The PARTICULARS of His HIGHNES' SPEECH TO THE PARLIAMENT, In the Painted-Chamber at WESTMINSTER.  
HIs HIGHNESS took notice, that the Parliament then met, was such a Congregation as England never saw, having on their shoulders the Interest of the three great Nations; and, which is more, the Interest of all the Christian People in the World.  
He promised in what he should say, plainness and truth; taking notice, That after so many changes and turn as this Nation hath laboured under, to have such day of hope, and such a door of hope opened as this, was some months since above all our thoughts.  
That it might have been a matter worthy such a Meeting, ●o have remembered them what occasioned the rise and first beginning of all the toss that have been upon these Nations, and to have give a f●r●s not 〈…〉 of the Providence of God in 〈◊〉 to these 〈…〉 Grounds of the first undertaking to oppose that usurpation and tyranny which was upon us in our Civils and Spirituals: but some reasons diverted him from that, as first, To have proceeded after that manner, would have taken up the whole day for God's dispensations have been such, that as ●avi● says i● another case, If I should sit to coun● th●m, t●ey ●re more t●e● can be numbered. 2. Because the recapitulation of his Providen●es h●● been largely and w●sely held ●orth ●n t●e Sermon that ●ay, 〈◊〉 an allusion to the ●●te of ●●●d dispensations ●ward the israelites (the only parallel t● God's de●●ings wit● us, that he knew in the World) in bringing them out of Egyp● through a Wilderness, towards their place of rest. 3. Because the end of that Mee●ing was ●ealing, and the remembering of former transactio●s particularly, might set ●he wound fresh a-bleeding; and if this day proves not a day of healing what shall we do? But if it be the mind of God (which alone must make it healing) to put it into their hearts, than i● would be such a day, as generations to come would bless the● for it.  
That it was necessary rather to let them know in what condition these Nations were, when this Government was erected, what were the breaches in our Civils and Spirituals, whe● every man's hand (at least his heart) was against another, litt●● appeared tending to cementing. All Gods dispensations, ne●ther his terrible ones when he met us in a way of Judgement a ten years Civil War, and a sharp one, nor his merciful dispensations did work upon us. That we had our Humours an● Interests, and (as he feared) our humours were more the● our interests, our passions more than our Judgements. Was n● every thing almost grown arbitrary? What face was up●● 〈◊〉 Affairs a● to the Interest and Authority of the Magistra●● 〈◊〉 to the rights ●●d ●●ders of men, whereby distinctions ha●●●●●n ma● 〈…〉 of a Nobleman, a Gentlem●● Yeoman; it being a good interest of the Nation, and a great ●ne? Every man's hand was upon his loins, and said, We see ●othing that bears sway or rule. And that spirit that brought ●t under that contempt, though it may be comprehended in a ●ery short expression of Men of Levelling, Principles, yet the ●hing had a vast extension, tending to reduce all the orders and ●anks of men to an equality, to make the Tenant of as liberal fortune as his Landlord.  
His Highness took notice in the next place, of the prodigious contempt upon God and Christ, and his Ordinances; a spirit visibly acting those things which were foretold by Peter, ●nd Judas, and Timothy, as the lot and portion of the last ●imes, and something worse than the Antichristian state; that ●here should be perilous days, and therefore perilous, because ●hey should break all rules, and labour to root out that remainder of the Image of God which was left in the nature of fal●en man: And this by men that should have a form of godliness, denying, the power of it. And indeed the character ●hereby that spirit and principle is described, is so legible and ●isible, that he that runs may read it. And he wished that it ●ere not to be read, or seen, and that the grace of God might ●ot be turned into wantonness, and Christ and the Spirit of God ●ade a cloak of vile practices.  
He observed, That many would not own these things, yet ●hey could tell you, The Magistrate hath nothing to do with ●atters of Conscience or Religion, That he is to look to the ●uter-man, not to meddle with the inner. And such pretensions (he said) there were of liberty of the Subject and of Conscience (two as glorious things, and as much to be contended ●or, as any gift God hath given us) That both these were ●rought in to patronise those evils; insomuch that it was affirmed, not to be in the power of the Magistrate so much as to ●rint Bibles, lest it should seem an imposition on the Consciences of men, to receive them from the Magistrate, as true 〈◊〉 ●hese abominations swelled to that 〈…〉 ●id to the root of the M● 〈…〉 ●lonish. And as the extremity was great before, that no man though well approved, and having a good testimony, might preach, if not ordained; so now on the other hand, they woul● have Ordination put a nullity upon the Calling. He took notice of another evil that had more refinedness in it, more colour for it, and had deceived more people of integrity than t●● former; for few were catcht with the former mistakes, b● such as apostatised from their holy profession, such as hav● been corrupted in their Consciences, have been forsaken b● God, and left to noisome opinions. But there was another thing that deceived many well meaning people, whose hear● are sincere, and such as (he was persuaded) belong to Go● and that is, the Fift Monarchy mens pretending to more spirituality than any other. It is a Notion, which (as he hoped we all honour and wait for, That Jesus Christ will have his ti●● to set up his Reign in our hearts, and to subdue that corruption and lust which reigns more in the world now then ever, a● he hoped in due time it shall be: But for men to entitle themselves to be the only men to govern Nations, and rule Kingdoms, and give Laws to the World, to determine of Prope● and Liberty, and every thing else, needs a great manifestation God's presence, before wise men will submit to it.  
Many of those he conceived in his very soul had good me●●ings, and he hoped this Parliament would (as Judas says, reckoning up the abominable Apostasies of the last times) pluck s● out of the fire, and save others with fear, making those peaceable spirits, the subject of their encouragement, and s●ing others by that discipline, that God hath ordained to refo● miscarriages. The danger of that Spirit being not in the not i● but in its proceeding to a civil transgression. When men s●● come into such a practice, as to tell us, That liberty and Pro●●●ty are not the badges of that Kingdom, and that in stead of ●gulating Laws, Laws must be subverted, and perhaps the Judicial Law imposed, or some fancy in stead of it (for that 〈◊〉 ●ood and honourable in the Institution, though now by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 app●●●d specially when every stone is turned to bri●● Confusion. This will be a consideration worthy of the Magistrate.  
His Highness proceeded to show, That while these things were in the midst of us, and the Nation rend and torn from one end to the other, Family against Family, Parent against Child, & nothing in the hearts & minds of men, but Overturn, overturn, overturn, a Scripture very much abused, & challenged by all men of discontented spirits. The common Enemy in the mean time sleeps not; swarms of Jesuits coming over, having their Consistories abroad, to rule all the Affairs of England, and the Dependencies thereof. In the mean time visible endeavours are used to hinder the Work in Ireland, to obstruct the Work in Scotland; Correspondencies and Intelligences are held to encourage and foment the War in these places. And withal we were deeply engaged in a War with Portugal, whereby our Trade ceased, and not only so, but a War with Holland, which consumed our Treasure as much as the Assessment came to. At the same time we fell into a War with France, or rather we were in it, and all this fomented by the divisions amongst us, which begat a confidence we could not hold out long; and the calculation had not been ill, if the Lord had not been gracious to us.  
Besides, strangers increased in the Manufacture, the great staple Commodity of this Nation. In such a heap of confusion was this poor Nation, and that it might not sink into a confusion, from these premises a Remedy must be applied.  
A Remedy hath been applied; This Government, a thing that is seen and read of all, and which, let men say what they will (he could speak with comfort before a Greater than they all, as to his own intention, and let men judge out of the thing itself) is calculated for the Interest of the People; for their Interest alone, and for their good, without respect had to any other Interest.  
He added, That he might with humbleness towards G●● and modesty before them, say something in the 〈◊〉 of it.  
It hath endeavoured to Reform the Laws, and for that end hath joined persons (without reflection upon any) of as great ability and integrity as any other, to consider how the Laws might be made plain, short, and easy, which may in due time be tendered.  
It hath taken care to put into seats of Justice, men of the most known Integrity and Ability.  
The Chancery hath been reform, and (he hoped) to the just satisfaction of all good men.  
It hath put a stop to that heady way, for every man that will, to make himself a Preacher, having endeavoured to settle a way for approbation of men of Piety and fitness for the Work, and the business committed to trusty persons both of the Presbyterian and Independent judgement, men of as known ability and integrity, as (he supposeth) any the Nation hath, and who (he believes) have laboured to approve themselves to God and their own Consciences, in approving men to that great Function.  
It hath taken care to expunge men unfit for that work, who have been the common scorn and reproach of that administration.  
One thing more, It hath been Instrumental to call a free Parliament; blessed be God we see here this day a free Parliament, and that it may continue so, he hopes is in the heart of every good man of England; and he added, That for his own part, as he had desired it above his life, so to keep it free, he should value it above his life.  
Having thus instanced in the Wars wherein we were plunged, and the little assurance from Neighbours abroad, he proceeded to show that a Peace is made with Sweden (wherein an honourable person was instrumental) it being of much importance to have a good understanding with our Protestant Neighbours; A Peace is also made with the Dane; and a Peac● there that is honourable, and to the satisfaction of the Merchants. The Sound is open to us, from whence as fro● Fountain, our Naval provisions are supplied. That a Peace made with the Dutch (which is so with known in the consequences of it.) He set forth the advantage of a good understanding with Protestant States. And he begged that it might be in the Parliaments hearts to be ●ealous of the Protestant ●nterest abroad, which if ever it be h●● to come under a con●●tion of suffering, it is now, many of them being banished ●●d driven to seek refuge among strangers. That a Peace is made with Portugal (though it ●●ng long of great come●●ment to Trade; and the people that Trade ●hi●he I, ●●ve freedom to enjoy their consciences without being subject to the bloody Inquisition. That a Treaty with ●e ●●ce i● no● depending.  
His Highness added, That it might be necessary for them to hear a little of the Sea-Affairs, and here took notice of the great expense of the Forces and Fleet; and yet 30000 l. is ●ow abated of the next three months' Assessment.  
And so drawing towards a conclusion, he observed, That ●he things before mentioned are but entrances and doors of ●ope; That they are brought to the edge of Canaan (into ●hich many that have gone before could not enter.) That if ●he blessing and presence of God go along with them in management of their Affairs, he makes no question but he will ●nable them to lay the top-stone of this work.  
But this is a maxim not to be despised; Though Peace be ●ade, yet it is Interest that keeps Peace; and further than that, ●eace is not to be trusted.  
He shown the great end of the calling this Parliament ●as, That the Work of God may go on. That the Ship ●f this Commonwealth may be brought into a safe Harbour.  
He remembered them that they have a great work upon ●●em; Ireland to look to; that the beginnings of that Government may be settled in terms of Honour, That they had afore them the consideration of those Foreign States which yet Peace is not made with, who if they shall see we man●ge not our Affairs with prudence as becomes men, will retain hopes that we may sink under the disadvantages thereof and break into confusion.  
He persuaded them to have a sweet and gracious, and ●●ly understanding one of another, and put them in mind 〈◊〉 the council heard that day in order thereunto.  
And desired them for a Conclusion, to believe that spoke not to them as one that would be a Lord over the● but as one that was resolved to be a fellow-servant w●● them to the Interest of this great Affair; and so wished the● to repair to their House, and exercise their own Liberty the choice of their Speaker.  
FINIS.