A CONFERENCE Held in the Tower of London, Between two Aldermen of the City, PRAISE-GOD LEAN-BONE, And the LORD LAMBERT, Upon their occasion of visiting his Lordship. MONDAY, MARCH the 13th, 1660. Concerning the King of Scots And the present PARLIAMENT.  
LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1660.   

A CONFERENCE Held in the Tower of London, between two ALDERMEN of the City, Praise-God Lean-Bone, and the Lord Lambert.  
Monday, March 13, 1660.  Titc. 
MY Lord, We are come to visit your Lordship, and also to take a view of your Lodgings, for if the Tide turn not, we are like to come and inhabit with Col. Morley; for we acted so high for your Lordships and our own Interest, that we are confident we may be bold to believe that we are mortally hated so far as we are known.  Lambert. 
Your visitation is acceptable and seasonable in this juncture of time: but they were far better days with us when we met in counsel at Wallingford house. O that wicked Monk, and that unhappy Northern Expedition, laid all our honours in the dust.  Ir. 
Truly, my Lord, our good City, and her young fry of Apprentices were very instrumental in our ruins: but there may come a time wherein we may make them amends for their courtesy.  Lambert. 
Truly Gentlemen, I cannot think well of this kind of consinement, for here are no pleasures wherein a man can delight himself; and though I love soldiers and men in arms as well as the stoutest Prince or Hero in the world, yet my delight was to command them, and not to be commanded by them.  Lean-Bone. 
It was my sad fortune, only for presenting the Rump with one impudent Petition, to get the ill will both of Monk and his Soldiers, the Parliament now in being, the City, and the whole Nation.  Ir. 
'Tis true, Mr. Lean-Bone; but had I attained to the Mayrolty for this year, as the plot was laid, we had altered the Scene, and though perhaps their Gates might have escaped the mischief, yet their Charter and their Purses should have made us full satisfaction.  Titc. 
You say very true, brother I. And I am sure it had been much better for the Vine that bears my Grapes, had the City been a City of Redcoats, and not a City of such Cross-grained and stiffnecked Varlets.  Lambert. 
I am now cooped up in a Prison (a place of no Intelligence) how do the people relish my confinement?  Titc. 
With very much seeming joy and satisfaction; and well approve the violent and high Actions of this Parliament, and delight in our Commitments. Nay, they have again advanced the Old decayed Covenant, than which the people believe there is nothing speaks more plainly for the King.  Lambert. 
It is a long time since I swore it, and having taken divers Oaths to the contrary since, have almost forgot the contents thereof: But I think there is a Clause that highly mentions the safety of the King's Person, and the Advancement of his Honour.  Ir. 
There is so, my Lord; but if his honour be advanced, ours must needs be laid in the dust, as your Lordship said even now.  Lean-bone. 
I never tasted what honour was, but whilst I sat a little in a short Parliament, and promoted the Act for Marriage, and other wise Acts not now regarded: For my Controllers place I think that would have had more of Profit then Honour in it, if I could have kept it.  Titc. 
If things go on at this rate, we must neither look to hold or enjoy either places of Trust, Honour, or Profit.  Ir. 
It is a sad thing to live under the Government of a Parliament that seek to do just things, and such as may best please and best profit the People. If they bring in the King, he'll bring us to a fatal period; But Heavens forbidden it!  Lambert. 
I find then an impossibility for me to scape their fury; for if the Power be given into His hand, it is not for me to expect mercy: The People being insenced against me, they must be satisfied with a Sacrifice or two to their fancied Justice, or they will never sit down in obedience to the Government.  Titc. 
It is so long since the King hath had any occasion to gratify his People, that he will not imagine one or two sufficient to abate their fury. I wish every County in England be not bound to find one State-Martyr, besides what they will please to Assess upon the City of London, who as they always found more money, so in this case, I am afraid, they must find more men.  Ir. 
Then truly Brother T. I am in doubt you and I, shall hardly be permitted to cast Dice for our lives, we being both so notoriously known, and so generally hated.  Lean-Bone. 
I am too lean for a Sacrifice, and when the King comes to see me, he will say I am not worth the Hanging, I have a good mind to face about, and try if I can get a place of employment under Monarchy, to try if it be all one with that I had in your Lordship's reign.  Titc. 
But my Lord, What defence does your Lordship intent to make to your impeachment?  Lambert. 
I'll plead my Commission, and my then present Power.  Titc. 
True, my Lord a good defence, would they have but the Grace to acknowledge us a sufficient Power to grant a Commission for these things, which is the thing I only fear if I be questioned myself.  Lambert. 
Why am I thus hated? though I miscarried in this business, yet the People know I have done good service in my time,  Ir. 
You see, my Lord, they have no respect of persons or services, for there is Sir A. H. (a man that opposed your Power and Designs with all his might) is now brought into the same predicament.  Titc. 
I have seen and helped forward many a Turn in this Nation, but a worse than this (for us) I think our times can hardly parallel: For in all the others, I have kept my Spoke in the Wheel, but in this it is cast clear out.  Lambert. 
We must all expect to have plentiful portions of affliction; for in scripture we read, that the Lord will overturn, overturn, overturn; but we have doubled these overturnings in the Government of these Nations.  Lean-Bone, 
That overturning that I had a hand in, is hardly worth the taking notice of; and I hope all the World will think me so too.  Lambert. 
I, controller, had I no more to answer for then you have, it would hardly be a minute's contrivance to gain my release, but I acted high, too high I am afraid!  Ir. 
Were any of our party either in Power or Favour, than there might be a possibility of doing good for your Lordstip; but we are so generally laid aside and hated, that we dare not appear so much as by Petition.  Lean-Bone. 
Petition! I'll meddle no more with Petitions, were I to be Hanged; I have enough of that already.  Lambert. 
There is nothing to be done, but a reliance upon their mercy: If they take me off, you must impute it to the necessity they are put upon to please the People. There are noble Precedents gone before me.  All. 
Heavens release your Lordship, and send you better Fortune.  
FINIS.