A GENERAL OR, NO GENERAL OVERDO The Present Army OF THE Commonwealth: In Twenty Two QUERIES Briefly Handled.  
Printed in the Year, 1659.   

A General, Or, no General, etc.  

I.  
Whether the Army at this Juncture of time do Wisely, Prudently, or according to their Duty, to Impose, Urge, or Desire any thing more of the Parliament, than what the Reasons of State before them, together with their Wisdom, shall lead them unto?   

II.  
Whether that the Parliament did not much like a prudent Council, in taking into their own hands the giving of Commissions; since that it is so easy for a General to form an Army of Persons Diametrically opposite to the Interest of a Parliament: As was sadly experimented upon the Nation by that Usurper, General Cromwell; Who by that means became able to give Laws to his Superiors, together with three Nations; became Supreme whilst he lulled a company of Stupid Soldiers, by a pretence of Piety and Godliness?   

III.  
Whether those inconsiderate Officers of the Army do not know how easy it is for a General of an Army to make himself Protector, or King, or Emperor?   

iv  
Whether that in their Crying, viz. C. F. to be General, be not intended J. L?   

V  
Whether these sordid, rash, undigested, Undertake do not render us less formidable, and more weak, in the eyes of foreign Nations?   

VI  
Whether, that considering our divisions, in respect of Religion and Civil Interest: it will not better become us to unite, that thereby the practices of the Church of Rome, by the Jesuits their Emissaries, may be prevented?   

VII.  
Whether or no, that if the Parliament had refused to pass Commissions for any Temporizers in the former Changes; they ever should have had cause to fear such underhand practices?   

VIII.  
Whether that the difficult obtaining Grants for Commissions, for faithful Adherers to, and Assertors of, the Liberty of a Commonwealth; was not the Symptom of another intended single Person?   

IX.  
Whether it becometh an Army, that waged War against a King, and executed him, and that did drive out his Posterity, & immediately declared for a Commonwealth; to set up, any of their own Members, by the Name of General, Protector, Emperor, or any other Name or Title whatever?   

X.  
Whether that by setting up a General now, contrary to the sense of the Parliament, be not the most dangerous Undertaking that can be adventured upon; and the Consequence nothing less than Confusion, and nothing of more advantage to the common Enemy?   

XI.  
Whether that those that break the Ice in that so dangerous an Undertaking, have not in their Eye Advancement and Preferment, if they obtain Supremacy, and addition of power to those whom they cry up?   

XII.  
Whether those they cry up for to be invested with absolute power in the Army, have more Religion and Piety, or can pretend to more, than O. C. did?   

XIII.  
Since all men are Liars, and the heart of man is deceitful, and that there is none righteous no not one: If so, Whether then it be not the duty of the Parliament, to prevent any man or men whatsoever, of so great a Temptation as Absolute Power, by which means (for the most part) is shown the vileness that is in the hearts of the Sons of men?   

XIIII.  
Whether an Oligarchy would not be dangerous now, since men in greatest Trust demonstrate so much Ambition, that they cannot be stayed Six Months from a ravenous pursuit after Power and Honour?   

XV.  
Whether such Persons as desire to be Uppermost, be profitable Members to the Commonwealth?   

XVI.  
Whether the pulling down of Richard the lame Protector, was any other than a design to set up others in his Room?   

XVII.  
Whether the Calling this Parliament was intended for any thing else, than a Curtain or Veil to the former indirect Actions?   

XVIII.  
Whether if the Army had any Commonwealth Principles, the honestest of them are not bound faithfully to adhear to the Parliament.   

XIX.  
Whether there can be any Action so Impious, Foolish, Sordid, and to be scorned of all men; yea, of all Ages: If the Army should have any hand in forcing or imposing any thing upon the Parliament: since it was their own work of calling them to fit again, and since have owned their Power by not a few public Actions.   

XX.  
Whether it will not argue that they have very short memory, since it was but the other day that they bewailed their Apostasy, in declining the lawful and just power of this Parliament; and adhered to the base, self, unrighteous, Ends of unworthy and ambitious minded men?   

XXI.  
Whether it be possible, by any single Person or other Council, the Interest of the People of God, of different persuasions, can be so well secured as by the present Parliament.   

XXII.  
Whether it doth not behoove the present Parliament to put their Authority to trial, by calling to their aid, such as shall adhere to them, in opposition of those that shall dare impose any thing upon them, against the Wisdom, Policy, and Resolution; and nor stoop to receive Laws from the Servants of the Commonwealth?    

POSTSCRIPT.  
It is not to be feared that C. F. ever will usurp supreme Power, his Honesty and Integrity is such.  

NOTE  
That the same Persons that desire him to be General, also desire a Protestorian Instrument of Government-Maker to be Lieut. or Major General:  
Smell out the rest.    
FINIS.