government, centre in his particular intereſt. Therefore the order that hath alwaies been in effect amongſt free people, (although with ſome variation of names and circumſtances) hath been this: They have ranked themſelves into three orders, the people, the Senate, and the Magiſtrate, whereby they have made themſelves partakers of all the benefit of the naturall Democracy, Ariſtocracy, and Monarchy; that is, they have had the good effects of all the excellent endowments for rule and order, which God hath diſpenſed to any of their people, and by the wiſe diſtribution of the power amongſt them, with controuls to every of their corrupt affections, unto which they were prone, they have prevented the miſchiefs apt to enſue, when the governing power happened to be placed ſolely in any of the three. By the people is to be underſtood, (in large populous places where the body of the people is too large to meet) the popular aſſembly choſen by the body of the people of intereſts and eſtates, who have right of ſufferage amongſt us. This Counſell or Aſſembly ought to be numerous, as one thouſand or more, and their function ought to be, to give their affirmative or negative to all laws, matters of peace, warre, and leveys of money, and that without debate, or arguing, which would bring in confuſion in ſo great an aſſembly. Therefore the matters ought always to be propoſed by the Senate, a convenient time before, that the popular aſſembly may be fully adviſed of them, before their meeting, and then they are to be ſummoned to meet, by one of their own choice for that purpoſe: and therefore they ought to reſide near the chief Citie, for the time of their power, which may be for two or three years, one third going out of Office every year the Aſſembly being filled by a new choice, and this is called the Power of the Common wealth; The Senate is the wiſedom and Authoritie of the Common-wealth, which is a ſelect Company, not very numerous, choſen by the whole People at the ſame time and in the ſame manner with the popular Councell, and to continue for the ſame ſpace, with the ſame changes and recruits: The Office of this Councell, is to manage affairs of Peace and Warrs, when the people hath Decreed it, and to prepare all Lawes and Decrees, ready for their Sufferage, to command the Forces by Sea and Land, according to ſuch Lawes and Orders as ſhall be either Fundamental to the Government, (for there ought to be an Inſtrument of Government) or made from time to time by the Senate, and the people. So that the Senate is to debate and propoſe, and the people to Decree and reſolve all Lawes going in the name of both of theſe Deputies, both Senate and People ought to have moderate Sallaries allowed them, to prevent corruption, and in ſome recompence for the neglect of their private affairs, thoſe of the popular Aſſembly may have fourty ſhillings per week, & thoſe of the Senate may have five hundred pound per annum, their pains, care, and expence, being to be probably much greater, regard being alſo had to their qualitie, now if it ſhould not be provided in the foundation, that the Popular Aſſembly ſhould not aſſume the debate, it would come to an Anarchie; but Athens, which periſhed by that means: and if the Senate ſhould take upon them the reſult, it would ſoon be an Oligarchy, (or Tyranny of a few) For they might with a Vote perpetuate themſelves, and govern the Nation according to their private intereſt; but both Counſels can never agree to perpetuate themſelves, for the popular Aſſemblies Office, being not of profit, but burden, and being acpable when out of that Office, to be choſen into the Senate, which is of more profit and authoritie, it would be againſt their intereſt, which is the moſt certain Bond upon Mankind) to perpetuate themſelves, and the yearly change of a third in each Councels, bringing the whole number by Succeſſive Changes, ſo ſuddenly into their private Capacities, to enjoy the Good, or ſuffer the harmes of what is done by the Councell, in an equalitie with the whole people, it is of naturall impulſe, that the whole Government, ſhould be onely according to the publicke reaſon and intereſt, and cannot be imagined to deviate from the proper ends of Government, neither can any Brazen-wall, be ſo firm and laſting, againſt the private Intereſt and Pretence of Charles Stuart, as the moulding the people into theſe Orders, there being no danger, that the Senate and people ſhould agree to de-throne themſelves, to be yoaked by a Monarch: And we may ſafely ſay, that no people formed into theſe Orders, if their number held any neer proportion to lie under Monarchie, were ever yet ſubdued by a Monarch, from the beginning of the World, untill this Day, unleſſe they were firſt broken in pieces by themſelves, through ſome inequalitie in the Conſtitution of their Orders, but mightie Monarchs have been often led Captives by ſuch people.

The third Order, is the Magiſtracy, wherein ſome are Chiefe, ſome ſubordinate, ſome Senatorian, ſome Popular, and are choſen accordingly, being all changeable, at certain times, and wholly ſubject to the Lawes and Order of the Common-wealth. And the Office of theſe, is to execute impartially all the Lawes made as is before expreſſed. It is poſſible it may conſiſt with the Common Intereſt, to have one chiefe Magiſtrate, in whom the Title & Honour of the Common-wealth, may reſide in publicke Solemnities and addreſſes; So that no publick Action bee left to his diſcretion, We ſhall not mention the Excellent Order of Armes, that is the Conſequence of Caſting a People into this Forme, whereby they ſubſiſt, and become invincible by their own Armies, not by Mercinaries. We onely mention the firſt Forme, wherein the Foundation of Libertie to a people ought to be laid, that is by Eſtabliſhing the Popular Aſſembly, the Senate, and the Magiſtracy; theſe are Eſſentiall unto true Libertie, the Superſtructures have differed amongſt ſeverall free People, according to divers accidents, We ſhall not preſume ſo well of our ſelves as to offer any Direction to your Lordſhip in them: but if God ſhall prepare your heart for ſuch a Worke of Righteouſneſs and Honour, we ſhall readily throw in our Mite of Advice to your Treaſury.

My Lord, We have now not onely Cleared it to be your Lordſhips Duetie, to make us free, but ſhewed wherein the Foundation of our Libertie muſt be laid, and the ground is digged to your hand, the Lands being ſo diſtributed, that no one Man, or ſmall number of Men can over-power the whole People, by their poſſeſſions, If we thought it needfull to quicken your Affections to your Duetie, we could tell you from Reaſon and Experience how ſtrangely ſuch a ſettlement of Libertie would transforme the manners of the people; Luxurie would Change into Temperance, Haughtineſſe and Envie into Meekneſſe, and mutuall Love and Emulation of Goodneſſe, ſervilitie aud baſeneſſe of minde, into Nobleneſſe and Generoſitie. Who would not follow Vertue for the Love? When neither alliance, flattery or any Vice, could make great, but a Generall Sentence from Popular Aſſemblies of Worth and Goodneſſe, we might tell you it would waſh foure Garments from the ſtaines of bloud, and the Armies honour from the black reproach that now covers it, and above all the profeſſion of religion from ſcandall and infamy; this would ſhew that you had nobler ends then yet the world believes to be in Chriſtians: If ambition pricks in your breaſt, for your ſelf or your brother; in thus doing you may ſet him upon a Throne more noble, lofty, and commanding, then ever the Stuarts poſſeſſed or deſigned. His free conjunction with your Lordſhip in this work may give him merit of greatneſſe in the ſouls of thoſe that now diſdain him, you may make your ſwords ſhine with a radiant glory beyond thoſe of Alexander and Caeſar, whoſe honour was only the ſame with that of the Plague and Peſtilence to deſtroy mankind, yours may reſtore liberty to England, and propagate it to mankind. And what ſhould hinder your Lordſhip, ſurely you can fear no reſiſtance in giving the people their right, when you feared none in many deſtructive attempts to their right & freedomes, beſides you have an Army whoſe intereſts, conſciences, ingagements, yea their very paſſions and affections lead them this way, and in doing this you may extinguiſh all fears, and ſecure againſt all plots, and make all knowing men your voluntary vaſſalls in thankfulneſſe for their liberty. But if your private intereſt ſhould blind your Lordſhips eies, and lead you out of the paths of mercie, righteouſneſſe and peace, to hew out a bloudy way to empire againſt the naturall courſe of things. We believe it will not be long before oppreſſion and confuſion, the conſequences of ſuch violent actings wil extort that from you, which with little more trouble then to moddle the elections for a Parliament (as they ought) you might give us above to your eternal honour. So wiſhing the God of mercy and peace to direct you, we remain