Kingdom; because England can never reckon it felf fafe, fo long as things are out of order there, having reafon to fufpect that the irregularities in the Adminiftration in Ireland will fooner or later affect England.

Laftly, He promifes to concur in every thing that may procure the Peace and happinefs of the Nation, which a free and lawful Parliament fhall determine; fo that there may be no more danger of the Nations falling at any time here after, under Arbitrary Govern

ment.

When the State is diftempered, a Parliament is fo abfolutely neceffary, that it is fcarce poffible to cure it, without one; but then that Parliament muft be a free and lawful one as well in the manner of electing it, as afterwards in their proceeding, for if there be any foul play, or underhand pratice in the Elections, or that when the Members come together, they are over awed, or corrupted, this may have the name, but nothing of the nature of a free and lawful Parliment, and is like Phyfick ill prepared or applyed, does more hurt than good. In curing the distempers of the Government fuch reformation must be intire without any referve; for if any gap is left, it will quickly let in as many irregularities as were before complained of: for unless the very root and foundation of thofe diftempers be removed, it will prove no better than the skinning over of a Sore, which whil it feems fair to the eye, is feftring within, and afterwards breaks out with greater Violence.

Upon

Upon a Revolution, where the Government is Monarchical, one of these things ufually happens, either that the King is continued in the Throne upon a new ftipulation or contract between him and the people, or elfe the Administration is put under a Regency; or the King being found unmeet to fway the Scepter, is therefore laid aside, and another chofen into his place; or elfe the Government is changed into a Commonwealth.

The first of these, that is, when the King by a new agreement is continued to Reign, is the easiest and fureft come at, because the irregularities in fuch a cafe are not many, fo that remedies are as obvious as the grievances are fenfible and the King, finding what it is to provoke the Nation, readily complies with whatever is propofed, left he should make the people defperate; and there is this farther in the cafe, that being jealous of the King's intentions, the people no longer depend upon his Word and Promises, but

take care to have effectual remedies.

As to the second thing, that is a Regency, this is a kind of a myfterious thing, for the King is neither altogether Depofed, nor does he Govern; but the Adminiftration is committed to another, who in nature of a Guardian does all in his name, yet under the Survey, and fubject to the Controul of the two Houses of Parliament. But this feldom continues, for either the King is reftrained, or the Government is changed into a Commonwealth So that this not answering the end proposed, it oftentimes happens, that when Bb 2

the

the King is found unmeet to govern by himfelf, that he is laid aside for good and all, and another is elected in his ftead, which is done, when his administration is become exorbiand that he is deaf to the Petitions and Complaints of his people: for fuch a change is not made for the fake of him to whom the Crown is given, but that the Government may be amended. Now tho this is feldome done, but for very good caufe, yet through the folly of fome, and knavery of others, it does not often anfwer expectation. For tho there is much to do, and a great deal that is needful, yet what through the unskilfulness of those who have the conduct of Affairs, and the unfair proceedings of others, who out of favour to the Depofed King make it their business to lay rubs and difficulties is the way,and to render every thing impracticable, whereby the work is very often left imperfect: But befides this, tho the people have then every thing in their power, yet a very little matter takes off the dread and apprehenfion of any danger, either for the prefent or time to come, and confequently makes them remifs, if not altogether to neglect to make fuch provifions as are neceffary, and this for two reasons.

First, Because as foon as the King is depofed the minds of the people are put at eafe, either from a belief that all the Calamities, which befell them during his reign, proceeded directly from himself, without the advice, or improvement of any other:Or elfe becaufe that no other man will be wicked to fuch a degree as

he

he was; which certainly are two very great mistakes: For it was never yet feen, where the irregularities of a Reign were many, but that fome about the King put ill thoughts into his head, or helpt to improve that which he had conceived: And in the next place he that fucceeds is more likely to do as the other has done, than that no man will ever be guilty of the like mif-behaviour.

Secondly, Because it is the nature of mankind to be tranfported with every change that is with their confent, and especially in fuch cases as thefe, where it makes fo great an alteration; fo that for fome time their confideration departs from them, and they de pend fo implicitly upon words and promifes, as if there needed nothing more to fettle the Nation; and then as an unavoidable confequence of it, the best conftruction is put upon all that is done, even to look upon the irregularities of the new elected Prince (if he fhall commit any) to proceed from his care of the Publick: Nay, altho he do imploy the Ministers and Creatures of the Depofed King, this fhall be imagined to arife from the fame regard to the Nation, because it will be fuppofed that he either finds, or has made them fitter than any other, to ferve him and the publick, till the ill effects are felt of having fuch perfons near the King. But it is not easily to be imagined that fuch perfons are imployed for the fake of the publick,unless their parts and abilities eminently exceed the rest of mankind; which would be little less than a miracle;or elfe at least that they are beBb 3

come

come new men to all intents and purposes, and that ought to be as evident as the Sun at Noon-day.

If a Prince entertain fuch men, and knows what they are, fuch evil Minifters are more likely to make him a bad Prince; than that he can make them juft and faithful Councellors, to him and the publick.

If none of these things I have mentioned happen upon a Revolution, then there remains nothing, but to change the Government into a Commonwealth: But that is feldome done till the cafe is fo defperate às that nothing else will do, yet it most commonly happens either when the Father and Son fucceffively have governed Tyrannically; or else when one Prince is depofed, and the next proves as bad as he; indeed unless it be at the laft extremity, it ought not to be thought on, because it is eafier to repair an old Government than to make a new one; and befides, there needs a great deal of time to bring the latter into fhape, and efpecially a Commonwealth, where fo much Vertue in the people is requifite to make and continue it fuch of which fort of Government, I will only fay, That no doubt but it has its particular excellency for as no Government is altogether perfect, fo every Government has fomething that is particularly good.

in it.

And here give me leave to fay a word in my own vindication, I find I have been accufed to be a Commonwealths man, but were I-permitted to fpeak for my felf, I would

fay,