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perpetual sitting, it may be easily provided | people's choice, whether they will change them, or renew their power, as they shall find cause.

to change a third part of them yearly, or every two or three years, as was above mentioned; or that it be at those times in the

5. FOES OF THE STATE

ON THE DETRACTION WHICH FOLLOWED UPON MY WRITING CERTAIN TREATISES

A book was writ of late called Tetrachordon,

And woven close, both matter, form, and style;

The subject new: it walked the town a while,

Numbering good intellects; now seldom pored on.

Cries the stall-reader, "Bless us! what a word on

A title-page is this!"; and some in file Stand spelling false, while one might walk to Mile

End Green. Why, is it harder, sirs, than Gordon,

Colkitto, or Macdonnel, or Galasp?

Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek

That would have made Quintilian stare

and gasp.

Thy age, like ours, O soul of Sir John Cheek,

Hated not learning worse than toad or

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But from that mark how far they rove

we see,

For all this waste of wealth and loss of blood.

ON THE NEW FORCERS OF CONSCIENCE UNDER THE LONG PARLIAMENT Because you have thrown off your Prelate Lord,

And with stiff vows renounced his Liturgy,

To seize the widowed whore Plurality From them whose sin ye envied, not abhorred,

Dare ye for this adjure the civil sword To force our consciences that Christ set free,

And ride us with a Classic Hierarchy, Taught ye by mere A.S. and Rutherford?

Men whose life, learning, faith, and pure intent,

Would have been held in high esteem with Paul

Must now be named and printed heretics By shallow Edwards and Scotch What-d'yecall!

But we do hope to find out all your tricks, Your plots and packing, worse than those of Trent,

That so the Parliament May with their wholesome and preventive shears

Clip your phylacteries, though baulk your ears,

And succor our just fears, When they shall read this clearly in your charge:

New Presbyter is but old Priest, writ large.

ON THE LORD GENERAL FAIRFAX Fairfax, whose name in arms through Europe rings,

Filling each mouth with envy or with praise,

And all her jealous monarchs with amaze, And rumors loud that daunt remotest kings,

Thy firm unshaken virtue ever brings

Victory home, though new rebellions raise

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ON THE LATE MASSACRE IN PIEDMONT Avenge, O Lord, thy slaughtered saints, whose bones

Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold;

Even them who kept thy truth so pure of old,

When all our fathers worshiped stocks and stones,

Forget not in thy book record their groans Who were thy sheep, and in their ancient fold

Slain by the bloody Piedmontese, that rolled

Mother with infant down the rocks. Their moans

The vales redoubled to the hills, and they To heaven. Their martyred blood and ashes sow

O'er all the Italian fields, where still doth sway

The triple tyrant; that from these may

grow

A hundredfold, who, having learnt thy

way,

Early may fly the Babylonian woe.

THE NATION'S PROTEST (PIEDMONT)' To the Most Serene and Potent Prince, Louis, King of France.

1"An emphatic State-Letter: which Oliver Cromwell meant, and John Milton thought and wrote into words; not unworthy to be read." Carlyle.

Most Serene and Potent King, Most Close Friend and Ally,-Your Majesty may recollect that during the negotiations between us for the renewing of our League (which many advantages to both nations, and much damage to their common enemies, resulting therefrom, now testify to have been wisely done), there fell out that miserable slaughter of the people of the valleys; whose cause, on all sides deserted, and trodden down, we, with the utmost earnestness and pity, recommended to your mercy and protection. Nor do we think your Majesty, for your own part, has been wanting in an office so pious and indeed so human, in so far as either by authority or favor you might have influence with the Duke of Savoy: we certainly, and many other Princes and States, by embassies, by letters, by entreaties directed hither, have not been wanting.

After that most sanguinary massacre, which spared no age nor either sex, there was at last a peace given; or rather, under the specious name of peace, a certain more disguised hostility. The terms of peace were settled in your town of Pignerol: hard terms; but such as these poor people, indigent and wretched, after suffering all manner of cruelties and atrocities, might gladly acquiesce in; if only, hard and unjust as the bargain is, it were adhered to. It is not adhered to: those terms are broken; the purport of every one of them is, by

false interpretation and various subterfuges, eluded and violated. Many of these people are ejected from their old habitations; their native religion is prohibited to many: new taxes are exacted; a new fortress has been built over them, out of which soldiers frequently sallying plunder or kill whomsoever they meet. Moreover, new forces have of late been privily got ready against them; and such as follow the Romish religion are directed to withdraw from among them within a limited time: so that everything seems now again to point toward the extermination of all among these unhappy people, whom the former massacre had left.

Which now, O Most Christian King, I beseech and obtest thee, by thy right-hand which pledged a league and friendship with us, by the sacred honor of that title of Most Christian,-permit not to be done: nor let such license of savagery, I do not say to any Prince (for indeed no cruelty like this could come into the mind of any Prince, much less into the tender years of that young Prince, or into the woman's heart of his mother), but to those accursed assassins, be given. Who while they profess themselves the servants and imitators of Christ our Savior, who came into this world that He might save sinners, abuse His most merciful name and commandments to the cruelest slaughterings. Snatch, thou who art able, and who in such an elevation art worthy to be able, these poor suppliants of thine from the hands of murderers, who, lately drunk with blood, are again athirst for it, and think convenient to turn the discredit of their own cruelty upon their Prince's score. Suffer not either thy titles and the environs of thy kingdom to be soiled with that discredit, or the peaceable gospel of Christ by that cruelty, in thy reign. Remember that these very people became subjects of thy ancestor, Henry, most friendly to Protestants; when Lesdiguieres victoriously pursued him of Savoy across the Alps, through those same valleys, where indeed the most commodious pass to Italy is. The instrument of their paction and surrender is yet extant in the public acts of your kingdom: in which this among other things is specified and provided against, that these people of the valleys should not thereafter be delivered over to anyone except on the same conditions under which thy invincible ancestor had received them into fealty. This promised

protection they now implore; promise of thy ancestor they now, from thee the grandson, suppliantly demand. To be thine rather than his whose they now are, if by any means of exchange it could be done, they would wish and prefer: if that may not be, thine at least by succor, by commiseration, and deliverance.

There are likewise reasons of state which might give inducement not to reject these people of the valleys flying for shelter to thee: but I would not have thee, so great a King as thou art, be moved to the defense of the unfortunate by other reasons than the promise of thy ancestors, and thy own piety and royal benignity and greatness of mind. So shall the praise and fame of this most worthy action be unmixed and clear; and thyself shalt find the Father of Mercy, and His Son Christ the King, whose name and doctrine thou shalt have vindicated, the more favorable to thee, and propitious through the course of life.

May the Almighty, for His own glory, for the safety of so many most innocent Christian men, and for your true honor, dispose your Majesty to this determination. Your Majesty's most friendly

Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England.

Westminster, 26th May, 1658.

(Translated from the Latin of Milton by Thomas Carlyle.)

ENGLAND AND AMERICA

[From Of Reformation in England, 1641]

But to return whence was digressed: seeing that the throne of a king, as the wise king Solomon often remembers us, "is established in justice," which is the universal justice that Aristotle so much praises, containing in it all other virtues, it may assure us that the fall of prelacy, whose actions are so far distant from justice, cannot shake the least fringe that borders the royal canopy; but that their standing doth continually oppose and lay battery to regal safety, shall by that which follows easily appear. Amongst many secondary and accessory causes that support monarchy, these are not of least reckoning, though common to all other states; the love of the subjects, the multitude and valor of the people, and store of treasure. In all these things hath the kingdom been of late sore weakened, and chiefly by the prelates. First, let any man

consider, that if any prince shall suffer under him a commission of authority to be exercised, till all the land groan and cry out, as against a whip of scorpions, whether this be not likely to lessen and keel the affections of the subject. Next, what numbers of faithful and freeborn Englishmen, and good Christians, have been constrained to forsake their dearest home, their friends and kindred, whom nothing but the wide ocean, and the savage deserts of America, could hide and shelter from the fury of the bishops? O, sir, if we could but see the shape of our dear mother England, as poets are wont to give a personal form to what they please, how would she appear, think ye, but in a mourning weed, with ashes upon her head, and tears abundantly flowing from her eyes, to behold so many of her children exposed at once, and thrust from things of dearest necessity, because their conscience could not assent to things which the bishops thought indifferent? What more binding than conscience? What more free than indifferency? Cruel then must that indifferency needs be, that shall violate the strict necessity of conscience; merciless and inhuman that free choice and liberty

that shall break asunder the bonds of religion! Let the astrologer be dismayed at the portentous blaze of comets, and impressions in the air, as foretelling troubles and changes to states: I shall believe there cannot be a more ill-boding sign to a nation (God turn the omen from us!) than when the inhabitants, to avoid insufferable grievances at home, are enforced by heaps to forsake their native country.

THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN
[From Tenure of Kings, 1649]

Who knows not that there is a mutual bond of amity and brotherhood between man and man over all the world, neither is it the English sea that can sever us from that duty and relation: a straiter bond yet there is between fellow-subjects, neighbors, and friends. . Nor is it distance of

place that makes enmity, but enmity that makes distance. He, therefore, that keeps peace with me, near or remote, of whatsoever nation, is to me, as far as all civil and human offices, an Englishman and a neighbor. This is gospel, and this was ever law among equals.

III. THE BEGINNINGS OF FREE GOVERNMENT IN AMERICA

THE PILGRIMS AND THEIR COMPACT

WILLIAM BRADFORD

[From the History of Plymouth Plantation.]

Of their departure from Leyden, and other things there about, with their arrival at Southampton, where they all met together, and took in their provisions.

At length, after much travail and these debates, all things were got ready and provided. A small ship was bought and fitted in Holland which was intended as to serve to help to transport them, so to stay in the country, and attend upon fishing and such other affairs as might be for the good and benefit of the colony when they came there. Another was hired at London, of burden about 9. score; and all other things got in readiness. So being ready to depart, they had a day of solemn humiliation, their pastor taking his text from Ezra 8.21. And there at the river, by Ahava, I proclaimed a fast that we might humble ourselves before our God, and seek of him a right way

for us, and for our children, and for all our substance. Upon which he spent a good part of the day very profitably, and suitable to their present occasion. The rest of the time was spent in pouring out prayers to the Lord with great fervency mixed with abundance of tears. And the time being come that they must depart, they were accompanied with most of their brethren out of the city, unto a town sundry miles off called Delfes Haven, where the ships lay ready to receive them. So they left that goodly and pleasant city, which had been their resting place, near 12 years; but they knew they were pilgrims and looked not much on those things, but lift up their eyes to the heavens, their dearest country, and quieted their spirits. When they came to the place they found the ship and all things ready. And such of their friends as could not come with them followed after them, and sundry also came from Amsterdam to see them shipped and to take their leave of · them. That night was spent with little sleep by the most, but with friendly entertainment and Christian discourse, and other

real expressions of true Christian love. The next day the wind being fair they went aboard, and their friends with them, where truly doleful was the sight of that sad and mournful parting; To see what sighs and sobs and prayers did sound amongst them, what tears did rush from every eye, and pithy speeches pierced each heart; that sundry of the Dutch strangers that stood on the quay as spectators, could not refrain from tears. Yet comfortable and sweet it was to see such lively and true expressions of dear and unfained love. But the tide (which stays for no man) calling them away that were thus loath to depart, their reverend pastor falling down on his knees (and they all with him,) with watery cheeks commended them with most fervent prayers to the Lord and his blessing. And then with mutual embraces and many tears, they took their leaves one of another; which proved to be the last leave to many of them.

Thus hoisting sail, with a prosperous wind they came in short time to Southampton, where they found the bigger ship come from London, lying ready with all the rest of their company. After a joyful welcome, and mutual congratulations, with other friendly entertainments, they fell to parley about their business, how to dispatch with the best expedition; as also with their agents, about the alteration of the conditions. Mr. Carver pleaded he was employed here at Hampton and knew not well what the other had done at London. Mr. Cushman answered he aad done nothing but what he was urged to partly by the grounds of equity and more especially by necessity, otherwise all had been dashed and many undone. And in the beginning he acquainted his fellow agents herewith, who consented unto him, and left it to him to execute, and to receive the money at London, and send it down to them at Hampton, where they made the provisions; the which he accordingly did, though it was against his mind, and some of the merchants, that they were there made. And for giving them notice at Leyden of this change, he could not well in regard of the shortness of the time; again, he knew it would trouble them and hinder the business, which was already delayed overlong in regard of the season of the year, which he feared they would find to their cost. But these things gave not content at present. Mr. Weston. likewise, came up from London to see them

dispatched and to have the conditions confirmed; but they refused, and answered him, that he knew right well that these were not according to the first agreement, neither could they yield to them without the consent of the rest that were behind and indeed they had special charge when they came away, from the chief of those that were behind, not to do it. At which he was much offended, and told them they must then look to stand on their own legs. So he returned in displeasure, and this was the first ground of discontent between them. And whereas they wanted well near £100 to clear things at their going away, he would not take order to disburse a penny, but let them shift as they could. So they were forced to sell off some of their provisions to stop this gap which was some 3. or 4. score firkins of butter, which commodity they might best spare, having provided too large a quantity of that kind.

The Compact of the Pilgrims

The rest of this History (if God gives me life, and opportunity) I shall, for brevity's sake, handle by way of Annals, noting only the heads of principal things, and passages as they fell in order of time, and may seem to be profitable to know, or to make use of. And this may be as the second Book.

The Remainder of Anno: 1620

I shall a little return back and begin with a combination made by them before they came ashore, being the first foundation of their government in this place; occasioned partly by the discontented mutinous and speeches that some of the strangers amongst them had let fall from them in the shipThat when they came ashore they would use their own liberty; for none had power to command them, the patent they had being for Virginia, and not for New England, which belonged to another Government, with which the Virginia Company had nothing to do. And partly that such an act by them done (this their condition considered) might be as firm as any patent, and in some respects more sure.

The form was as followeth.

In ye name of God, Amen. We whose names are vnderwritten, the loyall subjects of our dread soueraigne Lord, King James, by ye grace of God, of great Britaine, Franc, & Ireland king, defender of ye faith, &c.

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