LETTER From a Person of Honour in FRANCE, concer●●ng The late Transactions in England, in Reference to the Rights of the People in Ele●●●ng of Parliaments. And also reasons the Case, answering some Objections made against the late KING, And his POSTERITY.  
SIR, PARIS, February 1659.  
I Have received from the hands of Monsieur Grammont yours of the 11. and 13th. instant, and cannot find that cause of so great rejoicing as both express: for all doth but amount to filling up the House, and by their Qualifications, Elections shall be so ordered, that it will be nothing more than a Free Parliament, which consisteth in electing, voting and sitting (as formerly) at the pleasure of the Sword. If the old continue, than those worthy Gentlemen which are excluded, aught to take their places: If a new one be called, than all parties as Subjects equally concerned without Restriction or Qualifications, (as they call it) ought to be capable of Election; but if their malice be so rooted against the cavalier, or King's party (who have as much reason to wish and act the good of those nations as any others) that they must not be admitted: Then 'tis but reason and justice, that those that have purchased great estates, and enjoy offices military and civil, should be so too. For they are the only people that keep up these distractions for their own benefit.  
If losers (as the Proverb is) may not have leave to speak; it is not fit Gainers should, whose Interest now denies Liberty to those Sufferers, and is but particular to the grand general one. And shall the Royal party always loose a national Right, who have paid a compounded price of miseries for their Estates, which did surely give them a like freedom as before? Otherwise what signifies their concernments to the public in any thing? And how they can make them more than Equals in the payment of Taxes and Pressures, and deny them liberty in this, is altogether unreasonable, in that it destroys them their birthright, and in every respect lessens the Liberties of the Subject so much pretended or contended for. So that unless this be allowed, that party is still liable (as not having the benefit of the Laws) to the thraldom and lash of every Innovator and Power whatsoever; witness their Decimation by the late Tyrant, who renewed their sorrows at his pleasure. And whereas some Pamphlets would persuade a belief, that England will never endure its primitive practice or worship in Religion; and that Kingly Government, by reason of present Interests must needs be extinguished; For a sufficient Answer, it will be worth our time to reflect upon those Interests. And what hath followed thereupon since the Interruption of that Parliament (famous for their Vote in order to a peace with the late King) Anno, 1648. but confusion in great measure, occasioned by the disobedience of the than Army-Officers, animated thereunto by some Members whose Interest is thus declared for? Therefore to urge any thing which is apparently destructive to a known and solid experimental Welfare in Estates and kingdoms, cannot be lasting, safe or rational. Neither so long as Armies guard, and force Parliamentary Counsels (to comply with their rude and indigested Models, to uphold corrupt Interests, which hath cost the people so many millions contesting against, and for their lawful King) no foundation can possibly be said but what is arbitrary and perfectly destructive to the whole. For if the wisdom of the Rulers be thus obstructed, all other essays shall for ever be fruitless; and this I think may without error pass as a Doom upon those Kingdoms; and fondly to conclude from their confused Notions and circumstances that a pretended commonwealth of 8. or 10. years troublesome growth, is or can be better than a Monarchy of above a thousand years' continuance that comparatively imposed no grievances, is a weakness to believe. Therefore, you Pharisees, if this shall not convince, observe the Order, Government and Rule of Heaven and Earth, of God in the Trinity, of Nature, and since the Creation, of Families, of every particular country and people, nay the beasts of the field: And then tell me, if you can, if this doth not proclaim Monarchical Government to be according to the Will of God and our Saviour? There can be no Competitors in dominion in one and the same thing, without enraging the hearts of men; therefore unsafe is that Nation who hath such Rivals. A commonwealth is consistent with, and most splendid under Regal Government, insomuch as it unites all to that centre.  
Now if this be not duly considered, I have one step farther to stifle their Objections and fatal interest so much pleaded for, if they will stand to that purity of Spirit which they pretend, viz. The solemn Leagues and Covenants made by themselves, in which they swore Allegiance, forces this as a duty to the person of the King, and his Posterity; and yet the one by violence is cut off, and the other an exile exposed to the mercy of strangers, hazarding both soul and body: In sum, Restitution is one great mark of the people of God: And so long as the gain thus cleaves to their fingers, Repentance is not in their hearts.  
Then, is it not great folly to countenance such interests as these which hath cost that Nation more in 10. years to defend, than would maintain the other in honour almost a thousand years, had he nothing of right belonging unto him. And how they can expect a settlement by (shadows of Authority) men of corrupt principles laden with it spoils, (by which they continue the force put upon their Fellow-members by the violence of Armies) no man hath yet discovered. Unless (with the late tyrannical Usurper Oliver Cromwell) we should look upon Perjury and Disobedience as no sin, we cannot tolerate Armies (which are but servants) to be Lawgivers, or impose them upon the Rulers; from whence I hope, that victorious General consulting with his Army, the expectations of the world, will conclude, that bare suppositions against a King, is no solid Argument for a commonwealth as yet unborn: Hence therefore let England sing out the praises of God for their lawful King, who with his Royal Father prayed for, and loved them in the days of their extremity.  
Farewell, I am Your affectionate friend, S. E.   

LONDON, Printed for Thomas Pool, 1659.