A COPY Of The SPEECH Made By Sir john Lenthall To The LORD-MAYOR & ALDERMEN In The GUILD-HALL LONDON, The of _____ 1659.  
For the satisfying of such as either by misreport or misunderstanding of some passages in it, have excepted against it.  
LONDON, Printed by Tho. Leach 1659.   

My Lord Mayor,  
I Am very happy that you have given this Committee of Parliament such satisfaction, and also that we have given this Court the knowledge of our Intentions: How fare the Parliament is from giving you any just occasions, I have already given you Assurances of, and I hope this Conference will give us a better and more firm Confidence one in the other, that so we may walk together in a mutual and happy Compliance; It was hinted by the worthy Alderman that spoke last, how that the Posts and Chains were set up for the Security of the City, and to prevent such Dangers as they were so lately threatened with. This I must confess was a just occasion to secure yourselves from hazards of this nature, but why it should now be done when your dangers are past, and when that Authority is in being, which you pretended to have so ardent desires too, and which (I may say) you cannot fear, when you consider how tender they have been to the People, how great Friends they have been to the Commerce and Trade of this place, and how desirous they formerly have been to preserve the Privileges and Rights of it against all Danger and Invasion; And me thinks 'tis no small happiness, that from a Confusion so lately here, there should be this Calm and this Tranquillity.  
In the several discourses, I apprehend there has been a little glance at the form of Government, and though we have no instructions as to that, yet since the opportunity is given, I will let you understand what I perceive the intentions of the Parliament are. Their whole design is a Commonwealth Government, that is, that the Nation shall be Governed by successive Parliaments freely chosen by the People. I must confess I know not how this may agree with the inclinations of the English Nation, for it has been my misfortune never to have known a quiet or an established Government amongst us, so that I can speak but of such a one as I have been informed of, and such a part of one, as I a little time lived under. The first is determined by the hand of war, the other disturbed before 'twas brought to perfection, yet under that little glimpse we had of what we should have, it might easily be discovered, that was not likely to be an unproffitable one: And I am of opinion, that most of this Honourable number will affirm the same; it being a season wherein Trade so flourished, and the Merchant made so successful returns, that I believe most of you can date the begeting of your wealth from the time you were under that Authority; And if any of you have had losses, you must derive them from succeeding times, which have been very unfortunate to this Nation, and most unhappy to this City.  
There are in Europe several forms of Governmernt, some under Monarchies, others under Free-States, the first may be good, the other we are certain are very beneficial to the people that live under them, as there are many of you can witness from what you have observed in some parts of Italy, Germany, France, and from our rich and near Neighbours, the Free-States of Holland, who have now mastered the Trade of this part of the world, and swallowed the English glory and wealth. And I am of opinion this proceeds from the very form of Government, which is amongst them, but yet I do not like it so well, as that I could wish an imitation of it here, for it will neither agree with the interest nor the people of this Nation, it not being generous enough for so magnanimous a people.  
I have spoke all this my Lord brokenly, because 'tis only to answer objections that have been made, and I am very sensible of the trouble I have detained you with, I shall therefore conclude with this advice, that this City would be careful how they make causeless jealousies, and by making preparations against them you may create real dangers; For 'tis not my observation only, but of the best Historians; That when too much mistrust of their dangers have been infused into the multitude, they make their resorts to numbers and very quickly increase and commonly the most indigent are the most luxurious, when having their opportunity they become their own Carvers, and if underhand this be composed for the bringing in of the King, (as that is the opinion of many) why then certainly if he found the indigent did his business, 'tis his interest to enrich them with the wealth of those that were less active though not less desirous to have the thing done.  
Thus my Lord, I have given you my opinion, and my advice must be, That your Lordship, with the rest of this Honourable number, would make it your endeavours to appease the distractions not to inflame them, the one relishes much of prudence, the other of Precipitancy.  
FINIS.