ADVICE to ELECTORS; BY A Wellwisher to PARLIAMENTS, and one who will live and die a Friend to his Country.  
SEEING England can never be destroyed but by a Parliament, it greatly concerns those who are empowered, to Elect Members to be very circumspect whom they choose. And though their own Mistakes heretofore, of which they have felt the woeful consequences, may sufficiently instruct them to behave themselves with more Prudence and Fidelity than they did the last time, yet it may not be amiss to point out some Measures unto them for their better conduct in so important Affair. All which, shall be so adjusted to their Safety and Universal Interest, that those of the meanest as well as best Understandings, shall be forced to acknowledge, that the regulating themselves by them in what they are now called to do, will both become them in the discharge of their duty to God, Themselves, and their Country, and prove the most subservient means to their Defence, Prosperity and Happiness. Wherein, that I may acquit myself the better, and the more distinctly, and with all the brevity imaginable, I shall first represent the Characters of those, whom all wise and good Men may be ashamed as well as afraid to give their Suffrages unto, and then declare what qualities and properties are required in them, with whom we may securely trust the Concerns of the Nation at this critical Juncture. To begin therefore with those, whom all that consult their own good, and that of their Posterity, are industriously to preclude, and much more to avoid giving any countenance unto, they are such as stand marked out, and deciphered by one or more of the Descriptions following.  
1. None ought to be chosen to dispose of other men's Estates, whom the Law disables from managing their own; so that Minors who are not allowed the conduct of their own Personal and Domestic Concerns, are not to be esteemed capable of transacting the Affairs of the Kingdom. Such are fit to be in Schools under the Ferula, than to have a Room in the Senate-House, to concur in Enacting Laws. And of those of 40 and 50, that Elect them of 16 and 19; escape the brand either of Fools or Knaves, for what they so preposterously do; the favourablest thing can be said of both is, that the former are the Old Boys, and the latter the Young.  
2. They who have neither Money nor Land of their own, to be burdened in common with the rest of the Subjects, are no ways worthy to be entrusted with the bestowing of the Treasure of the Nation. It is a Dishionour for the Nation, to have those chosen into a House of Commons, who could not escape being in Goal, but thro' the Privilege of sitting there: So that all Vnsolvent Persons, who see to get into Parliament, that they may defraud their Creditors, and avoid legal Prosecutions for righteous Debts, aught to be held fit to take Sanctuary in the Minories or White-friar's, than to have St. Stephen's Chapel vouchsafed them for an Azilum.  
3. Nor do they deserve to be esteemed good trusties for the Kingdom, who have not known how to husband what their Fathers and Ancestors left them. For they will never be found good Stewards of other men's Money, who have been lavish and prodigal of their own. So that your Luxurious and Lascivious D●bauchees, such whom the Censors would have turned out of the Senate, though of the Patrician Order are to be reckoned among the unquallified, for the constituting the Legislative Assembly of the Kingdom. And experience teaches us, that such will be found wasting that time in Taverns, Gaming-houses, or worse Places, which they ought to devote in redressing the grievances of their Country, and the covering it from Oppressions.  
4. Such upon whose honesty Men would not depend in the most trivial matter, are not to be thought Persons duly qualified, for having all the Rights, Liberties, and Estates of England, ventured into their hands, and consigned over by Indentures to their disposal; nor will any but Fools, Elect such as go under the Character of Knaves. So that those whom their Neighbours in County, City, and Borough, would not trust with the conveving one hundred pound for them to London; without better security for the discharge of that mean Trust, than their own Faith and Honour, are not to have all that's valuable to English Men put into their Power to barter away, and raise. Fortunes by, to themselves, when they come to Westminster.  
5. Persons who have not much of their own, either Real or Personal, and so can lose little or nothing by keeping out of the House, but who propose the gaining a great deal, by getting into it, ought not to have the Suffrage of such as would be held either wise or honest to help them thither; seeing it is not the serving the Country; but themselves, which they project and design. So that of all Men, your narrow fortuned Country Demagogues are to be precluded from being Deputies to a Parliament, seeing their Business when chosen will be to talk themselves into Places by mutinous Harangues, and to keep them afterwards either by turning Silent, or by changing their Tone, who as they will connive at the ruin of the Nation by the first, so they will concur to hasten it by the second.  
6. Such who purchase their being elected, whether it be by Money or great Entertainments which is equivalent, are by all the rules of Justice and Wisdom to be looked upon, not only with jealousy, but with disdain. For if their Brains or Purses be their own, they will not spend so prodigally, but upon form Resolutions of reimbursing themselves what they lay out: And having gained Votes by drinking People out of their senses, they will treat them afterwards answerable to the Character of Fools and Sots which they had made them.  
7. Neither are they to be accounted sit Guardians of the People's Privileges, or Stewards of their Money, who are the Menial Servants or the Partisans of a Court, that seek either to encroach upon their Rights, or that wanteth more of their Treasure for carrying on its Designs, than the Subject can spare, or safely undergo. It is enough that the Law has but the chacting Fiat of Bills into the Sovereign's Hand, and it concerns the People in the whole they are worth, to keep the moulding or preparing them in others than those, who neither know, nor will, but as the Prince directs as well as allows them.  
8. Whosoever has more by a Place or an Office in the Government, than their own quota of a Tax can amount to, will never be good Husbands of their Purses whom they are chosen to represent. For why should they care what others feel, when their own shares are more than paid out of the Salaries and Perquisites of their Places, especially when they hold them by the tenor of never considering what the Country can give, but what their Royal Master is pleased to demand. So that to avoid Persons of this Complexion, those in the Kingdom who are trusted with the Right and Privilege of choosing Parliament Men, aught to take a Survey, and have a List of the Commissioners of the Treasury, Admiralty, Custom-house, Excise-Office, &c,  
9 Especially, none ought to be chosen into Parliament, whose whole Subsistence and Livelihood arise out of Taxes, seeing such will rather impoverish others, than submit to starve themselves. So that Military Officers, whose Trade of War is upheld by lavish Impositions on the Subject, are in no more consistency with Reason to be elected Members, than those that live by Padding on the Road, are to be appointed Arbiters, what shall be taken from, or lest with those whom it is their business to rob.  
10. They who have neither Quality nor Merit to deserve Honour, but yet who are ambitious of it, are as little qualified to be elected into Parliament, as any of those I have already mentioned. Seeing to be advanced to the Titles they covet, their Pride baited with agreeable Temptations, will influence them to give away whatsoever the People do possess. And whosoever are inordinately ambitious, will make it their business to arrive at Grandeur, without considering the lawfulness or unlawfulness of the means by which they attain it: Who, when they have ascended by the People's favour to the height which they aimed at, will insult over and trample upon them, who made and furnished them with the Ladder. And in recompense for the Feathers they have put into their Caps, they will clap the Fool's Coat upon their Backs, who gave them the Interest as well as the Opportunity to procure them.  
11. Neither are they who have betrayed their Country or abandoned the care of it in former Parliaments to be trusted again in this of any other: For upon whatsoever motives they behaved themselves unfaithfully heretofore, and unbecoming the Trust that was imposed in them, they will do the like again, if lustily baited in proportion to the lust and passions that predominate over them, so that a little retrospect will give such Ideas of many, as may serve honest Men to govern themselves by, in the Elections they are to make: Only let them remember that the Character of Knavo, which belongs entirely to them, who deceived them once, will the next time be their own lot with the addition of Fool to boot; if they give them the same opportunity of deceiving them again. Nor are they who have through Bigotry or Disloyalty overthrown one Branch of the Constitution, to be trusted with the Guardianship of the Remainder: For such as have alienated those Rights, which by all the Laws of the Land were rendered most inviolable, will not be conscientious or zealous on this foot of Principles for preserving the Privileges and Immunities of others: Not but that there is a difference to be made, between them who have acquiested in what they could not prevent, and those that have subverted what was most Sacred in the Government, upon Republicane Prospects and Inducements of Ambition and Covetousness. And tho' the present King may be safe in these men's hands, while they can serve their ends by him. Yet as Kingship is not, so neither will be be any longer, than they can raise themselves to Power and Interest, to change the Monarchy into a Commonwealth.  
12. Of all Men they are not only the Unworthiest to serve again in Parliament, but to be abhorred as Betrayers of their Country, who in any Parliament heretofore, are either known, or justly suspected to have been Pensioners: Seeing the only reason why such Persons are bought by others, is their having Inclinations, and their being in a capacity to sell the Nation. For it is only their Treachery that makes them valuable at a Court, and not Parts or Ability for National and Honourable Service. And all Men have cause to believe, that they who have bargained for, and sold them so often, will deliver them at last, if they be but offered a Price accordingly. Nor do we deserve better, if we be so sottish, as to elect them again, whom either certain Intelligence or common Fame have divulged, for making Merchandise of the People, to enrich themselves: Of whom I need not give a Catalogue, there being some in all parts of the Kingdom, that can both publish their Names, and proclaim their Infamy.  
13. Nor are they worthy to be chosen to serve in a House of Commons, who are recommended by such as have other Ends to serve, than those of their Country; they whom their own Merit cannot advance at Court, ought not to be relied upon in their Solicitations for any to be Members of Parliament; seeing all they aim at, is by gaining the Votes of the People for their Favourites, to render them Tools by whom they then form themselves into Mercury's at Whitchall, where otherwise they would be overlooked as useless Blocks, whilst otherwise they are.  
14. To which I add in the last place, that they who value themselves upon the favour or credentials of Persons owning a Foreign dependence are to be treated with the disdain, which is due to those detached from the Interest of England, and who are become embarked in that of an Outlandish People; for considering the influence that Strangers have either by themselves, or by those that are their Creatures, upon all the Revolutions of Estate, we may easily foresee, that nothing is wanting to the making us a Province to those that Rival us in Trade, or to the giving us up a Sacrifice to their lust and pleasure, but the getting such into our Senate-house, who tho Natives by Birth, are bribed to be Aliens by Inclinations.  
It may be now apprehended, that if all those I have represented be unqualified to serve in Parliament, there will be very few found whom the People may wisely choose, or safely trust, and though to the reproach of the Nation, it is too likely that it may be so, yet I must display such Properties requirable in those to be elected, as will render the finding them still more difficult, though I hope not impossible.  
1. It is needful than they should be Persons of good sense, that they may not be easily misled, nor wheedled out of their own Rights, and those of the Nation. Tho Money may be thought enough to recommend one to be an Alderman, or Lord Mayor, yet a little Wit and some measure of Understanding are needful to qualify one to be a Member of a Legistative Body of the Kingdom. I do not mean he should be a Philosopher, but he should understand something of the Constitution, and how to conduct Public Affairs.  
2. They should not only be Men of exact honesty, but of undaunted fortitude, who as they are not to be bribed, so they will not endure to be hoctored; not that I would have them rude or unmannerly to their Prince, but only bold and zealous in asserting and vindicating the Rights of their Country.  
3. They ought to be Men of some considerable Fortune themselves, who may be encouraged to protect other men's Estates upon the motives of defending their own.  
4. They should be Gentlemen recommended well affected to their Country, who may thereby render whatsoever is grievous in itself, though necessary to be granted, not only patiently submitted unto, but cheerfully approved of.  
5. They are to be Persons not only well inclined, but unalterably principled as to the goodness of our Constitution above all other Forms of Sovereign Rule and Authority; otherwise they will over-tax the People under pretence to support the Government, but in reality to overthrow it.  
6. Nor ought they to be People indifferent about or Heretical in Religion, seeing the State is so inter-woven with the Church, that whoever endeavours to supplant the one, will be found to shake the t'other. Which I do therefore intimate, because they who have for several years been spawning among us a Socinian Christianity, do begin to palm upon us a new frame of Civil Policy, and who by their late prints obtruded upon the Nation, are designing to mould the Kingdom into conformity with a little Corporation.  
7. They ought to be such, who though favourers of a due liberty in Religious matters, yet have a hearty concern for preserving the Ecclesiastical Order and Discipline, that are at present established. For as those of the National Communion are by far the most considerable for number, quality and interest, so there are few Dissenters in the Kingdom capable to defend our Common Religion, when vigorously attacked either by Arguments or Force: If we should disoblige or discourage those I have mentioned from appearing to vindicate and protect it; and besides they have not only as many but more Laws to secure them in their Claims, than any other rank of People whatsoever hath for its Properties, so that whosoever take upon them to overthrow their establishment, may with as much reason as well as right disfranthise the Body of their People of England.  
8. Nor would it do amiss to get such every where returned, as may seriously examine, whether any thing be at all needful to be levied of the People at this time, for support of the Government; seeing it can so liberally alienate away, and bequeath both the ancient Lands of the Crown, and what we call the late forfeited Estates upon its Minions. For it was never heretofore found, that Impositions were laid upon the subject to spare the Inheritance of, and Incidents to the Throne, and much less to encourage the squandring them away in Donatives, but only to supply those deficiencies, which the Royal Treasure could not answer and defray.  
9 It will be but congruous to Justice as well as to Prudence, that such may be chosen to dispose the Money of the Nation, as will not only inquire, but be satisfied before they grant any, how much is necessary to be given; for thereby we shall only bear the Burden of our own quota, and not undergo the Charge incumbent upon all the Confederates, or at least the greatest part of them. In the doing whereof, we may be thought Rich, and with all Prodigal, but will never be called Wise nor Discreet.  
10. All Men will find it their Interest to choose such, as may not only consider what is demanded, but what the Kingdom is in a condition to give. Seeing otherwise we pull only ruin upon ourselves, in order to preserve others; and will meet with no better recompense from those whom we are endeavouring to defend, than to be styled Fools for our pains.  
11. Those upon whom the right of representing the Nation in Parliament is to be devolved, aught to be Persons, who before they grant more Money, may exact a strict impartial account how that hath been laid out, which the Kingdom hath already so liberally granted, being if not applied to the Uses it was designed, and particularly to the preserving our Navigation and Trade, our Treasure as to us, is only impertinently wasted, and we impoverished to no purpose, or to such purposes as we reap no Benefit by, and it may be know nothing of.  
12. Is will be both convenient and necessary, that those chosen to serve at this time, be Men of such Integrity to their Country, that as they are to give from the People with one Hand, they may get something for them with the other. That is, that they may not part with so much Treasure as will be required, without procuring some goodard ●●d beneficial Laws in the room of it. I do not mean that they ●●ould pair from the Crown any of its essential and necessary Prerogatives, but only that they would repair and strengthen the Fences about the People's Liberties, and make such Pro … s against our trafficking and eneroaching Allies, as that we may not prove a Prey to them upon the expiration of the Confederacy.  
What hath been here briefly represented, required more room to enlarge upon, than the Design of this Paper and Undertaking would allow: But if judged necessary, the enforcement of all these Heads are ready, with the several Reasons proper to support and give efficacy to them; which being rather needful to justify the Sincerity of the Author, than further to influence those to whom this Sheet is addressed, is therefore at present superseded, but shall be publicly exhibited, whensoever called for, or demanded.  
Octob. 14th, 1695.   
FINIS.