Selected quad for the lemma: parliament_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
parliament_n	king_n	power_n	sit_v	3,978	5	7.3782	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A88084	An ansvver to a letter sent to a gentleman of the Middle-Temple. Concerning the late various and strange changes of the times, together with certain queries not unworthy the consideration of the High Court of Parliament; and of all honest and religious men, that tenders the peace and wellfare of the Church and English nation. And also a clear way discovered whereby at least a million of money may be bought into the publick treasury for the use of the Common-wealth. By Tho. Le VVhite. Esq.	Le White, Thomas.	1659 (1659)	Wing L1833; Thomason E988_26; ESTC R202811	4,301	8

AN ANSVVER TO A LETTER SENT To a Gentleman of the Middle-Temple CONCERNING The late various and strange changes of the times together with certain Queries not unworthy the consideration of the High Court of Parliament and of all honest and Religious men that tenders the Peace and wellfare of the Church and English Nation And also a clear way discovered whereby at least a Million of Money may be brought into the Publick Treasury for the use of the Common-wealth Lege perlege Read re-read and understand By Tho. Le VVhite Esq LONDON Printed by J. Clowes 1659. AN ANSVVER TO A Letter sent to a Gentleman of the Middle-Temple SIR I Have seriously considered the contents of your Letters and the admiration wherewith it seems you are surprized on the various revolutions and late strange changes befallen the three Nations within these twenty years past In answer whereunto according to the mode of the times I have herein sent you some few Queries which concerns us all to remember that nothing in the world is stable and permanent but transitory and uncertain variable and unconstant which ought to put us in mind of our Celestial rest and eternal happiness At present I shall only point out unto you such changes and alterations so lately befell us in England as they relate to some other more ancient and forreign presidents in changes of Governments And first 1. Whether the Athenians those greedy news-mongers were more safe and happy under the Government of one single Tyrant than in their choise and change of thirty persons that took upon them the power and Government of their Republick 2. Whether the Senate of Rome some times consisting of 200 choise persons were not in process of time curbed and controld in their power and transactions by the Tribunes of the people 3. Whether again both the Power and Authority of the Roman Senate and Tribunes were not overpowred by their Dictators more especially after that Julius Caesar became Perpetuus Dictator and assumed to himself the Supreme power in the Government 4. Whether then after all these changes of power amongst the Romans their own Armys at last did nor alter all their former frames of Government from and after their cutting off Tarquius Superbus their last Tyranr King until Augustus time and made choise of such Emperors as they pleased to elect and in the conclusion whither that vast Empire fell not in pieces I omit to remember you of the period and change of those three foregoing Monarchies of the Assirians Medes Persians and Greeks whence you may find that all changes and alterations of powers and Governments are no new things or to be wondred at but to come to our own case 5. Whether this present Parliament was not from their very first sitting down lessened in their number by the late King and after that disrobed of much of their Power and number by their own Army 〈◊〉 Army Officers on which consideration it rests yet question ● Whether on any quarrel or discontent of the present Army the like may not be attempted on these that now sit for that they which have the sword in their hands will or may on any occasion be Masters of the Powers in Government 6. Whether the Parliament in the beginning of the late War did not make choise of the Earl of Essex and the Lord Fairfax successively in their Order to be their Commanders in chief over their Armies only in England and in May 1650 made choise of Oliver Cromwel before all others for their General and Commander in chief over all their Armies both in England Scotland and Ireland in which great trust and Command how he behaved himself in stopping that wide orifice of blood which prodigiously ran throughout the three Kingdoms and reduced them all into peace and quietnesse as we may say in a moment of time to the admiration of the World all the three Nations have just cause to remember and not forget that Almighty God assisted him and made him instrumental in that great work beyond common Expectation 7. Whether Oliver Cromwel on his assuming the Supream Power of Government between himself and a Parliament had not good reason to induce him if not necessitated so to do if he intended to save his honour and the reputation whith deservedly he had gotten with the people and all Christendom 8. Whether on due consideration of the great and strange changes of these times we may not yet feare more strange and tragicall changes then we have yet seen if we take the great crying sins of this Nation into our serious consideration more especially that intended interview between the Kings of France and Spain at Bayoon July next which promiseth no very good Omen to England 9. Whether on that probable conclusion of peace and amity between those two Potent Kings another single Persons claim and interest may not therein be tacitely included which may unhappily turne the scale of our success together with the present Government in this green unsetled and distracted republique into another Sceen of blood and desolation by the Invasive forces of sundry united and confederated Princes 10. Whether then in such a case all honest hearts may not have just cause to wish againe for Oliver Cromwels Head-peace his courage and conduct and that hence-forth his worth merits and memory may be no longer ingratefully blasted by idle and licentious Libellors his name and fame kindred and friends defamed when as this too frequent abuse is so difusive that it dilates with boldness to the defamation of most of the particular Members that now sit at the Helme sat sapientibus only it 's wisht that they would seriously take this good old sentence into their consideration Istud est sapere non solum eaquae ante pedes videre sed futura prospicere and speedily indeavour to make all things more safe at home then they are and to remember to make good the publique Faith cherish their old friends least they inforce them to turn new foes neither to slight their Petitions and such of their Proposalls without hearing or inspection as would readily and legally both right them for their loanes losses and sufferings and pay the publique debts save themselves the labour of borrowing and in giving ear and countenance to some Petitions that are needlesse and reasonlesse as for instance 11. Whether they that press them so much for liberty of conscience do understand what Conscience is and whether on grant of their desires the publique liberty shall not in some short time be laid in the dust 12. Whether on grant of their desires they will submit to any other regulations of Parliament then such as may sute with their own perverse wills and fanatick opinions 13. Whether as now the case stands in the various and multitudinous Sects Schismes brain-sick opinions of the times there ought not to be enacted some coersive Law that may inforce conformity to such Parliamentary Ordinances as shall be

thought fit for all men to submit unto as for instance the 39. Article of our Church c. least we all run headlong into Sects Schismes and confusion 14. Whether such as so much press and molest the Parliament that Tythes may be taken away will in that case be so much guilty of so much charity as to allow some compitent yearly stipend towards the maintenance of some Godly Learned and paynfull Minister to instruct them in the way of their Salvation 15. Whether that Antient Just and Customary way of paying Tythes from all antiquity ought in reason policy or Religion be taken away 16. Whether the Consequence that necessarily will follow the taking away of Tythes can be conceived an advance either to the Church or Learning when the Inhabitants of every Parish shall be disrobed of their setled Ministers and spiritual comforters ought not to be timely thought on before any alteration be made therein which otherwise may so discontent the religious people of this Land and in future trouble the Parliament to resettle things as they were and themselves found guilty of the late Kings tax that they undid that which before was well done 17. Whether those Commissioners designed by the Parliament for ejecting of deboist and scandalous Ministers have done well wisely or conscionably to eject so many Pious Learned and Orthodox Divines amongst others of ill conversations before they were provided of more able and pious ones in their places and out of favour or affection to retaine sundry Malignants in their livings as it may be proved 18. Whether it hath been handsomely carried on by those trusted Commissioners to rent themselves the most considerable livings in a clandestine way or to let them to their Sons Friends or Servants at the third or fourth part of their yearely value and to leave 300 Churches in Wales unfurnished more then once in a quarter supply'd by some few illiterate headdy and ignorant mechanicks and as yet no just account given to the State or the poor ejected Ministers paid their fifths 19. Whether it be not requisite that some honest Gentlemen of those parts be forthwith commissioned to examine this most notorious abuse whereby 100000.l at least may justly be brought into the publique Treasury 20. Whether it be not expedient that a Register be ordain'd in every County forthwith to Register all bargaines and sales of Lands in Fee Leases for lives or years c at the Natives own doores for the tenth part of the charge they now usually pay for their Inroowlments at London and that none be admitted to such places but losers and lenders to the Parliament in the late Wars left hitherto without any reparation and that good security be given by such for the faithfull discharge of their trust as not above seven yeares since it was resolved to be done in Parliament 21. Whether in case a probable and ready way may be demonstrated how to turne the hearts of the people so much devoted to Kingship to comply with the present Government may not be acceptable and embraced by the Parliament that now sits 22. Whether it be not fitting that Doctor Chamberlens Proposals in his Printed papers for payment of the Armies and advance of Trade c without Assessments on the Natives be forthwith recommended to the consideration of a Committee of Parliament 23. Whether it suits not with good reason that the Parliament should look back on their Acts for the confirmation of the Estates of Purchasers in as much as sundry of them what by their own craft or fraud of the Surveyors have surreptitiously gotten their Lands for little or nothing very much under the rates set down by the Parliament and that an Act of resumption be thought on when the fraud is visible whereby not so little as 10000000 l. at least may be brought into the publique Treasury 24. Whether it stands with the honour of the Parliament that an Act fraudulentyl procured to the loss of 100000 .l. which might have been advanced for the benefit of the State should within one month of its enacting be frustrated in the intents thereof witnesse the Act or Ordinance of Parliament made in the behalf of the Gentlemen of South VVales for their bearing Armes against the Parliament only paying 20000 l. as a mult for their Malignancy Thus Noble Sir I have sent you the conceptions of your Friend which are no other then the opinions of many more able Judgments with my hearty Prayers to Almighty God to blesse all their honest and prudent consultations both in redressing all such things that are amisse and in enacting such good Laws as may farther conduce to the better settling of this unsettled Church and Commonwealth only I appeale to your more mature Judgment whether in these sad times of distractions Schismes Sects seperated Congreations and Conventicles partyes factions publique and private discontents variety and dispariety of affections in opinion Whether I say againe that unity and agreement be not the only way and meanes to fortifie and uphold this new republique and render it impregnable against all Plots practises either from abroad or at home but I feare that under the umbrage of supporting the good old cause the new cause may fall to the ground through such incensed numerous and discontented partyes risen up in addition to the former malecontents and through the present and frequent abuse of the two late Protectors their whole Family and Friends doubtless this is not the way to our safety and security or for the advance of the Church and State sed frustra fit per plura quod fieri potest per pautiora so rests Your very loving and most affectionate friend T.L.W. FINIS