Let me speak too? OR, Eleven QUERIES, Humbly Proposed to the Officers of the ARMY Concerning, The late Alteration of Government. The last Testimony amongst men both Greeks and Barbarians, which no time will abolish, is that which by Oath, calleth the Gods to be sureties of their Covenants. Procopius. Psal. 15. 4. Having sworn to his own hurt, he changeth not? Let your moderation be known to all men, for the Lord is at hand. London, Printed 1659. Gentlemen AS it pleased the Lord of Hosts to conduct you through many difficulties hitherto, with whom to this time I have kept place, and wherein I cannot accord, I humbly with all affection propos● my scruples, being willing to be delivered from any error and misapprehension in any kind, and that which is given with the right hand, will not( I hope) be taken with the left: And let me acquaint you, it is not private Interest or worldly gain is any ground at all to incline me to Quaere, for I was never no Courtier, nor received any benefit by it, nor was ever like to do, nor ever received the least personal injury from the long Parliament. Therefore as they are the naked and plain result of an unbyas●ed mind, I hope you will the rather bear with them and me, I know some amongst you( which I am sorry to see) takes all ill, and resents nothing to be reason but that which comports with their own humours, as for them, I am in little hope either to receive or give satisfaction ▪ This only I would farther say, that the former blessings of God and his mercy unto you is no argument at all that he will ever continue the same, but will( as he hath done to other people) more highly declare himself against you, in case you take sanctuary at unrighteous ways and courses, and what are not justifiable before God and men: You have I loved above all the nations of the earth, I therefore will punish you for your iniquity. I do not know any one action that ever brought your principles into suspicion, and that you bear not the same good will to righteous and just proceedings, as this last of dethroning his Highness without any reason or cause given, at least worthy such severity: All that I have further to say is, that if you have done well, and have the testimony of a good conscience, the Lord establish you, if not, God give you repentance, and make restitution. Query. 1. WHether there be any power or authority by Kings or Protectors, with Parliament or Parliaments alone; or a Free-state so called; and what other Government soever be more Jure divino, than another; and the reason of this Quere is this; because no one Government, but hath been as beneficial a Government to the people as the other: And there is nothing in any new devised way of Rotation,( which in itself is seemingly rational) but whether other Governments be not every way as rational, and freer from inconveniences in the practise of it, than the other, and far more, if well considered. 2. Whether the late Protector was not proclaimed, as Protector and supreme Magistrate, by the commanders in chief of the Army in the greatest solemnity imaginable, first at the Exchange in London, Westminster, and afterward throughout England, Scotland and Ireland, with the greatest testimonies of the Souldiers good will and liking, and of the peoples reception and entertainment with a nemine contradicente. 3. Whether the Officers and Souldiers of the Army afterward upon more serious deliberation did not generally address themselves unto the Protector as supreme magistrate and so did further thereby oblige themselves and by such a kind of transaction subjected themselves by way of the most solemn engagements unto him, as supreme magistrate. 4. Whether the people from all quarters of the Nation did not after the most solemn manner, address themselves likewise unto him, with the most Cordial, Zealous, and pathetical expressions; that was possible, for a poor people, tired out with War and blood to utter: Thinking with themselves, that now they were arrived at the faire haven of peace and safety: and withall, let this be considered also: that if an agreement of the people so much talked of by some be that which would be as a fundamental basis for a Government to be settled upon; then lo here it is, I think it may be said, without the least kind of presumption: That noe Prince or King of England, or any other Government, since this was a land, had a greater Testimony and witness, and agreement of the people; both religious and others, than this Protector hath, Having about four or five hundred thousand hands, and twice as many hearts besides. 5: Whether he was not acknowledged and recognised by the freest Parliament Chosen many years, as supreme Magistrate. 6: Whether the Lord Fleetwood, Desbrow Lambert, Bury, Hewson, Cooper, &c: did not Swear to be true to him as Protector when they sat in Parliament: and how hateful to God and men, yea to the very Heathens have such things been, ezekiel 17. 12, ●3, 14, 15. Speaking of the faith that the Hebrew Kings had given to the Babylonians, shall he prosper, shall he escape that doth such things; or shall he escape, that breaks the Covenant and be delivered. Verse 16, As I live, saith the Lord God, Surely in the place where the King dwelleth that made him King, whose oath he despised, and whose Covenant he broke, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die. Verse: 18. Seeing he despised the oath, by breaking the Covenant,( when lo, he had given his hand) and hath done all these things, he shall not escape: Philo: An oath is Gods Testimony of a thing in Question? Austin, He that swears by a ston if he swear falsely is perjured, and afterwards saith: The ston heareth not thy words but God punishes thy fraud ▪ 7 Whether the late Protector( for so it seems he must be called) ever gave any reason or ground at all, for these Gentlemen to dethrone him, and to protest against him and his Government. I could wish, and many Thous●nds more, the reasons might be seen, for nothing hath passed or been observed by diligent observers and partners with you in the same cause: That might render him unlovely or inacceptable to any person whatsoever: However, if there be any grounds or considerations, that might induce the Army to such a grand transaction as this: first to reject and slight him, and then to give reasons if there be any, is to hang a man first, and to try him afterward: 8. But if there be no substantial Grounds, as itis presumed there none can be, even as little as you may blame the Sun for running his course, so harmless hath he been, whether then there hath been in any age, more unfaithfulness in justice, greater covenant breakers, persons so rebellious, men that hath rendered the blessed Gospel of Christ and professors thereof more uncomely then this Generation hath done, let the World judge, for indeed they have already given their verdict in the case which more is the pity. 9. Whether your Invitation of the Long-Parliament( so called) to return to their Trust, be not a transparent figment: who trusted them? the People. But the people since have delivered their Trust elsewhere; for when the late Protectors did sand out Writs, the people might have stayed at home, there was none forced to choose, but freely they have Elected others: And if so be the Free choice and Election of the People make a Parliament, and they are also free to choose, as often the providence of God shall put opportunity into their hands, then itis very doubtful whether this be any other thing, than onely a Parliament so called, the people having freely Declared themselves otherwise. Obj. But if it be objected, that these Gentlemen with others, made a Vote in the Long Parliament, that they should not be dissolved, nor disturbed until they themselves pleased or saw cause. Answ. Its a good way of Arguing if it would serve, for if ten or more Lords or great men should choose Stewards and Trustees to manage their Estates for best advantage, as usually they do; and after they felt and tasted the sweet of their Trust, they should enter into a Combination, and resolve and agree among themselves, that now having the sole dispose of their Lords Estates, that they would not be put out of their Stewardship, until they themselves pleased: Do you think that they that did thus trust these good Stewards was obliged by their, Stewards resolution, doubtless no: but if at any time afterward their Lords should appoint other Stewards, doubtless they ought to Officiate, and the others to shift for themselves, except they liked to entertain them the second time, and whether this be not the present Case in hand, and these as much a Parliament as the other Stewards, is the Query? 10. Whether this Parliament( if it needs must be so called) with seventy more Gentlemen for a Senate, be not like to infringe the Peoples Rights and give less satisfaction than one single Person with a Parliament: The first Reason is, this Parliament of 50 or 60. or thereabouts ▪ and seventy more besides have every one of them a long train: there is never a one but is a File-leader, that is, hath at least; six or ten at his heels, to be provided for one way or other: and all hungry as hawks ready to catch at any thing, and nothing will serve but the blood of the people, for they must be fed with something. 2. Reason, Its against the standing rules of reason, the professed principles of the Army, for any Power or Authority to have the Militia and the Command of the peoples purses, which this Parliament or people hath, which is both destructive and pernicious; though the Command of the peoples purse was never desired or practised by a single person: And whether a Government settled by Parliament, under one head, to execute the laws of the Government so made by Parliament, be not more pleasing and rational than to have a Body consisting of so many heads, which is Monster like: The people generally doubtless had rather have their Laws executed by one person, which they love and honour, than to have a hundred or a hundred and fifty men equal or worse than themselves to domineer over them, as itis too apparent they were accustomend to do; besides, you will find in case of any exorbitancy in a Government, that one for his Trust is sooner dealt with than many ▪ 11. Whether the Good Old Cause, so much talked of, be not generally mistaken: for what is this cause so much magnified, but that which you have possessed and enjoyed as free in this Protectors time, as in the Long-Parliament: nay, and more also by far: Now let us first inquire what it is: If first the Basis of all our fierce and fiery contests with all sorts, as well the pulling out the Long-Parliament themselves, as against the King and Bishops, were not for liberty of Conscience, and for a toleration of men of different mindes in Gods Worship and Service; let every man 〈…〉 the times, the Armies Declarations, and the course of things every year since the first beginning, and you will find the( kindle coal of all differences were in this, that sometime Prelacy, and then Presbytery, both in England and Scotland had an itch to be beating their fellow-servants; and to ward the dint of their blow, presently we still betook ourselves to our Arms: if you will say the Liberties of the people was part and a principle one too ▪ Its true it was I believe not onely pretended, but intended also; But the people are the most proper judges, he that is beaten is best able to judge of the blows; and he that is diseased of the gout or the like, he is most sensible of the ease when he hath it: so the people, if their verdict may pass: Whether the executive power in this Protector or in Committees of Parliament be best, itis too apparent, if the people( whose Servants these Gentlemen pretend to be) might speak and be heard, they would neither give them meat, drink, nor lodging for their work; but would be as bad as a High Court of Justice I fear. FINIS.