A Modest Plea FOR AN Equal Commonwealth Against MONARCHY. In which the Genuine Nature and true Interest of a FREE-STATE is briefly stated: Its Consistency with a National Clergy, Mercenary Lawyers, and Hereditary Nobility examined; together with the Expediency of an Agrarian and Rotation of Offices asserted. ALSO, An Apology for Younger Brothers, the Restitution of Gavil-kind, and relief of the Poor. With a lift at Tithes, and Reformation of the Laws and Universities. All accommodated to public Honour and Justice, without injury to any Man's Propriety, and humbly tendered to the Parliament. By a Lover of his COUNTRY in order to the Healing the Divisions of the Times.  In the Multitude of Counsellors there is safety. 
LONDON, Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-spread-Eagle at the West End of Paul's, 1659.   

To The Right Honourable, The High Court of PARLIAMENT.  
The Supreme Authority of the Three Nations.  
Right Honourable,  
BEing moved to give in a Testimony against the most Epidemical Abuses and corrupt Interests of the Times, I know none to whom with more justice it might be Dedicated, than your Honours, whom the providence of God hath called to be our Reformers, into whose hands God hath pleased to put a great price, an opportunity of making this Nation the happiest in the World; In order to which, he hath also paved your way, causing the Hills to melt like Wax, and the Mountains to dissolve like Snow before you, having smitten the Great ones of the Earth, and caused Princes to fall at your feet, and removed whatsoever stood before you, or might in the least obstruct or retard the work of Reformation: so that no man can any longer say, There is a Lion in the way. God hath put the Nation like wax into your hands, that you may mould and cast it into what Form your Honours please: We are now Rasa tabula, and your Honours may write what you please upon us, I hope it will be holiness to the Lord, that we may for the future be truly termed a Holy Commonwealth and Royal Priesthood unto God. It was not for nought the Lord raised your Honours as from the Dead, and restored you to the Administration of that Power that was so long detained in unrighteousness from you, without doubt God hath some great work for you. And now behold the Expectations of all men are upon you; all the Nations of the Earth are looking to see what your Honours will do, for whom God hath wrought so many wonders, whom God hath Crowned with so many signal Victories, for whom God hath so often appeared in the High Places of the Field, making bare the Arm of his Power, and rebuking the pride of your Enemies. God hath also sent a day of Trial, that the falsehood and Hypocrisy of many might be discovered, that all corrupt interests and Persons might be made manifest. And they that were not of you, are gone out from among you, they that were not spirited for the Great Work of the Lord, that (having put their hands to this Blow) looked back, and behold they are turned to Pillars of Salt; God hath made them Monuments of his displeasure, and blasted their designs. But the Hearts of God's People are still with you, and their Hands, even the Hands of Moses and of Israel are lifted up in your defence. Also God is with you, And who then shall be against you? I need not now desire of your Honours, not to build on old Foundations, I know your Honour's experience hath taught you, they will not, they cannot stand. Our Commonwealth hath stuck long in the birth, and the Nation been cast into strong Pangs and Throws in bringing forth our Liberties, and it seems could not be Delivered altogether without blood: But we hope now through the dexterous midwifery of your Honour's Prudence, what hath been so long expected will be brought forth, a●d that we and Posterity shall have cause to bless God in behalf of your Honours, as for the Builders of our Breaches, and the Restorers of Paths to dwell in.  
It was not intended that this Pamphlet should fawn upon your Honours in the midst of your Triumphs, being most part of it committed to the Press before the breaking forth of the late Rebellion (when the Author little thought his Thesis should so soon be disputed with swords points, and decided in so solemn an Appeal to Heaven) where it hath been imprisoned till now by the injury of the Printer: But if your Honours please to receive it into your Protection, and pardon the boldness of this address to your Honours; it will oblige the Author to study how he may better deserve the Countenance of your Authority, and render himself more serviceable to your Honours, to whom he hath in all Humility devoted himself, etc.   

An Epistle to the Reader.  
Candid Reader,  
BEing in Capacity of doing my Country no greater service, I have presented her with a Glass or Mirror, in which a candid and discerning eye may discover some of the Political Erratas, or Wens that disfigure the Face, and crase the constitution of her Government, which I humbly conceive proceeds chief from the lameness and imperfection of our late Reformation, in which though we have for a long time been struggling and wrestling with Tyranny and Oppression, yet have had our endeavours seconded with little better success than were Herculeses that famous Hero's encounters with the Hydra; of which having lopped off one Head, there still sprang up two; in like manner we were willing to flatter ourselves into a conceit, that Tyranny had received a mortal wound by that fatal stroke that took off the King's Head, and unhorsed the Nobility. But experience (the Mistress of true wisdom) hath taught, it is not lopping the boughs, or cutting off the top branch of Monarchy, that will deliver a Nation from bondage, unless the Axe be laid to the root thereof, to the evil root of bitterness, whence springs all our misery, to the root of every usurping and domineering interest, whether in things Civil or Divine; for otherwise we do but prune, dress and culturate the stock, that it may grow the thicker, the faster, that it may thrive the better. A King being but one person, the top and head of a Monarchick State, the taking away of him is but the taking down the upper story, or uncovering the roof of the Government, whereby it is exposed to all storms and tempests, to the injuries of ill weather, which is altogether unsafe and imprudent, if the rest of the structure be designed to stand, if the whole Frabrick be not demolished. And is not this our present state and condition? Have we not deprived ourselves of all the conveniencies of Monarchy, of whatever of excellency or beauty was in it, and retained only the flaws and evils of it? Was it not the grand evil of that state, that it set up a few great Families, and raised them to an extravagant and excessive height, by the ruin and oppression of the rest? Were not all the Laws with the whole constitution of its Government, made in favour of the elder brethren and great families, while the bulk of the people which consists of younger Sons, were left to shift for themselves, and scramble for a poor livelihood; and is it not so still? Are they not still the Sons of Fortune, and their own right hands, the Heirs of their own merits? that is vagabonds on the face of the Earth, having no lot among their brethren, sine nomine & lare, without House, Name, or Family; and is not this a greater evil in a Free-state, that pretend to an Equal Commonwealth? Nay, may not these say, It were well if it were with us as in the days of old, when by reason of the Multitude of Preferments, it was as improbable for a person of worth and ingenuity to miss of employment as how to find it; or if any one were so unhappy as not to find entertainment in neither Court nor Hierarchy, could yet offer a repulse, hid his head in a Monastery or religious House, that used to receive such to whom the world was most inhospitable. May not these say, was it for our interest to put down one Court and King, to set them up in every great gentlemen's Family? Was it for our advantage to throw down the ancient Nobility, whose greatness was balanced by a jealous Monarch, to set up a more numerous of a modern stamp, without any balance? are they the less formidable for waving invidious Titles, or will they not be our Masters if they be our Landlords? Have we gained any thing by throwing down of Bishops, do not all their Lands run into one and the same Channel, for enriching and aggrandizing of elder Brethren? Nay, may not the things we have destroyed witness against us, and the days of old reprove and expostulate with us? Was this our evil? was this our crime? that we secured part of our Lands, in a common stock and public revenue entailed on the Altar, for the relief of our younger Children, from whom they are now wrested? Is there not as unequal a distribution of the wealth and Riches of the Land as ever? Is there not as much Pride, Covetousness, Extortion and Oppression now as ever? Do not men (notwithstanding all the light that hath dawn'd upon the Word, and the many Hazards and Casualties Riches are exposed unto) with as great travail both of mind and body, accumulate wrath as ever? do they not endeavour to build their nest as high as ever? though as Solomon hath observed, they know not who shall come after them, whether their own, or the Son of a stranger shall inherit them, whether a wise man or fool shall be master over all their works; is not this an ancient evil, and still a great vanity? that men should be more brutish and unnatural than the worst of bruits to their own flesh, and like Cannibals, destroy the very fruit of their own loins, by exposing their younger Children to misery and poverty, to build themselves a great Name in the Earth, when as they know not but that their Heirs, like those of Augustus, may be their greatest Enemies instead of the firstborn, for whom they design their Princely Patrimonies. How justly doth God often blast and curse these great Estates that are the product of so much partiality, Oppression and unrighteousness, and may be not also the Government by which it is permitted? Certainly did we believe the Scriptures, that it is so difficult a thing for a Rich Man to be saved, and that poverty is a temptation to take the name of God in vain, we should not be so industrious on the one hand to bar the doors of Heaven against our firstborn, and render their passage through the Gate that's straight enough to all, more difficult than a Camels through the eye of a Needle: and on the other hand offer temptations to the rest to do evil; I say, we should not make the Tables of the one become their snares to wax fat, and forget God, and to tempt the other with misery, which not unoften ministers as bad council as that of Jobs wife, to curse God and die? To conclude, will virtue be in any reputation, while riches are in such great esteem? Oh what Iliads of evils are the offspring of this Covetousness and Oppression? but to proceed, after all our great expectations, are we not still in the wilderness, instead of being arrived at the Canaan of our Liberties, that good Land we promised ourselves by our Reformation? or else as Samuel sometime said to Saul, What means this bleating of Sheep and Oxen? so, what means the sighing and mourning of the people? what means those harsh and querulous notes that are continually grating in our ears; are they not witnesses hereof? is not every man's mouth like the Children of Israel's, found full of bitter complaints? Is there not a great murmuring throughout the Nation? doth not not every one cry out more than ever of the deadness of Trade, of the hardness and iniquity of the times? and is it without cause? are not all Trades and Professions over stocked? is not knavery crept into every shop, & fraud and deceit into all professions? and are not Thiefs and Beggars daily multipliplyed, and those of none of the worst Names and Families throughout the Land?  
And have not too complaints been added, many and various endeavours? into how many several forms and moulds of Government have we of late been cast? How many new experiments have we made; of how many instruments and new devices made trials, and all to no purpose, into how great pangs and what sore travail hath the Commonwealth been cast, and yet not able to bring forth the desired and expected Reformation, we have so long waited for. How hath the Nation staggered and reeled to and fro like a drunken Man? We have set up and pulled down; we build, and then again destroy; we go forwards and backwards, not knowing which way to turn us, being all this while groping in the dark, not knowing what aileth us, or what we would have, only we are sick and that unto the death.  
Also many have been the Physicians that have undertaken our cure, to heal the distempers of our State, but have proved mere Mountebancks, either their ignorance mistaking, or fear concealing the rise and cause of our malady, and so proved very unsuccessful in their undertake, what shall we then do? shall we tamper no more, but leave time to work out Cure, to heal and make up our breaches? without doubt that cannot be safe, for our disease grows upon us daily, we are every day worse than other, the very symptoms of death and dissolution are hastening upon us: and though I pretend not to be a Prophet, or the son of a Prophet, yet I dare venture to predict, if what is spelled from visible and natural causes may be so termed, that unless God please to raise some noble and generous spirits to undertake the discovery, and with undaunted Reformation destroy the root of all our Evils, we shall yet hear our Bells ring more changes, and instruments of Government be wound up to more harsh and discordant Notes than any our ears have been entertained with yet.  
Now to know the spring and source of our misery, I presume we need neither consult an Oracle, or ask Council of a Conjurer, and perhaps it may be less difficult, then safe to discover; the Caution of Solomon being good Council, Be not righteous over much, neither make thyself over wise, why shouldst thou destroy thyself: Whence we may learn it is not the difficulty, but danger that obstructs the discovery of many things. For who will contend with time that is mightier, or too strong for him? So I returned and considered all the Oppressions that are done under the Sun, and to behold the tears of such as are Oppressed, and they had no comforter, and on the side of the Oppressors there was power, but they had no Comforter. Now should we ask Council of our old Nobility, the Lawyer, the Clergy, or the Citizen, we know what would be their advice, to face about, return to the old constitution, to go back again into Egypt, to return to our making of brick, and so build up the things we have so lately destroyed, for it was better with us than it is now; we shall never find out a better constitution in which all interests were so well bounded and balanced, as the old, faith the Ancient Nobility. Nor will any so well suit with the genius humour of the English people, and the tenor of their Laws, saith the Lawyer, Religion and Learning never flourished so well as under Monarchy, nor were there then so many Schisms and Heresies, saith the Divine. In the time of the King and Court, we had far better Trading, saith the Citizen; nor were we then burdened with so many Taxes, saith the Countryman, so that all are willing and agreed to face about and be as they were. And what's the reason of it, but that men mistake their interest, and there is an evil report raised on the Land, whether we are travelling, as if it were a Land of Confusion and not of Peace and Liberty. And the Spies have done ill offices, which hath occasioned this brief Map or Description of a Commonwealth, or the presenting these few bunches of Grapes, that you may have a taste of what Liberty may be expected in the Canaan towards which we are setting our faces.  
Let us therefore stand still and see the salvation of God, and not murmur against his providences that have so long detained us in the wilderness; but follow the Captains and Leaders that first lead us out of Egypt, and are now restored to put us in possession of what we have so long expected, if we do not through unbelief render ourselves unworthy to enter.   

Courteous Reader,  
THe Author of these Discourses living where the Keys of the Press hang at their Girdles, who had rather stifle than in the lest be accessary to the birth of any thing of this nature: was necessitated to make use of one at too great a distance for his inspection, and therefore to trust wholly to the courtesy of the Printer, by whose negligence the following Erratas have been suffered in many places, to steal away the sense of the discourse; there being many other smaller lapses through mispointing, and the like, together with the Erratas of three or four of the last sheets, that the Author not having an opportunity of perusing, must be submitted to the Readers judgement or Candour, to be either corrected or forgiven.  
Epistle to the Reader, PAge 1. l 23. r. Cultivate f. Culturate. p. 2. l. 28. r. after f. offer. p. 3. l. 19 r. world f. word, and l. 22. r. wealth f. wrath. p. 5. l. 17. r. him, f. time. l. 27. r. then, then. l. 30. the Genius and humour.  
PAge 6. line 13. for that Olygarchy, read Oligarchy that etc. p. 7. l. 21. f. equalities, r. capacities. p. 9 l. 26. f. stability, r. subtlety. p. 16. l. 4. f. pricks r. P●kes. p. 22 l. 28. of those etc. r. to those. p. 44. l. 16. limit, r. remit. p. 47. l. 4. humane, r. humour. p. 49. l. 9 learned, r. leavened. p. 50. l. 23. stated, r. elated. p. 52. l. 8. kerbed, r. crabbed. p. 54. l. 30. conclusion, r. confusion. p. 58. l. 11. their r. either imprudence &c p 58. l. 1. strain, r. theme. p. 61. l. 4. burn, r. turn. p. 62. l. 2. imprudent, r. impendent. p. 62. l. 26. concern, r. conceive. p. 63. l 21. and worse, r. divorce. p. ●6. l. 5. Oppressors, r. Oppressions, p. 67. l. 8. most, r. more. p. 68 l. 8. Sons, r. Zions. p. 69. l. 2. rescue, r. receive, etc.   

THE PROEM, CONTAINING A PLEA for an Equal Commonwealth or Free-State against Monarchy.  
I Have sometime (by what charms I know not) been so strongly possessed with a fond opinion of the indifferency of all forms of Government, that I have looked on none as objects of greater pity, than such as prompted by an ignorant and blind zeal, have left their memories on the file of History, and their names registered in the bloody Rubrics of Times-Calender as Martyrs of State; for as I presumed all Governments alike subject to corruption and oppression, so I supposed none uncapable of becoming the Conduits of Justice, and administering Truth and Righteousness to the people.  
And therefore have been apt to interpret a noncompliance with present power, as rather proceeding from ill manners, or a peevish kind of morosity, that in some turbulent illnatured spirits, is the infirmity, or rather hereditary malady of their Melancholy Complexion, then from any true work of Conscience, or Reverence (as commonly pretended) to the Sacred Bonds of Religion; which betrayed my rashness into a fond conceit, that not only the Malcontents under one Government, would be the same under any other, unless their ambition were gratified with a share and interest in the administration and management thereof; but a●●●, that such good natures as can comply with one, will, if the Scene (chance) to change, and the Balance of Affairs turn, with as great readiness espouse and cast themselves into the embraces of another, as acknowledging the tribute of all faithful duty and loyal obedience justly due, and of right to be paid, to whatever Power is so well sledged, as to extend the wing of their Protection, for a defence to the Lives and Estates of all such as are willing to own and receive warmth from their Authority.  
The consideration whereof rendered me very neutral in reference to State affairs, supposing Faction and Ambition to bear greater sway than Religion, in byassing men's Propensities, & ruling their inclinations as to things of this nature: Insomuch, that I have been apt to pity and commiserate the unhappiness of those God had been pleased to call up to the battlements of Sovereignty, and placed at the Helm of Affairs; by reason there never have been wanting such, as on all occasions, are willing to malign & revile their persons, to cast shame and reproach upon their names, and arraign the best of their actions as guilty of Pride and Oppression; and all this by the verdict of a Jury of prejudicated thoughts, impanelled in their own breasts, and before no more equitable a Bar, then that of their private and forestalled judgements; when as my more simple Charity hath been apt to prompt me to a more favourable and candid opinion.  
But with whatever fond apprehensions my childhood, and days of former ignorance and vanity might be enchanted withal: I have at length gathered this wholesome fruit, from the bitter root of our late troubles and changes, of being better able to distinguish between good and evil, and of having the eye of my understanding opened, to a clearer discerning of that wherein the true interest of our liberties and felicity is wound up; so as no longer to make up the Consort of those, that suborned by the flatteries and fallacies of base and corrupt interests, call light darkness, and darkness light; being by the experience of those few years wherein we have of late run the Gauntlet of so many several forms of Government, Baptised into a new Belief, and made Proselyte to another opinion then what ignorance and prejudice had formerly ingarrisoned my apprehensions withal; as having found the Strokes of one more smart, and giving a deeper wound to both our spiritual and civil liberties than others.  
And though I was never possessed with an evil spirit of Opposition, or genius of Contradicting and Snarling at what is present; but rather studied at least a passive, if not an active compliance with the present Power; as knowing there was never any Power, whose Commission was not passed, if not under the Broad-Seal of Heaven's Approbation, yet at least by the Privy-Seal of God's permissive Providence; which I have always taken as a sufficient warrant for paying the tribute of passive Obedience, wheresoever I received the benefit of reciprocal Protection: Yet I cannot but acknowledge some Governments more pure, refined, and less prone to corruption than others; and certainly, those wherein the Supreme Magistrate hath an interest distinct from that of the people, must be most apt to degenerate, and have greatest propensity to Tyranny and Oppression. Now whether Monarchy, that winds up all the strings in the Instrument of Government to the interest of a Single Person; that tunes Laws, Religion, and all things, to an harmony and compliance with the Monarches single Will, may not justly be suspected of this strain, I leave at the Bar of any considerate man's judgement to be decided.  
Certainly, whatever gloss or varnish the Courtship or flatteries of Princes or their Parasites may set upon it, such a Government is diametrically opposite to, and inconsistent with the true liberty and happiness of any people.  
I remember I have read a pretty strange passage of one of the French Kings, that he was the most Religious Prince, and greatest Tyrant that ever wore the Crown of France. I was (I confess) sometime startled at the strangeness of the Character; but our late experience of one might wear the same livery, makes me able, not only to digest the wonder; but also to give credence to this general Aphorism, That whatever may be the Qualifications of any Prince, in reference to the personal endowments of his mind, the title of Good was never justly attributed to any King, in reference to his Office, except comparatively: And therefore in my apprehension, Elective Kingdoms have small advantage of Hereditary, by reason the unhappiness of such Governments, seem not so much to spring from the nature of the person administering, as of the Office and Dignity, which ever lays an Iron Yoke of Slavery and Oppression on the people's necks: So that considering the vast expense of blood and treasure with which the competition of the Office and Dignity is usually managed, by the scarlet Candidates of Crowns and Sceptres, an Hereditary Monarchy seems ecligible, as the lesser evil; especially, if by some fundamental Constitution, like the Sallick Law of France, the absurd (though not unusual) pretensions of women and children might be cut off: For to hang the Keys of the power Civil and Ecclesiastic upon Apron-strings; and to put the Sceptre into a hand, fit to wear a Distaff, is to invert the order both of God and Nature, and to set a Nation with its heels upwards. And yet I know it is the opinion of some, that women and children are fittest to make Princes, as being of a more passive spirit; and therefore likeliest to steer by the advice of wise Council; by reason they repose less stress and confidence in their own prudence, than men, in Authority of which the happy and prosperous Reign of Queen Elizabeth is usually alleged; but whether without wrong to the more than masculine vigour of her spirit, and matchless quickness of parts, whereby she was to a wonder, qualified for Government, and reported rather to outstrip, then come short of the more noble Sex, I leave others to judge. But should we grant this assertion to to have the countenance of Reason, and that experience had also set to its seal of Conformation; it's so far from being of any advantage to Monarchy, by warding off the blow usually given by such as skirmish against it, with their reasons sharpened with these inconveniences, that it gives the deepest wound to its reputation that could be desired; by asserting, that Oligarchy, by the general consent of all times and ages, hath been exploded as one of the worst Tyrannies, to be the best of Monarchies.  
I have met with some, that plead much for the Single Person that should be only the name, without the thing; the office, without the power; the shadow or image, without the substance; as if it were impossible for men, that are the Masters and proprietors of reason, to be knit together into civil society and peace for their own common interest and safety, without erecting either some gaudy thing to humour them, or some Scarecrow to fright them into obedience: Nor do I know whose conveniency would be herein consulted, except the Lawyers, who (if like Packhorses trained up in one road) not able to change their accustomed pace or stile, it be prudence for the Nation to hazard a relapse into Tyranny, and again expose their lives and liberties to the will and lust of an Arbitrary Power, to set up a John of Oak, or Will. of Style, with infinite expense of blood and treasure, by reimposing the Yoke so lately cast off, that this pack, etc. may not alter the stile and form of their Writs, etc. I say, wherefore the Nation should be so over indulgent to a corrupt interest of men, rather than to regulate and reform the forms of Law, that through the subtlety of this Generation, are become rather snares than fences of our estates and proprieties, falls not within the precincts of my apprehension.  
Should we now unbowel and trace unto its original this Name, for which there have of late appeared so many Advocates, I presume it would be found of as ill complexion as the word Tyrant was accounted amongst the Greeks; the english word King being but the abreviate of Cunning, the usual epithet as all men know of Knaves; and to speak the truth experience hath made good, though never so great a Saint hath sat upon the Thone, the Devil and a Bishop hath ever stepped into the Office: For I am not of that fond opinion that Kings are not capable in their private equalities of like virtues and qualifications with other men; but that notwithstaanding their accomplishments, how excellent, how bright, how orient soever are their personal virtues, they stand on slippery places; and their dignities, their interests, their parasites, their flatterers are snares too great for them to retain their integrity, and therefore that the Talon of Sovereign Power is too great, too precious to be entrusted or deposited in one man's hand, though an Angel, lest so great a temptation should endanger his fall, and make him appostate to a Devil.  
That Kings are Gods scourges and given in wrath we have the testimony of Scripture: Nimrod was a great hunter, a mighty man, a great oppressor, and the first King or Prince we read of, the first that invaded the liberty of the World, that first usurped Authority, and presumed to exercise Dominion over his brethren, the first that put a period to that Golden Age, wherein no other than paternal Government was known: But though thus nigh the morning of time, God sent his scourge Nimrod as a just plague amongst the other Nations of the Earth, yet the people of God, the seed of Abraham, the children of Israel were a long while after free, a Free-State, and enjoyed their native liberties, till the time of Samuel, when they rebelled and desired a King like the other Nations, that they might be like the Heathen whom God had cast out, which God construed no other then Apostasy, and rejecting of him, than rebellion and high treason against his own divine Majesty, and said, They have rejected me, and then tells them what would be the issue, fruit and product thereof,  
They should give away their liberty, and be subjected to an arbitrary power, and become the slaves and vassals of their King, who should take their sons and their daughters to make them his servants, and send them forth to fight his battles, that is, to be the instruments of his pride and luxury, and the champions of his malice and ambition.  
And then he should destroy their propriety, and take away their houses, and their vineyards and give them to his servants. Thus the Spirit of God gives the same description of a King, as of what we call a Tyrant, a Nero, a Monster, as if they were all one, and it were essential to the nature of the office or dignity to be a Beast of prey, a Leviathan, an oppressor and devourer of the people, which character hath been too easy to be read in the lives of most of the best Kings, whose names are not taken off the file of memory.  
Now as for those that would have a mock, a counterfeit, a limited King, a King and no King, an empty Title, a bare Name, vox & preterea nihil, or I know not what: They propose a remedy worse than the disease; for to divide the Sovereignty, is to lay a Scene of blood, to sow the seed of a perpetual civil war, and entail ruin on ourselves and posterity; what is divided cannot stand; there will spring up perpetual jealousies, fears and annimosities, which will cause intrenching on each others authority, until the one have supplanted and overturned the other, this is to institute a civil war, Anarchy and confusion, instead of a well ordered Commonwealth or Polity.  
Having thus unmasked the true nature of Monarchy, which is no other than the more gentle or civil expression of Tyranny, I shall endeavour to obviate some of the most plausible and strenuous arguments, by whose strength and stability it's endeavoured to be obtruded, and our assents conciliated to the reception thereof.  
One of the grand arguments whereby the betrayers of our Liberty endeavour to decoy us into the Iron Yoke, we have so lately shaked off, is taken from our long use and custom to draw therein, which hath made tlavery become almost a second nature to us and therefore endeavour to scare us from our liberty as a novel and dangerous thing, as if servitude were more natural to a Nation then freedom, or any custom could utterly expunge nature; I am sure the former cannot reflect with greater disgrace, or more derogate from the honour of our Nation, that we should be of so course a metal, so base an allay, of so Spaniel-like-couchant, slavish and degenerate a spirit, than the other doth deviate from truth; but the worthy Advocates of this cause, measure truth by the wicked Standard of their base and corrupt designs, as they take the altitude of all other men's spirits, though never so brave and elevated, by the jacob's staff of their own pitiful crouching, fawning humour.  
It would waste more ink and paper than I am either willing or have leisure to bestow, should I show how much the State of our Nation is altered, and into how great an unsuitableness we are of late traveled unto that Government, this argument would plead prescription for.  
But of what weight or truth it is of, will easily appear to any that have taken notice of that passage of our modern History of the last Century, which concerns the gallant Hero Sir Philip Sidney, who though born in that most unlukie juncture of time for producing brave spirits, when the Nation truckled under the Government of a woman, was yet thought worthy of the Polish Crown, and had an overture in order to his election thereto, had not his jealous Mistress prevented; if then one born under the influences of a female Government, and not of the highest rank of Nobility, was thought fit to sway a Sceptre, of how great blasphemy against the honour of our Nation, may they be thought guilty, who say the free born people of England, after they have broke the more ancient Norman Yoke, and the more modern of a latter, etc. are not fit to enjoy that liberty, that hath been the price of so much blood and Treasure: But should we conceed all the argument seems to beg, that our necks eaten used to the Yoke, and we are become familiar to servitude; shall we therefore willingly suffer our ears to be bored to the posts of our new Master's doors, and become slaves for ever? shall we court our bonds, and glory in that which is our shame? shall we never learn to be free, and value liberty? shall we never emancipate ourselves and posterity, but entail thraledome and slavery on them, also to all generations? For so long as we draw in this Yoke, our condition is the same with slaves; whatsoever is born unto us is a vassal of our Lords; the fruit of our loins must drink of the same cup with us, draw in the same yoke, groan under the same tyranny and oppression we bequeath unto them; nay, who knows but their bondage may increase, like that of Israel's under the Son of Solomon, whose little finger was heavier than his Father's loins; for tyrannies usually exasperate and wax worse with continuance; shall we now beaqueath our children liberty or bonds, freedom or oppression. If we who have had our necks worn with the yoke, and our backs bowed down with heavy burdens, are of a couchant slavish spirit, perhaps our posterity, if born in a freer air, and under the influences of a more benign Government, may prove of more generous and noble spirits, worthy of, and knowing how to prise their liberty. But without doubt those brave and gallant souls, by the Conduct of whose valour and prudence, we have broke the Iron yoke of arbitrary and exorbitant power, and by the good providence of God, redeemed the captivity of our Nation, from the unrighteous bonds of its wicked oppressors, are worthy of, and know how to prise and improve what hath been purchased with so much sweat and oil, and will not in the end sell their birthright for a mess of pottage, but leave an off spring, heirs of their own valour and gallantry, that will with the utmost peril of their lives and fortunes, defend and preserve what the labours of their ancestors hath purchased, with sore travail both of mind and body, and so transmit it entire to their posterity, through many generations, till the consummation of all things, and that time shall be no more.  
But for a farther and more satisfactory Answer, to silence this Argument, we may consider how the Scene is changed, and Balance of lands altered since these last Centuries, and by reason thereof, with howgreat difficulty Monarchy hath made good its ground since Henry the 8th's days, in which it began first to decline, and hath ever since been posting to its period.  
For that wilful Prince, by alienating the Church Revenues, quite altered the balance of Lands that was the Basis of his Government, and thereby did that service unawares that pulled up the stake of Monarchy. For the Church (which with all its preferments, was at the King's devotion and sole dispose) did at that time possess a third part of the Lands and wealth of the whole Nation: Which being afterwards sold, and coming into the hands of private men, set up many thousands of families that had no dependency on the Crown. Since which time, the number of Freeholders being much increased, the Nation hath had a natural and strong vergency towards a Commonwealth; which hath been much discovered in the spirit and complexion of our Parliaments, of which the house of Commons (heretofore an inconsiderable Truckling kind of Court, that was only summoned for the Prince to milk their purses, and let the people blood in the silver vain) grew now more peremptory, and began to give check to their Prince's Exorbitances, insomuch that Queen Elizabeth was put to her Courtship to retain them in allegiance, as afterwards King James to a thousand shifts and juggles, who notwithstanding all his Kingcraft and cunning in which he so much gloried and boasted himself, so great a Master was scarce able with much juggling and dissimulation to divert the Storm from falling on his own head, which afterward reigned so much blood and vengeance on his Son and Posterity, to the utter ruin and confusion of his Family.  
To conclude therefore this particular, it being a Maxim of truth, placed beyond all hazard of Contradiction, That no Government can be fixed in this Nation, but according to the Balance of Land. That Prince that is not able neither by his own nor the Public Revenue in some measure to counterpoise, if not ore-ballance the greater part of the people, must necessarily be Tenant at Will for the Crown he wears: For they that are the Proprietors of the Land and Wealth of any Nation, will with case be able by the Magnetisme to draw the greatest number of Abettors to their side, and so to gild over their pretensions as to render them currant with the people, and so in the end, give Law to the rest of their brethren: Therefore where there is one Proprietor or Landlord as in Turkey, there is absolute Monarchy; where a few, Aristocracy, etc.  
Now since the Crown-Lands and Church-Lands of this Nation are sold, what other prop or pillar of security is left for the Throne of a Prince to rest upon, except that of a Mercenary Army, lies not within view of my apprehensions: and then how wholesome or safe advice the re-establishing of Monarchy is to this Nation, I leave all men (that have not altogether abjured their reason and conscience) to judge and determine.  
As for those poetical if not profane flourishes wherewith Orators and Poets, the constant parasites of Princes, use to gild o'er Monarchy, pretending it the most natural and rational of all other Forms of Government, and that whose pattern was first shown in the Mount, or rather let down from Heaven, paralleling it with God's Regimen of the Universe, which is alleged as it prototype or first Exemplar, and therefore to have something more of a divine right and character impressed upon it than any other, etc.  
These I say are such trite, bald and slight reasonings, that they do not merit so much respect as to receive an answer; for may we not as well by this lose and allusive way of arguing borrow a pattern from Heaven for the Triumvirate, that Augustus Lepidus and Marc. Antony sometime imposed on Rome. Doth it not as well quadrate with the Sacred Trinity, by the triple Sceptre of whose divine providence the Empire of the world is administered, as by theirs sometime that of the Romans? Will any one therefore be so bold as to say that was the most natural and rational Government, and founded by no less than a divine right, according to its pattern and Archetype in the Heavens! Notwithstanding the brand of the blackest and bloodiest Tyranny Rome ere saw hath been set thereon, by the universal consent of all Historians.  
Or may we not considering the pride, ambition, rapine, extortion, injury and oppression, that usually crowd into the Courts of the best Princes, with as much or more reason parallel absolute Monarchy with that of the Prince of Darkness, in which there is no trinity as in the other, and therefore more exactly quadrate to the absoluteness our proud Monarches so much endeavour to obtain.  
I confess could we have a prince to whom Majesty might be attributed without profane Hyperboles, that were a true Vicar or Lieutenant of God, that was not subject to the passions and infirmities much less the vices and monstrosities of humane nature, that could neither be imposed on by deceit, nor abused by flattery, whom the passions neither of fear nor affection could warp to the least declivity from what is right and honest, whose reason could never be biased by any private interest or base respect to decline the paths of justice and equity, but would manage the reins of his power with a like constancy and stediness as by the hand of providence the helm of the Universe is steered: I should then become an Advocate of Monarchy, and acknowledge it to have the impress of Divinity, and bear the Character and Inscription of God upon it, to be the best and most absolute form of Government, and a true Copy of its Divine Original: But till security be given for such a righteous administration, I desire to be excused from being a pander to Ambition, or the advocate to Tyranny, as having learned, It is not good for a man to be alone, especially on the high and slippery places; but in the multitude of Councillors there is safety: And me thinks the very dialect of Princes in the plural number (whatever of State or Majesty may be pretended) is a witness of, and doth clearly speak the unnaturalness of such exorbitant monopolies of power, and that though they act in a single capacity, are willing to speak like a Commonwealth.  
Most of the other arguments of which the advocates of tyranny make use, are drawn from the pretended advantage of that Government, above and beyond others in respect of secrecy, celerity, unanimity and the like, which though conveniencies, yet being far too light to counterpose and balance the other incommodities, together with the great charge and excise they are rated at, require no other answer, nor shall I wast more time and ink upon them: Yet how these conveniencies may be taken in, we have an expedient propounded by M. Harrington, according to the example of the Roman Commonwealth, by erecting a dictatorian power, if the state of affairs at any time so require.  
Having thus passed the pricks of the sharpest arguments, that are usually raised in defence of the odd thing called a single person, I shall only speak a word or two to that is founded on the single command, That in times of war and eminent danger, when the gates of Janus Temple are set open, is committed to one man, it being a received maxim, that reason hath always conceded an advantage to the absolute jurisdiction of a single person in the field, prescribing to that end but one General to an Army, for fear of divisions upon contrary counsels and commands.  
To which may be replied, notwithstanding Generals are not taken upon trust, as Kings in successive Monarchies, but upon the test of experience, and proved sufficiency manifested in former services; yet if it seem expedient to the Commonwealth, there may be a rotation in that office as well as others, as was anciently in the Roman Republic, whose Armies were led forth by their annual successive Consuls, and that with great success and victory.  
But the Expedient our present Parliament hath found out by Commission, doth so fully answer this objection, that I need say no more unto it; for without doubt, it is the Interest of a Free-state to have all the people so trained up in Military Discipline and made familiar with Arms, that he may not be thought arrived at the just accomplishments of a Gentleman, that is not able to lead an Army into the Field, it being among the Romans not absurd Apostrophe to leave the plough tail to head an Army or vice versa when their Military employments were accomplished: How much then may they be thought to fall short of the accomplishment of a Gentleman, that know not how to manage the Conduct of a Troop of Horse, as I fear too many of our Gentlemen upon a due scrutiny would be found, who notwithstanding all their great pretences to be accounted Armigeri or Esquires, are scarce stout enough to discharge a pistol, or were ever militant beyond the borders of their Lady's Carpets.  
I shall now sound a retreat to the further progress of my pen on this Theme, lest I should seem too much to triumph over a baffled and prostrate Enemy, it being my desire to use victory with like moderation, I desire to bear a Foil, Conquest or Captivity: Therefore since by the good providence of God, together with the gallant Conduct of the no less prudent than valiant Asserters of our native Rights and Liberties, we are reinstated in the possession of our Birth rights, I shall attempt the discovery of those rocks and shelves on which in the late night of Apostasy we split our Liberties, and endangered the utter ruin and shipwreck of our lives and fortunes, in the dangerous Sea of an exorbitant and unlimited Power: and thereby strike some sparks of light for the future better steering of the Commonwealth, in whose bottom as all our lives and felicities are adventured, we are all concerned to endeavour its being brought to a safe Port and Harbour.  
The work then of our present Pilots that sit at the Stern and manage the Conduct of our affairs, is to endeavour the Commonwealth may be so equally balanced as it may neither have propensity to a second relapse into Monarchy, as of late, or Oligarchy, which is worse, nor yet into Anarchy, the worst of all three: But to settle a Free-state upon such just and righteous foundations as cannot be moved, that may be a strong Rampire of defence not only to our Civil Liberties, as men from the future encroachment of Tyranny or inundation of Exorbitant Power, but also of security to our Spiritual Liberties, as Christians from the invasion of those that desire to domineer and lord it over the Consciences of their Brethren: Both which seem so linked and twisted to each other, that what conduces to the security of one, hath no small tendency to the establishing of the other also, and do commonly so inseparably accompany each other, that wheresoever there is a Free-state or equal Commonwealth Liberty of Conscience is inviolably preserved together with a convenient and inoffensive latitude in toleration of Religions, as in Holland, Venice, etc.  
Now for the better securing of these we are to take notice of what persons or things are most inconsistent with, and have greatest enmity to, the interest of a Free-state or equal Commonwealth.  
For discovery of which as I know it a crime of presumption unpardonable for one seated in the vale of a private condition to pretend a fairer prospect into the interest of State, than those providence hath placed in the Watchtowers and on the pinnacles of power: Yet by reason a by-stander may be allowed to discern something of the Game, and he that is out of play to show the ground to a Bowler, and one that stands below may better know what props the foundation rests upon, than he that is on the top of the Tower: And it being the duty of every one to cast in his mite to the vaster treasures of their knowledge to whom providence hath committed the Conduct of our Affairs, I am bold, being partly thereto encouraged by that great candour wherewith I observe the like tribute of zealous and faithful hearts are already received, to tender what in my apprehension may have a tendency to a future settlement and security. I confess were we at this time bowed down under the Government of a Monarch in whose Court every Counsellor of State is to be taken on an implicit faith to enjoy by his Prince's Patent and favour a Monopoly of Reason as well as Honour, and that his understanding is no less elevated than according to the proportion his Titles and Fortunes swell above the tide of other men's: I might justly be accounted absurd to offer any thing of this nature, as knowing with what scorn and contempt so rash an adventure would be encountered.  
But in a Free-state wherein the greatest Senators are not ashamed to confer with the meanest persons, I am not afraid to put myself into the crowd of those that make addresses of this nature: Wherefore to conclude this Parenthesis and resume the thread of our discourse, there are not as I presume pass two or three sorts of persons whose interests run counter to, or indeed are not twisted and wound up in the same bottom with that of a Free-state, or at least in the spining out of a few years might not be interwove therewith, and those are the Lawyer, Divine, and Hereditary Nobility, as for the Cavalier and Courtier, I question not but a little time would breathe out their Antipathy, and warp their affections to a perfect compliance and closing with an equal Commonwealth.   

Of the Ministry or Clergy.  
IT being the Method of Heaven for Judgement to begin with the House of God, I shall first speak to the reformation of the public Ministry, or National Clergy, so far as they seem prompted by their interest, to run counter to that of a Commonwealth; and though I know (notwithstanding the complexion of their Coat, which seems, or at least ought to promise greater moderation) it is no less dangerous to meddle, or in the least exasperate this generation of men, then to puddle in a Hornets nest, or encounter a Bear rob of her whelps; yet my conscience bearing me witness, I have neither malice to their persons, nor envy their preferments; I shall not forbear to give in my testimony against the corrupt interest and principles wherewith they are leavened: Where by the way, I must profess myself unsatisfied of what ground or foundation may (since the Jewish Priesthood was abolished) be ●ound in Scripture for that distinction between the Laity and Clergy, which custom hath introduced into most Christian Commonwealths; my zeal and charity being apt to prompt me to a like wish with that of Moses, That all the Lords people were Prophets, or rather to think all the Lords people are holy, and to be accounted a Royal Priesthood to God: Nor can I persuade myself learning is so necessary a qualification for the teaching of the Gospel, as some would make us believe, having observed our Saviour altogether rejected the wisdom of man, and made not use of the learned Scribes or Doctors of the Law, but simple and illiterate Fishermen to be the first Heralds of Peace unto the world, to proclaim good will to the Children of men, to be the first Evangelists and Messengers of the glad tidings of Salvation; and indeed the introduction of learned Rabbis into the Church of Christ, and blending Divinity with the learning of the Gentiles, seems to run counter to the whole design of the Gospel, which is by the foolishness of preaching to confound the wisdom of the world. Certainly the sword of God's Spirit will be able to do its work, though not managed by the skilful hand of an Artist, or Master of Fence, that hath been brought up in the polemics and Digladiations of humane literature, vain Philosophy, or Sophistry of the Schools.  
Nor do I find that the Apostles, and those sent forth by Christ, to be the Catholic Bishops of the whole earth, and to teach all Nations, did assume unto themselves any distinction of garb, colour, or habits from the rest of Christ's Flock; and I have read of some that were censured in the Primitive times, or first Centuries, for wearing large black Cloaks; for what is this but to bring back those Jewish types and shadows, to cloud and obscure the brightness of the Gospel's dispensation, that were long since dispelled and abrogated, by the a rising of the Sun of Righteousness upon the world; for as one hath lately well observed, What is the canonical girdle, and formality of Doctors wearing boots, but as types and allusions of those places, of having their loins girt and their feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel, etc.  
Nor do I read that they who were called to the Ministry did look upon that as a writ of ease, or sufficient warrant to quit their other particular callings, trades and vocations, but that Paul wrought with his hands, that he might not become burdensome, and it is generally presumed, our Saviour wrought at his Father's Trade; not that I would not have those that Minister in spiritual things reap of others carnal; but that it seems more according to the rule and precedent of the Gospel, that they should be content with what voluntary contribution, God shall move the people's hearts unto, then by force and rigour of Law exact a maintenance.  
And when I find the Apostle saluting the Church in Caesar's family, I am prompted to wish, that all our Houses were Chapels unto the Lord, and that our families, like that of Caesar's, contained a Church within them: I am sure it is no new observation, that the greatest heat and zeal of Religion, hath been always found in conventicles and private meetings, which suggests unto my thoughts no small ground of suspicion, that our parochial Churches, Bells, together with the whole order, pomp, method, and formality of our National Clergy, and public worship, stands upon no other foundation then that of humane invention, which by the stream of corrupt times, have been carried beyond the pattern and precedent of the Primitive Ages, and become very unlike and dissonant to the exemplar Christ and his Apostles left us.  
Nor am I satisfied, if the generality of men are uncapable of receiving the truth and power of godliness, whether the endeavours of giving all men a tincture of Religion, and forcing them into the garb and livery of an outward profession, which is the great design of, and plea for a National Clergy, be more acceptable unto God then Morality. I know under the Law, God had a peculiar people that were picked and culled as it were from the dross and rubbish of the rest of mankind that were to be built up in an outward profession and National way of public worship, adorned with many Ceremonies, together with much pomp, and outward splendour, but whether Religion be not now under the Gospel, a more inward, refined, spiritual and less visible thing, I humbly submit to serious consideration. And if I am herein mistaken (for I pretend not to Infallibility) I should be thankful to any God shall be pleased to make use of as instruments to better inform me; for I would willingly see and know my errors.  
But if it be here objected that the Primitive times were times of persecution, in which the Church was as it were under Hatches, and Christianity in its Infancy, and the Professors thereof forced to hid themselves in holes of the Rocks and Caves of the earth: But now having gained ground upon the world and being in better plight, and since it is come up out of Egypt from the House of Bondage from under the pressures, afflictions, persecutions, and burdens of its Heathenish Taskmasters, under which it formerly groaned, ought, according to the example of the Israelites, be adorned with the spoil of the Heathen, etc.  
I answer, That as the Kingdom of God comes not with observation, so it consists not in any outward pomp and splendour It's said the King's Daughter (or Spouse of Christ) is All-glorious within, and by how much the more ground Christianity hath gained upon the world, by so much the less need doth it now stand of the Wisdom and Learning of men to commend and propagate it, then when it was to encounter with so great opposition, and such potent Antagonists as under the Heathen Emperor it met withal. And if the truth did then under all those disadvantages not only make good its ground, but so much gained upon the World when it had few other Champions than poor Fishermen and illiterate Mechanics; how much less need it now fear brow-beating when the power of God hath subdued so many Nations to the knowledge and obedience of his truth, and hath made Princes of the earth bow unto the Sceptre of his Son.  
Some dawnings of these truths began in a great measure to break forth upon that little Assembly which by way of scorn is commonly called Praise God Bare bones Parliament, of whom many are able to bear this testimony, that they were the first Power of this Nation that did most visibly own Christ in the purity and simplicity of the Gospel: But Christ's appearance in their meekness, much like his riding to Jerusalem on an Ass, was so far from being received with Hosannas, that it was utterly rejected and refused by the Policy and wisdom of this Generation, which was unworthy of so great a mercy, and indeed not ripe for that purity and simplicity of Reformation, that they by a Spirit of Faith seemed strongly carried forth unto: Which eminently appeared in their sudden striking at the root of two such potent Factions as the National Clergy and the Lawyers, which they would hardly have done had they only consulted with flesh and blood, or not steered the Course of their Counsels by something beyond the Compass of humane prudence. And whether the Nation is yet willing to part with their Calves they have so long worshipped, I know not, but I am sure it hath pleased God to give them a great discovery of the corruption, pride, ambition, and flattery of this sort of men, how willing they could be to reap their own profit though sown in, and springing from the ruin of the Nations liberty and felicity, how willingly they could sell their brethren slaves into the hands of Tyranny and Oppression, to purchase to themselves Dominion and Lordship.  
I would not be taken for an Enemy to either the Magistracy or true Ministry, as knowing they are the Ordinance of God, and the very light and eyes of the world; only that which I am chief moved to witness against, is, that unnatural divorce and separation that is at this day found between them in Christian Commonwealths, which I account no less contrary to the Maxim of true policy, than the mind of God and precedent of its first institution: And however it came to pass that the Civil Magistrate was thus trapan'd, to have the Keys of the Church taken from him, to be thrust out of the Temple as an unholy thing, to be prohibited from Ministering at the Altar, and so the better part of the blessing wrested from him, to whom (if any more than other) it doth chief appertain, and this by a company of Hirelings: I know not, but I think I may be bold to say it was not so in the beginning.  
For first these two Functions of Magistracy and Ministry are united in their source and origin, viz. Christ the supreme Head of the Church, who is both King, Priest, and Prophet.  
Secondly, the Moral Law which we call the ten Commandments, and the Judicial Laws of Moses given by God, setting aside some Idioms and properties of them peculiarly relating to the Jewish Nation are the Rule and Standard for Civil Governors to rule by, and the Equity of them is written in men's hearts by Nature, and renewed by Christ. Which being the common rule of our Obedience both towards God and Man, plead much against that distinction of its Administrators, viz. that of one Law there should be two Ministers, especially in so great a distinction, if not opposition, as is found at this day.  
Thirdly, The two Functions were united in the ancient Patriarches, who were Kings, Priests, and Prophets in their several Tribes and Families, which continued during the first Ages, and more innocent time of the world's Infancy, during the time of Paternal, the first and best of all Governments, when, if ever, was that Golden Age so much mentioned by our Poets, a time when Tyranny and Oppression were unknown.  
But after the liberty of the world was invaded by Tyranny, and Esau sold his Birthright for a mess of pottage, the Power of the two Swords became parted, and to render the purchase of Empire more cheap and easy, the ambitious Candidates of Dominion were willing to compound and part stakes, permitting others to domineer in things of conscience, so they would hold the stirrup for their ambition to get into the saddle of Civil rule and Empire, by which means the Sword and the Keys might come first to be parted, and so found in several hands, which hath been the cause of most of those wars and deluges of blood that have been poured forth since the beginning of the world, to wit, by the clashing of the two Powers, Civil and Ecclesiastic. Now whether after the extirpation of Paternal Government and institution of the Order of Priesthood in Aaron's family and the Tribe of Levi, both Swords were retained in the same hand during the time of the Judges, as also after that through the Jews Apostasy from God, Kings were anointed, is disputable: Though this is certain they were not altogether excluded, but did sometimes administer in spirituals as well as temporals; for we often find the good Kings reading and expounding the Law unto the people, according to the Obligation laid upon them by the command of God, as also consecrating the Temple, and blessing the people, things pertaining to the Priestly Office: But after the Captivity both Functions were visibly united in the persons of the High-priests, who exercised the Regal as well as Sacerdotal Office, till the coming of our Saviour.  
And the light of this truth notwithstanding that night of Ignorance and Paganism that covered the face of almost all the known world, was not altogether hid from the Heathen; for during the Republic of the Romans, the Priests of their Gods were chosen out of their chief Senators, and after their Liberty was betrayed into an Empire, the Flamen Dialis or Highpriest of their chief god Jupiter was the same with the person of their Emperor.  
Nor since the extirpation of Popery hath this Doctrine been altogether a stranger to the British Shores.  
Henry the 8th was by the universal consent of the reformed Clergy acknowledged under Christ the Supreme Head of the English Church, together with the Title of Defender of the Faith, which hath ever since been granted (though perhaps out of modesty not always usurped) to all the rest of our Kings and Princes, but with what decorum, especially when a child or woman was in possession of the Throne, I leave others to judge: But I remember to have read, that when the Archbishop (as I take it Abbot) had a charge put in against him, his Judge was declared the King, to whom he was referred to give an account, as to his immediate supreme in his own Order; thus civil were those times unto their Magistrates, whereas now they are prohibited with a procul ite profani, under no less dreadful penalty than an Anathema, to lay their unhallowed hands upon the Ark of God, or to offer strange fire unto the Lord, as they are pleased to term all Divine Service that is not offered in a Priest's Censer. Now the vestal fire of our Religion, like that of old Rome, must be preserved upon the Altar of the people's heart, by a peculiar Order of Priesthood, lest all the coals of devotion should otherwise be quenched amongst us; as if it were impossible to retain the Ark of God's presence or Religion without a National Clergy, to be its Guardians, as if the very Heavens of Christianity were in danger to fall, did not the shoulders of the Clergy bear them up, were not they the Atlas and Pillar whereby they are supported; so much are these men willing to arrogate unto themselves.  
But to return from this digression, since in the head of all Government Christ, and in the first Copy of it, amongst the Patriarches, and in the time of the Maccabes and in the practice of many Nations, both Christian and Heathen, the Magistracy and Ministry were twisted together, and exercised by one and the same, I can see no good reason why they should be parted now, either in the superior or subordinate Ministers of Justice: Kings have always accounted the Sacerdotal dignity as one the fairest flowers in their Crown; (and why Republics should set a lower value on it, falls not within my apprehension) they esteemed it a thing most perilous and unsafe, to trust any besides themselves with the absolute and total power of the Church's Keys, since those that by that means get a place in the consciences of men, and pretend to use the Sword of the Spirit, have been always able upon the least provocation, to arm themselves with greater terror, and quench their thirst of revenge with deeper draughts of blood than those that were only armed with the Civil Sword; it being no small advantage upon motions of private revenge, to set so good a gloss upon their cause, though never so bad, as to be able to suborn the terrors of hell and conscience, and so make use of the Millitia and Artillery of the Almighty in their own defence: It is too too well known how apt the spirit of the Clergy is like that of Peter's, to call for fire from Heaven upon the heads of their enemies, and to hold the people in a blind fear and expectation, that their prayers shall be answered. I am sure this State hath little reason to trust a provoked and enraged Clergy, who not only look upon themselves as injured by the late sale of their best preferments, and perpetual exclusion from a share and interest in the Legislative power, being by Act of Parliament incapacitated of having a suffrage in that high and supreme Court; whereas they used and still expect to give Law to the rest of the Nation; but also know themselves in little less than a praemunire, by driving a wicked bargain, in which our Liberties were to have been exposed to sale, as the price of redemption for their Episcopal Dignities.  
Nor indeed is our State rich enough, without reversing the late sales, to purchase their good wills (were they desirous so to do) or ever bribing them to so great compliance, as to become the State's Orators, or to bark any thing but faction and sedition against the Commonwealth.  
It is not a small thing will satiate the ambition of the English Clergy, who many of them though taken from the meanest of the people, usually so much forget their Original, that they think the best preferments below their merits and capacities: Now what prudence it can be for the State to keep up a discontented and enraged Clergy, to be always pelting from the Pulpit, balls of Wildfire among the people, to kindle a second war and combustion, pretending they are the coals of God's Altar, for warming the people's hearts with zeal for his glory; is a maxim of policy, that moves not within the Sphere of my intelligence.  
I should therefore humbly propose, That the Tables of such Money-changers might be orverturned, and these Buyers and Sellars that make Merchandise of Religion, and turn the holy function of the Ministry, or Sacerdotal Office, into a mercenary Trade or profession, into which the meanest of the people (after seven years' Apprenticeship in the University, commonly called sitting at the feet of Gamaliel) are thrust for a piece of bread, may at length be driven out of the Temple of God: And since (as we hope and believe) the time is come in which we may expect the fulfilling of that glorious promise, that Kings shall become nursing Fathers, and our Princes nursing Mothers to the Church; that our Magistrates that have been always termed pastors populi, or Shepherds of people, would resume the care of feeding Christ's Flock with the sincere milk of the Word, and no longer make use of journeymen and hirelings in Christ's Vineyard, or discharge the most considerable part of their duty towards God and his people, by proxy, or suffer themselves who are the heads and Elders of God's Israel, to be supplanted and beguiled of their birthright, and by consequence the blessing entailed upon it.  
I presume no Christian Magistrate is so ill read in the duties of his place, as in the least to doubt whether he be no less obliged to teach then govern the people God's providence hath placed him over. I blush to think with how great shame this reflects upon that ill custom, either pride or ignorance hath introduced amongst the chiefest of our Gentry and Nobility, who entertain Chaplains in their houses, to discharge the duty of their families by a Deputy, as if they had received this new Article into their Creed, that it is their duty to serve God by proxy, and instead of wrestling with God after the example of Jacob, that Prince of Israel, and being their own Orators at the Throne of Grace, they thought it more acceptable to retain an Advocate or Attorney to plead their cause for them, as is the corrupt and unrighteous custom to fee Lawyers before the unjust tribunals of men; and that this is no less effectual a means to procure our cause to go well in the Court of Heaven, then to speed in those here upon earth.  
Whereas Solomon gloried more in the single name of a Preacher, than all his gilded Titles, as King of Israel.  
Some dawnings of this truth was sometime manifested to the late Protector (before he was ensnared by the pomp, and beguiled with the honours of this world) together with many of the chief officers of the Army, who looked upon it as their duty to teach and preach to their several Regiments and Companies in which they reaped the fruit of God's glorious presence, strengthening their hands in the day of battle, and crowning their heads with wreaths of victory and triumph.  
And I know not why we may not expect the Ministry and Religion, to thrive as well in the hands of a zealous and pious Magistracy, in which both functions being twisted and united together, may be of mutual ornament and support to each other, as in the hands of a Mercenary and ambitious Clergy. I am persuaded the Church of God will never be built with less noise and disturbance, then when like the bvilders of the second Temple, they that use the Trovel with one hand, shall hold the sword of civil power (for punishment of vice) in the other. And as we have had a successful experience that our battles were best fought, and wars managed by a praying Army, so I am persuaded our Commonwealth would best thrive and prosper in the hands of a religious and preaching Magistracy.  
And this I could wish might be the Criterion and Character of such as are to be trusted with any considerable Talon of Power, as the only safest way whereby to secure both our civil and spiritual liberties: I mean, that the experience and acquaintance, with the ways and out-going of Gods secret providences, both towards the world and their own souls, might be the test and touchstone whereby the spirits of men might be tried and known as fit to be entrusted with the power of a Christian Commonwealth.  
For though I am not of opinion, that every Saint is fit to have the conduct of armed Troop, or a place at, the Helm of State affairs: Yet I think it desirable, and to be endeavoured, that whosoever hath the conduct of Troops or a place at the Helm of a Christian Commonwealth, should be a Saint, and one that hath given so good and ample a testimony thereof in the face of the world, that if ever he prove Apostate, a black brand of perpetual infamy may rest upon him in the eyes and memories of all succeeding ages.  
The Earth is the Lords, and the fullness thereof, therefore let not the wisdom of this Generation, the children of this world, who are Aliens and strangers to the Kingdom, think to put by the Heirs from their inheritance: for God will not suffer them to be baffled, the Lord will make good their title, and his promise to his Son, to whom is given the Heathen for his inheritance, and uttermost parts of the Earth for his possession, and to whom shall be gathered the ends of the Earth, not only as to their shepherd and universal Bishop, but also as to their King and Prince to rule over them. Now for the better preventing any mistake, or misapprehension of what hath been here spoken. I would not be understood to deny Magistracy and Ministry to be distinct in their object and exercise, the one compelling men's bodies, the other instructing and informing their minds; yea there is a distinction in Ministry, for there is the Ministry of natural and legal righteousness, and the Ministry of Evangelical and spiritual righteousness, which differ only as Christ's first and second appearance. But because Magistracy and Ministry are distinct, must they therefore be separated, or because they are given and dispensed singly, as I grant they often are; and some have Ministerial gifts which are not qualified to be Magistrates, may they not therefore where they are both concurrent in gift, be exercised by one and the same person? not that I think all that are Magistrates de facto, called thereto by men, have ability to teach; but were it not fit that none should be called to Magistracy, as Judges or Justices, but such as are able to deliver to the people the mind and will of God in things that concern civil Conversation and righteousnss between man and man, which is the height of that Ministry in truth, which many, yea the greatest part of the National Ministry have any skill or dexterity to manage.  
And lest I should be accused of innovations or novelties, may I not allege the practice of our conscientious Judges and Justices, as a confirmation hereof, who in their charge upon the Bench, and dealing with malefactors and offenders, do open the Law of God to the Countries, and ground their judgements upon conformity thereto; and were it not well it were done more, and that their decisions did more rest thereon?  
Or might I not here allédge the practice of Constantine, who usually made such Orations as we call Sermons, I am sure I have the Authority of Mr. Baxter for it in his Holy Common wealth, pag. 29. 7. or M Taverners preaching at St. Mary's in Oxford, before the Judges and face of the whole University in Queen Mary's days, being at that time the High Sheriff of the County, which is taken notice of (as I take it) in the Book of Martyrs, but certainly laymen's preaching cannot seem a novelty to those that have any acquaintance with History, or our own times, it having been allowed of by Antiquity, as well as of more modern ages, and that in the Popish and Prelatical Churches, as well as Anabaptists for our own times; how many Lay, illiterate, and Mechanic persons, have not only been permitted and connived at, but also approved, and received the stamp of Authority from our late Tryers, to enter upon pastoral charges.  
And is it not then unreasonable to deny the Magistrate that is qualified for it, an interest in preaching, as well as ruling, not that I would tempt the Magistrate to interpose with his Authority in things of a spiritual nature, and discerning, to compel men therein against or without their light, or to cut asunder with the secular Sword those knots upon men's judgements, which they cannot minister effectual light to untie, or resolve; no, as for such authorative teaching or enforcing Doctrines of faith, by virtue of his civil power, I am no Advocate for that; but if he may not compel to faith, may they not therefore instruct in faith as well as manners? yea, ought not every man as well as the Magistrate, to employ that Talent if God hath given it him? & therefore lest I should be thought either to lay too heavy a burden upon the shoulders of the Magistrates, or that it is the design of these proposals to open a door to Atheism, Anarchy, or confusion, by throwing down the public settled Ministry, the supposed Pillars of Religion, it's humbly offered to the serious consideration of those that are in Authority, that if they shall think fit to hearken to the voice of the people in taking away Tithes, they would think of some way, either out of Gleab Lands or other ways of raising a Revenue for the maintenance and encouragement of a competent number of Itinerate Ministers, to be assistant to the Magistrate in visiting such dark corners of the Land, where poor souls sit as in the valley and shadow of Death, and whose hearts God hath not yet moved to a voluntary and cheerful contribution, to the necessities of such as being enabled by God, and having the true stamp and seal of divine mission, are willing to lay out their Talents among them, that so through the pious care of our Magistrates, they may not be necessitated to labour altogether with their hands, that are faithful Labourers in God's Vineyard. And by reason that the spirit of God is not limited, but moves and blows where he listeth, and that we expect the powering forth of the spirit on all flesh, that every one may be permitted to have the free exercise of their gifts without let or molestation, until that time be come wherein we shall not need to teach every one his Neighbour, and his brother, saying, Know the Lord; but all shall know him from the highest to the lowest, when the light of the moon shall be as the light of the Sun, and the light of the Sun seven fold, when the whole Land shall become a Goshian, a Land of Light, and the Lord shall be a Sun and a shield unto us. As also that this liberty may be inviolably preserved, that every people that are willing and desirous to associate themselves in brotherly love, and the fear of God to build up one another in their most holy faith under any Way or Form whatsoever, and to choose their own Pastor, either out of the gifted Laity, or learned Clergy, according as their judgements and consciences shall prompt them, may have no interruption, or be imposed upon by either the Magistrate or Itinerant Ministry, they keeping themselves within the pales of the Law and bounds of moderation and moral honesty, but may enjoy like Privileges and protection with the rest of the free born people.  
And that the Magistrates & Itenerants would rather make it their business to rouse and awaken such poor souls as seem wraped up in a dangerous sleep of carnal security, in a total neglect of all Christian Duties and Ordinances, then to judge and censure the Religion, Truth or sincerity of any making a profession of the Gospel, to which they also witness by the innocency of an unblameable life and conversation. And that the Magistrate would be exceeding zealous in punishing and discountenancing all manner of vice and profaneness, where and in whomsoever it shall be discovered.   

Of Tithes.  
HAving thus with great freedom disburdened my thoughts concerning the function of the Ministers, I shall now craveleave to speak aword or two, to that Grand question now in debate concerning their maintenance by Tithes, which having for a long time been looked upon with an evil eye, and that not only by such worldlings as are eaten up with Covetousness, and into whose souls hath entered an eager thirst and pursuit after riches, but also such whom in charity and conscience we are bound to believe are the people of God.  
And since for the space of these many years, they have from all parts of the Nation been complained of as a great burden and grievance; and that they are become so fruitful an occasion or Lawsuits and unchristian contentions, to the enriching indeed of the Lawyers more than the Clergy: I say, considering these things, together with the manner of their first introduction and estabishment by Law, which seems to have been not altogether without wrong to the poor (who both by the Law of God and their first concession were to share therein) as also injury to the propriety of the first owners, it being well known that Tithes were originally the voluntary benevolence of the people towards the relief of the poor, together with the better supports of those that ministered in spirituals, and were never impropriated to the Clergy, to the exclusion of the poor, till the darkness of Popery and superstition had o'erspread the face of the Earth, it being then that Kings took upon them either out of devotion, or being suborned by fear of the Pope's Thunder to make these Concessions and Donations to the Church, to the injury and disinheriting of the first proprietors. Or if we consider the nature of the thing itself, without respect to the unjustness of their original (it being a thing that hath not the least countenance of reason, that men should be compelled to pay not only beyond the proportion of the tenth part of their substance, but also of their labours, that strangers should not only reap where they have not sown, but also inherit the sweat of the poor man's brows) and that under the countenance of law contrary to all right and equity, imposing a kind of soccage or slavish tenure by the plough upon the Nation, whereby to hold their Lands on their Lords the Clergy) I presume there will be found reason enough why the Parliament (whose duty it is, as the people's stewards, from whom as they received the Talents of their power, so ought to give an account of their stewardship, and in all things lawful to obey their voice as the voice of God, according to the command was sometime given Samuel, though upon a worse occasion, even then when they had rejected the Lord, and desired a King) should hearken unto this voice of the good people of the Land, in the abolishing of Tithes, that are so great an eye sore and grievance to them, which I humbly conceive might be best done for the advantage of the state and satisfaction of the people, if the Parliament would please to grant their Lands, might be totally discharged thereof at a reasonable rate and composition with the State, which would not only give encouragement for a more cheerful payment of future taxes, as the exigencies of affairs shall require, but also supply the State with a vast sum of present moneys, not only to satisfy Impropriators, and pay the Arrears of the Army, but also discharge the public debts, and probably raise pensions for the necessary support and maintenance during life of such of the present Incumbents, which if not employed as Itinerantes, or in some other service of the State, must on this account be put by their Free-holds according to Law, and therefore in conscience ought to be considered either by Pension or employment (as heretofore on like occasion the Monks) having done nothing, whereby to forfeit the favour of the State, or their interests in those public Revenues; for though (as I said before) I am of opinion, that the first introduction of Tithes, or rather their establishment by Law, was not altogether without injury to the first proprietors; yet since they have continued so many ages, and that the Lands have run through so many hands, and their purchase hereby rendered so much the more easy: I humbly conceive with submission to better judgements, that prescription of so long time, hath not only begot a title in the present incumbents as Tenants for life, but also settled the Inheritance or Reversion (as of all other public Revenues, so of these) in the State. And therefore as it seems unreasonable any should expect to have their Lands discharged gratis of an encumbrance, that hath continued so many Centuries, nor indeed can without injury, there being no other way as yet discovered to raise Moneys for satisfaction of either Impropriators or Incumbents; and should the State give up their title to the Reversion freely, they must necessarily lay the greater taxes on the Nation, for payment of the Soldier's Arrears, etc. so likewise, since no time can ●lead prescription, or give a just title to the sweat and labour of a Freeman, whence the profit of Tithes seem rather to result, then to be accounted the natural increase of Land; it seems no less unequitable they should be rated by the State, at their rack or utmost value to the people, but rather at a moderate or under rate, by reason they may (not without reason) suppose, their labour gives them in equity the best title, if not in the whole, yet at least to the greater share of them. But should the State endeavour to sell them at a full value, or continue them, either in kind or converted into a Rent-charge upon their Lands either to the same, or alienated from the Clergy to any other use whatsoever: I doubt the Nation would be so far from receiving satisfaction, that they would rather think themselves aggrieved, then gratified thereby. Now to how considerable, or rather vast a sum the composition for Tithes, though at a low or undervalue, would amount unto, may be easily calculated by Dr. Bradly's present to Caesar. For if the very improvement of first fruits and tenths, according to the present value of live, would have yielded Caesar 100000 in hand, and 50000 pounds per annum, as he pretends to evince in his said Book Dedicated to the Late Protector; how much more magnificent a present would the sale of Tithes afford the Parliament for the above mentioned public uses, etc.   

An humble Motion in behalf of the Poor.  
IF the State shall think fit to take away Tithes, I humbly conceive they may gain an opportunity (by annexing Gleab Lands to certain Work-houses erected and situated at convenient distances) of raising a stock, and employing such, as by reason of poverty, are not able to set their industry on work, that so none may be permitted to eat the bread of idleness, nor the voice of the poor and needy be any longer heard in the Land; which if prudently managed, and with that thrift and providence, I humbly suppose they might, there would be little cause of terming it a robbing Peter to pay Paul, by reason they might yearly pay so round a Rent to the State toward the maintenance of an Itinerant Ministry; that the Lands thus disposed of might rather, be thought farmed out to the best ease and advantage both of State Ministry, and people, then given in Frank Almoigne. I have often wondered that of all these streams of bounty, the pious charity of many well disposed people have poured forth, so little of it runs in a fit Channel, either to set the Mills of industryon going, or to grind bread for the empty bellies; and the rather, by reason the bread that is thus cast upon the waters, is most likely to return with increase, and that after a few, not many days; for what is bestowed in promoting industry, is able to make grateful returns in the fruit of their labours, when as Donations to other uses do often nourish idleness, and serve only to maintain Pride and Luxury. I know not of what temper other men may be, that can relish the pleasures of their plentiful and luxuriant Estates, when so many of their own flesh lie stinking in the streets, and are clothed with rags and misery; I am sure it much abates the content of my small fortunes, to see any one stand in need of the bread I eat. Nor can I expect to be more happy while there is a beggar in our streets: O that our Rulers would at length put on the bowels of compassion towards the poor. I am persuaded if a greater door of encouragement were opened to industry and diligence, nothing would prove a more effectual means to crowd out that Poverty and Penury, that hath so long dwelled amongst us; we have the experiment already tried to our hands in our neighbouring State of Holland, a Nation that may be a mirror of industry to all the world, a little spot Land which did it not lie so low, I should call a Mole hill. I am sure the Inhabitants may almost without a Metaphor, be termed the very Aunts of diligence and industry. A righteous man is merciful to his Beast, then much more to his Brother; God feeds the Ravens, and shall we suffer Christians to starve at our Gates? How many opportunities hath God put into the hands of this Nation for the relief of its poor? How many Abbey, Bishops, Deans and Chapters, Kings and Malignants Lands have been exposed to sale, and yet no provisions made for the poor, not one Workhouse erected for setting the industry of the poor on work. Certainly the deasness of this uncharitable age to the cries of the poor, is one of the crying sins of this Land, and which is very clamorous at the Gates of Heaven, for pouring down judgements, and empting the Vials of God's wrath upon us, without doubt England's poor, is one of England's greatest crimes and black reproach.  
Having thus unladed my thoughts of whatever of consequence was upon them in order to the Ministry, lest any good nature should take offence at these no less moderate than modest proposals, and judge them of too harsh a strain, or scruple the removal of Landmarks, bearing the inscription of so great Antiquity, though perhaps (if duly scanned) would be found at first erected by no more pious hands than that man of sin, we commonly call the Pope. I shall only leave this Querie on the file of their memories, and so limit them to their own thoughts for further satisfaction.  
Que. Whether since the Presbyterians, were selling their younger Brother Independency, like Joseph, into the hands of an Egyptian Tyranny, for fear he should (according to his dream) have reigned over them: and that persecuted the Israel of God, that set their faces towards the promised Land, the Canaan of our spiritual and civil Liberties, to the very brinks of the Red-sea of a bloody persecution, have not justly forfeited their Tithes into the hands of the State, and may not justly account their lives a ransom of the Commonwealth's Clemency, for my own part, I cannot but look upon the Clergy in as great a praemunire, for their so active compliance with the single Person in the late Apostasy, as they that in Hen. 8. time, acknowledged the Pope's Supremacy. And I know not why we may not charitably enough suppose, that the reason why neither of the Universities, the reputed Schools of the Prophets (who were so forward both by their Verses and Addresses to Court an Usurpation) have made no earlier acknowledgements to the present Power, or owned the Commonwealth, be not, for that they (being influenced and tinctured with the spirits of the old Prophets, the National Clergy) are in expectation of a turn in the scale of affairs, and relapse into Tyranny, cherishing a like fond expectation of the Resurrection of Monarchy, that sometime a Prelatical Parson did of the Common-Prayer, applying thereto that saying of our saviour concernng Lazarus, Our friend is not dead, but sleepeth.   

Of the Universities.  
AS a necessary Appendix to the Reformation of the Ministry, is that of the Universities annexed, where I cannot but in the first place take notice to how dissonant a Key of Discipline, to the Government of a Commonwealth, they are at present strung and tuned, which gives birth to no little wonder in my thoughts, that the great zeal which in the first infancy of our Commonwealth burst forth in demolishing and melting down all the Images & lest Vestigia's of the late King & Tyranny though but pointed on a Signpost, did notwithstanding spare, and not so much as sing the least hair of those little living Idols, or Monuments of Monarchy, that in every College presume to exercise, and challenge to themselves a far greater and more exorbitant Power, than any of the Kings of larger Provinces; not only assuming the high Prerogative of a negative Vote in all things, though of never so great consequence, to the interest and advantage of their Colledge●●hereby setting up their single Reasons as infallible in competition with, and as the standards by which all their fellows are to be measured: But also arrogating Respect, almost. Idolatrous, requiring not only their backsides, but the very shadow of their Garments, (as if containing some occult, if not divine quality, like those of our S.) to be reverenced, with little less than Adoration.  
They have also their Minions and Favourites, on whom are usually conferred all Offices, Privileges, and Emoluments, and that upon the account of as little Learning and slender Merits, as theirs who have been most loaded with Honours, by the prodigality of the most dissolute and luxurious Princes; the steps being the same by which Scholars ascend into the favour and good opinion of their Head, with those by which Courtiers climb into their Princes.  
Some by the silent Oratory of their countenance, together with the mediation of the Q. R. etc.  
Others by the persuasive Rhetoric of Arguments well tipped with silver, together with the mediation of some great and powerful friends of the Candidates, by which means is purchased the favour of being Registered in the Golden Legend of the little Pope's memory, as a Saint Canonised for the next office or preferment, shall become vacant within the Sea of his narrow province or jurisdiction.  
Others have travailed to the Paradise of the good man's favour, or the fortunate Islands of their preferments, in the more common tracked Road of parasitical flattery and meritorious obsequiousness with, other the like good work and Courtly accomplishments that are held in esteem, and studied according to the humane fancy and complexion of the good old Hogen Mogen, etc. And hence proceed those frequent storms that arise in College Basins, to the disturbance of that Peace and Tranquillity, and over-casting with the black Clouds of passion and discontent, that serenity of affection and unity that ought always appear in the Firmaments of such Societies. So that instead of being (as is is pretended, the Schools of the Prophets, or Nurseries of Learning and Religion, they are become Schools of Fence, and the very Cockpits of little petit Quarrels, and Bulrush-Contentions; the very Abstracts and Epitomies of the more voluminous frauds, injuries, factions, and Trapanings; together with the other ingenious Arts of knavory, viz. supplanting, undermining, slandering, backbiting, etc. that were at first hatched beneath, and now professed and studied in the Courts of Princes.  
All which laudable Customs are the natural result and product of that excellent knack of Government, the Heads of Houses pretend so much skill and dexterity in; a thing much like King James' Kingcraft, that consists in fomenting and balancing of Factions, by dividing their fellows to the pious intent of keeping the scales even, that so upon all occasions of Elections, and other the like Emergencies, it may rest in the sole power of the politic Head, to turn the balance which way soeever his gain or corrupt interest shall bias his affections, and that without help of the least grain of Merit in the Candidate, or other Reason of his suffrage, than the powerful Magnetism of a Golden Opportunity.  
This is the Government and Discipline under the droppings of whose benign influences our youth received the first tinctures of their Education: these are the subtle Arts and Mysteries of iniquity, in which a tener is unguiculis, they are trained up.  
These, are the places in which their minds are blurred with prejudice, and learned with the ill natured principles of Tyranny and Presbytery, which by means hereof hath of late so spread and defused itself like a spreading leprosy to the infection and debauching of the greater part of the Nation.  
These are those corrupted and polluted Fountains, of which whosoever drinks is possessed with a like Lunacy or madness with that we read of the Galli or Priests of Mars, who used to geld themselves: In like manner they who having had their Reason's sophisticated and bewitched with the charms of an Academic Education, and drunk deepest of these supposed wells of knowledge, are apt by the operation of a no less wonderful kind of frenzy, not only to geld and deprive themselves of both their civil and spiritual liberties, but are zealous to make all else Proselytes to the like Lunacy, crying down all for Heretics, and worthy of no more favour than Fire and Faggot, that will not cause their first born to pass through the fire unto Molech, and sacrifice their Liberty, dearer than a thousand lives to the great Diana, of whose shrines they take themselves to be the Silver-smithes.  
Certainly its more than time, that the poisoned waters of these defiled and polluted Fountains that intoxicate and make drunk with madness and folly the whole Nation, were either dried up, that there may no more clouds of discontent and envy thence exhale to darken and o'ercast that sun of prosperity, that in the dawning of a Free-state and happy Government, hath once more after a long night of Apostasy and Tyranny, displayed its Golden beams upon our British Islands; or rather that they were throughly purged from that leaven, venom, wormwood, and Antipathy, that partly from the nature of their Government, & partly the complexion of the persons in whose hands at present depoposited, they have contracted against the Nations true interest and felicity, together with the Noble Patrons and Advocates thereof.  
Now in order to the Reformation of the Universities; I shall only start a few Queries at present, having on the Anvil of my thoughts (if these rude Essays find acceptance, or my endeavours should receive countenance from Authority) which as I want a foundation of merit whereon to build an expectation, so am void of confidence to suggest much hopes to my ambition) a model, which may possibly be offered to the light of public censure, but in the Interim shall crave a candid acceptance of the following Queries.  
1. Whether they that Founded our two great Universities, seem not more to have consulted the Honour, than conveniency of the Nation; since if that had been respected, the Colleges should rather have been dispersed at convenient distances throughout the several Counties.  
2. Whether the complaint of Learned Bacon, that the Nation was over stocked, or rather burdened with too many free Schools and Colleges for the proportion of its preferments, may not with greater justice be taken up now since the sale of the late Bishops, Dean and Chapters Lands, then when the Church was in the height or Zenith of its Pomp, Pride, and Glory.  
3. Whether since the most considerable Ecclesiastic Preferments are now vanished and quite abrogated, it were not more for the peace and interest of the Commonwealth, that the Universities (waving their pretensions of divine Right, and being the Schools of the Prophets) should stoop to a more honest civil notion of Schools of Education and humane literature, for training up the youth of the Gentry in Learning and good manners?  
4 Whether the rendering of generous and noble Education cheap through a multitude of Academic and Collegiate small preferments, where mean men's Sons are tempted to a lazy kind of life, and trained up to a capacity an expectation of greater preferments, then either the complexion or constitution of the Commonwealth can bear? Be not of dangerous consequence to the peace of the Nation, by over-stocking it with persons stated by their Education, and discontented for want of employment suitable thereto, and therefore desirous of change and innovations: Or more brief, Whether it be not the Interest of every prudent Commonwealth, to give encouragement and maintenance to no more of mean fortunes, being bred up to Great and Noble undertake, than the Commonwealth shall in probability have occasion to employ and make use of.  
5. Whether the Government of Colleges by Heads of Houses, be not unsuitable to a Commonwealth; or whether it be not inconsistent with the frugality of a prudent State, to maintain at the vast expense of the publ●ck Revenues, such as are of no greater use to the U. or R. P. then (as was heretofore observed of Bishops) great Brass Andirons to Chimney corners, when as greater Learning and ingenuity withers for want of favour and encouragement.  
6. Whether the reserving the Physic Garden, public Schools, with the Revenues thereto belonging for maintenance of Professors, together with some of the fairest Colleges in each University, endowed with a proportionable Revenue for an ample encouragement of a competent number of able and industrious Tutors, for training up the Gentry in humane literature, might not keep up as handsome and creditable face of an University, without the wrinkles of so many sowe● Doctors & Heads of Houses, who serve only to check and browbeat ingenuity? And whether these with the single Gymnasiums necessarily to be erected in some of the remoter corners of the Land, as at Durham, and the like, might not be of a sufficient capacity for the receipt and accommodation of as many as are either fit or willing (now the preferments are gone) to go to the price of a liberal and generous Education? and therefore as useful to all intents and purposes of the Commonwealth, as a greater number of Halls and Colleges, that according to the observation of some, are mere formalities of eating Mutton, not only burdened with the unnecessary charge of Heads, Coaches, etc. but also prolix Friar-like lists of Fellows whose most innocent employment is to murder time, and feed on the bread of idleness.  
7. Whether Chelsey, where was sometime designed a College for Polemic Divines, and the study of controversies, be not a most convenient place, by reason of its vicinity to the City of London, the chief Theatre of public affairs, for founding an English College, for refining of our language, after the example of Cardinal Rich lieu in France, as also for training up the better sort of our Gentry's Sons in a more Generous and Noble way, and less kerbed studies, then are commonly, though with little profit, taught in our other Colleges and Universities, and in which beside those handmaid Arts and Sciences, together with the three learned Languages, may be read the three Modern, French, Italian, and Spanish, and more especially, History, Politics, the Civil and common Laws; together will all other the more polite and neat studies, that have greatest tendency to Oratory, and training up of Statesmen, that they may be useful to the Commonwealth, serviceable in their Generations, and a Crown and Ornament to their Country.  
8 Whether if care were taken, that all Arts and Heroic exercises of Activity, for forming the more Majestic port and Gentile Carriage of the Body, and that are of tendency to the better accomplishment and Noble breeding of Gentlemen, as riding the great Horse, Fencing, Vaulting, Dancing, Music, and the like, were introduced into some of our Colleges, instead of that Monkish formality and ridiculous pedantry of our Universities, might not be a means of bringing them into greater Reputation with our Gentry, and prevent so ma●y of their Sons running over to France, and foreign shores for Gallantry and breeding, whence they commonly return like Solomon's Merchants, fraught with nothing but a few apish postures and Peacocks feathers, for the expense of all their gold and precious time?  
9 Whether the mingling of Military Exercises, and use of Arms, together with the Gentry's studies, might not better qualify them for the service of their Country, and less enervate and debase their spirits for Heroic undertake, than the common pedantic road of Accademical Education.  
10. Whether if were not a more profitable and laudable custom for Scholars in the Universities, to speak Latin, and compose their politer Exercises in English, contrary to the common practice; since when they come into the world, they have greatest use of elegant English to write, and a promptitude in familiar Latin for travail and converse with strangers.  
11. Whether a Labratory for Chemical Experiments, together with frequent Anatomies, would not be of more use and greater advantage in Colleges for making new and farther discoveries into the America of nature, and enriching the world with knowledge, than those many fruitless wrangling Disputations in which Scholars are trained up, that tend to nothing but strife, and rendering men factious, Morose, and troublesome in the Commonwealth.  
12. Whether such ingenious Arts as Limning, Drawing, Painting, Carving, Engraving, making Watches, with other Mathematical practices, might not profitably be taught at leisure and spare hours by way of Recreation to other studies, such Gentlemen as have a natural and prompt genius to such kind of ingenuities, by persons maintained about Colleges for that end and purpose?  
13. Whether the way of traffic and Merchandise, together with the Arts of grassing, planting, improvement of all sorts of grounds, with all other good husbandry and Agriculture, might not more profitably be taught in Colleges, as parts of Occonomicks, than those many jejune and trifling Notions of Genus and Species, that are crowded into our Logicks, and commonly hang like dusty Cobwebs in the windows of Juniors intellects, darkening and sophistcating the light of their understandings, till the prudence of riper years sweep them away?  
13. Whether it each College did every year send out one or two of their Fellows or Tutors to travail with such of the youth, as were desirous of that accomplishment, whereby that help and advantage of education might be rendered less chargeable, and more safe to young Gentlemen, might not be advantageous to the Commonwealth, and of great tendency to the advancement of Learning, by maintaining more constant and exact correspondence with foreign Parts, for bringing over new experiments, and increasing the light of new discoveries.  
14. Whether the teaching of Arts and Languages together, might not render the study of both more pleasant and facile, and be a more effectual method for compendiating the long and tedious journey of Education, than the teaching of them apart, as is the common practice: and therefore whether the annexing of Schools to Colleges, were not a necessary expedient for avoiding the conclusion of many Methods; and that the first Principles of Mathematics may he laid during the time of infancy, that being the most docile and suitable age, and to which it is more grateful to converse with Numbers and Figures, rather than crabbed Languages, which usually like a Gorgon's Head deter young Novices at their first setting forth towards the Land of knowledge?  
15. Whether the statutes and discipline of Colleges, being altogether of a Monarchick Monkish and pedantic strain, were not fit to be repealed, especially as to Oaths, and the injurious annexing fellowships to several Counties, since thereby is often opened a door of preferment to unworthy and scandalous persons, while it's barred to them of better deserts and learning; and therefore whether some general Rules might not be made and calculated for the use of the whole University, by which the Colleges might be better governed, than their Popish statutes that impose so many unnecessary and profane Oaths, and employments contrary to the conscience or inclination of the students?  
16. Whether such a Reformation of Schools and Universities, might not render Learning more pleasant and acceptable to Gentlemen, and be a probable means of stocking the Nation with a more able and Learned Gentry for the service of the Commonwealth, than heretofore it hath been.   

Of the Regulation of the Laws and Lawyers.  
I Have now done with Universities, though much more might have been said, which I shall reserve till a fit season, not knowing whether the times are yet able to hear them, or that I have not already said more than is suitable to the Complexion of this Age: I shall now proceed to speak of the other two grand interest Antagonists to a Free-state or Commonwealth, which I take to be the Mercenary Lawyer, and Hereditary Nobility; both which I presume might be taken off by a through Reformation of the Laws, that at present, through the corruption of time, look so much a squint at a Commonwealth, and are so exceeding propitious to Monarchy, and this by no greater cost than prohibiting their profession to be any longer Mercenary, and abating those high privileges they confer on the first born,  
In reference to which I should humbly propose,  
1. That since Vassalage hath been long since abrogated in this Nation, that some course may be thought of, how without injury or wrong to the propriety of Landlords, the duties and services with which most Lands are charged, may be taken off at a reasonable composition, as the infamous Marks of servitude, and badges of the Norman yoke and tyranny, that so all Lands may be held by one tenure, the most free and absolute that can be devised; that so Lands being discharged of such unnecessary cumbrances, the decision of all Lawsuits and controversies about Inheritances, may be rendered more facile and easy to be determined by the verdict and umpire of men of conscience and prudence in the several Counties.  
2. That the great privileges of Primogeniture, by which Families are raised to a height inconsistent with the interest, and contrary to the prudence of a Free-state, not without injury and ruin to the younger Sons proceeding from the same stock, may be abated and moderated; and to this end that Gavel kind which was the ancient Custom of this Island, before subjugated to the Norman yoke (and that is yet preserved in Kent) may be instituted throughout the Nation, for the future prevention of those great Families, that by the two great indulgence, or rather iniquity of our Norman Laws, are raised to an height not to be supported, but by the injury and suppression of others, that being constrained to truckle under them, are bruised and crushed by their greatness.  
Not that I would introduce a levelling of all Estates and families to the same proportion, which were absurd and ridiculous: But for keeping up a Gentry fit for management of the most important affairs of the Nation, the elder Brother may be allowed, either according to the Custom of the Jews, a double portion, or else the advantage of the personal estate, or the like, as shall in the wisdom of our Senators seem most expedient: and here truly my compassion is apt to become passionate, and with a Pen dipped in the deepest sense of sorrow, to weep out an Apology in the behalf of the younger Sons of our Gentry, which though a digression, yet being not altogether impertinent to our present strain, I shall make bold to insert it.   

An Apology for younger Brothers.  
IT hath been a long received custom in this Land, or at least of as ancient date as the Norman Monarchy; that notwithstanding the elder Son obtains the whole inheritance, yet to bestow a generous and liberal Education on the younger: in which considering the circumstances of those times, together with the complexion of their Government, I find no cause wherefore to accuse our Ancestors of their imprudence or injustice.  
For first, the levelling, of Estates, hath always (and that justly enough) been accounted altogether unsuitable to the Majesty and gaudy splendour of Monarchical Government, which hath sometime, though falsely been supposed, not only the most absolute and perfect form, but that which by long experience hath been found most suitable to the Genius or humour of the English People, the interest of which Government, is rather to have large public Revenues, with a vast stock of Preferments, wherewith to gratify the ambition of the more ingenious part of the Gentry, who have nothing to rely on, save what they can purchase in the favour of their Prince. Nor was Antiquity herein deceived; for when the greatest part of the Nation, by this means reap their chief subsistence from the public Revenues of the Commonwealth and favour of the Prince, in whose sole dispose they are, and on whom for this cause, they look upon as their common father, and indeed to whom they have greater obligations then to their own Parents: there appears little probability how the Pillars of such a Government should be easily shaken, whose basis is founded on the interest of so great a part of the Nation, to defend it with the utmost peril of their lives and blood. Nor have we more reason to accuse our Ancestors of impiety, or injustice, than imprudence, since heretofore so great and ample were the public Revenues, that a younger Son could either in Church or State, by the wings of his own industry or merits, have raised himself to as high a pitch of honour and fairer fortunes, than those of his elder Brother's birthright; so that to be the firstborn was scarce a privilege, except to such as wanted worth to advance them. Wherefore while the Church and Court were open with their large train of preferments to entertain the more ingenious of the Gentry's younger Sons, and Monasteries to entomb those of a less Mercurial Genius, there was little reason for commenceing this complaint: for this I am compelled by the violence of truth, to confess in defence of the ancient Constitution of the Laws and Government of this Nation, that whatever were their other faults, they were not injurious to younger Brethren, till after the sale of Church-Lands, and the abrogating those many preferments that were their former inheritance.  
This was the former state of the Nation, in which if younger Sons were debarred a share in their Father's inheritance, they might receive an ample compensation from the Church their Mother, whose jointure was no less than two thirds of the whole Land, so that they might seem rather owned as the only Children of the Commonwealth, and honourably maintained at the public charge thereof, then difinherited by the unkindness of the Laws. A Generous Education was then a sufficient portion, which is now for want of suitable employment become a curse instead of a blessing, serving to no other end, then to discover, if not augment their misery, so much is the scene of things changed since Hen. 8. spoiled the Church of her Revenues, and by consequence these of the fairest part of their Inheritance, and yet nothing of the rigour of the Ancient Laws are herein abated towards them. It is not my intention (God knows my heart) to speak a word in approbation of those superstitious uses to which any Abbey or Bishop's Lands were heretofore employed, but with reflection on those good and pious, to which (in the opinion of some) they might have been converted.  
Nor is it the design of these discourses to retrieve Ecclesiastical promotions, or demonstrate a necessity of rebuilding the things we have so lately destroyed, but rather to show how unsafe and injurious it would be to establish and fix a Commonwealth upon the ruins and tottering foundation of a decayed Monarchy; nor do I blame the prudence of our late Reformers, that unhorsing the pride of the Clergy, and putting down the Hierarchy, they rather sold, then reserved in a public stock the Revenues of the Church, by reason it may seem more safe for a Commonwealth to keep nothing may encourage an invasion of its liberty, or become the reward of usurpation and Tyranny, only I could wish, that since the Reason and Circumstances of our Laws are quite altered, we might not still build on old foundations, and entail the whole Land on a few Proprietors or elder Brethren, to the exclusion and utter ruin of the greatest part of the Nation, and contrary to the interest of a free State or Commonwealth. I dare not charge all our late changes, and many burn in the balance of affairs on this account, though I cannot but observe that our times have rung more changes, been tuned to more different instruments, and ran through several forms of Government, than were from the time of the Norman Conquest known before, to which how much the discontent and poverty of our Gentry may have contributed I know not, but Solomon saith, Oppression will make a wise man mad. I am sure the younger Brothers are by far the greater number, and through Nature's courtesy commonly as rich in intellectual endowments, as poor in fortunes, and being by the Tyranny (as affairs now stand) of Law and custom debarred, sharing in their Parents Estates, to which they conceive Nature equally entitles them with their elder Brother; it's no wonder if they desire to interrupt the Peace and Tranquillity of the Commonwealth, since by the shake thereof they may probably root themselves in fairer fortunes, then from its peace and settlement, they may with reason expect; and that which arms their discontent with fit weapons for revenge, and renders them more formidable, is their generous Education; for certainly it's of very unsafe and dangerous consequence, to qualify such for great and noble undertake, that are Heirs to no other fortunes then what their valours can purchase with the ruin of the Commonwealths Peace and Government. Therefore had those that made the public Revenues a prey to their Ambition, also drunk up those streams of bounty, by which the Schools and Universities are fed and maintained and so taken away the means as well as the encouragement of liberal Education, they had better consulted the Peace, though not the honour of the Nation: for so long as these are open (if not better ordered) I doubt there will be Vipers hatched to eat through the womb of Government, by which they conceive themselves injured and debarred, both that which nature gives them title to of their Parents, and the ancient constitution of the Commonwealth in public, Revenues which I would not have understood as proceeding from any prejudice or ill will to the Universities, which I much honour, and in which with thankfulness I acknowledge to have received my Education, but only to discover the shortness of that policy, that taking away the Preferments, should reward and Crown all Academic endeavours, yet never reduced the means whereby men are qual fied for an expectation, and prompted to an ambition of them; and indeed of a like strain is most of our modern policy, not skin deep, and rather to be accounted shifts and present evasions of imprudent evils, than Antidotes of solid prudence for either the obviating, or healing any disaster or malady in the body politic.  
Certainly a generous Education is not proper for such as are intended for little less than slaves. It is Ignorance is the Mother of Obedience, whereas knowledge makes men proud and factious, especially when they concern their fortunes and employments, are not correspondent to the grandeur of their birth and education.  
The younger Son is apt to think himself sprung from as Noble a stock, from the loins of as good a Gentleman as his elder Brother, and therefore cannot but wonder, why fortune and the Law should make so great a difference between them that lay in the same womb, that are form of the same lump; why Law or Custom should deny them an estate, whom nature hath given discretion to know how to manage it.  
Learning ennobles and elevates the soul, causing it to despise and set light by small and base things, and therefore where that flourishes, men are not easily taught to submit their necks to an Iron yoke of slavery; which prompts the Turkish prudence to extinguish all such lights by which men gain a prospect or discovery of the thraldom and misery of their Condition. It would drink more ink, and waste more time than I, or perhaps the Reader would willingly bestow, to give an account of all the mischiefs and inconveninces that proceed from the fertile womb of this single mistake, that a generous Education (notwithstanding the abolition of all encouragements of Learning and ingenious Preforments) is a sufficient portion for a younger Brother. Wisdom is good with an Inheritance, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised. The Muses without a Dowry are but despicable Virgins, and the unnatural, though usual and worse, that is at this day found between Wit and Money, renders both useless, if not pernicious to the Commonwealth. I doubt not but should we take a view of things through the prospective of some men's Observations, we should discover this in part the cause of that tranquillity and settlement, peace and prosperity, with which in former times this British Isle was Crowned; as also of those many shake and Convulsions in which these latter Ages have seen her cast into: And can we expect it should be otherwise? when (as Solomon hath observed) There is not bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men to skill, etc. which seems to proceed from no other cause then the iniquity of our Laws, pouring all the wrath into one Channel, and conveying the whole Land into the hands of a few Proprietors or elder brethren.  
I confess those providence hath placed on high, on the battlements of supreme power, may if their eyes are open, and not blinded by private interest, command a fairer prospect, and discern farther into these things than such whom a meaner fortune hath left in the valley of a low and private condition, therefore I shall not presume to inform those Intelligences that turn about the Orbs of Government; only could wish there were such a scene of things brought forth as may give encouragement to expect a settlement without a miracle.  
To which as things now stand, I cannot persuade myself but that the establishing of Gavel-kind would have no small tendency; for can any thing be done more suitable to a Commonwealth? or is there any thing more just and equitable, then that all the Children should share in their Parents Inheritances? or indeed is there not rather an absolute necessity thereof, since all the former avenues by which men had access to Preferment are hedged up? is not the only door at present open to a fortune, that of the Law? which is also now together with all other professions so overstocked with students, and thereby become so burdensome, that the Nation will no longer endure it. For are they not necessitated to devise daily new Quirks and subtleties, whereby suits may be multiplied to the confusion of Estates and Oppression of the people; How much more honourable would it be to our Reformation and new established Government, that there were a more equal and righteous distribution of the things of this Earth; then that the greater part of the Nation should be put to shift and scamble for a livelihood, or be necessitated to live on the sins of the People. Not that I would advise to break down the hedge of propriety, by a promiscuous and injurious levelling of Estates; and so open a gap to confusion; no, none but a devil would advise that: But why Estates may not for the future descend regularly to the whole Offspring that are of the same blood and family, in stead of one branch thereof, I know no inconvenience in that, especially in those circumstances we are in at present, being fallen into an Age so Eagle-cyed and quicksighted, as to discern spots in the Sun, and discover corruption in the Heavens; which the duller Optics of Antiquity judged immaculate, and as altogether incorruptible: An Age that dares pry into the pious frauds, and unmask the most religious deceits, which the devouter ignorance of our Ancestors never beheld, but at a superstitious and reverential distance: An age in which the art of living or to gain an honest subsistence, is grown so subtle, so difficult and abstruse a mystery, that few are able to master it: In which the younger sons of our Nobility and chiefest Gentry, are necessitated to stoop (for want of better employments) to low, servile, base and mechanic employments, or do worse, by reason whereof some Citizens have of late years been elated to that strange degree of pride and arrogance, as with scorn to refuse admitting any lower rank than the children of the Nobility to be their servants, or that less than an Esquire should wipe their shoes, so much hath wealth gotten the start of Birth, Education, and Virtue. How justly may the younger Children of this Nation take up that of Solomon, and apply unto themselves: There is no more remembrance of the wise then of the fool, and the same happeneth unto both; wherefore is one wiser than another, for poverty is the portion of them both: and may say, their oppressors are increased (like those of Israel in Egypt) as their numbers are multiplied. How great an encouragement would it be to those that are ingenious to have some foundation whereon to build their fortunes, to have something, some stock wherewith to begin the world, and set the wheel of their inventions going: How many ingenious Gentlemen that are now clothed with rags and misery, might have raised themselves to fair Estates, had they had a stock wherewith to set their industry on work; for can any man make brick wherewith to build themselves a fortune without any straw? How many might this have reprieved from an untimely death, who might have been useful to their Country, and Ornaments to the Commonwealth, had their parts and ingenuities found due encouragement? How many brave sparkling Wits, that might have proved bright stars and shining lamps both in Church and Commonwealth, have been extinguished in obscurity, for want of maintenance, the oil whereby their lamps should have been fed and nourished?  
What's the Reason so many of the best Names and Families throughout the Realm lie stinking in the streets covered with rags and vermin, but that for a fond and idle fancy of keeping up the name and family, the whole Inheritance is entailed on the firstborn, and nothing but poverty and misery on all the rest of the blood and kindred, as if it were less discredit to have many beggars, than not to have one Gallant that is able to fly a Hawk, and keep up the cry of Hounds belonging to the Family? What madness is it, that on the account of Primogeniture, the whole Estate should be swept away by one who perhaps is fit to wear long coats and a fools cap, then manage an Estate, or hath not a grain more wit than will just secure its being begged, or that else perhaps will spend it on Whores and Sycophants, while his most ingenious Brethren, are either roosted under the ruins of some smoky old Cottage, or exposed as Pensioners to be maintained by the cold charity of a wretched miserable world?  
It was a custom among the Heathen (justly condemned by Christians) for the Father to appoint and design such of his Offspring so soon as brought forth, on which he was willing to bestow the cost of Nurture and Education, which was performed by the Ceremony of lifting it from the ground, on which the Midwife had for that purpose set it, and was commonly the lot of those Nature had most accurately formed, and sealed with the most promising signatures to vouch a future eminence: Whereas the rest, especially such as were branded with any kind of monstrosity or notable deformity, were no sooner enlarged from the dark chambers of their Mother's Wombs, but exposed as a prey to be entombed in the bowels of wild beasts, before they were capable of knowing the Authors of their injury, or having any resentment of their Parent's inhospitality or unkindness: Whereas we on the other side take pleasure in a numerous offspring, and though we do not expose any which is forbidden by our laws, yet commonly deny bread to all, except the eldest, sending forth our younger fry more naked and unarmed into the world than Bees their castlings, as if they could feed on the breasts of flowers, or glean up an Estate with a like facility, as those little Animals do their honey.  
I have often wondered at the great severity of our English Law, that mulcts the pruning away of the least spurious excrescency of lust with no less penalty than death, when as it denies all younger Sons, though never so legitimately sprung from a noble stock to share or receive any sap there from, lest thereby the growth of the top branch should be hindered from attaining that extravagant height, to which by the withering and ruin of the rest its proud ambition might aspire to climb; so that all the mercy our Law affords these younger sprouts, is only a bare protection from the stroke of a more sudden and violent end (that might do them the kindness of putting a quick period to their lingering pain, whose life is only upheld by the bread of affliction) while they consume with poverty, and at length whither and dwindle away by want or famine.  
Were it not far more just to restrain Marriage, or at least give check and set bounds to the lust of Parents, by stinting the number of their offspring to a child or two, and sealing up the fertile womb, than thus turn that blessing of God, Increase and multiply, into the greatest curse, and visit the iniquity of the Parents upon the Children? Or were it not a greater act of charity, according to the example of the Heathen, to expose or drown these latter births, as we do such supernumerary dogs etc. as would otherwise ore-stock our Commous, then thus expose them like so many little Moses in Arks of Bulrushes to a Sea of poverty and misery, from whence they may never expect reprieve, unless some miraculous Providence (like Pharaohs daughters) chance rescue them into her Court and favour? Our Law making no more provision for younger Brethren then if they were to be clothed like the Lilies of the field, or like Elias to expect their food from Ravens, receiving no other comfort from the hands of men, than what they can suck from the dry breasts of an old Proverb, that God will send meat wheresoever he hath provided mouths, than which nothing more true, did not the covetousness of men withhold it.  
It was the custom of our Gentry and Nobility to clap such of their phlegmatic offspring, as nature had not made mercurial enough to ambiate either Church or Court preferments into some religious habit; and so keep up the splendour of their Families, by pruning away such under branches for the service of the Altar, as either through their number or folly were like to let in poverty, and thereby become a disparagement to the noble stock, from whence they sprang, which hath prompted some to an opinion, that if in these more populous Northern Climates, a kind of Protestant Monasteries were erected for encouragement of Chastity and single life, especially among the poor sort: it would (pardoning the solecism of the name) be more consonant to the Maxims of state and true policy, then in those hotter and more barren Climates, where there is so little danger of being ore-stocked or burdened with people, that on the contrary they want men for the necessary defence of their Territories: Of which we have a pertinent Instance in Spain, whose Religious Houses (did not their blind devotion so much triumph over their Policy) had long since been buried under their own ruins; for there can no other account be given, why that wise and prudent Nation labouring under so great a weight of affairs, and scarcity of men, to manage their wars, should tolerate so many hives of drones; Which so long as they shall continue, may give good caution and security to its Neighbouring States and Princes, to lay asleep their fears and jealousies of his ever attaining that Universal Monarchy, at which for so many centuries the lips of his proud ambition have been thought to water: there being little probability that his palsy hands should grasp the Universe, that hath not strength enough to hold that little part thereof, he hath already fastened on, and therefore the Spanish Conquests may not unfitly be compared to those of Rivers upon the banks of their channels, losing as much in one place as they gain in another.  
But since Providence hath been pleased in mercy to bring back our captivity, and again to cast us into the advantageous form of a Commonwealth, if Gavell-kinde were once established, we shall stand in need of no other devices for keeping out of poverty, than the setting industry on work according to the opportunities plentiful occasions will administer in an equal Commonwealth. But I shall now return to the Lawyers from whom I have made so long a digression: I have read that in the more pure and less sophisticated times of our Ancestors, great Estates have been passed in few words, and the conveyance proved more firm and good than those tedious, prolix, tautological Instruments, the knavery of latter Ages hath introduced.  
In sign that this is sooth  
I by't the white wax with my tooth.  
Or the like being the form of those more simple and sincerer times, whereas now through the fraud of Lawyers all things are so ambiguously penned, that none but a Sphinx in their mysteries is able to understand or unriddle them.  
The Professors of which mystery of iniquity that live upon the sins of the yeople, are of late grown so numerous, that like Locusts or an Egyptian plague of Caterpillars they cover the face of our land, and are thriven to such vast Estates, that whereas heretofore the Church and Clergy being in possession of two thirds, of the best Lands throughout the Realm, gave birth to the statute of Mortmain for security of the rest: We may justly fear unless some prudent care be taken for prevention of their future purchases, lest this Pack, etc. by their Quirks &c. instate themselves in our Inheritances, and engross the wealth and Revenues of the whole Nation unto themselves, etc.  
I have heard this subtle Generation were not in so fair a plight, when every Term they beat upon the hoof to London with their Satchels on their backs, and at the Towns end proffered their Services, like Watermen at the Thames side, to be retained by the Country Clients; and I know not whether we may ever expect a golden Age, or to see good days, till the interest of this corrupt Generation be laid as low as any Histories can produce a precedent; which at this time must needs have the greatest countenance of justice that can be, they having been so notoriously instrumental in betraying our Liberties: And selling us into the hands of Tyranny, by which together with their other iniquities they have contracted so great an odium in the hearts and eyes of all honest men, that I know not whether the hanging up of their Gowns in Westminster Hall might not be as acceptable a Trophy in the eyes of the people, as the Scotch Colours.  
I have often wondered, that notwithstanding the great mischief the Nation hath suffered by the Lawyers penning our Laws and Acts of Parliaments, being known to leave flaws, and always render them so lame, they can for their advantage wrest them to what sense they please, and thereby make themselves the Lords and absolute Arbitrators both of our lives and fortunes; that for prevention of like future abuses they are not excluded the House of Commons as well as the Clergy, there being as much reason and more precedent for the one than the other, for that the Judges never had Vote in the House of Peers, but only sat upon the Woolpack, whereas the Bishops had like privileges with the other Lords. It being very incongruous in reason that they should be the makers of our Laws that are the mercenary Interpreters, lest biased by their own Interests, in stead of fences to our proprieties, they make them snares to our Lives and Estates.  
But it's hoped the prudence of our Senators will make so through a Reformation of the Laws, that as they are the birthright & inheritance of every Englishman, and the interest of all persons to know and be intimately acquainted with them, so they shall be rendered so facile and easy, that the meanest capacity may conceive them, at least so far as he is concerned therein; that so there may be no longer any occasion of keeping up so corrupt an interest of men to make justice mercenary, who have been always found the Panders of Tyranny and betrayers of our Liberties; and that for the future, every man may be permitted to be his own Orator and plead his own cause, or procure what friend they please to be their Advocates, that so the study of the Laws may be the exercise of our Gentry, who may thereby gain opportunities of becoming Patriots to the Commons, as were the Roman Patricii to the Plebeians, to the begetting a good correspondence between the Gentry and the Commonalty, and that it may be no longer a mercenary profession of selling Justice to the Oppression of the poor, etc.  
But that right may be done gratis to every man, and the cry of the Oppressed may no longer be heard in our Gates; But that Judgement may run down like a stream, and Righteousness like a mighty torrent in the midst of our streets.  
I shall make bold to offer one thing more in reference to the Law, which is the project that hath been so long discoursed of concerning Registers in each County, a project commended by the general suffrage of all men, even Lawyers themselves as an admiral expedient for preventing frauds and securing of Inheritances, & therefore great pity it is not put in execution, which if it were, and that all other Courts of Justice and Judicature as shall be thought needful for securing the property of the people, were settled in the several Counties, it would silence that great and long complained of grievance of the People's being constrained to undergo such sore and tedious pilgrimages from the farthest parts of the Land to London. as if Justice had but one Tribunal, or no other Temple then what is erected in that single City, to influence the whole Nation. I shall conclude with that honest desire of the Inhabitants of Hull of late, presented to the Parliament; That the Laws by which this Commonwealth is to be Governed, may be those holy just and righteous Laws of the great and wise God our rightful Lawgiver; and where any case is unprovided for in the express terms of his word, care may be taken to determine it, with the most exact porportion that is possible thereto, that so our Laws being founded on the Scriptures, and so composed, as not only to have great affinity with, but also to border on the very suburbs of Divinity, the greater Reverence and Authority may be conciliated to each; and it may seem the less incongruous for our Civil Magistrate to be utriusque peritus, skilful in both.  
Now whatsoever hath been here spoken out of a most intensely heated zeal for public good, with reflection on the abuses of the Law and professors thereof. I would not have misconstrued to reflect upon their persons which I honour, and acknowledge many of them to be men of great Candour and integrity, but rather of the corrupt interest of the profession, it being the design of these discourses, to witness only against interests, and not to revile or asperse the persons of any whatsoever, etc.  
And indeed to speak my mind freely, the grand Error in the Reformation of these times hath been its weeding out of persons, when as the blow should have been leveled against the interests, which notwithstanding the frequent change of persons, still take root and spring up in as great vigour as before, and therefore I humbly conceive, till the Axe be laid to the root of every evil and corrupt interest, we may not expect to reap any great fruit or success by our Reformation, for all flesh is corruptible, and every man a lie, nor is he that marches in the Rear any better able to resist the Temptation, or avoid the snares, than he that fell before him.   

Of the Hereditary Nobility.  
THe Third and last sort of men that seem by their interest prompted to an enmity to, and opposition of, an equal Commonwealth, is the Hereditary Nobility, whose apprehensions being swelled and elated with the greatness of their Titles, and cherishing a fond opinion of the Gallantry of their blood, think it below them to stand on an equal level with the rest of their brethren; I confess were there on the face of the earth (according to the fictions of the Poets) a Race of Heroes that were of the kindred of jupiter, and could deduce their pedigrees from the Gods, whose natures had escaped the general pollution, or been less tainted with humane infirmities than other mortals, whose bodies had been framed by Titan, of better clay, and a more refined mould then the rest of the rude Mass of man kind, and whose parts and intellects (as it's said of Saul) were higher by the head and shoulders than the rest of the peoples, whereby it might be evidenced nature had designed them unto Rule and Empire: there were then some plea, some ground, for that distinction the Tyranny of Custom hath introduced among the Children of men.  
But if these Pyramids of greatness were at first erectect by the hands of Monarchy, only for the better support and ornament of the Thrones of Princes, and are, (if well understood) no other then golden Trophies made of the spoils and ruins of the People's Liberties; that not only in fair Characters preserve the memories of their Oppressors, but also upbraid them with their former (if not present) servitude and slavery. I cannot but think it might much conduce to the security of the Peace and Liberty of the Nation, to have them removed out of the People's eyes, that they may neither longer continue the objects of their Envy who hate them, or by dazzling with their gaudy splendour, the weak eyes o● fond adorers, revive and awaken the memories and desires of what they sometime were the appurtenances and Appendix: or if they are (as by some pretended) the very pillars and buttresses of Monarchy, the Bulworks and Citadels of Pride and Tyranny, and that notwithstanding the standard of Regal Power be taken down, the Peace and Liberty of the Nation seems not sufficiently secure, nor to have obtained a full and perfect conquest over Oppression, while any of the Fortresses in which it hath formerly been ingarisoned, be not leveled and dismantled; it were better that these should abate something of their Height and grandeur, that seems to overtop and threaten ruin to the public Liberty: then that the Nation should be put in danger of relapsing into slavery, or to have their Controversy so lately decided by the Umpire of Heaven again disputed in fields of blood.  
Or if these swelling tumors and unhandsome wen of Greatness do ill become the face of a Commonwealth, and spoil the symmetry and beauty of its proportions; were it not better they should be pared off, than our state rendered of a monstrous and prodigious shape? If after all our expense of blood and treasure for purchase of our Liberty, our title and pretensions to a Free-State may justly be called in question, so long as we remain pupils and underwardship to our Hereditary Lords and ancient Guardians, is it not time we were emancipated? or if that may not in truth be admitted for an equal Commonwealth, in which there is any other path known to the Temple of Honour, than what passes through that of virtue? Is it not prudence to hedge up all those byways of Birth and Fortunes? Were it not better the sustenance of our polity & Government should be plainly penned without the flourishes and Ornaments of such Capitals, which being admitted, may either seem superfluous, or through misconstruction in danger marring of the sense, or rendering the nature of our Constitution dubious and ambiguous, than by a contrary practice minister occasion of intangling men's judgements with such scruples, knots and difficulties, that the best state Critics being unable to untie, nothing but the sharpest sword can cut in sunder; I would not willingly be understood to plead against all distinction of Ranks and Degrees amongst men, ●n which consists the harmony, grace and beauty of the world, and which cannot be proscribed or abolished, without confounding the Oeconomy and Order of all Societies, without unlinking the Chain of Nature, without cancelling and reversing the Law of the universe, & un●ovelling the world into its first Chaos of confusion; Nor should I speak a syllable against Honour's being Hereditary, could the valour, Religion, and prudence of Ancestors be as easily entailed on a line or family, as their Honours and Riches, could but their Gallantry be made Hereditary as well as their Fortunes? Can they transmit their virtues as well as names unto their posterity, I should willingly become the Advocate of such a Nobility, and suffer my ears to be bored to the posts of their doors; and rather acknowledge them our perpetual Masters and Dictator's, then hazard the choice of worse, upon the doubtful election of the people, with whom the best men are not always in greatest reputation.  
But since no choice can be more perilous and unsafe, than the casual lot of nature, I had rather stand to any election, then mere chance; by reason we have oftener known fools the sons of wise men by nature, then of the people's choice or adoption. Honour is the crown and reward of Virtue; is it not then unseemly they should wear the badge and livery, that were never admitted within the outmost Court of her Temple, that are the very slaves and vassals of vice and wickedness? I cannot but pay a greater tribute of respect and honour in my thoughts, to the worth of such as have raised themselves to a high degree and pitch of eminence, by the wings of their own merits, then to such as are only born up by those the credit and reputation of their Ancestors hath bequeathed unto them: Wherefore that Honour may be a spur to valour, and the reward of Virtue, let it not be prostrated to every rich and sordid miser, who by abandoning all Virtue, Hospitality and Humanity, hath with much oppression and grinding the face of the poor, scraped much wealth together; but rather on such as by their Valour and Prudence, have brought most credit and reputation to the Commonwealth: Wherefore if the Parliament please out of such to create Knights, or make the chiefest Ministers of State Lords by Office, or during life, I should account it no solecism in a Commonwealth, but an ornament thereto.  
Now the reason I look upon the Divine, the Lawyer, and Hereditary Nobility, as such irreconcilable Antagonists to a Free-state, is not grounded singly on the real prejudice they either have, or are like to receive therefrom; but rather, on what their fears and jealousies are apt to suggest unto their apprehensions, being conscious that their private interests stand in opposition to that of the Public; which could they be content to let go, and wave the advantages an injurious prescription hath given them over their Brethren, their concerns would be equally interwove and wound up with others in that of a Commonwealth; and might find it alike propitious to themselves with any other of like parts and ingenuity: But such is the evil nature of man, that to have done an injury, is a sufficient ground for future enmity, and rather to prosecute, than any way compensate those that are indebted for a former discourtesy: Therefore the best and soon way to be reconciled to such, is quickly to requite their injury; for measuring others thirst of revenge, by the standard of their own malice, they can never believe any one is friends with them, so long as he is in arrears to them for an ill turn: So that their fear of revenge breeds distance, and that increases alienation and disaffection, which brings forth farther hostility, with increase of injuries. In Analogy to which Doctrine, the best way to give the Antagonists of the Commonwealth ease, and its self security, is, by causing their fears to fall upon them, and thereby deliver them from further pain, and the Public from its jealousies and future danger; for it can never be expected, they should espouse the interest of the Public, before they have buried that of their private; that they should embark themselves in the same bottom with that of the Commonwealth, so long as they have so many of their own to look after; till these are shipwrecked, they will not be much concerned in the safety and prosperity of the Commonwealth.  
We shall never be so well united in our affections and designs for public good, as when we are become all of one price, and to have but one common interest: for it is nothing but the diversity of Interests that breaks us in pieces, and crumbles us into so many different factions and designs, which as it was good policy in our Monarch's, so but bad prudence in a Commonwealth: the Interest of a Prince being to break the strength of his people, that one faction being balanced by another, he may with more ease and facility render himself Master of all, according to the advice of the old Maxim, Divide and Rule. But the strength and glory of a Commonwealth is its union. And indeed it had otherwise been impossible, that ever Princes should have been able to have tied up the hands of Nations, and bound the strength of Samson in Cords, and bands of withyes; had not the policy like that of the Philistims first shorn their locks, and deprived them of their strength: Had they not first according to the fable of the Faggot, loosed their bond of union, by starting many interests, and kindling divers animosities among them, they had never fastened the Cords of slavery and bondage on them. The Philistims had never sported themselves with Samson, or Ulysses with Polyphemas, had they not first put out their eyes. Nor had Princes ever put a hook into the Nostrils of the Leviathan, or played with the mighty Whale; had they not made use of a like stratagem.  
Men complain much, and seem to have a great sense of the many Factions and Divisions in Religion, as they are pleased to term them; but how inconsiderable are these to the grand National or civil Factions. I confess those of Religion may sometime be made use of to palliate, but they are of other factions, that are the bitter root of all our breaches and divisions: Were there not one interest of the Nobility, another of the Commonalty; one of the Clergy, another of the Laity; one of the Lawyer, another of the Countryman; one of the Soldier, another of the Citizen; one of the elder, another of the younger Brethren, we might soon see an end of the other.  
These are the interest that clash so much one against another, and make such tumults in the world; and were these once canceled and forgotten, the other of Presbyterian and Independent, Quaker and Anabaptist, etc. would soon vanish, or at least, make little noise or disturbance in the world. How happy might all men be, did it please God they might recover the fight of their common interest, and their strength which consists in union. How easily might all the Nations of the earth shake off the iron Yokes the Tyranny of Princes hath put upon them by this means? and with how great facility might this be done! with how little prejudice and detriment to any man's particular, might all be made happy, if laying aside all animosities and jealousies, men would but lend an ear to reason, rather than passion. But to proceed, since it hath pleased God once more to put a price into our hands, and cause another opportunity of recovering our Native Rights and Liberties to dawn upon us, I desire we may not be as fools, not knowing how to use it; but that all ways that are safe and honourable may be taken for the securing and improvement of it; and therefore that the bvilders of our State may be furnished with a spirit of Wisdom from above, that they may become The Repairers of our Breaches, and, The Restorers of Paths to dwell in; that they may not deceive themselves, or the Nation, by thinking to patch up a sorry half potch'd Commonwealth, upon the old, crazy, and rotten foundations of Monarchy as heretofore; having had experience, that it will not, it cannot stand. They that are best read in Politics, and have b●en most conversant in the Histories of antiquity, know, that as a Commonwealth is the best and most absolute form of Government; so it is a nice and ticklish thing, and hath been difficult to fix in Nations under less disadvantage than we, who have been so long used to a contrary way of Government: which I speak not to discourage, but rather awaken the endeavours and resolutions of our Senators, to watch and secure our liberties. The ancient Commonwealths have been necessitated to make use sometimes of violent physic, to purge and evacuate the rank humours of the Body Politic, and such as I would not have prescribed a Christian State, supposing there may be found out such as are more safe and gentle. It was the unhappiness of the Grecian and Roman Republic, to be o●ten guilty of the greatest ingratitude towards them that best deserved of them; and not unoften to slain their hands with their bloods, whose former merits seemed to challenge a Crown, rather than a Cross from them. How often hath Greece, for the security of her liberty, sacrificed that life, by which she hath formerly been preserved from ruin and destruction? Who hath not heard of the unhappy Tragedy of that valiant Captain, that more than once preserved the Capitol, and snatched Rome, as a prey, out of the very teeth of the Galls, its barbarous, and at last fatal enemies? And how often hath Greece rewarded her Captain's victories with Banishment, instead of Triumph? and that upon the single account of some small suggestion of jealousy, or weak argument of too great Magnificence or Popularity: so jealous were those Republics of their liberty, that the General of an Army durst not make use of a little Plate in his House, lest it should cause envy, or render him suspected of too much Grandeur and Ambition, and that he endeavoured to supplant the Commonwealth, and render himself their Lord and Master. Others have been constrained to levelly their Palaces with the ground, lest the sumptuousness and magnificence of their Structure, should become the object of the People's envy and hatred. When these things come into my mind, I cannot but wonder any should think it so easy and facile a thing to erect a Commonwealth, as that it may be done with a wet finger, and requires no more than inserting, The Keepers of the Liberties, instead of the name King, and that then the work is finished, without any farther trouble or alteration, as many seem to be of opinion. I confess, had we not at so dear a rate bought experience to inform us of the contrary, this mistake might have passed for venial, but that makes it an unpardonable error. Now what may (as I humbly conceive) have a considerable influence on the Nation, for the better fixing it on the right basis of a Free-State, are as followeth.   

Of an Agrarian.  
1. FIrst, that there may be an Agrarian fixed, for stinting and setting bounds to the vast unsatiable desires that are found in greedy men after riches; which makes them not only lay field to field, and join house to house (as was the complaint of the old Prophets) but to lay Town to Town, Parish to Parish, County to County, and Island to Island. May we ever expect a more righteous administration of things, while there are no bounds set to the waves of this raging passion, that is ready to swallow, not only the houses of the widow, but whole Countries? while there is no check upon covetousness, the root of all evils; upon the immoderate desires of men, that like the daughters of the Horseleech, cry, Give, give; that are more unsatiable than Hell, or the Grave. Shall a price be set on the poor man's sweat and labour, and shall the growth of families have no bound? shall they raise their houses (according to the design of Babel) to the Heavens? as if having filled the earth with oppression, they would take Heaven also by violence. Is this suitable to a Commonwealth? or was this the design of our Reformation, to put the whole Land into the hands of a few Proprietors? was it for this end Abbeys were demolished, & the Hierarchy taken down, that a few Gentlemen, or elder Brethren, might have their lands, because they had not enough before? Is this the purchase of all our blood and treasure? to set up a few more gr●at families, to increase the number of our Masters; who when they have engrossed the lands and wealth of the whole Nation, there will remain nothing for either of them to purchase, or us to sell, but ourselves to be their slaves, and so restore vassalage, that hath been so long abrogated. We have had great disputes and sharp controversies; first, about a House of Lords, and since a Senate: But, in my apprehension, not worth a bulrush; for the case is the same, whether Lords or not Lords, when as the great Landlords in each Country, shall be constantly chosen by their Tenants, to be our Legislators. Were it not as good they should have patents to sit for life, since we cannot suppose they will willingly accept of a Writ of Ease, or sit out of play (having to great stakes in the game) so long as they can so easily be shouldered in by their Tenants: Or if at any time they be kept out, have we not experience that they will levy war against the present power? Doth not the war at this present day witness thereto? is it not then all one, whether we have an everlasting Parliament, or successive, if elections are but a new choice of the same men, and that it be not difficult to prick a Parliament, before the Writs are gone forth? And were this all the inconvenience, the evil were more tolerable; but do we not see how apt these Gentlemen of such vast and rank Estates are to levy war, and imbrue the Land in blood? doth not this proceed from the greatness of their retinue, the multitude of their tenants, the asfluency of their estates and fortunes?  
Now what better expedient can be devised for this mischief than an Agrarian? is it not more just and equirable than the Grecian ostracism, or the Roman proscriptions? can a Commonwealth be fixed without it? is it not absolutely necessary, that the proportion of lands be st●nted, lest otherwise the whole Island in process of time fall into the hands of one or few Proprietors? what then will become of our Free-state? will not our Landlords erect what Government they please over us? moreover, will not this give great encouragement to hospitality, & works of charity, that men should know the bounds of their Estates, the pillars on which is wrote their ne plus ultra? how can we ever expect good laws, or a more righteous State, while those worms of the earth, that possess the greatest dunghills, must be our Senators, because they have the greatest rout of tenants to voice them into the saddle of Authority. Is this suitable to a Free-State, or becoming Christians? To what purpose is more wealth than what may with credit bear up the port of a chief Minister of State, and furnish forth the comforts and enjoyments of this life? is not he a Leviathan, and more greedy than Death, Hell, or the grave, that desires more? Now that such an Agrarian (which for its proportion, is submitted to the wisdom of our Senators) may be introduced, without breaking down the hedge of any man's propriety, it is humbly proposed, that there may be a time assigned, wherein they that want posterity, or a noble spirit to part with any of their wealth to their poor relations, may convert their lands into a personal estate, or otherwise dispose of them, by reason that an excess or redundancy in that, as exposed to greater casualty and hazard, so is of less danger to the Commonwealth than the other, which time expired, that all taxes & public charges may be laid on such as have not conformed thereto, till their estates be crumbled down to the common standard, or due proportion, & that the State or Commonwealth may be declared heir, and to inherit whatever beyond the just proportion of the fixed Agrarian any man shall leave unto his heir or posterity.   

Of the Militia.  
2. THat at all those that have been true to, and by the free expense of their blood and treasure, have purchased a share and interest in the cause God, hath pleased to crown with so great success and victory, may be put in posture to defend their Liberties, and trained up to the use of Arms and Military Discipline, in all places throughout the Land, until time shall have worn out all animosities, and that the whole Nation shall become entirely united in their affections one to another, and be as of one lump, and then that all may be exercised in Arms that are not uncapable either through age or infirmity. I need not I presume show how commendable a thing it is for a Nation to be of a courageous and martial spirit, or how necessary they should bear their own Arms, and not to put weapons into the hands of strangers, or their slaves to make them their Masters, and become subject to a base and mercenary Army, being things so clear, that he that hath but halt an eye may read and foresee their inconveniences.   

Of Elections to Offices, etc.  
3. THat certain fundamental Constitutions, by which both the spiritual and civil Liberties of the people may be secured, be agreed on, and all that expect the privilege of vote or suffrage in Elect●ons of Knights of the Shires, etc. or to bear any office of trust in the Commonwealth may be sworn thereto, and that men may be esteemed qualified, not so much by their estates, as Religion and Virtue of bearing the chief offices of trust in the Commonwealth; and to this end that the qualifications according to which they are to be capacitated, may be so stated and limited, as to bear the access of all unworthy persons that are like to betray their trust, or connive at the springings up of Usurpations, Tyranny and Oppression; and by reason the Elections of Parliament men are at present managed with so much tumult and noise, that the more sober and modest people are ashamed, and discouraged to be present at them: that the Parliament would think of some other way by Subscriptions in each Parish, or the like, less subject to popular tumults, in which the more rude and violent carry it from the more discreet and sober, not so much by plurality of voices as by noise and violence, being (as commonly managed) more like an Assembly met, to choose the Lord of a Whitsun-Ale, than Knights of the Shire. As also that none may be trusted with more power than God hath furnished them with a capacity to understand, and abilities to administer without stain to the reputation of the Commonwealth; and therefore that no Apes in purple, or Asses with golden Trappings, may be admitted to sit and bray upon our Tribunals and Seats of judicature, to bring Authority into contempt and disgrace: But that every one may carry their own brains, and not understand their Places by Proxy, or have the Orbs and Spheres of their understandings turned about and governed by a mercenary intelligence, as is the Custom of some Reverend Mayors by their Learned Recorders, etc.  
I confess here to fore for the encouragement of Trade, there might be some Reason of endowing Corporations with large privileges, but since all Trades have been overstocked, the case is much altered. It might also be more the interest of Princes, to trust a good share of power in the hands of sheepish and tame Citizens, that are content not only to pay dearer for their honour, but also depend more upon their will and humour then those that better understand themselves: Whereas the interest of a Commonwealth is to employ such as are less phlegmatic and more mercurial, of greater spirit, prudence and activity for the management of their several Trusts and Provinces, then are usually found among such as have had the advantage of no better Education than their Trades; or known other Academy then their Shops or Exchange.   

Of Rotation.  
LAstly, That there may be such an equal Rotation of all Offices of Trust and Places of power, that all that are capable may alike taste of Rule as well as subjection: By reason that fixed powers, like standing waters, are apt to corrupt and stink in the Nostrils of the people.   

The Conclusion.  
MAny other things might have been proposed, but not knowing what Reception will be given, to what hath already been said, I shall at present for bear. I have not presumed to chalk out any particular model, referring that to the wisdom of our Senators, that are best able to determine thereof: And were they pleased to borrow light from any others apprehensions, there are not wanting, whose thoughts and Pens having been well traversed on that Subject, may better expect that honour than I; My design being only to propose some Fundamental things, that may lay a firm Basis for an equal Commonwealth to be founded on, leaving the form and superstructure thereof to be erected by the hands of our Master-builders, which through the blessing of God have never miscarried in any of their Heroic Undertake.  
And whatever others may think of the design of these discourses, I am so well satisfied in my own breast, that I think I may be bold to say, it is that God hath signally owned, and what his people, the good people of this Land, are by a spirit of faith strongly carried forth in expectation of. Certainly such a Commonwealth as is here pleaded for, is the best and most happy of all Governments, is the best and most religious of all Causes; and whatever of Religion is pleaded against it, is either of ignorance or malice; for what detriment can this bring to Religion? Is it because a mercenary Ministry is more holy, more acceptable, than one that is free? or to preach for hire be better than out of zeal and conscience? or is a Clergy taken from the meanest of the people, more holy, more righteous than the heads and Princes thereof? Is not the firstborn as acceptable as the younger Brethren? How then may a Commonwealth be charged with supplantiug Religion or destroying Piety? Doth that subvert either Magistracy or Ministry, that twists them both together: Many would fain have their Ministers Bishops, and their Bishop's Lords, Is it not as well if our Lords be Bishops? Many would have the Clergy increased, and Ministers made Justices of Peace, Is it not as well if our Justices of Peace become Ministers? Let it not therefore be said, that through the sides of the Ministry we would wound Magistracy, when it's desired they should be a support and ornament to each other.  
But may our Government more truly be accused of discouraging Learning? May that be thought guilty of this, that prefers every man according to his deserts? that by the Rotation of its offices, takes in every one to have his share, and turn in the administration of its power? That furnishes every man with employment suitable to the greatness of his parts and Education, that suffers no man's Talon to rust, to lie hid, to be buried or laid up in a Napkin, but invites and gives opportunity for the use and exercise of them. Is to contract the number of Hals and Colleges (when the Nation is over-stock'd) to discourage Learning? Did not my Lord Bacon long since complain thereof, when there were fewer Colleges and more preferments? and is there not more reason now? I presume no body will say that Learned Hero was an Enemy of Learning. Is it rational to think these times need as many Colleges as those before Hen. 8. when there were thirty thousand Students in one of the Universities; And yet that we may not envy those times, little the more learning; for doth not every one know what Scholars the Monks were? And how learned those Ages that swarmed with so many fat and flow bellies? Did not one of the Saxon Kings translate the Bible for the use of his illiterate Clergy, because his Clergy understood not Latin as he gives the Reason? And do we not now spoil many a good Ploughman to make a poor Scholar, and rob the Shops of many a fit mechanic, to keep our Colleges thinly stocked with half-witted sleepish Fellows?  
And is this for the Advancement of Learning, to render it more common and contemptible than the Art of Fiddling? That the education and exercise of Princes should become the study of every pedant and peasant; That Minerva and the Muses should be prostrated to the profane accosts of every Coridon, and sullied by the rude embraces of every Mechanic Son? Is it not that too hath brought it into so much contempt and disgrace with the Gentry and Nobility? that hath made it accounted a base and pedantic thing? Is not Learning cheap enough, when greater Parts and Ingenuity may be hired for a piece of bread, then would heretofore have purchased a Cardinal's Hat? Should we make enquiry into the Causes of that detriment Learning hath received, and what obstructs the Advancement thereof, we should find it another thing then what most men suppose. It is that distinction and diversity of modern times have introduced, whence have sprung many nice and curious studies unknown to Antiquity, and the wiser ages of the world, studies that bring no advantage to the Commonwealth, that yield neither pleasure nor profit to those that converse in them, save what folly and custom hath entailed upon them, studies in which our choicest wits do lose their time, and consume their strength to no purpose; except to become skilful in a literate kind of ignorance, while the more solid parts of Learning lie altogether uncultivated and neglected: Studies that are not only jejune and barren of any profitable Fruit, but such as sophisticate and adulterate the understandings of all those that are most conversant in them; That preoccupy and blur the mind with prejudice, and render men froward and perverse to the reception of the Truth; Studies that blind the Understanding, deprave the Will, bias the Judgement and corrupt the affections; That render men morose, peevish, uncharitable and inhuman: That crowd the world with multitudes of Books, of which there is no end, either in respect of number, or their use, such as might better be spared then read, and if , the world neither the less wise nor learned; For demonstration of which I shall instance in two or three professions of great repute in the world, and first of Divines which are commonly distinguished into Casuists Polemic School, and practical Divines; Of which all or the most part might very well have been spared, had men acquiesced in the Scriptures, and been content to have waited on the Teachings of God's Spirit: But so soon as the wisdom of men, and Policy of Princes had erected this which should be all men's study and employment into a particular Profession, and registered it among those that are commonly called the Learned; To add the more credit thereto, they began to mix and blend it with the Learning and Sophistry of the Schools, pretending to adorn-it with the spoils of the Heathen, but what is found to have sophisticated and adulterated the truth and simplicity of the Gospel: Now because this mixing it with false and incoherent School-Learning, had (through its incongruity and contradiction) brought forth great variety and multiplicity of opinions, and in all probability spawned most of those Sects, Heresies, and Errors, that now swarm and are lodged in the Heads and Judgements of unstable minds: It was thought necessary to introduce polemics for purging and winnowing Divinity from the Chaff of such Errors, as the former practice had filled it with; and therefore certain Colleges were erected for Students of Controversies, for maintaining the gideon's and Champions of the Truth, who like the Knight's Templars, or those of Malta were to defend the Holy Land, or maintain the possessions of Truth, from the invasions and encroachings of error, which was performed with such ill success, that in stead of composing and reducing errors to the Obedience of the Truth, they became much multiplied by the subtle cavilling wits of these persons altogether given to wrangling and contradiction, that at length the very Fundamentals of Religion came to be called in Question, and the Pillars of faith shaken, and all things rendered disputable, and argued pro and con, by the perverse and sceptical wits of Truth's pretended Champions. Thus rather than they would seem idle or want employment, they fell to seeking knots in Bulrushes, and made, where they could not find difficulties, till at length the itch of disputing proved the scab of the Church, while in the mean time all necessary and useful Learning was neglected.  
By the like steps and degrees did the study of the Laws also climb into the repute of a Learned Profession: For first, Monarchy having introduced a great variety of tenors, resulting from the diversity of feuds and services, as Grand Sergeanty, Knight-Service, Soccage, and the like. which are but so many several degrees of servitude and slavery, their study was impropriated to a peculiar order of men, who to render their profession more difficult and advantageous, introduced the prolix tautological forms of Instruments that are in use at this day, that through the multitude of words they might darken knowledge, though under a contrary pretence of perspicuity and avoiding ambiguity; and being entrusted with penning of Acts, Ordinances and Statutes, they rendered them dubious and ambiguous for the better grounding contrary cases upon them, to which time hath added multitudes of readings on Statutes, Comments corrupting and darkening the Text, Reports, Cases, Abridgements, etc. by which the Law is rendered so intricate, prolix, and scabbed, that it racks and tortures the best wits that have undertaken the study thereof. Now there is no greater badge of the slavery of any people than the multitude of their Laws, it being their interest to have them as few, brief, and plain as possible, and to speak truth, Law is or aught to be nothing but pure Reason founded on the Word of God, or such clear and natural inferences and deductions as unbyast reason shall make from the Moral Law, and then what need would there be of those many Books and large Volumes of so many Reports, Cases, Precedents, Comments, etc. with which the world is crowded.  
I might in like manner instance in Politics, which as commonly handled, is nothing but an Art of knavery that consists in balancing of Factions, and casting a mist of different interests before the eyes of the people, making them scramble for Nuts and Trifles, or like the dog in the Fable, catch at specious shadows, while they let go the substance, and suffer themselves to be cajoled and juggled out of their Liberties, and made a prey to exorbitant and arbitrary power; of which (were the eyes of men open to discern their true and common interest, which is to abolish all names of distinction and faction) there would be no use, for honesty would be found the most genuine and true policy, and that which would abide the touch, when all other shall be found false and counterfeit: When the credit of all our Quacks and Empirics of Kingcraft and State-policy shall become Bankrupt, and they forced like Mountebanks to remove their Stages and seek new Quarters, wherein to set up their Trade of Juggling: How many of these have we of late seen with disgrace hist off the Stage, before they had well looked about them! how many of these crafty Foxes have of late been unkenelled, and their faces covered with shame, that they have been glad to hid themselves in corners: Those (that like the Foxes of Samson with firebrands in their tales) were so skilful in kindling factions and jealousies, to set the world on fire; as if, like Nero, they were with nothing so well pleased, as to warm themselves at the ruins of the world. Now were all these spurious excrescencies pruned from the Tree of Knowledge, these curious, useless and pernicious studies abrogated, these mazes and meanders of trifles (in which most of our best wits are lost and wildered) removed: How would all those paths that lead to useful knowledge, that are now unfrequented and over grown with weeds, be resorted to? How would all the fruitful parts of learning be cultivated? what profitable voyages might be made to the America & remotest parts of nature, that are yet unknown and undiscovered? what admirable scholars, and how able and learned a Gentry might we then expect to see, that had acquired not only a small smattering in a little curious and useless learning, and made a small progress in some one of the learned professions, but had run through them all; that were not only Lawyers, but also Divines, Statesmen, Historians, Philosophers, Physicians, in a word, not lame (as now-adays) but absolute and universal scholars: This is the true account of learning's decays and detriment, with the readiest means of restoring it to its Pristine strength and lustre, to which I know nothing that hath greater ten-dency than the Commonwealth proposed, so far it is from being prejudicial thereto.  
To proceed therefore, have then the Lawyers any just cause to criminate our Government, or to bring in a large bill of Indictment against it, or implead it as guilty of injury to them? is it any wrong to them for every one to plead his own cause? have they any interest or propriety in other men's causes, in the Suits and Contentions of other men? if not, wherein are they injured? in that every one is presumed to tell his own tale best, to be most eloquent in his own behalf, and to best understand his own business? is it not rather to be wondered, that the Gentry and Nobility have with patience so long suffered themselves to be slighted, contemned and trampled on, by a Mercenary Generation of men, that sell their breath, as Laplanders do winds, and raise and enrich themselves by the ruins and shipwrecks of others fortunes?  
Or in the last place, will the Nobility suffer any great loss hereby? is there any thing more than a gilded title, a bare and empty name that is in jeopardy, which in a Commonwealth either signifies nothing, or what amounts not to so much as a feather in their caps? or if they are loath to part with it, may they not wear it to their graves? No body desires that any of the present Proprietors should be rob of one jota in their titles; and I presume none will desire them any farther: If they do, Lucian will tell them they are mistaken, their Honours must not wait on them to the other world, they must not enter with them into Charon's Boat, the surly Ferryman will have them left on this side the banks of Acheron. But if they desire they should descend to their posterity, if so be their estates be equally divided according to Gavelkinde, we shall not much differ about that, if one or all of their sons (according to the custom of some Countries) assume the titles of their Ancestors, I know none will envy their Honours, or be much offended with their petty Lordships; only I should think it more generous and prudent to lay them down at the Commonwealths feet; and after they shall have approved themselves persons of Worth, Honour, and Integrity to their Country, they need not doubt but to receive them with greater lustre and advantage, as a badge rather of their own then their Ancestors Virtues. If now the partition walls (as hath been proposed) of all particular and private interests (at first erected by the subtlety of Princes) were thus broken down, and the interest of every particular become the interest of all, and the interest of all but one; how happy, how unanimous should we be? and how plain and easy a thing would the Doctrine of Politics become? with how great ease and facility might the Helm of the Commonwealth be steered and governed? in how great peace and tranquillity should we live? what a constant serenity of Peace and Prosperity might we enjoy? We might then beat our Swords into Ploughshares, and turn our Spears into Pruning-Hooks, we should then no more hear the sound of the Drum, or be affrighted with the Alarms of Civil Wars and discords; but might sit under our own Vines, and eat the fruit of our Figge-trees in safety: We should then see the Wolf dwell with the Lamb, and the Leopard lie down with the Kid, and the Calf, and the young Lion, and the Fatling together, and a little Child to lead them, and The Lion shall eat straw like an Ox, and the Sucking Child shall play upon the hole of the Asp, and the weaned Child shall put his hand upon the Cockatrice Den; for they shall not hurt nor destroy throughout the Holy Mountain of the Lord: But the whole Earth shall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea.  
Thus shall it be, when the Knowledge of the Lord hath destroyed every base and private Interest from off the face of the Earth; when he hath taken away that diversity of Preying Interests, that are the Source and Spring of all our miseries, the seeds of all those Factions and Divisions that rage among the sons of Men, and makes them tear, rend, and prey upon one another, that hath so entangled the Doctrine of Politics, and rendered them so dark and abstruse, a Labyrinth so difficult, a Maze and Mystery of Iniquity, that hath turned the Art of Government, into an Art of Juggling and dissembling; that hath brought to light those wicked Machavilian Maxims of the Kingdom of Darkness, that were first broached by a Conclave of Devils, Divide & impera: Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare, and the like; that hath devised necessity of State as an Apology, and Religious Pretences as a cloak for the blackest crimes the Sun ere looked upon; that hath put the Inscription of the Cause of God, upon most wicked and Devilish Designs; that hath made Religion hold the stirrup to Ambition, become the Pander of Greatness, and a Stalking-Horse to Lust and Wickedness. But it shall not be thus in the Holy Mountain of the Lord, in the Holy Commonwealth of Israel, in the New Jerusalem that is coming down from above, and when there shall be new Heavens, and new Earth, all old things shall pass away, which is not far off; the World, and unrighteousness of man hath now but a short part to act; for the time is approaching, in which every false Mask and Vizard shall be pulled off, in which a window shall be opened into every secret and false breast, and the hidden thoughts of men's hearts discovered; and that the World shall be no longer cheated, to espouse corrupt and base Interests, because gilded with glorious pretences of Religion, and bearing False Inscriptions upon them.  
Now for the truth and reason of these things, I durst appeal to the judgements and Consciences of the most understanding men in the Nation, as knowing their hearts witness to them; and were their bodies of Crystal, pellucid, and transparent, I know we might read the same Apprehensions in them: for I cannot imagine it proceeds from ignorance, but interest, that the light of those truths hath not hitherto been more discovered. So many are interessed in the grand Cheat of the World, so many are the Silversmiths that reap profit from the Shrines of these Diana's, that it is no wonder there appears so great a zeal to keep up their credit and reputation: But the day of the Lord which is at hand, will discover them. I know most men are led by a blind and implicit faith they have pinned on the sleeves of some learned Rabbis, being ready to Worship and fall down before any Galf, Custom hath set up among them: These out of love I have endeavoured to undeceive, though I thereby set up myself as a Mark and But for all the shafts the Malice of men can dart against me. And being loath to detain and imprison the Truth in unrighteousness, have given in my testimony against the Corruption of the World, which I know to be a cheat; and the manners of men, who are a lie, and Vanity. How it will be received, I am not solicitous; if I perish, I perish, and hope I shall be able to say, as sometime that Great Soldier Belisarius, Mihi non culpa nocuit sed invidia. But as for the Truth, I know it cannot long be stifled, but must and will prevail.  Magna est veritas & praevalebit.  

THE CONTENTS.  

A Plea for a Commonwealth, page 1.  
Of the Ministry or Clergy, page 21  
Of Tithes, page 38  
An humble Motion in behalf of the Poor, page 42  
Of the Universities, page 45  
Of the Regulation of the Laws and Lawyers, page 56  
An Apology for Younger Brothers, page 58  
Of the Hereditary Nobility, page 75  
Of an Agrarian, page 84  
Of the Militia, page 87  
Of Election to Offices, etc. ibid.  
Of Rotation. page 89  
The Conclusion. page 90    
FINIS.