The Grand, CONVENTION FOR ENGLAND'S Summum Bounm.  
As it was held by the Loyal Cavaliers, and the Fanatic Heretics.  
WHEREIN Is proved that there can be no Peace nor Settlement till the restoration of CHARLES the Second to his Crown and Dignities.  
By Samuel Wall, Clerk.  2 Chron. 23. 11. 
Then they brought out the King's Son, and put upon him the Crown, and gave him the Testimony, [that is, They put upon him his Royal Apparel] and made him KING, and said, GOD save the KING.  
LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1660.   

The Grand Convention, etc.  
BEing met at the place appointed, Mr. Speaker (avery indifferent and  man) arose from his Seat, and delivered himself, as followeth;  
Gentlemen, 
 Forasmuch as now we are met together to heal up the breaches and to Cure the bleeding wounds of our faint-sick Church & State let us not now prove Empyricks, but good and wholesome Physicians; let us therefore first pray for a benediction to attend our lawful endeavours and then with Courage may we pour the Balm of Gilead into every sick soul, then may we bind up the broken and shattered joints of our pre-distracted Body-politique.  
Gentleman, whatsoever men may produce as Arguments either in the maintenance or defence of this or though ' there, in plain terms, the Nation is in as sad a plight as ever was any in the world; the Church is run into Hetesies, the State into Factious parties, the Military and Civil have scarcely patience to hold their finger each off the other, Trading is quite decayed, the poor Nation subjected to a servile yoke, great oppressions imposed upon her shoulders, Taxes, Tallage, unreasonable Customs, Excise, high and heavy Imposts, and other great Grievances, which to speak indifferently, is a providential Miracle, how the poor Nation is able to do such things. Therefore, as here we represent the face of the Public, it behoves us, like Servants, to improve the Talents they have entrusted us withal, to the best advantage of our mouldering Nation; then if we do good and healing Acts, shall after Ages have cause to bless and remember us in the midst of all their mirth and jollity: Above all things let us pray for the concurrence & divine assistance of our heavenly King, that we may do such things as may redound to his Glory, and both our terrestrial and eternal Comforts; therefore, first of all, I am commanded to put this to the Vote, Whether the altering of our Government from Monarchy to a Commonwealth, hath not caused all the miseries that we have suffered under to fad upon us; and whether there is or may be any hopes of Peace, Settlement, or the bealing of our national breaches, till we fear God and the King? And therefore call home our lawful King from banishment.  fanatics. 
Mr. Speaker, your Proposition is so illegal, conttary to our great and glorious cause, that we judge it altogether undeserving a Vote, for that we have passed it with the Negative already; therefore pray let us proceed to matters of greater importance, viz. to the preventing the common Enemy and his Adherents, the continuing Liberty of Conscience to the godly and wel-gifted Christians, the pulling down the Temples of Idols, the raising of Assessments to encourage our faithful Army, who have been nigh unto us upon all imergencies; for if once they forsake us, we are all undone for ever.  Loyal Cavaliers. 
Nay but Gentlemen hold a little, you drive too furiously, we are not here Assembled to comply with your idle and wicked humours, but to build up the walls of our Jerusalem: you say Mr. Speakers Proposition hath passed with a Negative; but under favour not with our negative; for we do here jointly and severally affirm, That the Murder of our KING, contrary to the command God hath given us by his Scriptures, Job 34. 18. both by the National Laws, Statutes, and Common Laws of our Kingdom, as the damnablest Treason ever Subjects committed; and that his innocent blood hath mounted up and cried loudly for vengeance on this Nation: from that fatal night hath sprung all our miseries; and therefore hath God made us a confused Babel. If right reason will be heard by you, we'll convince you that way; You have had Eleven years to settle your Commonwealth, as you pretend, a very fair time one would think to have settled a Nation in; and I pray have not you done it upon a firm Basis: O how Plenty and Peace flourisheth! how bravely have you reform all things! No Gentlemen, if your meaning was lawful, reasonable, conscionable or honest, you would not have any of this  army to terrify and oppress poor England, as it hath done, and must of necessity do, till Nations be no more, if so long you can fool the people with your Utopian Fangle.  
We do affirm Mr. Speakers Proposition, the Fundamental of this Convention, and the Querie (Whether) to be certo; ergo, no Peace in our Kingdom, till our now Noble King and lawful Sovereign Lord, as Suprem Monarch, sways the Sceptre; and that this Change in our Government be utterly abolished.  Phan. 
Gentlemen, 'tis in vain for us to put any thing tending to either the preservation or detriment of our Interest to the Vote; for to be sure you Cavaliers will out Vote us, although you work by no other reason then the Major controls the Minor.  Caval. 
You are much mistaken in us, we desire to be ruled by Reason, Conscience, both to God and Man, the good of our own souls and others, that we may do such things as may be to the glory and honour of God, and the Advancement of the Gospel of Christ; otherwise, King should be no more to us then the poorest of beggars: What we Vote, we shall not fear to refer to the Arbitration of honest and non-self-interessed men, and shall abide their Determination without grumbling.  Phan. 
Gentlemen, tell not us of Conscience, the Honour and Glory of God, and these trifles, we will have a Commonwealth; and if you will not Vote with us, by fair means, but thus turn ours back again with the Negative, we will over-vote you by foul means, and immediately send for our Army, either to cudgel you into better manners, or else to garble you as the putrefactory entrails of the Famous Parliament of the Commonwealth of Antipodes. What Gentlemen, do you think that it can stand with our liking to let him in amongst us, whose Father we have disenthronized, and him disinherited by the breach of so many Oaths, Protestations, Vows, Engagements, Declarations, Solemn League and Covenant, Remonstrance, Allegiance that have paved and cemented our way to Honour and Preferment, with so much blood and perjury; pray excuse us Gentlemen, You may well allow us to take a little comfort of our Labours; for assure yourselves they will cost us full dear before we have paid for them: 'Tis time enough to rechange your Government, when we shall have left the Stern, summoned by the stygian Charon to Embark for Gehenna.  Caval. 
Then to maintain your wicked Grandeur, the whole Nation it seems must suffer a perpetual yoke of Tyranny and Oppression, be persecuted and pinched both in their spiritual and earthly lives and conversations, in their estates and subsistances; nay above all, we must, contrary to the light of knowledge and express Word of God, be enforced to despise the Throne of our lawful King, the ancient and always Government of the Antipodes, and that the best above all others, to cry, Hail, Hail unto you.  Phan. 
Tell not us of your ancient Governments, the sad condition of the Nation, Law, Equity, Gospel; for we have won it and we'll wear it: therefore Gentlemen, it behoves you, without further Disputes to pass such things i'th' House as we shall Vote, if you respect your own lives and peace, comply with us, and let us go on vigorously; for the Soldiery are even ready to mutiny for their pay.  Caval. 
We thought what Saints you were; you cry, Money money, but where will you have it? the poor Subject he is brought so low, that it puzzles the most ingenuous amongst us now a days to get bread to feed their poor perishing Families the Merchant dares not stir the tradesman blows his nails and rubs his heels, trading with him is fallen into such a benumbed Lethargy, and the Farmer and Rural Peasants may even go shoe the Goose for money to pay you. What are you become Egyptian Taskmasters? you'll have the ful Tale of Bricks from them, but not a bit of Straw will you give them to work; you'll scrape them to the very bones for money to maintain your splendour and vain grandeur, but make no other provision for their subsistence, than instead of planting free Trade amongst them, seek by all ways and means to root out that little that is left them:  
Witness the continuation of the War with Spain, and the suffering the lordly and self ended Hollander to play Piscator Angliae upon our own Coasts, and the fantastical Frenchman to eat the bread out of poor Antipodians mouths.  
Therefore Gentlemen, if you have any pity or compassion for the bleeding and gashlie wounds of poor Antipodia, show it forth in being a joint Instrument with us under God to deliver her, which must be by a King, and none but a King, and no King neither; but our lawful Sovereign, CHARLES the SECOND, which we will from the bottom of our Consciences, prove unto you, if your patience will vouchsafe audience.  Phanat. 
Well Gentlemen, we care not much if you have the hearing, though 'twill be but so much breath spent in vain and to little purpose.  
One of the Cav liars in the name of the rest, and on the behalf of the whole Kingdom, speaks as followeth.  
To prove unto you that no other Government than Monarchy, hath Sat at the Stern of these Nations ever since they were Civilised.  
I will not here stand to instance; a most every Almanac being a sufficient Testator for me in that.  
And to prove that you have sinned against GOD and your own souls in murdering of your KING and his faithful Adherents and loyal Subjects, and Committing those abominations that you have done since you butchered him:  
Your own guilty and inflamed Consciences are Witnesses and Commentators sufficient for that.  
But my scope is to extend itself as well to the good of your own souls, and of our poor Kingdom, which you have thus shattered, rend, and torn in pieces.  
And therefore to prove that the Nation can never be at rest, till she be brought under her ANCIENT DUTY and OBEDIENCE, till MONARCHY come again to spread his WINGS as a HEN over her CHICKENS to NOURISH and DEFEND her: For first a Kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. And when there was no King in Israel (meaning no supreme and lawful Magistracy) every one did that which was good in his own eyes; then how do you think England can be at peace? and he that lives not in peace, is in Hell upon Earth in his inward and outward man.  
2. Whilst then the Church can never be united, which (though the State be never so well healed) will set all on flames, and continually embroiled, each labouring to be Pater ac Defensor suoe fidei, & subvertire omnes religiones viventes in nostro Regno aliorum sanctorum hominum proeter sucs.  
3. Trading will never be restored; for the Nations round about us, make us their scoffing and laughing stock, scorning to have any other trading and traffic with us, than what they think will impoverish and utter ruin us. Ho, say they, why should we fear them that have murdered their King; we will no longer continue our subjection, but as they have forgot their duty, so we will forget our fear to them, and make them glad to owe some to us; for we know well enough what that giddyheaded people will do now they have shaken off their ancient Government, even wallow up to the neck in one another's blood: for what Enemies are comparable to the Civil; contra se inimica foerox est.  
4. The Laws of the Land are so aptly constituted for Regal power, that they cannot, without great abuse, be of any force in this Kingdom.  
5. The illegality of both the banishment and seclusion of King Charles the Second, our lawful Sovereign from his Crown and Dignities, and the great Tyranny, Persecution and Slavery the Nobility and Gentry the Upholders and Glory of a Nation, have suffered under the loss of their lives, undoing of their Wives and Families, by the illegal deprivation of and Sequestration of their Estates, Houses, Goods, and banishments of themselves, gives so great a stroke at either our Summum bonum ve summum malum, that we can never expect any peace till the One be restored to his Crown, the Other to their lawful Heritage's, and due recompense be made by sorrowful remorse, both before God and Man, for the innocent blood that hath been shed upon Blocks and Gibbets to the Third.  
6. I do affirm on the behalf of these worthy Gentlemen and the whole Kingdom beside, that when King Charles shall be established, the Nation will be in as sweet and blessed a condition as any in the whole world.  
For first the Church will be (by divine assistance) restored to Unity, Order and Discipline, which will consequently cause the same happiness to fall out in the State; so that then when the world shall see as of one heart and one mind, they will no longer scoff at Antipodia, but be glad to currie-favour again for quietness sake.  
Secondly, the Laws fundamentals, Statutes, and Common laws of Anripodia will assume their ancient vigour (having gotten their ancient precedent again) and will stand sorcibly to correct the impetuous abuses and inormities both foreign and domestic in Church and State in the public and private.  
Thirdly, There will be no longer need of this great Army, neither will the Army itself have any need to follow its employment, in respect of the fullness of a free Trade, which will call home such Marshals as have any Callings, or Trades, from the sword, to get a living at an easier rate, than now they do; and those that have none, to seek some one more honest and gainful.  
Fourthly, The Nation will then be so aubndantly eased of her burdens, that within few years her flourishing estate will write her sufferings in Oblivion. The terrible Plague-fores, Taxes, unreasonable Customs, high and heavy Imposts, Monopolies, Excise Sequestration, and all their attendants shall vade conragious, and never rise any more; for there will be no need at all for them; when this Army is otherwise disposed, easy will be the national burden.  
Fifthly, All nations will be glad to Trade and Commerce with us when they fee a settlement, which now they a void, by reason of the horror and confusion which is amongst us.  
Sixthly, and lastly, which is our Summum Bonum, we shall be reduced from the service of Belial, to become the Fearers of God and the King; Whereby we shall prove ourselves to be no longer of our Father the Devil; but the Sons and Daughters of the living God, & most Heavely King.  
So I conclude, desiring that Reason may have some influence on your hearts, where, if any spark of Grace and Loyalty be left, let it kindle; and like a mighty fire consume the strong holds of Satan there; and throw them down like consumed ashes: Then shall we all with one accord lift up our voices and cry aloud, God save the KING: a harmony that will sound pleasantly in the ears of those both Noble and Common, from the Merchant to the Ploughman, from the Lord to the Beggar, whose Representatives we are.  
Which made the very hearts of the fanatics to tremble, and all with one accord, they lifted up their voice and cried aloud. Men and Brethren what shall we do to be saved? and immediately fell into a strong agony; which having awaked from, they said as followeth:  Phan. 
We do confess from the bottom of our souls we have done wickedly out of measure, in so much that we are even ready to become a second Francis Spira; we feel the terrible pangs our Lunacy have brought upon us:: We confess now there can be no peace or settlement either in Church or State till the Son of our late King be set upon his Father's Throne, which in reason or conscience we can no longer deny; but only self-interest, to think that we must part with all the Honour, Gold, and changes of Raiment that we have gotten is bitter to us: these we do ingeniously confess are all the Gates and Bulwarks we have raised against our King: neither Religion or Conscience leading us to such undertake. Besides, now we seriously consider, if we assent and join with you, we shall not only hazard our lives, but multitudes of the people both Military and Civil, who have sided with us; together with all the Goods and Estates which their Children and Families depend upon for a future subsistence: above 400000. having propriety in Kings, Queens, Princes, Crown & Ecclesiastical Lands, and the sequestered Estates of Delinquent; so that we shall not only lose our lives, but we and our posterity will be stripped of all, the very money we have paid to purchase these things withal: But if we could but be certain of an Act of Oblivion, together with an enjoiment of our said portions of such Estates, until such time as we should have received the money that paid our purchase, We do here solemnly in our own Names, and on the behalf of all our Brethren and Members in the three Nations protest, That we will hearty concur with you in the establishing peace and settlement in this Commonwealth, which we do now affirm can by no other way (under God) be done, than by restoring Charles the Second to the Throne and Dignities of his Father of blessed Memory.  Caval. 
Let not that trouble you, or hinder your joining with us in this right, true, and indeed glorious Cause; for be assured upon the word of a Gentleman, that our King will not be found less willing to condescend to any Act of Clemency, Mercy, Piety, or Justice, than you shall be ready to ask. And for what you speak of, we tell you he hath pondered the same in his heart already.  Phan. 
Well then, we consent, and from hence forth will become fellow helpers with you to settle our King upon his Throne, that Peace may crown our latter days, and Unity dwell amongst us, and that we may all be brought back again from the worship of Idols, to the true fear of God and the King in  
THE END.   

POSTSCRIPT.  

Poor England joy thy Peace is hasting on,  
For now the Royalist's in union.  
The penitent fanatics are bound fast  
To set up Charles their King on's Throne at last.