The Good Old Cause Explained, Revived, & Asserted. AND The Long-Parliament Vindicated. IN A Remonstrance to his Excellency the Lord Fleetwood and Council of Officers. Being the Sense and earnest Desires of many thousands honest well-affected Persons of the Army and People in this Nation. With several Expedients humbly offered; 1. For the settling and securing of our Civil and Spiritual Rights and Freedoms, and the public Peace of the Nation. 2. For the speedy raising of Moneys to pay the Arrears of the Army and Navy, and future supply of other Public Engagements, as the most probable and visible Way and Means now under God left to accomplish the same; And preserve us from that inevitable Confusion and Destruction which hangs over and threatens the three Nations. THe things contended for with the late King, in the late War, (wherein there was great effusion of Christian blood, and Treasure spent) Consisted principally of these particulars: 1. That our Persons and Estates might not be disposed of at the Arbitrary will and pleasure of the King and his evil Counselors, and other his lose adherents; But secured and protected according to Magna Charta, the Petition of Right, and other wholesome Laws made for the Defence and Safety of the People, against Tyranny, Oppression, and Arbitrariness, which in those days were too often exercised. 2. To have our Spiritual Rights and Freedoms secured unto us; and the honest conscientious people preserved from the Rage and Fury of the Bishops and their adherents, who grievously persecuted many for differences in Judgement in point of Form and Ceremonies, and for not conforming to their Canons against the dictates of their own Consciences; though holding forth and agreeing in Fundamentals warranted by Scripture. 3. Upon the whole, to have a thorough- Reformation of Religion, Laws, and Manners. And to have Profaneness, Licentiousness, and Looseness of Conversation discountenanced and suppressed; and true Piety, Sobriety, and Uprightness of Conversation, Righteousness and Peace, encouraged and maintained. 4. And lastly, to have the Militia of the Nation secured and disposed of in such Hands, as might exercise the same for the Defence and Common Preservation of our Lives, Liberties, Rights and Proprieties. And to prevent the future use thereof, for the introducing and support of Tyranny, Slavery, and Arbitrariness in matters Civil and Spiritual, so highly attempted by the late King and his Party. And it pleased the Lord of Hosts (after many sharp Contests and bloody Battles fought betwixt the King and Pa●liament concerning the premises) to decide the Quarrel on the Parliaments side, by the total vanquishing of the King and his Party; whereby the Parliament (who could by no other means prevail with the King to a reasonable Condescension to the just things demanded from him) were now by the hand of Providence put in a capacity (without him) to effect the same, and accomplish the premises; being the earnest and longing desires and fervent prayers of the good People of the Nation, who freely hazarded their Lives and Fortunes in this Good Old Cause, which no good Man hath cause to renounce, or be ashamed of. We say GOOD, Because it hath a tendency to the advancing of God's glory, the maintenance and Reformation of the Essentials and Body of Religion in its purity according to the Word of God, in opposition to Popery, Atheism, Superstition and Profaneness; and the securing of the People's just Rights, Liberties, Properties, Privileges and Immunities, against Tyranny, Arbitrariness, and Oppression. OLD, Because Anciently and Originally all Power was in the People; and the design of setting up all Governments and Governors, was always professed for the good of the People, who primarily had the power and choice of Electing both. But lost it by the craft, policy, and sinister contrivances of aspiring-people, whose Ambition reached as high as the Heavens, and their pride would admit of no Equal on Earth. The regaining our Liberties and Rights, and the re-investing the Supreme Authority in the People's Representatives in Parliament, hath for many scores of years been the great desires of the good people of this Nation, to accomplish the ends aforesaid, being wearied with the former Oppression and Slavery, under Kings, Lords, and Bishops: which long before the late Wars many thousands of the Nations would (which many of them often declared and suffered for it) willingly have shaken off, but could not effect the same, until it pleased the Lord out of his Almighty providence (after the total suppressing of the power and interest of that party in these Nations) to put it into the hearts of that good old Parliament, to settle the Government in the way of a FREE STATE; which sort of Government is neither New nor Strange, The Venetians (the Bulwark of Christendom) having for many hundreds of years lived happily and Victoriously in the way of a Commonwealth. And our Neighbours the States of Holland, since they shook off the Spanish Yoke, have lived very plentifully and comfortably, and highly improved their Trade and Interest, whose freedom in the Exercise of their Religion, doth in no sort obstruct or disturb the Government or peace of that State. Nor would it probably prove otherwise in this Nation, if once the people's Spiritual and Civil Rights, Liberties and Proprieties, were effectually settled and established. So that this Good Old Cause is of far longer standing, and hath its essence and beginning before the ten years' times prefixed in a late printed paper, and long before the Author or his great Grandfather were born. And in order to the securing the ends of this Good Old Cause, See their Declaration of 17 March. 1648. the Parliament Declared the Grounds of their late proceed; And of settling the Government in the way of a FREE STATE: Which being seriously considered, is sufficient to satisfy every honest conscientious well-affected man touching that affair. The Office of Kingly Power, or under any other Name in a single Person, being well weighed, and the Charge to support it, and the manner and exercise thereof in these Nations duly considered, will appear to have served mostly to satisfy their own boundless Ambition, Pride, and Cruelty, grinding the faces of the people, and prodigally spending Christian Blood, and the Treasure of the Nations upon punctillioes of Honour, personal Titles, and particular revenge and dislastes, and other sinister ends, under pretence of State-Policy; Assuming to themselves that Supremacy in all matters, which none may question, much less punish, how illegal, arbitrary, or unwarrantable soever their actions may be. And their greedy Courtiers, attendants and adherents trampling upon, and oppressing the Gentry and poor Commonalty with their new invented Rates, Taxes, and Monopolies of all sorts, and other Court-Inventions, Cum privilegio. And their Courts have been frequently observed to be the Patterns, Nurseries, and protectors of covetousness, pride, ambition, and looseness. The Excess of the Court, their relations and attendants, proving an intolerable charge and burden on the People. The Ends and Designs for which the Long Parliament did thus change the Government from this Tyranny, into a Free-State, appears in their said printed Declaration, to be, 1. To prevent a new and further expense and effusion of the Treasure and Blood of England. 2. To establish a firm and safe peace and an oblivion of all Rancour and ill-Will occasioned by the late troubles: The establishing the Government in any one single Person or Family, under what name or qualification soever, serving only to entail a war on us and our posterities, to maintain personal interests, inconsistent with the good and welfare of the Nation. 3. To provide for the due Worship of God according to his word, the advancement of the true protestant Religion, and for the liberal and certain maintenance of godly Ministers. 4. To procure a just Liberty for the Consciences, Persons, and Estates of all men conformable to God's glory and their own peace. 5. To endeavour vigorously the punishment of the cruel Murderers in Ireland, the restoring of the honest Protestants and this Commonwealth to their rights there, and the full satisfaction of all Engagements for this work. 6. To provide for the settling and just observing of Treaties and Alliances with foreign Princes and States, for the encouragement of Manufactures, for the increase and flourishing of Trades at home, and the maintenance of the poor in all places of the Land. 7. To take care for the due Reformation and Administration of the Law and public Justice, that the evil may be punished and the good rewarded. 8. To order the Revenue in such a way that the public charges may be defrayed, the soldiers Pay justly and duly settled; that free quarter may be wholly taken off, the People be eased in their Burdens and Taxes, and the debts of the Commonwealth be justly satisfied. 9 To remove all grievances and oppressions of the People, and to establish peace and righteousness in the Land. The Parliament passed an Act, for the abolishing of the House of Lords, that grand Badge and Relic of the Norman Conquest, 19 March, 1648. which served only for a Negative voice against the People's just rights and liberties, being the great obstructors of good Laws, and supportors of the arbitrary unlimited will and pleasure of Princes. It was Enacted, 19 May, 1649. That the People of England, and of all the Dominions and Territories thereto belonging, be constituted, made, established and confirmed to be a Commonwealth and Free State, and shall he henceforth governed as a Commonwealth and Free S●ate, by the Supreme Authority of the Nation, the Presentators of the People in Parliament, And by such as they shall appoint Officers and Ministers of the good of the People, And that WITHOUT ANY KING OR HOUSE OF LORDS. 14. May, 1649. And it was Enacted, That if any person shall maliciously publish by writing, printing, or openly declaring, that the Government of the People, by its own Representatives, or Nationall meetings in Council, is Tyrannical usurped or unlawful: Or that the Commons in Parliament Assembled, are not the Supreme Authority of the Nation: Or plot, contrive, or endeavour to raise force against the present Government, or the subversion or alteration of the same: And shall declare the same by an open Deed, every such offence shall be adjudged HIGH-TREASON. Which Acts are yet unrepealed. That the Parliament (though they were famous for their Heroic and worthy Acts) not giving satisfaction to all men in all things, were by some (as is conceived unadvisedly) interrupted 20 April, 1655. who have many of them since (on serious consideration of the ill consequence thereof, and the hidden designs and private ends of some amongst them,) hearty repent them thereof, and openly confessed and declared the same, and their other backslidings and fall off, from that good old Cause. By reason of which interruption, the Parliament were obstructed and dis-enabled from accomplishing the good things hoped for and by them promised and intended to have been wrought for the People. And since that time, What great changes have happened both in the Government and Governors? what daub with untempered mo●ter, and flattering applications have been made, and apparent violations of all former Oaths, Covenants, Promises, Declarations and Engagements, deserting of their good old Professions and Principles, even by many who before were eminent and precious men, for their piety and integrity? And all to patch a Government distasteful and abominable to God and good men; and so repugnant to the Judgements, Consciences and affections of the honest well affected, people of the Nations and this good old Cause, that their spirits were grieved and tormented; their hearts trembled, their bowels did yearn within them for these great abominations, and high breach of faith and trust committed in the face of the Nation: who by the ambitious and covetous designs of carnal men, displeasing to God, are brought low, the Trade, Treasure, and Honour of the Nation being decayed, lost, and exhausted, and excessive debts contracted on them. But to add iniquity to sin, and aggravate these their transgressions, How many godly, honest and well-affected people, have been since persecuted, imprisoned, executed, banished, and oppressed for a good Conscience; their Goods and Estates taken from them, contrary to the known Laws of the Nation, and liberties of the People, which the Actors thereof so often vowed, promised and declared to maintain. What Inquisitors were setup to block up and obstruct the ways of the righteous; How many men of lose principles and carnal ends, were approved and entrusted with the work of the Ministry; How many good men put by, and their mouths stopped? And how many ways were used to suppress the Good old Cause, and the real professors and patterns of true Religion and Piety: We leave it to the good people of the Nation to judge of. The Lord having eminently born witness, and testified his high displeasure against these iniquities and abominations. And that which is wonderful in the eyes of all men, With what violence and inconsiderateness the LAWYERS and other disaffected ambitious persons in the late Parliament, did carry on the Design of Kingship: And the re-establishing of King, Lords and Bishops, tending to the re-investing of Charles Stuart, and his party. How ready they were to give away the Militia, Strength and Treasure of the Nation, into the hands of a single-Person, contrary to the aforesaid Act and all fo●mer Declarations, Propositions, and Engagements, pleading for, and earnestly contending to enslave themselves and their Posterity. And at one breath, to give away all the rights, freedoms and liberties of the People, which during many years' War with the price of so much Blood and Treasure they had gained. But the Lord our God having stirred your Spirits to put a stop to these exorbitant and unsafe proceed, and once more to give the opportunity to advance the Kingdom of Christ, To propagate the Gospel, and to countenance and support the profession and professors thereof, To repair and heal our breaches, To regulate the Laws and Courts of Justice, And by God's assistance, to lay a sure foundation, for the future intailing and securing of our Civil and Spiritual rights to us and our Posterity, that we and they may have cause to pray for you, and God may bless and prosper your undertake. And having considered the present extraordinary vicissitudes, And that most rational men, acknowledge the Legislative power, is primarily and originally in the People; for whose only mutual good, all Laws and Governments ought to be constituted according to that good old Maxim, Salus populi supremalex. And all personal and private advantages and promotions in competition therewith, aught to be laid aside, and wholly put out of remembrance, And every individual person ought to study the general peace, welfare, and comfort of the whole, Give us leave then in all meekness and humility of Spirit, to lay these things before you, as so many mementoes of former actions, that you may thereby avoid the like evil, and prevent those inconveniences which must consequently attend all private and sinister respects, repugnant to the public, having no cause to be jealous of your integrity. But the sad consideration of the failings and total fall away of many pious and worthy persons that went before you, whose wings were clogged, and themselves ensnared with the worldly temptation of Satan to our Saviour, who have preferred and embraced an Earthly Tabernacle, before the Eternal Kingdom of Heaven; we have better hopes of you. And our prayers shall not cease to the Lord, that your zeal and affection to his people, may not be abated for any terrestrial Concernments. Proposals for future peace and settlement of the Nations. 1 That the long Parliament, so, as aforesaid, interrupted in their proceed, who settled the Government in the way of a Free State, may be forthwith convened and reestablished. And for that purpose, The Army and other good people of the Nation, would declare to stand by, and protect them in order to an effectual settlement of the good things by them promised and held forth to the People in their said Declaration of the 17th of March, 1648. And for further provision to be made, as may conduce to the peace and welfare of the Nations, being the most visible remaining Authority, and most probable persons to effect the same, since the late Wars for the public satisfaction of all persons, forms, and degrees of men in these Nations. 2. That all others of the long Parliament, that shall concur with them in reducing the Government, in the way of Free State; And shall subscribe to, and own their and the Armies proceed against the late King and his party, be afterwards admitted, and all vacant places filled. 3 That after such settlement, an Act may be passed for an equal Representative and distribution of Elections for the future, with sitting qualifications and provisions for the future securing of our peace, rights, liberties and privileges. 4 That the Militia of the Nation may be entrusted in the hands of persons well affected to the Nation, and the Interest of a Free State. 5 That all Malignants and persons ill affected to this settlement that have crept into places military or civil, may be amoved. And that those Officers and Soldiers, that for their integrity to this Good old Cause, or for a good Conscience have been put out, may be speedily restored. 6 That the Laws and exhorbitances of Courts of Justice and Offices, may be regulated, and the People eased from the obstructions, charge, and delays in Law proceed. 7 That the Arrears of the Army and Navy, may be paid, and for the future secured. And that no person be displaced in an arbitrary manner as formerly, without due summons, examinations, and other legal proceed against them, according to the Laws, Martial and Civil. 8 That provision be made for tender Consciences, and others differing in matters of form, and they freed from the former persecutions. 9 That an Act of Indemnity and Pardon, may be made for the Officers and Soldiers of the Army; and others that have legally acted in public places, suitable to the nature and exigency of those affairs. 10 That effectual means be used, to beget and continue peace, and a right understanding betwixt Us and our Neighbour-Nations, hereby Trade and Commerce may be encouraged and maintained, being almost lost and decayed, to the ruin of many Merchants and Families. Proposals for raising of moneys. 1 That a grand Committee be appointed, and a sub-Committee authorized in every County, to examine and take the accounts of all Committees, Commissioners, Excisemen, Treasurers, Receivers, Farmers and Collectors of the public moneys and Revenues belonging to the State, many sober knowing men, being or opinion, that there remains above 100000 l. unaccompted for, out of the Tithes and Church-livings in Wales, which was in great measure discovered, and under examination in the last Parliament. 2 That either the Fees and Salaries of the grand Officers belonging to the respective Courts of the Nation may be retrenched and regulated. Or rather, an yearly Mulct imposed on them, suitable to the profits of their places, to continue until the public debts of the Nation be paid. 3 That the Fees of the grand Officers of the Army, and of other public employments, may be likewise retrenched, until the public debts and arrears of the Army and Navy be paid. And that Companies and Troops shall consist of full numbers, viz. each Company 120 besides Officers; & every Troop 100 And that superfluous Officers may be spared, to ease the burden of the Commonwealth, which seems but reasonable in time of peace, and otherwise provided for, and encouraged in public employments. 4 That such eminent and wealthy persons, who were the chief and main Instruments, in altering the Government from a Free State, and supporting the same, such who have been instrumental in oppressing the Nation, and exercising Tyranny and arbitrariness on the good people, and Inhabitants thereof, and have otherwise contributed to the great wrongs and grievances imposed on the Nation and every individual member thereof, in misleading and misguiding the Army and others the honest well-meaning people of the Nation; And such as have endeavoured, or effected the betraying of our Laws, Liberties, and Privileges, in matters civil and spiritual; and the setting up of Kingship, or the Powers military or civil, in one single person, contrary to the aforesaid Acts, for settling the Government in the way of a Free State, may be sinned to the value of the 3d, or at least the 5th part of their Estates real and personal, towards the pay of the Army and Navy, and defraying of other public charges of the Nation. And an Act of Pardon and Indemnity for the rest, which is both favourable and moderate, since it is humbly conceived, they have forfeited their lives and Estates, by the strictness of those Acts of the 14th and 19th March, 1648. And many of the offenders have gained vast Estates by the late Wars and other public Employments. Before we leave you, and you desert us, you are desired to consider, 1. THe Potency and Multitude of the Enemies at home and abroad, The Interest of the Family of the Stuarts; The Treaties, Peace, Confederation and Alliances of Foreign Princes and States whom you have disobliged; and by your Divisions and unsettledness rendered yourselves almost uncapable of Treaties and Accommodation of Peace; your Faith, Credit, and Steadfastness of your Resolutions being doubted as well by your Friends as Foes. 2. If you return to the Petition and Advice, do you not give your late Representation and Address a denial? Have you done well to break the last Parliament to assert the Good Old Cause, and immediately after trample it under your feet; and wholly to desert your friends and principles, who will leave you and your single Interest and Family to perish in your own selfseeking ways? Must you not then call another Parliament? and will they answer your expectations? or rather Chastise you for dissolving the last, and wholly disband you. 3. Can the Interest of a single Family in opposition to the Stuarts, long subsist? Will not the Interest of a Free-State more probably support and preserve us in peace, and answer the ends of the War, and the pressing Desires of the People; whose general good and Interest will be involved therein, and every man bound to venture life and fortune to maintain it; even the Cavalier, who in honour and honesty cannot be either compelled or persuaded to set up and support one Family-Interest against the other, who may have more of Law, Right and Reason on his side, and many Oaths to Oblige them thereto; which will not be so, if you establish a Free-State. 4. Do you not find the Judgements, Affections, and Desires of the generality of the good People for a Free-State; And the Nobility, Gentry, and Commonalty against a single Person and the Other House, which is so obnoxious to all men, both for its Constitution and Qualification. 5. Will you adventure to set up a Council, Senate, or Parliament of your own nomination which you may as easily pull down, new model, and change? and can you imagine this Nation will submit to such arbitrary proceed, and be governed by the sole power of a Confused unsettled Army? 6. For your own and the Nations Common preservation, give life and motion to the Convention of the Long Parliament, as the only refuge left for you and us, under God, and the sole Surgeons that can cure and heal our diseases: Delays are dangerous. FINIS.