dishonesty and indirectness on my part. For although, in the affairs that are in the world, things may be intended well,-as they are always, or for the most, by such as love God, and fear God and make Him their aim (and such honest ends and purposes, I do believe, yours now are);-yet if these considerations1 fall upon a person or persons whom God takes no pleasure in; who perhaps may be at the end of his work; [Growing old and weak? Say not that, your Highness !—A kind of pathos, and much dignity and delicacy in these tones]—who, to please any of those humours or considerations which are of this world, shall run upon such a rock as this is,2-without due consideration, without integrity, without approving the heart to God, and seeking an answer from Him; and putting things to Him as if for life and death, that such an answer may be received 'from Him' as may be a blessing to the person [Me] who is to be used for these noble and worthy and honest intentions of the persons [You] that have prepared and perfected this work :-' why then,' it would be like a match where a good and worthy and virtuous man mistakes in the person he makes love to; and, as often turns out, it proves a curse to the man and to the family, through mistake! And if this should be so to you, and to these Nations, whose good I cannot but be persuaded you have in your thoughts aimed at,-why then, it had been better, I am sure of it, that I had never been born!

I have therefore but this one word to say to you: That seeing you have made progress in this Business, and completed the work on your part, I 'on my side' may have some short time to ask counsel of God and of my own heart. And I hope that neither the humour of any weak unwise people, nor yet the desires of any who may be lusting after things that are not good, shall steer me to give other than such an answer as may be ingenuous and thankful,-thankfully acknowledging your care and integrity;—and such an answer as shall be for the good of those whom I presume you and I serve, and are made for serving.

And truly I may say this also: That as the thing will deserve deliberation, the utmost deliberation and consideration on

Means 'your choice in regard to such purpose; speaks delicately, in an oblique way.

2'is,'-or may be: this of the Kingship.

my part, so I shall think myself bound to give as speedy an answer to these things as I can.*

SPEECH VIII.

Friday, 3d April 1657. Three days after the foregoing Speech, there comes a Letter from his Highness to Mr. Speaker, the purport of which we gather to have been, that now if a Committee will attend his Highness, they shall have answer to the Petition and Advice. Committee is nominated, extensive Committee of persons already engaged in this affair, among whom are Lord Broghil, General Montague, Earl of Tweedale, Whalley, Desborow, Whitlocke, and others known to us; they attend his Highness at three o'clock that afternoon; and receive what answer there is,—a negative, but none of the most decided.1

MY LORDS,

I am heartily sorry that I did not make this desire of mine known to the Parliament sooner; 'the desire' which I acquainted them with, by Letter, this day. The reason was, Because some infirmity of body hath seized upon me these last two days, Yesterday and Wednesday. [It is yet but three days, your Highness.]

I have, as well as I could, taken consideration of the things contained in the Paper, which was presented to me by the Parliament, in the Banqueting-House, on Tuesday last; and sought of God that I might return such an answer as might become me, and be worthy of the Parliament. I must needs bear this testimony to them, That they have been zealous of the two greatest Concernments that God hath in the world. The one is that of Religion, and of the just preservation of the professors of it; to give them all due and just Liberty; and to assert the Truth of God;-which you have done, in part, in this Paper; and do refer it more fully to be done by yourselves and me. And as to the Liberty of men professing Godliness, you have done that which was never done before! And I pray it may not fall upon the People of God as a fault in them, in any sort of them, if they do * Burton's Diary, 1. 413-16.

1 Commons Journals, vii. 519, 20; Burton, i. 417.

not put such a value upon this that is now done as never was put on anything since Christ's time, for such a Catholic interest of the People of God! [Liberty in non-essentials; Freedom to all peaceable Believers in Christ to worship in such outward form as they will; a very "Catholic interest" indeed.] The other thing cared for is, the Civil Liberty and Interest of the Nation Which though it is, and indeed I think ought to be, subordinate to the more peculiar Interest of God,—yet it is the next best God hath given men in this world; and if well cared-for, it is better than any rock to fence men in their other interests. Besides, if any whosoever think the Interest of Christians and the Interest of the Nation inconsistent, or two different things,' I wish my soul may never enter into their secrets! [We will take another course than theirs, your Highness!]

These are things I must acknowledge Christian and honourable; and they are provided for by you like Christian men and also men of honour,-like yourselves, English men. And to this I must and shall bear my testimony, while I live, against all gainsayers whatsoever. And upon these Two Interests, if God shall account me worthy, I shall live and die. And I must say, If I were to give an account before a greater Tribunal than any earthly one; if I were asked, Why I have engaged all along in the late War, I could give no answer that were not a wicked one if it did not comprehend these Two ends!-Meanwhile only give me leave to say, and to say it seriously (the issue will prove it serious), that you have one or two considerations which do stick with me. The one is, You have named me by another Title than I now bear. [What SHALL I answer to that!]

You do necessitate my answer to be categorical; and you have left me without a liberty of choice save as to all. [Must accept the whole Petition and Advice, or reject the whole of it.] I question not your wisdom in doing so; I think myself obliged to acquiesce in your determination; knowing you are men of wisdom, and considering the trust you are under. It is a duty not to question the reason of anything you have done. [Not even of the Kingship: say Yes, then!]

I should be very brutish did I not acknowledge the exceeding high honour and respect you have had for me in this Paper.

Truly, according to what the world calls good, it hath nothing but good in it, according to worldly approbation of1 sovereign power. You have testified your value and affection as to my person, as high as you could; for more you could not do! I hope I shall always keep a grateful memory of this in my heart; -and by you I return the Parliament this my grateful acknowledgment. Whatever other men's thoughts may be, I shall not own ingratitude.-But I must needs say, That that may be fit for you to offer, which may not be fit for me to undertake. [Profound silence.] And as I should reckon it a very great presumption, were I to ask the reason of your doing any one thing in this Paper, -(except 'in' some very few things, the 'new' Instrument, 'this Paper,' bears testimony to itself),—so you will not take it unkindly if I beg of you this addition to the Parliament's favour, love and indulgence unto me, That it be taken in tender part if I give such an answer as I find in my heart to give in this business, without urging many reasons for it, save such as are most obvious, and most to my advantage in answering: Namely, that I am not able for such a trust and charge. [Won't have it, then !]

And if the "answer of the tongue," as well as the preparation of the heart, be "from God," I must say my heart and thoughts ever since I heard the Parliament were upon this business-[Sentence breaks down] -'For' though I could not take notice of your proceedings therein without breach of your privileges, yet as a common person I confess I heard of it in common with others.——I must say I have been able to attain no farther than this, That, seeing the way is hedged up so as it is to me, and I cannot accept the things offered unless I accept all, I have not been able to find it my duty to God and you to undertake this charge under that Title. [Refuses, yet not so very peremptorily!]

66

The most I said in commendation of the 'new' Instrument may be retorted on me ;-as thus: "Are there such good things provided for 'in this Instrument;' will you refuse to accept "them because of such an ingredient?" Nothing must make a man's conscience a servant. And really and sincerely it is my

1 Means 'value for.'

And if the Parlia

conscience that guides me to this answer. ment be so resolved, 'for the whole Paper or none of it,' it will not be fit for me to use any inducement to you to alter their resolution.

This is all I have to say. I desire it may, and do not doubt but it will, be with candour and ingenuity represented unto them by you.*

His Highness would not in all circumstances be inexorable, one would think!-No; he is groping his way through a very intricate business, which grows as he gropes; the final shape of which is not yet disclosed to any soul. The actual shape of it on this Friday afternoon, 3d April 1657, I suppose he has, in his own manner, pretty faithfully, and not without sufficient skill and dignity, contrived to express. Many considerations weigh upon his Highness; and in itself it is a most unexampled matter, this of negotiating about being made a King! Need of wise speech; of wise reticence no less. Nay it is of the nature of a Courtship withal: the young lady cannot answer on the first blush of the business; if you insist on her answering, why then she must even answer, No!

SPEECH IX.

Wednesday, 8th April 1657. The Parliament, justly interpreting this No of his Highness, has decided that it will adhere to its Petition and Advice, and that it will present reasons to his Highness;' has got, thanks to our learned Bulstrode and others, its reasons ready;—and, this day, ' at three in the afternoon,' walks over in a body to the Banqueting-House, Speaker Widdrington carrying in his hand the Engrossed Vellum, and a Written Paper of Reasons,' to present the same. What Speaker Widdrington spoke on the occasion is happily lost; but his 'Reasons,' which are very brief, remain on the Record;2 and will require to be transcribed. They are in the form of a Vote or Resolution, of date yesterday, 7th April 1657:

·

Resolved, That the Parliament having lately presented their 'Humble Petition and Advice to your Highness, whereunto they * Additional Ayscough MSS. no. 6125: printed in Burton, i. 417 ; and Par liamentary History, xxiii. 161.

1 Commons Journals, ii. 520-1 (6th, 8th April); Burton, i. 421. 2 Ibid.