industry? "Go to the ant, thou fluggard," faith Solomon; "confider her ways, and be wife; which having no prince, ruler, or lord, provides her meat in the fummer, and gathers her food in the harveft:" which evidently fhows us, that they who think the nation undone without a king, though they look grave or haughty, have not fo much true fpirit and understanding in them as a pifmire: neither are thefe diligent creatures hence concluded to live in lawlefs anarchy, or that commended, but are fet the examples to imprudent and ungoverned men, of a frugal and felf-governing democracy or commonwealth; fafer and more thriving in the joint providence and counfel of many induftrious equals, than under the fingle domination of one imperious lord. It may be well wondered that any nation, styling themfelves free, can fuffer any man to pretend hereditary right over them as their lord; whenas by acknowledging that right, they conclude themfelves his fervants and his vassals, and fo renounce their own freedom. Which how a people and their leaders efpecially can do, who have fought fo gloriously for liberty; how they can change their noble words and actions, heretofore fo becoming the majefty of a free people, into the bafe neceffity of courtflatteries and proftrations, is not only ftrange and admirable, but lamentable to think on. That a nation fhould be fo valorous and courageous to win their liberty in the field, and when they have won it, fhould be fo heartless. and unwife in their counfels, as not to know how to use it, value it, what to do with it, or with themselves; but after ten or twelve years profperous war and contestation with tyranny, bafely and befottedly to run their necks again into the yoke which they have broken, and proftrate all the fruits of their victory for nought at the feet of the vanquished, befides our lofs of glory, and fuch an example as kings or tyrants never yet had the like to boaft of, will be an ignominy if it befall us, that never yet befell any nation poffeffed of their liberty; worthy indeed themfelves, whatfoever they be, to be for ever flaves, but that part of the nation which confents not with them, as I perfuade me of a great number, far worthier than by their means to be brought into the

fame

fame bondage. Confidering these things fo plain, fo rational, I cannot but yet further admire on the other fide, how any man, who hath the true principles of juftice and religion in him, can prefume or take upon him to be a king and lord over his brethren, whom he cannot but know whether as men or chriftians, to be for the moft part every way equal or fuperior to himself: how he can difplay with fuch vanity and oftentation his regal fplendour, fo fupereminently above other mortal men; or being a chriftian, can affume fuch extraordinary honour and worship to himself, while the kingdom of Chrift, our common king and lord, is hid to this world, and fuch Gentilish imitation forbid in exprefs words by himself to all his difciples. All proteftants hold that Chrift in his church hath left no vicegerent of his power; but himself, without deputy, is the only head thereof, governing it from Heaven: how then can any christian man derive his kingship from Chrift, but with worfe ufurpation than the pope his headship over the church, fince Chrift not only hath not left the leaft fhadow of a command for any fuch vicegerence from him in the ftate, as the pope pretends for his in the church, but hath exprefsly declared, that such regal dominion is from the Gentiles, not from him, and hath strictly charged us not to imitate them therein?

I doubt not but all ingenuous and knowing men will eafily agree with me, that a free commonwealth without fingle perfon, or houfe of lords, is by far the best government, if it can be had; but we have all this while, fay they, been expecting it, and cannot yet attain it. It is true indeed, when monarchy was diffolved, the form of a commonwealth fhould have forthwith been framed, and the practice thereof immediately begun; that the people might have foon been fatisfied and delighted with the decent order, eafe, and benefit thereof: we had been then by this time firmly rooted paft fear of commo tions or mutations, and now flourishing: this care of timely fettling a new government inftead of the old, too much neglected, hath been our mifchief. Yet the cause thereof may be afcribed with moft reafon to the frequent difturbances, interruptions, and diffolutions, which the parliament

parliament hath had, partly from the impatient or difaffected people, partly from fome ambitious leaders in the army; much contrary, I believe, to the mind and approbation of the army itfelf, and their other commanders, once undeceived, or in their own power. Now is the opportunity, now the very feafon, wherein we may obtain a free commonwealth, and establish it for ever in the land, without difficulty or much delay. Writs are fent out for elections, and, which is worth obferving, in the name, not of any king, but of the keepers of our liberty, to fummon a free parliament; which then only will indeed be free, and deferve the true honour of that fupreme title, if they preferve us a free people. Which never parliament was more free to do; being now called not as heretofore, by the fummons of a king, but by the voice of liberty: and if the people, laying afide prejudice and impatience, will feriously and calmly now confider their own good, both religious and civil, their own liberty and the only means thereof, as fhall be here laid down before them, and will elect their knights and burgeffes able men, and according to the juft and neceffary qualifications (which, for aught I hear, remain yet in force unrepealed, as they were formerly decreed in parliament) men not addicted to a fingle perfon or house of lords, the work is done; at least the foundation firmly laid of a free commonwealth, and good part alfo erected of the main ftructure. For the ground and bafis of every juft and free government (fince men have smarted so oft for committing all to one perfon) is a general council of ableft men, chofen by the people to confult of public affairs from time to time for the common good. In this grand council muft the fovereignty, not transferred, but delegated only, and as it were depofited, refide; with this caution they must have the forces by fea and land committed to them for prefervation of the common peace and liberty; must raise and manage the public revenue, at leaft with fome infpećtors deputed for fatiffaction of the people, how it is employed; muft make or propofe, as more exprefsly fhall be faid anon, civil laws, treat of commerce, peace, or war with foreign nations, and, for the carrying on fome particular affairs

with more fecrecy and expedition, must elect, as they have already out of their own number and others, a council of ftate.

And, although it may feem ftrange at first hearing, by reafon that men's minds are prepoffeffed with the notion of fucceffive parliaments, I affirm, that the grand or general council, being well chofen, fhould be perpetual: for fo their business is or may be, and ofttimes urgent; the opportunity of affairs gained or lost in a moment. The day of council cannot be set as the day of a festival; but must be ready always to prevent or anfwer all occa fions. By this continuance they will become every way fkilfulleft, beft provided of intelligence from abroad, best acquainted with the people at home, and the people with them. The fhip of the commonwealth is always under fail; they fit at the ftern, and if they fteer well, what need is there to change them, it being rather dangerous? Add to this, that the grand council is both foundation and main pillar of the whole state; and to move pillars and foundations, not faulty, cannot be fafe for the building. I fee not therefore, how we can be advantaged by fucceffive and tranfitory parliaments; but that they are much likelier continually to unfettle rather than to fettle a free government, to breed commotions, changes, novelties, and uncertainties, to bring neglect upon prefent affairs and opportunities, while all minds are in fufpence with expectation of a new affembly, and the affembly for a good space taken up with the new fettling of itself. After which, if they find no great work to do, they will make it, by altering or repealing former acts or making and multiplying new; that they may feem to see what their predeceffors faw not, and not to have affembled for nothing: till all law be loft in the multitude of clashing ftatutes. But if the ambition of fuch as think themfelves injured, that they alfo partake-not of the government, and are impatient till they be chofen, cannot brook the perpetuity of others chofen before them; or if it be feared, that long continuance of power may corrupt fincereft men, the known expedient is, and by fome lately propounded, that annually (or if the fpace be lon

ger,

ger, fo much perhaps the better) the third part of fenators may go out according to the precedence of their election, and the like number be chofen in their places, to prevent their fettling of too abfolute a power, if it fhould be perpetual and this they call " partial rotation." But I could with, that this wheel or partial wheel in state, if it be poffible, might be avoided, as having too much affinity with the wheel of Fortune. For it appears not how this can be done, without danger and mischance of putting out a great number of the beft and ableft: in whofe ftead new elections may bring in as many raw, unexperienced, and otherwife affected, to the weakening and much altering for the worfe of public transactions. Neither do I think a perpetual fenate, especially chofen or entrusted by the people, much in this land to be feared, where the well-affected either in a standing army, or in a fettled militia, have their arms in their own hands. Safeft therefore to me it feems, and of leaft hazard or interruption to affairs, that none of the grand council be moved, unless by death or juft conviction of fome crime for what can be expected firm or ftedfaft from a floating foundation? however, I førejudge not any probable expedient, any temperament that can be found in things of this nature so disputable on either fide. Yet left this which I affirm be thought my fingle opinion, I fhall add fufficient teftimony. Kingship itself is therefore counted the more fafe and durable because the king, and for the most part his council, is not changed during life: but a commonwealth is held immortal, and therein firmeft, fafeft, and moft above fortune: for the death of a king caufeth ofttimes many dangerous alterations; but the death now and then of a fenator is not felt, the main body of them ftill continuing permanent in greatest and nobleft commonwealths, and as it were eternal. Therefore among the Jews, the fupreme council of feventy, called the Sanhedrim, founded by Mofes, in Athens that of Areopagus, in Sparta that of the ancients, in Rome the fenate, confifted of members chofen for term of life; and by that means remained as it were still the fame to generations. In Venice they change indeed of

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