AN EXPEDIENT FOR The Preventing any Difference BETWEEN His Highness and the Parliament.  
ABOUT 

The Recognition.  
The Negative Voice.  
The Militia.    
By a Lover of his Country, that desires at this time to be Nameless.  
LONDON, Printed for Giles Calvert, at the Black-sp●ead-Eagle, at the West-end of Paul's. 1659.   

THough I look not upon the present dispute about the Negative voice, and the Command of the Militia, as like to give us much trouble, (for Usurpations and Tyrannies once judged by God, never recover to rise again in the same form). Yet to satisfy the Doubts and Fears of those honest souls, who see not what strength they have on their side; I shall desire them to be assured. That there is Reason and Equity sufficient to stop the mouth of such a claim, by any single Person in this Nation: and therefore We shall need no other Comprimise of this Difference, but to reflect upon the Rice and Occasion of this Government, from whence the Nature and power of it will best appear.   

THe present form of Government (then) as it varies from a Republic, was begotten by Necessity. For the Nation having traversed all the ways of a Parliament and Counsel of State; (and seen all they could afford) and at length finding through long continuance (as standing waters) they did corrupt, discontent gathered, and fermented, and sought where it might most advantageously discover itself; and so fell in with the power of the Army: and the person of the then General, whom they had found so stour and faithful, (and withal successful) and was willing to throw themselves and their cause into his Arms and Protection, consenting that he should use any means, yea though he were most arbitrary therein, to ease them of their old Masters, whom they could bear no longer. So that as I said it was pure necessity and straight that cast us here, and not any affection to Monarchick Government. The clear intent and expectation of the honest people (that were accessary to the Devolving the power here) being: That that person should in the name and power of God (or of his own Truth and Righteousness which was supposed to be in him) administer the power of these Nations, to settle us in freedom and peace upon all accounts, both civil and spiritual: and they never dreamt of a Monarch or a Family interest, nor did they imagine any need of cautioning it here. Though others, wiser heads, (such, who perhaps by the opportunity of their high places, had approached nearer this Temptation in their own hearts) did foresee, and were ware, what might be the consequence and product of this overhasty credulity, and trust as afterwards indeed it came to pass.  
§. II. The Protector did clearly run bias to the Honest intentions of those, that wished him the administration of the Power, when he made himself a civil Ruler. But changes in States and Governments, being brought forth with such pangs and throws, as are very uneasy and dangerous, they are not every day's work. It was in vain to retract or withdraw the trust committed to the General, though many disliked the way he went, nor could men believe that the late passages and transactions could ever grow into such oblivion, as that He, or any Man, should think that this Nation should be willing to match the Militia and the Sceptre together in the Government, but only in his Person; (whom, they looked upon as an Extraordinary person). They having fought against it in the person of the late King.  
§. III. Hereditary succession in the Government, being so much disgusted by the Honest Patriots in the late Parliament. The Nomination of the immediate succession was indulged; his late Highness, as an Expedient to satisfy the then present, powerful, strive for Hereditary succession, which was not neither yielded unto, but upon a very high confidence of the Spirit and Principles of his late Highness, to carry him above all private respects, in the execution of the trust of Nomination.  
§. iv His now highness being in possession of the Government, takes therewith the power of the Militia, which was invested in his Father (and he conceives also the Negative voice) to descend upon him with the Civil Government. The Question is whether in truth it do so or no? I conceive not; And first for the Militia, It is true, the supreme Command of all the Armies in the 3 Nations was in his late Highness; but not as he was Protector, but as General, which he was, before he was Protector. So that the Protector or Civil Government was annexed to the Militia, not the Militia to the Civil Government: or rather the power of administering to a Civil Settlement, was annexed to the Person, not to the Power or Office of the General; and that upon the reputation of his Personal Virtue: His Military Power and Capacity serving only as a strength and security to him, in the due exercise of the power of Civil Administration entrusted. So that it was not Oliver Cromwell as Protector, or the supreme Civil Magistrate that was made General; nor Oliver Cromwell as General simply, that was made Protector; but Oliver Cromwell General of such a spirit, of such integrity and faithfulness, that the like qualified Person was not to be found in the three Nations; that was thought fit for all the Power that could be cast upon him.  
§. V As for the Negative voice as it was never disputed with his late Highness (where it was suffered to sleep as in a safe hand) for his Personal Virtues; so was it never (since it was taken away from, or rather with the King and Kingly Government) concredited, or be trusted with any Power or Person. And indeed it is a thing altogether superfluous as well as dangerous, for take away from Parliaments (who sure in this light that is risen upon us, cannot be imagined (from their source and fountain, the Generality and body of the Nation) to bring with them that choice discerning (which is singular) to Judge of spiritual things). I say, take a way from them the Coercive Power in things spiritual, and purely of the mind, and admit them (as Children of this World) to be so wise in their Generation, as to be able to Judge what is good and behooveful for the Nation, wherein their Stakes and Interests lie; and what use will there be of a Negative Voice in a Commonwealth as we are (or should be). Where no distinct Personal or Family Interest, is, or aught to be owned, but what is, one with the Commonwealth, and in a subserviency thereunto?  
§. VI The Negative voice therefore being out of Doors with Kingship, and we having no Civil Head, now that is Master of the Commonwealth, but a servant to it: that was set up for that end (though an Honourable Servant, and it is fit he should be so maintained.) The Resolution is easy.  
Let his present Highness be acknowledged and confirmed as supreme Magistrate in these 3 Nations.  
Let the Officers of the Army choose their General, and let him have his Commission from the Protector and Parliament.  
Let his Highness, now being with the Parliament, have the power of Disposing and Commanding these forces, and of making War and Peace.  
The light in which these things do evidence, and offer themselves to the Judgement and consciences of men, is manifest,  
For the first, a single person cannot hurt us, if an unfit power be not concredited and betrusted with him. When we engaged against a King, it was not against a single person simply; but so stated and Circumstanced, Arbitrary, tyrannical, with a luxurious Court, a burdensome State, etc. For this is a Principle We never intended by that engagement to engage against, what might be useful to us (not rational man would do so) but what we found hurtful. Therefore the single Person may stand.  
2. When we admitted a single person, and abated so much of the Circumstance; We gave not up the substance of our Cause, Therefore be not baffled in that: but if We give the single Person a Negative voice, and the dispose of the Militia, We give up the very heart and substance of our Cause. Therefore part not with that.  
Neither indeed can his Highness, who is but a single Person, expect whoever should invest him with the sole Command of the Militia; while the Army and the Officers thereof keep their integrity, that he can make any use thereof, but for public ends, and therefore it would be Onus non honos.  
3. It is fit his Highness should have an Honourable, though not the Only Interest in the Commanding the Militia: Therefore let him be always sought unto, to join with the Parliament in the dispose of the Forces of the Nation.  
And as for those of the Other House, let them pass (or so many of them as the Parliament shall think fit) into the Council of State, and if they have a Concurrent Vote with his Highness and the Commons, yet no Negative Vote: their usefulness may be chief in the Vacancy of Parliaments, not to be a balance upon the Commons: let their balance be, that Reason and Righteousness that is among themselves, as to the things of this World, which is their proper Sphere.  
The End.