On the whole, the Spanish Antichrist finds his Highness a rough enemy. In these same April days, Six-thousand men are getting mustered here, "furnished with new red coats" and other equipments, to join French Turenne in the Low Countries, and fight the Spaniard by land too. For our French Treaty has become a French League Offensive and Defensive, to last for one year; and' Reynolds is to be Land-General, and Montague to help him as Sea-General: of whom by and by there may be tidings. But meanwhile this matter of the Kingship must be settled. All men wish it settled; and the present Editor as much as any! They have to meet tomorrow again, Tuesday 21st, at three o'clock: they for their uncertain airy talking, while so much hard fighting and solid work has to be managed withal.

His Highness this Tuesday, we find, has deserted the question of the Kingship; occupies himself with the other points of the New Instrument, what he calls the "essentials" of it; leaving that comparatively empty unessential one to hang undecided, for the present. The Writer of Burton's Diary, Nathaniel Bacon or another, is much disappointed. The question of the Kingship not advanced a whit by this long Discourse, one of the most tedious we have yet listened to from his Highness. "Nothing but a dark speech," says he,** “ more promiscuous than before!" - A sensible Speech too, in some respects, Mr. Bacon. His Highness once more elucidates as he best can his past conduct, and the course of Providence in bringing us all hither to the very respectable pass we now stand in; explains next what are the essential elements of keeping us safe here, and carrying us farther, as checking of Public Immorality, attention wiser and wiser to the Preaching Clergy, and for one indispensable thing, additional Provision of Cash; - and terminates by intimating with soft diffuseness, That when he has heard their answer as to these essential

Signed 23d March 1656-7 (Godwin, iv. 540). **Burton, ii. 7.-.

things (not that he makes them "conditions," that were terribly ill-judged!), he will then be prepared, in regard to unessential things, to King's Cloaks, Titles, and such-like frippery and feathers in the cap, which are not without use say the Lawyers, but which irritate weak brethren, to give such answer as may reasonably be expected from him, as God may set him free to do. Let us listen, us and Whitlocke who also has to report, the best we can.

MY LORDS,

*

I think you may well remember what the issue was of the last Conference I had with you 'yesterday," and what the stick then was. I confess I took liberty 'at that time,' from the Order of Parliament; whereby they gave me power to speak with you about those things that were in the body of that Instrument and Desire which you have been pleased to speak with me 'upon;' that I might confer with you about those particulars, and might receive satisfaction from you as to them. Whether there will a good issue be to all these affairs or no, is only in the hands of God. That is a

great secret; and secrets belong to God. To us be long things revealed; and such things are the subject-matter of this Instrument of yours: and 'the course is,' so far as they may have relation to me, That you and I shall consider what may be for the public good 'therein,' that so they may receive such an impression as can humanly be given them.

I would be well understood in that I say, The former Debates and Conferences have been upon the Title; and that rests as it did. But seeing, as I said before, your Order of Commitment, your Order to Committees,' doth as well reach to the particulars con

* stop.

** impulse and decision.

tained in the Instrument 'generally' as to that of the Title, — I did offer to you that I should desire to speak with you about them also. That so we may come to an understanding one with another, not What the things in their parts are, but What is in the whole conduceable to that end we ought all to aim at, which is a general Settlement upon good foundations.

-

Truly, as I have often said to the Parliament itself when they did me the honour to meet me in the Banqueting-House, so I may now say to you who are a Committee, a very considerable representation of the Parliament: I am hugely taken with the word Settlement; with the thing, and with the notion of it. 'And indeed' I think he is not worthy to live in England who is not! No; I will do my part, so far as I am able, to expel that man out of the Nation who desireth not that in the general we come to a Settlement. Because indeed it is the great misery and unhappiness of a Nation to be without such: it is like a house (and so much worse than a "house") divided against itself; it แ "cannot stand" without Settlement! And therefore I hope, so far, we are all at a good point; and the spirit of the Nation, I hope, in the generality of it, is so far at a good point: we are all contending for a Settlement. That is sure. But the question is, De modo, and Of those things and conditions' that will make it a good Settlement if possible. It's no fault to aim at perfection in Settlement! And truly I have said, and I say it again: That I think this 'present proposed Form of Settlement' doth tend to the making of the Nation enjoy the things we have 'all along' declared for; and I would come upon that issue with all men, or with any man. The things we have declared

for, which have been the ground of our quarrelling and fighting all along, the securing of these is what will accomplish the general work. Settlement is the general work. That which will give to the Nation to enjoy their civil and religious liberties; that which will conserve the liberties of every man, and not rob any man of what is justly his! I think these two things make up Settlement. I am sure they acquit us before God and man; having endeavoured, as we have done, through some streamings of blood, to attain that end.

I may tell you my 'own' experience in this business, and offend no good man who loves the Public before what is personal. Truly I shall, a little, shortly recapitulate to you what my observations and endeavours and interest have been to this end. And I hope no man that hath been interested in transactions all along* will blame me. And he shall have no cause to blame me: because I will take myself into the number of the Culpable Persons (if there be any such),

though perhaps apt enough, from the self-love I have, to be willing to be 'reckoned' innocent where I am so! And yet as willing withal to take my reproach, if anybody will lay it upon me, where I am culpable! And truly I have, through the Providence of God, endeavoured to discharge a poor duty; having had, as I conceive, a clear call to the stations I have acted in through all these affairs; and I believe very many are sufficiently satisfied in that. I shall not go about saying anything to clear it to you; [No, your Highness, let it stand on its own feet] — but must exercise myself in a little short Chronology. To come to that 'issue," [Not the "Chronology," but what the Chronology will help *Not polite to add, "as I have been."

to teach us!] I say, is really all our business at present; and the business of thisNation: To come upon, clear grounds; To consider the Providence of God how He hath led us hitherunto.

་

After it pleased God to put an end to the War of this Nation; a final end; which was done at Worcester, in the determination and decision that was there by the hand of God, for other War, we have had none that deserves the name of War, since that time, which is now six years gone September 'last;' - I came up to the Parliament that then was. And truly I found the Parliament, as I thought, very 'well' disposed to put a good issue to all those Transactions which had been in the Nation: and I rejoiced at it. And though I had not been well skilled in Parliamentary affairs, having been near ten years in the Field; yet, in my poor measure, my desires did tend to the same issue; believing verily that all the blood which had been shed, and all the distemper which God had suffered to be among us, which in some sense God had raised among us, believing, I say,' that surely Fighting was not the end, but the means, which had an end, and was in order to somewhat! Truly the end, then, was, I thought, Settlement; that is, that men might come to some consistencies. And to that end I did endeavour to add my mite, which was no more than the interest any one member there might have, after I was returned again to that capacity. And I did, — I shall tell you no fable, but things 'of' which divers persons. here can tell whether they be true or no, [Threatening to blaze up again?] - I did endeavour it. I would make the best interpretation of all that: but