CHAOS.  
Ante's mare & terras— as the wanton Poet sings, rudis erat molis quem dixere Chaos. It might be well wished the sober heads of these times could use the Poet's words, erat ante: but as if Fortune's Wheel were turned upside down, we may seem to be in the first condition of things again, ubi mollia pugnant dur is. The Tail commands the Head, and all things are out of course; insomuch as a Solon was never any where more needful. And the children's burdens are grown so great, as if a Moses appear not in time, it may be feared deliverance will come too late. After Nabuchadnezzar knew that the most high bears rule, his Kingdom was restored. England no doubt wishes their Rulers had learned the same lesson; and if they have, that the practice thereof may appear in public: for though the Sword seems satiated with blood, yet the Elements threaten Vengeance if we return not: And though for Rulers offences the People suffer, yet they seldom escape . It were to be wished, examples hereof were not so obvious in this Generation as they have been. Oh that England's Rulers may see the work of the day! that Pride, Tyranny and Oppression may receive their reward: which, whilst men accused of greatest crimes sit as Judges in their own cause, cannot be expected; nor whilst any of those who have voices in making Laws, shall be admitted the Sanctuary of a Prison, to shelter themselves from the penalty thereof, can be hoped for. O horrenda & impudica rabbiss! And that the People follow their Guides, is sadly witnessed by this days Verdict of a Devonshire-Jury at the Upper Bench Bar, who (in despite of the Judges honest, honourable and wary Advertisements) betrayed the Innocent to the Fury of her over-potent Adversary, and set the guilty free; whereby they have used their utmost endeavours to prostitute their maids, daughters and wives to the lustful abusion of the wicked at their wills.  
It were happy if every day spoke not the same or worse language, so much resembling that of Babel or Sodom, as nothing ever appeared so like the Poets old Chaos as this present Age. These few particulars, amongst the innumerary numbers of Babylon's brats daily dispersed to the abusion of all that hath any resemblance of Goodness, compels that hand which never intended any such thing, to command the Press, which now hath liberty beyond measure, to measure even Immensity itself; not purposing to accuse any for robbing the Public, to erect a Private interest; nor for pretended relieving the Public, to strain the strings of their Inventions, to contrive new Impositions; nor yet for pretended Frugality to the Commonwealth, to destroy thousands of the Commons, by denying justice, thereby cherishing all villainy and wickedness in the highest measure.  
But when the Public Faith of a Nation turns Bankrupt, who shall be accused? the Borrowers, or the Lender's? Sure if the Borrowers had not promised fair, the Lender's had not been. O unhappy hand, that ever drew Sword to countenance such things, as the Paper blushes to bear the news of! Yet O happy age, that afford Hands to effect what Heads cannot do! Yea, O happy people, who live in such an Age where God commands the meanest of things to be means of Deliverance! Surely he hath Mercies yet in store for such a people, if embraced: if not, let Moses and the Prophets declare the issue; or rather, the Saviour of the world's weeping over Jerusalem, admonish, to beware of what that rebellious City shortly after suffered.  
And if any shall say these Lines fell from Rabshakehs Pen; let them consider, their origine, their birth and growth, is from Chaos. But the Poet's word ante gives hopes, that as his aunt was the forerunner of better composures, where was mare, coelum & terras; so this present time elapsing, this Generation may hope to see mare & terras in their proper places, and coelum supervolutans, illuminans, & recreans. For never had Nation a Magistracy better schooled and discipled, nor did ever Magistrate govern a people so generally capable of the best Rule of Government, as this is. But if, with Miles the Friar's man in the Fable, we flout and abuse this coy Mistress TIME, and improve not the advantage and opportunity thereof, she will be gone, and then repentance may come too late.  
Now that Chaos-like, out of which Order was produced, matter may be administered for the framing of such a structure of Laws and Regiment, or at least some Instruments brought to search for some Foundation, or to discover some Quarries or other materials fit for so great a Fabric, which is not to be expected to be done all at once, and all in one day, by any one private hand, nor yet from all the heads of our Governors at present, whose cares for speedy remedy to prevent imminent dangers; takes away much of their time from these other contrivances. And though no one piece of what shall here be offered, shall be found fit stuff to build withal, yet may other more dextrous Artists be hereby invited to furnish the proper materials for the very work itself.  
Chaos never traveled; or if she did, it was when she was in the womb of Nothing. So she brings no customs from other Countries, nor Laws from other Lands: only as the birth is produced in its proper dimensions, not respecting any other feature or proportion in the whole frame of Nature, who lest any part or member thereof should steal another's right, hath framed all creatures, Animate, and Inanimate (if such a conjecture may be imagined) in a convenient disparity each to other: yet so, as there is still an harmonious parity in the whole. So Chaos neither dotes upon her neighbour-customs more than is convenable, nor is she affected with strange novelties fetched from far Countries, so ardently as to surfeit thereon: she is neither bewitched with the beauty and riches of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, neither is she enamoured with the Cantonian formalities. All the Mitres in the Conclave of Rome, cannot invite her to fetch her Laws from Italy; nor all the Decency and Liberty of Amsterdam furnish her with more than some miss-shapen pieces, which she purposes to polish for her own purpose. She purposes not to pry too deep into the Spaniards Sunburnt Inquisition, nor yet roave too far in the frigid Zone of the Tartarian Territories; but out of her own store, Chaos-like, is her furniture; only the deck and dress may seem to be sometimes borrowed from one, sometimes from another. Yet unless she be new built, so as to suit with the temper of her own climate, she will be unserviceable, and her fruit abortive.  
Chaos considering that in six days a Creation of excellent beauty and proportion, suiting to the magnitude thereof, in number, weight and measure, was by an  hand produced, has propounded to herself fix days work for perfecting of her intended Creation. (Creation she calls it, because she finding all the Rafters of her old Building rotten, and the Mortices and Tenons full of rubbish, all the Pins either broken or pulled from their places, all the Beams battered and bruised, and indeed the whole Fabric ready to fall about her ears.) As Light was the first thing in the Creation, and so properly called the work of the first day; so for her first days work she propounds for the Balancing of Interests, and reducing each piece to its proper place, (the praecognita being first allowed of, viz. a time prefixed (as already in great wisdom the present Rulers have done) for the Parliaments fitting; within which time if they be idle, their work will be left undone; and what will be their Reward, if so?) So as if any one piece seem to be wrested out of its place, the weight and frame of the whole prevents it.  
It is proponed, that one Common Interest be erected, whereof each member shall share, as well in receiving protection from, as giving contribution to; and to be so incorporated, as no variant opinion, either in Religion or Policy, shall be able to weaken the whole: (but if any shall endeavour it, it shall by weakening and destroying itself; add still to the whole.  
And as a light to the ensuing Intendment, Chaos propounds, That in this Island of Great Britain (heretofore consisting of many, but of late days of three distinct Principalities; heretofore divided into many, but now either all speaking, or all understanding one and the same language, and also incorporated into one Commonwealth) be one Law, and one Registery, dispersed into the several parts thereof; and so disposed, as each part shall be subservient to other, and each communicative to other, and all to the whole; not purposing to deprive the Head of his due respect, neither the Body, or any member thereof, of their proper deuce, according to each ones particular propriety and proportion, without destruction or diminution of any Right, Franchise or Privilege due to any Lord of Manor, or other Proprietor whatsoever, or detraction from the just freedom of any Englishman: wherein is proposed to the Magistrate, Honour & respect; to the Lawyer, Profit; to the People, enjoyment of Magna Charta; and to the Republic, the enjoyment of all. The distribution whereof, Chaos propounds to be, National, Provincial, Sub-Provincial, and Parochial; each Registry to have his Court and Officers. To which Courts and Registeries all matters of Civil concernment shall be reduced: and this to be erected within eight months, so that the present Magistracy may have the honour to lay the foundation thereof, and to reap the benefit also, when others shall come in their places, to ease their shoulders of the burden of Government, which none or few in the Nation are or can be enabled to go thorough so dexterously as they now are, who are at present entrusted therewith. In the interval of which time, Chaos propounds (as that light may appear to be the fruit of this first days work) that all Suits in Law or Equity may be determined within six Months; and to that end, that sufficient time be allotted to the Judges Itinerant in the several Circuits, for hearing and determining of all matters which shall be brought before them: and that within one month after the Circuit, another Term be kept in Westminster, where all further Issues may be joined; and another Circuit a month after that, for finishing the whole business as to matter of Law.  
And for all Actions depending in Equity, let Judges in Chancery sit de die in diem, and cause speedy examinations of all things needful to be made, and bring all to hearing in Michaelmas Term next, or shortly after, upon pain of great Fines to be imposed upon the Judge or Judges who shall be remiss herein, and absolute loss of the Cause to the Client, whether Plaintiff or Defendant, that shall endeavour further delays; and let Judges enough be appointed for that purpose at the Commonwealths charge. The like course to be used by all Committees; and that no new Suits be in the Interim commenced: That public notice hereof be given to the whole Nation, at or before the next Assizes; and this to suffice for the first day's work: only to show what's intended for further light to the whole Creation, which is to receive Life and Perfection in the following days, within in the time allotted, is promised Rules for the five day's work to come, viz. For the  
2. Rules for Registers, which shall but be one to all proposers, but distributed into its several parts.  
3. For the Law and Jurisdiction of each several Registerial Court.  
4. For future Elections and Transactions of Parliament.  
5. For Assessments, Customs, Excise, and Provision for the Poor. And  
6. For Trade and Husbandry; under which the Militia shall be comprehended, as also Provision made for the Ministry and Schools of Learning, as the perfection of the work: upon each of which, if this be approved of by Authority, and a Fiat put to the first day's work, already proposed, a several Discourse is intended for each succeeding days work, in their proper times, by  
CHAOS. June 21. 1659.  
FINIS.   

LONDON: Printed for Livewel Chapman, at the Crown in Popes-head-Alley. 1659.