AN ANSWER TO A LETTER SENT To a Gentleman of the Middle-Temple. CONCERNING The late various and strange changes of the times, together with certain Queries not unworthy the consideration of the High Court of Parliament; and of all honest and Religious men, that tenders the Peace and welfare of the Church and English Nation. And also a clear way discovered whereby at least a Million of Money may be brought into the Public Treasury for the use of the Commonwealth. Lege & perlege, Read, re-read, and understand. By Tho. Le White. Esq LONDON, Printed by J. Clowes, 1659. AN ANSWER TO A Letter sent to a Gentleman of the Middle-Temple. SIR, I Have seriously considered the contents of your Letters, and the admiration wherewith it seems you are surprised on the various revolutions, and late strange changes befallen the three Nations, within these twenty years past. In answer whereunto according to the mode of the times, I have herein sent you some few Queries which concerns us all to remember, that nothing in the world is stable and permanent, but transitory and uncertain, variable and unconstant, which ought to put us in mind of our Celestial rest, and eternal happiness. At present I shall only point out unto you, such changes and alterations so lately befell us in England, as they relate to some other more ancient and foreign precedents, in changes of Governments. And first, 1. Whether the Athenians (those greedy newsmongers) were more safe and happy under the Government of one single Tyrant, than in their choice and change of thirty persons, that took upon them the power and Government of their Republic. 2. Whether the Senate of Rome some times consisting of 200 choice persons, were not in process of time kerbed, and controlled in their power and transactions by the Tribunes of the people. 3. Whether again, both the Power and Authority of the Roman Senate and Tribunes, were not overpowred by their Dictator's more especially, after that Julius Caesar, became Perpetuus Dictator, and assumed to himself the Supreme power in the Government. 4. Whether then after all these changes of power amongst the Romans, their own Arms at last did nor alter all their former frames of Government, from and after their cutting off Tarquius Superbus, their last Tyranr King until Augustus' time, and made choice of such Emperors, as they pleased to elect, and in the conclusion, whither that vast Empire fell not in pieces? (I omit to remember you of the period and change of those three foregoing Monarchies of the Assyrians, Medes, Persians and Greeks) whence you may find, that all changes, and alterations of powers and Governments, are no new things or to be wondered at; but to come to our own case. 5. Whether this present Parliament was not from their very first sitting down, lessened in their number by the late King, and after that▪ disrobed of much of their Power and number by their own Army▪ 〈◊〉 Army Officers, on which consideration it rests yet question, ● Whether on any quarrel or discontent of the present Army, the like may not be attempted on these that now sit, for that they which have the sword in their hands, will▪ or may (on any occasion) be Masters of the Powers in Government? 6. Whether the Parliament in the beginning of the late War, did not make choice of the Earl of Essex and the Lord Fairfax successively in their Order, to be their Commanders in chief, over their Armies, (only in England) and in May 1650 made choice of Oliver Cromwell before all others, for their General and Commander in chief over all their Armies both in England, Scotland, and Ireland; in which great trust and Command, how he behaved himself, in stopping that wide orifice of blood, which prodigiously ran throughout the three Kingdoms, and reduced them all into peace and quietness, (as we may say in a moment of time) to the admiration of the World, all the three Nations have just cause to remember, and not forget that Almighty God assisted him, and made him instrumental in that great work, beyond common Expectation? 7. Whether Oliver Cromwell, on his assuming the Supreme Power of Government, between himself and a Parliament, had not good reason to induce him, if not necessitated so to do, if he intended to save his honour, and the reputation deservedly he had gotten with the people, and all Christendom? 8. Whether on due consideration of the great and strange changes of these times; we may not yet fear more strange and tragical changes than we have yet seen; if we take the great & crying sins of this Nation into our serious consideration, more especially that intended interview between the Kings of France and Spain at Bayoon July next, which promiseth no very good Omen to England? 9 Whether on that probable conclusion of peace and amity between those two Potent Kings, another single Persons claim and interest may not therein be tacitly included, which may unhappily turn the scale of our success, together with the present Government in this green, unsettled, and distracted republic into another Scene of blood and desolation, by the Invasive forces of sundry united and confederated Princes? 10. Whether then in such a case, all honest hearts may not have just cause to wish again for Oliver Cromwel's Head-peace, his courage and conduct, and that henceforth his worth, merits, and memory may be no longer ingratefully blasted by idle and licentious Libellors, his name and fame, kindred and friends defamed, when as this too frequent abuse is so difusive, that it dilates with boldness to the defamation of most of the particular Members that now sit at the Helm: sat sapientibus, only it's wished that they would seriously take this good old sentence into their consideration; Istud est sapere non solum eaquae ante pedes videre, sed futura prospicere, and speedily endeavour to make all things more safe at home than they are, and to remember to make good the public Faith, cherish their old friends, lest they enforce them to turn new foes, neither to slight their Petitions, and such of their Proposals, without hearing or inspection, as would readily and legally both right them for their loans losses, and sufferings, and pay the public debts, save themselves the labour of borrowing, and in giving ear and countenance to some Petitions, that are needless and reasonless as for instance? 11. Whether they that press them so much for liberty of conscience, do understand what Conscience is; and whether on grant of their desires the public liberty shall not in some short time be laid in the dust? 12. Whether on grant of their desires, they will submit to any other regulations of Parliament, than such, as may suit with their own perverse wills and fanatic opinions? 13. Whether, as now the case stands in the various, and multitudinous Sects Schisms, & brainsick opinions of the times, there ought not to be enacted some coersive Law that may enforce conformity to such Parliamentary Ordinances as shall be thought fit for all men to submit unto, as for instance the 39 Article of our Church, etc. lest we all run headlong into Sects. Schisms and confusion? 14. Whether such as so much press and molest the Parliament, that Tithes may be taken away, will in that case be so much guilty of so much charity, as to allow some compitent yearly stipend towards the maintenance of some Godly, Learned, and painful Minister to instruct them in the way of their Salvation? 15. Whether, that Ancient, Just, and Customary way of paying Tithes, from all antiquity, aught in reason, policy, or Religion be taken away? 16. Whether the Consequence, that necessarily will follow the taking away of Tithes, can be conceived an advance, either to the Church, or Learning, when the Inhabitants of every Parish shall be disrobed of their settled Ministers, and spiritual comforters ought not to be timely thought on before any alteration be made therein, which otherwise may so discontent the religious people of this Land, and in future trouble the Parliament to resettle things as they were, and themselves found guilty of the late Kings tax, that they undid that which before was well done? 17. Whether those Commissioners designed by the Parliament for ejecting of deboist and scandalous Ministers, have done well, wisely, or conscionably to eject so many, Pious, Learned and Orthodox Divines (amongst others of ill conversations) before they were provided of more able and pious ones in their places, and out of favour or affection to retain sundry Malignants in their live as it may be proved? 18. Whether it hath been handsomely carried on by those trusted Commissioners to rend themselves, the most considerable live in a clandestine way, or to let them to their Sons, Friends or Servants, at the third or fourth part of their yearly value, and to leave 300 Churches in Wales unfurnished, more than once in a quarter supplied by some few, illiterate, heady and ignorant mechanics; and as yet no just account given to the State, or the poor ejected Ministers paid their fifths? 19 Whether it be not requisite that some honest Gentlemen of those parts be forthwith commissioned to examine this most notorious abuse, whereby 100000.l. at least may justly be brought into the public Treasury? 20. Whether it be not expedient, that a Register be ordained in every County forthwith to Register all bargains and sales of Lands, in Fee, Leases for lives, or years, &c: at the Natives own doors for the tenth part of the charge, they now usually pay for their Inroowlments at London, and that none be admitted to such places, but losers and lender's to the Parliament in the late Wars, (left hitherto without any reparation) and that good security be given by such for the faithful discharge of their trust, as not above seven years since, it was resolved to be done in Parliament? 21. Whether in case a probable and ready way may be demonstrated, how to turn the hearts of the people (so much devoted to Kingship) to comply with the present Government, may not be acceptable and embraced by the Parliament that now sits? 22. Whether it be not fitting that Doctor Chamberlens Proposals in his Printed papers, for payment of the Armies, and advance of Trade, &c: without Assessments on the Natives) be forthwith recommended to the consideration of a Committee of Parliament? 23. Whether it suits not with good reason, that the Parliament should look back on their Acts for the confirmation of the Estates of Purchasers, in as much as sundry of them, what by their own craft or fraud of the Surveyors, have surreptitiously gotten their Lands for little or nothing, very much under the rates set down by the Parliament; and that an Act of resumption be thought on when the fraud is visible, whereby not so little as 10000000 l. at least may be brought into the public Treasury? 24. Whether it stands with the honour of the Parliament, that an Act fraudulentyl procured, to the loss of 100000 l which might have been advanced for the benefit of the State, should within one month of its enacting be frustrated in the intents thereof; witness the Act or Ordinance of Parliament, made in the behalf of the Gentlemen of South Wales, for their bearing Arms against the Parliament, only paying 20000 l. as a mult for their Malignancy? Thus Noble Sir; I have sent you the conceptions of your Friend, which are no other than the opinions of many more able Judgements, with my hearty Prayers to Almighty God to bless all their honest and prudent consultations, both in redressing all such things that are amiss, and in enacting such good Laws as may farther conduce to the better settling of this unsettled Church and Commonwealth, only I appeal to your more mature Judgement, whether in these sad times of distractions, Schisms, Sects, separated Congreations and Conventicles, parties, factions, public and private discontents, variety and dispariety of affections in opinion; Whether I say again that unity and agreement be not the only way, and means to fortify and uphold this new republic, and render it impregnable, against all Plots, practices, either from abroad, or at home; but I fear that under the umbrage of supporting the good old cause, the new cause may fall to the ground through such incensed, numerous, and discontented parties risen up in addition to the former malcontents, and through the present and frequent abuse of the two late Protectors, their whole Family and Friends, doubtless this is not the way to our safety and security, or for the advance of the Church and State, sed frustra fit per plura, quod fieri potest per pautiora, so rests Your very loving and most affectionate friend, T.L.W. FINIS.