DIGEST OF GOVERNMENT: TOGETHER WITH Certain Additional PROPOSALS TENDERED To the Consideration of all Peaceable PATRIOTS.  
By William Ball, Esq;  
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Johnson, at the sign of the K … in Paul's Churchyard, 1659.   

Additional Proposals, etc.  
FIrst, That Explanation be made of all ambiguous Clauses, and words, in any Law, Statute, or Act of Parliament, which may admit of different, or indifferent constructions; that so the Letter of the Law may be direct, and plain (as in Reason it ought to be) and that ten Judges may not interpret the Law by way of Intendment, and seem therein rather dare ius, than dicere; by which means they have done, and may do, wrong.  
2 That, (whereas, in regard of the multiplicity of Suits in Law, Hear are delayed, and sometimes put off from Term to Term, to the obstruction or hindrance of Justice, and to the trouble, charge, and wrong of the Parties aggrieved), the Judges of the Courts at Westminster do sit, and hear Causes (if they have any depending before them) on every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the afternoon in the Termtime, and on the days commonly called All-Saints, All souls, the Purification, and St. John Baptist if it happen within the Term; (for certainly it is reasonable to do justice on any day) and that the Lord Keeper, or Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal, and the Master of the Rolls sit once every week (and oftener, if they see cause) in every Vacation: that Suits be not so long depending, and delayed in Chancery.  
3 That whereas Writs of Error are sometimes necessary, and many times the causes of vexatious and chargeable delays, to the parties aggrieved; if erroneous Judgement shall therefore be found through Default of the Judges themselves, such Judges to be forthwith displaced, and utterly disenabled to meddle in the Law, and suffer mulct according to their Demerits. And so touching the Barons of the Exchequer. And if such erroneous Judgement shall be otherwise found, that the party or parties aggrieved be allowed quadruple Costs and Damages; and so, if through the default of the Judges.  
4 That Demurrer be abolished, and that if the case be matter of Law, and not Fact, Judgement be forthwith given, according to the merit of the cause; unless such case be very difficult and then the Judges to meet within eight days in the Exchequer Chamber (as formerly) upon penalty of 100 l. for every Judge's default who ought to meet; and then, and there to give a final Determination to the Cause.  
5 That all Abators of Lands pay Quadruple Costs and Damages, or suffer severe corporal punishment; and that all Disseizo●● of Lands and Rents pay Quadruple costs and damages.  
6 That no relief be given in Chancery against the lawful Entry of Donors; F●offors, and Leassors; that so their Acts and Deeds be not defalcated by way of Equity; and that all Bills of such nature or pretext, be dismissed of course, or not admitted into Chancery.  
7 That Deeds of Covenants to stand seized etc. and Wills or Devises for Land invalid, or insufficient, according to the Letter of the Law, be not made valid, or helped by way of Intendment, or Interpretation (which many times have been, and may be wrested) of Law or Equity against Heirs at Common-Law: for it may seem to imply an act of GOD not to permit such Deeds or Devises to be valid, that so Lands may descend according to His Law, Numb. 27. And therefore the defects of such ought not to be supplied by Man.  
8 That un just Decrees in Chancery be reversed by the Council of State, or by some of them the eunto, appointed or nomiminated; together with the aid or assistance of such Judges or Sergeants at Law, as they shall think fit to call unto them; and that such as made such unjust Decrees be forthwith displaced, and suffer mulct according to their demerits: howbeit, such as shall complain without just cause, to be severely punished.  
8 That whereas there are divers covetous and greedy persons, who desire and labour to incorporate as it were, and add Lands to Lands, and will therefore venture to purchase any broken Titles, on purpose, by power of their purses (being moneyed men) to weary our such as have better Right, thereby to obtain their Rights for little, or for some unvaluable consideration; and also to molest and contend with such as have Rent-charges, or other engagements in, or upon such Lands, on purpose to make such parties (especially if mean and necessitous) to agree and compound with them to their losses; therefore all such covetous and greedy Purchasers, who shall be lawfully evicted touching Right, Rene, Charges, or other Engagements in, or upon such Lands, shall pay quadruple costs and damages.  
10 That whereas divers covetous and greedy persons do not only themselves, but also procure others (who may be termed Brokers) to inveigle young Heirs, and others, by flattery, feasting, and merry-making, to sell their Lands, Rights, or Interests, and at such times, and in such manner, obtain or get from them Agreements, or Contracts, for the sale of their Lands, Rights, or Interests (many times upon unvaluable considerations, and sometimes to their undoing) therefore all Agreements & Contracts so obtained to be null. And also, that the persons themselves, and their procurors (or Brokers) using such practice, be severely punished.   

Touching Commerce and Trade.  
1 That a Council, or Committee of Audience, be instituted to sit, hear, and receive such Proposals, as shall be exhibited unto them in writing touching the Commodities, discommodities, conveniences, inconveniences, advantages, disadvantages, of Commerce, Trade, Manufactures; and of all Improvements, and Aggrievances, touching the Public; and that the said Council, or Commits do consider, and propound to the Parliament, such advancements and furtherances, remedies and redresses, as the merits of causes shall require.  
2 That, if our Neighbour-Nations, or other● more remote, shall raise the prices, or impose extraordinary Impost, or Excize, etc. upon their Commodities importable, into the Dominions of this Commonwealth; we do the like for our commodities transportable un●o them: Ours, of Tin, Led, Cloth, etc. being as necessary and vendible unto them, as theirs to us.  
3 That no Fullers-Earth be transported out of this Land without special Licence from the Council of State, upon great penalty; and, for that, sufficient Excize to be imposed: forasmuch as not only the Low-Countries, but other our Neighbouring Nations, do thereby improve their Manufactures of Clothing. etc. and dis-improve ours.  
4 That Refiners of Sugar be not permitted to refine with Lime, as they usually do; which is not only a cheat, but unwholesome for bodily health; and that if there be no other Remedy, such manner of Refining be wholly prohibited.   

Touching Elections of Members for Parliament.  
THat the Members for Parliament (for the future) do neither directly or indirectly, by themselves or others, procure themselves to be elected, upon penalty of being disenabled to sit in the House, and to pay the Fine of 500 l. to the use of the Commonwealth: and that all Feast, and Entertainments for Elections be abolished upon like penalty: and that the Freeholders, and such as should elect Members for Parliament, do assemble, and meet 
No Free holder under 10 l. per annum, to be admitted to elect Knights etc. upon penalty, etc.  for Elections at their own charges, upon some penalty, etc. to the use of the Commonwealth (unless some lawful excuse of sickness, etc.) And that if they happen to choose Knights for the shire, under the value of 500 l. per annum, and Burgesses for Boroughs under the value of 100 l. per annum, or some way equivalent; that they allow them their Salaries towards their charges (if they shall require, or desire it) and not otherwise: and that such members for Parliament as shall be legally so Elected (being persons capable to sit in Parliament) shall undergo the same, upon penalty of 500 l. to the use of the Commonwealth (unless some lawful excuse of sickness, etc.) and that such Elected Members swear before the Sheriff, and two, or one Justice of the Peace; or, in Corporations, before the Mayor, etc. to perform their best endeavours for the places, for which they are elected; and for the Commonwealth in general. By this means, selfseeking and selfended Members may be expunged; and yet sufficient, able, and knowing men elected.   
FINIS.