England's great interest in the choice of this new Parliament dedicated to all her free-holders and electors. Penn, William, 1644-1718. 1679 Approx. 23 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 3 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2006-02 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A23597 Wing P1278A ESTC R222717 99833860 99833860 38338 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A23597) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 38338) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 2213:15) England's great interest in the choice of this new Parliament dedicated to all her free-holders and electors. Penn, William, 1644-1718. 4 p. s.n., [London : 1679] Signed at end: Philanglus, i.e. William Penn. Caption title; with ornaments above title. Imprint from Wing. Reproduction of the original in the Lincoln's Inn Library, London. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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SInce it hath pleased God and the King to begin to revive and restore to us our Ancient Right of Frequent Parliaments , it will greatly concern us , as to our present Interest , and therein the future Happiness of our Posterity , to act at this time with all the Wisdom , Caution and Integrity we can . For besides , that 't is our own Business , and that if by a neglect of this singular Opportunity we desert our selves , and forsake our own Mercies , we must expect to be Left of God and good Men too ; It may be there has never happened , not only in the memory of the living , but in the Records of the dead , so odd and so strange a Conjuncture as this we are under : It is made up of so many unusual and important Circumstances ( all affecting us to the very Heart ) that whether we regard the long sitting of the late Parliament , or its abrupt and most unexpected Dissolution , or the Prorogation of the last and its surprising Dissolution , or the strong Jealousies of the People , and that universal agitation , that is now upon the spirit of the Nation , and the Reasons and Motives thereof ( so far as we can reach them ) there seems never to have been a time , wherein this Kingdom ought to show it self more serious and diligent in the business of its own safety . To be plain with you , All is at Stake : and therefore I must tell you , That the Work of this Parliament is , First , To pursue the Discovery and Punishment of the Plot : for that has been the old Snake in the Grass , the Trojan Horse with an Army in the Belly of it . Secondly , To remove and bring to Justice those Evil Counsellors , and Corrupt and Arbitrary Ministers of State , that have been so Industrious to give the King Wrong Measures , to turn Things out of their Antient and Legal Channel of Administration , and Alienate his Affections from his People . Thirdly , To Detect and Punish the Pensioners of the former Parliament , in the Face of the Kingdom . This Breach of Trust being Treason against the Fundamental constitution of our Government . Fourthly , To secure to us the Execution of our Antient Laws by New ones , and among the rest such , as relate to Frequent Parliaments , the only true Check upon Arbitrary Ministers , and therefore feared , ●ated and opposed by them . Fifthly , That we be secur'd from Popery and Slavery ; and that Protestant-Dissenters be eased . Sixthly , That in case this be done , the King be released from his burdensom Debts to the Nation , and eas'd in the business of his Revenue . And let me be free with you , if you intend to save poor England , You must take this General Measure , viz. To guide and fix your Choice upon Men , that you have reason to believe are Well Affected , Able and Bold to serve the Country in these Respects . The Words of the Writ ( at least , the Import of them ) are , To chuse Wise Men , fearing God , and hating Covetousness ; and what to do ? says the same Writ , To Advice the King of the Weighty Matters of the Kingdom . Let us not then play the Fools or Knaves , to Neglect or Betray the Common Interest of our Country by a Base Election : Let neither Fear , Flattery nor Gain Byass us . We must not make our Publick Choice the Recompence of Private Favours from our Neighbours ; they must excuse us for that : the Weight of the Matter will very well bear it . This is our Inheritance ; all depends upon it : Men don't use to lend their Wives , or give their Children to satisfie Personal Kindnesses ; nor must we make a Swop of our Birth-right , ( and that of our Posterities too ) for a Mess of Pottage , a Feast or a Drinking-bout ; there can be no Proportion here : and therefore none must take it Ill , that we use our Freedom about that , which in its Constitution is the Great Bull-wark of all our Antient English Liberties . Truly , our not Considering what it is to chuse a Parliament , and how much all is upon the Hazard in it , may at last Loose us fatally by our own Choice . For I must needs tell you , If we Miscarry , it will be our own Fault ; we have no Body else to blame : For such is the Happiness of our Constitution , That we cannot well be destroy'd , but by our selves : and what Man in his Wits would Sacrifice his Throat to his own hands ? We , the Commons of England are a great part of the Fundamental Government of it ; and Three Rights are so peculiar and inherent to us , that if we will not throw them away for Fear or Favour , for Meat and Drink , or those other little present profits , that Ill Men offer to tempt us with , they cannot be altered or abrogated . And this I was willing to give you a brief hint of , that you may know , what Sort of Creatures you are , and what your Power is , lest through Ignorance of your own Strength and Authority , you turn Slaves to the Humors of those , that properly and truly are but your Servants , and ought to be used so . The First of these three Fundamentals is Property , that is , Right and Title to your own Lives , Liberties and Estates : in this every man is a sort of little Soveraign to himself : No man has power over his Person to Imprison of Hurt it , or over his Estate to Invade or Usurp it : only your own Transgression of the Laws , ( and those of your own making too ) lays you open to Loss ; which is but the Punishment due for your Offences , and this but in Proportion to the Fault committed . So that the Power of England is a Legal Power , which truly merits the Name of Government : that which is not Legal , is a Tyranny , and not properly a Government . Now the Law is Umpire between King , Lords and Commons , and the Right and Property is One in kind through all Degrees and Qualities in the Kingdom , Mark that . The Second Fundamental , that is your Birth-right and Inheritance , is Legislation , or the Power of making Laws ; No Law can be made or abrogated in England without you . Before Henry the Third's Time , your Ancestors , the Free-men of England met in their own Persons , but their Numbers much encreasing , the Vastness of them , and the Confusion that must needs attend them , making such Assemblies not practicable for Business , this way of Representatives was first pitch't upon as an Expedient , both to Maintain the Commons Right , and to avoid the Confusion of those mighty Numbers . So that now , as well as then , No Law can be made , no Money levied , nor not a Penny legally demanded ( even to defray the Charges of the Government ) without your own Consent : then which , tell me , what can be freer , or what more secure to any People ? Your Third Great Fundamental Right and Priviledge is Executive , and holds proportion with the other two , in order to compleat both your Freedom & Security , & that is Your share in the Judicatory Power , in the Execution and Application of those Laws , that you agree to be made . Insomuch as No man according to the ancient Laws of this Realm can be adjudg'd in matter either of Life , Liberty or Estate , but it must be by the Judgment of his Peers , that is , Twelve men of the Neighbourhood , commonly called a JURY ; though this hath been infringed by two Acts made in the late long Parliament , one against the Quakers in Particular , and the other against Dissenters in General , called An Act against seditious Conventicles , where persons are adjudged Offenders and punishable without a Jury : which 't is hoped , this ensuing Parliament will think fit in their Wisdoms to repeal , though with less Severity , then one of the same Nature ( as to punishing men without Juries ) was by Henry the Eighth , who for executing of it hang'd Empson and Dudly . Consider with your selves , that there is nothing more your Interest , then for you to understand your Right in the Government , and to be constantly Jealous over it ; for your Well-being depends upon its Preservation . In all Ages there have been Ill Men , and we to be sure are not without them now , such as being conscious to themselves of ill things , and dare not stand a Parliament , would put a Final Dissolution upon the very Constitution it self to be safe , that so we might never see another . But this being a Task too hard to compass , their next Expedient is To make them for their Turn , by directing and governing the Elections ; and herein they are very Artificial & too often Succesful ; which indeed is worse for us then if we had none . For thus the Constitution of Parliaments may be destroy'd by Parliament , and we , who by Law are Free , may hereby come to be made Slaves by Law. If then you are Free and resolve to be so , if you have any regard to God's providence in giving you a claim to so excellent a Constitution , if you would not void your own Rights , nor lay a Foundation of Vassallage to your unborn Followers , the poor Posterity of your Loyns , for whom God and Nature , and the Constitution of the Government have made you Trustees , then seriously weigh these following Particulars . I. In your present Election Receive no man's Gift or Bribe to chuse him ; but be assured , that he will be false to you , that basely tempts you to be false to your Country , your self and your Children . How can you hope to see God with peace , that turn Mercenaries in a matter , on which depends the Well-being of an whole Kingdom for present & future times ? since at a pinch One good Man gains a Vote & saves a Kingdom ; and what does any County or Burgess-Town in England know , but all may depend upon their making a good Choice ? But then to sell the Providence of God , and the dear-bought purchase of your painful Ancestors for a little Money ( that after you have got it , you know not how little a while you may be suffered to keep it ) is the mark of a Wretched Mind : Truly such ought not to have the power of a Free-man , that would so abuse his own and hazard other mens Freedom by it : he deserves to be cast over Board , that would Sink the Vessel , and thereby drown the Company embark't with him . Honest Gentlemen will think they give enough for the Choice , that pay their Electors in a constant , painful and chargeable Attendance ; but Such as give Money to be chosen , would get Money by being chosen , they design not to serve you , but themselves of you ; and then fare you well . As you will answer it to Almighty God , I entreat you to shew your Abhorrence of this Infamous Practice : It renders the very Constitution contemptible , that any should say , I can be chosen , if I will spend Money or give them Drink enough ; and this is said not without reason , Elections , that ought to be serious things , and gravely and reasonably perform'd , being generally made the occasions of more Rudeness and Drunkenness , then any of the Wild May-games in use among us . Thus by making men Law-breakers , they are it seems made fit to chuse Law-makers , their Choice being the purchase of Excess . But must we alwayes owe our Parliaments to Rioting and Drunkenness ? and must men be made Vncapable of all Choice , before they chuse their Legislators ? I would know of any of you all , if in a difference about a private property , an Horse or a Cow , or any other thing you would be as easie , indifferent and careless in chusing your Arbitrators ? Certainly you would not ; with what reason then can you be unconcern'd in the Qualifications of men , upon whose fitness and Integrity depends all you and your Posterity may enjoy ? Which leads me to the other Particulars . II. Chuse no Man that has been a Reputed Pensioner ; 't is not only against your Interest , but it is disgraceful to you and the Parliament you chuse . The Representative of a Nation ought to consist of the most Wise , Sober and Valiant of the People , not Men of mean Spirits or sordid Passions , that would sell , the Interest of the People that chuse them , to advance their own , or be at the Beck of some great Man , in hopes of a Lift to a good Employ : pray beware of these . You need not be streightned , the Country is wide and the Gentry numerous . III. By no means chuse a Man that is an Officer at Court , or whose Employment is durante beneplacito , that is , at Will and Pleasure ; nor is this any Reflection upon the King , who being one Part of the Government , should leave the other free , and without any the least Awe or Influence to bar or hinder its proceedings . Besides , an Officer is under a Temptation to be byast ; and to say true , an Office in a Parliament man , is but a softer and safer word for a Pension : the Pretence it has above the other , is the danger of it . IV. In the next place , Chuse no Indigent Persons , for those may be under a temptation of abusing their Trust to gain their own ends : for such do not Prefer you , which should be the end of their Choice , but Raise themselves by you . V. Have a care of Ambitious men and non-Residents , such as live about Town and not with their Estates , who seek honours and preferments above , and little or never embetter the Country with their Expences or Hospitality , for they intend themselves and not the Advantage of the Country . VI. Chuse no Prodigal or Voluptuous Persons , for besides that they are not Regular enough to be Law-makers , they are commonly Idle ; and though they may wish well to your Interest , yet they will lose it rather then their Pleasures ; they will scarcely give their Attendance , they must not be relied on . So that such Persons are only to be preferred before those , that are Sober to do mischief ; whose debauchery is of the mind : Men of Injust Mercinary and sinister Principles , who , the soberer they be to themselves , the worse they are to you . VII . Review the Members of the last Parliaments , and their Inclinations and Votes , as near as you can learn them , and the Conversation of the Gentlemen of your own Country , that were not Members , and take your measures of both , by that which is your True and Just Interest at this Critical time of the day , and you need not be divided or distracted in your Choice . VIII . Rather take a Stranger , if recommended by an unquestionable Hand , than a Neighbour Ill-affected to your Interest . 'T is not pleasing a Neighbour , because rich and powerful , but Saving England , that you are to eye : Neither pay or return private Obligations at the cost of the Nation ; let not such Engagements put you upon dangerous Elections as you love your Country . IX . Be sure to have your Eye upon Men of Industry and Improvement . For those that are Ingenuous and Laborious to propagate the Growth of the Country , will be very tender of weakening or impoverishing it : you may trust such . X Let not your Choice be flung upon Men of Fearful Dispositions , that will let good Sense , Truth and your real Interest in any point sink , rather than displease some one or other great Man. If you are but sensible of your own Real Great Power , you will wisely chuse those , that will by all just and legal wayes firmly keep and zealously promote it . XI . Pray see , that you chuse Sincere Protestants ; men that don't play the Protestant in Design , and are indeed Disguis'd Papists , ready to pull off their Mask , when time serves : You will know such by their Laughing at the Plot , Disgracing the Evidence , Admiring the Traytors Constancy , that were forc'd to it , or their Religion and Party were gone beyond an Excuse or an Equivocation . The contrary are men that thank God for this Discovery , and in their Conversation zealously direct themselves in an Opposition to the Papal Interest , which indeed is a Combination against good Sense , Reason and Conscience , and to introduce a blind Obedience without ( if not against ) Conviction . And that Principle which introduces Implicit Faith and Blind Obedience in Religion , will also introduce Implicit Faith and Blind Obedience in Government : so that it is no more the Law in the one than in the other , but the Will and Power of the Superior , that shall be the Rule and Bond of our Subjection . This is that fatal Mischief Popery brings with it to Civil Society , and for which such Societies ought to beware of it , and all those that are Friends to it . XII . Lastly , Among these be sure to find out and cast your favour upon Men of large Principles , such , as will not sacrifice his Neighbour's Property to the frowardness of his own Party in Religion : Pick out such men , as will Inviolably maintain Civil Rights for all that will live soberly and civilly under the Government . Christ did not revile those that reviled him , much less did he persecute those , that did not revile him . He rebuk't his Disciples , that would have destroyed those that did not follow and conform to them , saying ; To know not what Spirit ye are of ; I came not to destroy mens Lives , but to save them . Which made the Apostle to say , that the Weapons of their Warfare were not Carnal , but Spiritual . This was the Ancient Protestant Principle ; and where Protestants persecute for Religion , they are false to their own profession , and Turn Papists even in the worst sense , against whom their Ancestors did so stoutly exclaim , Read the Books of Martyrs of all Countries in Europe , and you will find I say true : Therefore beware also of that Popery . Consider , that such Partial men don't love England , but a Sect ; and prefer Imposed Vniformity before Virtuous and Neighbourly Vnity . This is that Disturber of Kingdoms and States , and till the Good Man , and not the Opinionative Man be the Christian in the Eye of the Government , to be sure , while force is used to propagate or destroy Faith , and the outward Comforts of the Widow and Fatherless are made a Forfeit for the peaceable Exercise of their Consciences to God , he that fits in Heaven and judgeth Righteously , whose Eye pities the Oppressed and Poor of the Earth , will with-hold his Blessings from us . O lay to heart the grievous Spoils and Ruins that have been made upon your harmless Neignbours for near these twenty years , who have only desired to enjoy their Consciences to God according to the best of their understandings , and to eat the Bread of honest Labour , and to have but a Penny for a Penny 's worth among you . Whose Ox or Ass have they taken ? whom have they wronged ? or when did any of them offer you Violence ? yet Sixty pounds have been distrained for twelve , two hundred pounds for sixty pounds . The Flocks been taken out of the Fold , the Herd from the Stall ; not a Cow left to give Milk to the Orphans , nor a Bed for the Widow to lie on ; whole Barns of Corn swept away , and not a penny return'd ; & thus bitterly prosecuted even by Laws made against Papists . And what is all this for ? unless their worshipping of God according to their Conscience ; for they injure no man , nor have they offered the least Molestation to the Government . Truly , I must take liberty to tell you , If you will not endeavour to redress these Evils in your Choice , I fear , God will suffer you to fall into great Calamity by those you hate . You are afraid of Popery , and yet many of you practise it : for why do you fear it , but for its Compulsion and Persecution ? and will you compel or persecute your selves , or chuse such as do ? If you will , pray let me say , You hate the Papists , but not Popery . But God defend you from so doing , and direct you to do , as you would be done by : that chusing such as love England , her People and their Civil Rights , Foundations may be laid for that Security and Tranquillity , which the Children unborn may have cause to rise up and bless your Names and Memories for . Take it in good part , I mean nothing but Justice and Peace to all ; and so conclude my self , Your Honest Monitor and Old England 's True Friend , PHILANGLUS . FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A23597-e10 We see it daily in Westminster - Hall , as well as in Parliamentary Transactions .