SEVERAL REASONS WHY SOME OFFICERS of the ARMY, WITH Many other good People, did heretofore admit of, and subject to OLIVER cromwell, as the Supreme Magistrate of the Common-Wealth of England, Scotlan●, and Ireland, and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging.  
AS ALSO, Why they did admit of, and subject to RICHARD, the Eldest Son to the said OLIVER, as Successor to his Father in the Government of the aforesaid Common-wealth, &c.  
LIKEWISE, Why they have rej●cted the said Government, and earnestly desired the Long Parliament to sit to exercise and discharge their Trust in governing the said Common-wealth without a single Person, King-ship, or House of LORDS.  
LONDON, Printed for the Author, and are to be sold at the Blackspread-Eagle near the West end of Pauls, 1659.   


Several Reasons why some of the Officers of the Army, with many other good people, did heretofore admit of, and subject to OLIVER cromwell as the Supreme Magistrate of the Common-wealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, with the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging.  
THE Reasons for admitting of, and subjecting to the said Oliver as supreme Magistrate, were these, viz.  
First, The consideration that God had made him most eminently insrrumental in subduing the common Enemy of the public peace, and of the Civil and Christian Liberties of all the good people in the three Nations, which many of the subdued( who have out-lived the late Wars) do aclowledge.  
Secondly, His appearing to assert and preserve the just liberties of all that made profession of Christ;( except as to some few particular p●rsons who denied the God head of the holy Spirit, and the Petsonalty of the Son of God, and the Resurrection of the Body, &c.) although much differing amongst themselves in Church-government, in Doctrine, and Discipline, &c. against all that would infringe the same by introducing and imposing a form for the whole by a law, with penalties to be inflicted on such as are not satisfied in judgement and conscience to comform thereunto.  
Thirdly, Because the mayor part of the little Parliament,( who made sundry Acts or laws which the people of the said Common-wealth did, and doth yield obedience unto, and thereby have allowed of their power, considering the exigency and straits the Nations were then in, although they were constituted in an extraordinary way, without the general consent of the people, who had an undoubted right to elect their representatives) did resign up their power unto him when they could not agree among themselves.  
Fourthly, Because as the case then was, it did not appear safe to put the people as in old time, to choose another Parliament so soon after the wars, the subdued common Enemy, who with their friends were very many, if not the most, and many others being much disaffected to the aforesaid Christian liberty of good people, being not then by law debarred from electing or being elected; and therefore if a Parliament should then have been chosen, the peace so mercifully bestowed, and dearly purchased with the loss of many mens lives, would again have been brought into much hazard, for that God might thereby have been justly provoked, if his people should have suffered those to have been exalted, which in love to his people and the Nations he had so justly brought down, and had made the chief Heads or Ring-leaders of them exemplary, by public Justice executed on them.  
Fifthly; Because by the wonderful victories and successses which the Lord gave him in the three Nations, he became much loved by the good, and feared by the bad both at home and abroad.  
Sixthly, Because of the unwillingness which was in the Army to govern merely by a Mi●itary Power, without a civil form or order, a civil Government being most natural, safe, and desirable to the freeborn people of these Nations.  
Seventhly; Because of the hopes that they had( after the little Parliament had resigned their Power) that his Highness would not onely during his life, preserve the Laws and Liberties of all good people, civil and Christian,( agreeing to his solemn Oath or Promise made at his instalment) and continue to be a terror to the implacable Enemies thereof both at home and abroad, but also witness to the world a sincere and fervent desire to have the same for following generations upheld and secured, by nominating a fit qualified person to succeed in the Government, that might have continued faithful to the good old Cause of God and his people.   

Reasons why they did admit of, and subject to Richard, eldest son to the said Oliver, as successor to his Father in the government of the said Commonwealth.  
First; Because the council resolved that it did appear to them that he was rightful successor to his Father, according to the Petition and Advice, and therefore ordered him to be proclaimed throughout the three Nations as Protector thereof; and thereupon he was owned, and many addresses made unto him, as being the chief Magistrate, according to the said Petition and advice of the said Commonwealth.  
Thirdly; It was hoped he would constantly adhere to the good old cause, and improve his power to maintain and preserve the same; and in order thereto, that he would harken to, and follow the good counsel of his and the Nations best friends for securing the said cause, and that he would reject all overtures made unto him by any whatsoever that might have a tendency to bring the same, and those that faithfully contended for it, into danger.   

Reasons why the late Government under Richard was rejected, and the government by a single person put to a period.  
First; For the Reasons laid down in the Declaration of the Officers of the Army lately published, wherein the long Parliament was invited to sit, unto which you are referred.  
Secondly; Because many for good reasons conclude that his title to the government was very doubtful, the circumstances about the election of him being duly considered, are not satisfactory, he being not chosen whilst his Father was in a fit capacity to nominate a successor.  
Thirdly, For that he appeared to decline from following the good counsel of those who were, and are eminent asserters of the civil and Christian Liberties of good people; and for that he did harken to, and follow such( as it is to be feared) as more affencted and delighted of late with worldly honors and carnal interests, then with the weal and Liberties of good people.  
Fourthly; Because he to uphold his will against the counsel of the aforesaid good men, endeavoured to engage the Army in and about the Cities of London and Westminster, to the ruin of such as had continued faithful to the aforesaid good cause and interest, and there, by endangered to put all into blood and confusion.   

Reasons why the said Officers did invite the Long Parliament to return to the exercise and discharge of their Trusts.  
First; For the Reasons given in the aforesaid Declation, to which we refer you.  
Secondly; Because according to the old constitution formerly altered, they are the ancient lawful Authority of this Nation, being at first summoned or called together by virtue of the late King's Writ, and were thereupon chosen by the people, and after by the same Authority were established, and were not according to the Law then in being, to be dissolved without their own consent, which yet was attempted and done by the Will, Interest, and Potency of the late Lord Protector, whilst their General.  
Thirdly; Because to establish and continue the Government of these Nations in a single person, may prove a very evil consequence in the future, besides the manifold inconveniences that began to appear not only of late, but formerly; as to instance some few instead of many that might be mentioned: 1. Very much of the public treasure was spent, and great Debts contracted to maintain the Court in its pomp, and such as were Officers and Attendants upon it. 2. It appeared to be such a foundation that many were induced thereby to endeavour the building or bringing in Kingship upon it, a Government which had been justly destroyed, and was most contrary to the spirits of good men. 3. Many Officers of the Army, some of which are very considerable, notwithstanding many good services performed by them for the Commonwealth, were for their being dissatisfied at the Court-designs, dismissed, or put out of their places, without being brought to a legal trial at a Court-Mar●●al, contrary to the due privilege and laudable custom of the Army, which was a great grief to the spirits of many who still continued in their commands, as being unwilling that such as were adversaries to the liberties of good people, should( to promote a carnal and selfish interest) get into their places to endeavour the weal and safety of the whole. 4. Countenance and encouragement was abundantly given to such as were of loose principles and lives, and of rigid spirits against good people, and had been but little serviceable in the time of war to the public; and that by advancing them into places of trust and profit, in the rooms of such as were put off, as aforesaid, and this upon a mere politic account, to uphold the government in a single person, and to set up the Family.  
Fifthly; Because the civil and Christian Liberties of good people might quickly have been brought to danger through the interest and endeavours of many to settle and impose a form of Church-government, Doctrine, and Discipline, &c. who would have readily engaged to stand and contend for the government in a single person upon that very account, if they could but have had their desires therein granted unto them.  
Sixthly; The continuance of the government in a single person would have given Charles St●art and his party the greater hopes to see a time wherein they might accomplish their own ends by pretending a right to the government before any single person whatsoever.  
Seventhly; Because the said long Parliament made so good a beginning to settle the government of these Nations before their interruption in April, 1653. it s hoped that they will most faithfully, chear●ully, and courageously, now they are by Gods wonderful and gracious providence restored to their former freedom for acting in a Parliamentary way to perform the rest of that great good work which yet remains to be done by them.   
FINIS.