against their Will and Consent? For with what Forehead can we pretend to the Consent of the People, when we act under the Power of those, who have bereft them of their free Voices; that have so often offered Violence to their Representatives, in whom their Consent was lodged; and so lately turned them out of this House? But though we had the general Consent, and an uncontrouled Authority to establish a free Government; yet how is it possible for the Wit of Man to contrive any thing, that shall agree with so many different and repugnant Spirits and Interests, though we should
Ministry, and regulating Law and Equity; and to confirm their own Authority, and that they might be sure to be liable to no more Affronts from a General, as they had before been, appointed the Speaker to execute the Office of General in such Manner as they should direct; and that all Commissions shou'd be granted by him, and sealed with their own Seal. To this the Army submitted, delivered up their Commissions, and took new ones in the Form, that was prescribed—But this Harmony did not long subsist; for Lambert and the Officers, after the Defeat of Sir George Beath, &c. affecting, as the Parliament conceived, a greater Authority and Independency than they ought, a Vote was passed, in order to take away all Hope of Subsistence from the Army, that it should be Treason in any Person whatever to raise, levy, and collect Money without Consent of Parliament, and immediately after cashiered Lambert and eight other principal Officers of the Army. At this Juncture, which preceded but a very little Time the second turning out of the Rump by Lambert, these Speeches must be supposed by the Reader to be made, and he will, in my Opinion, have Occasion for no other Key to understand them.
