viz. Beggars, they swarm through the neglect of the present Magistrate, who
cannot spare time from Committee businesse to minde the good of the Countrey where
they live, nay, is not this true, that many justices, High Constables, &c. are kinde and
favorable to Theeves, Rogues, and Beggars, that so their own houses and goods may
be safe, though their neighbors lose every weeke, there are that will assure you it was
once true in the North and South Parts of England, this direction of cutting off the possibility
of a life of want, may be thought strange, but to men of reason not willfully blinde,
it's cleer, nor is it fit to be exprest more fully or cleerely here: Yet thus much, how doe
the Normane divisions, and somtime Kentish, make poore? yet this is not the thing,
but to Intelligence.
March 22.
The Parliament sare not, the Lady Carlile was ordered to the Tower, The Councell
of the Army fate to consider upon what terms they that went to Ireland should goe:
The large Declaration shewing the cause of the proceedings with the late King and
Lords house, came this day abroad, and is to be dispersed in all Languages, it may
therefore suffice to take no further notice then that it promises all manner of content
to the Kingdom with continuation of the Laws in being, only purging them from the
inormities (where observe, that the Gent: motion at Putney is not like to take effect, who
said, he saw no reason but the Laws of England might be contained in as little room
as the ten Commandements) that the Subjects shall speedily be eased of their grievances,
Free Quarter taken off, Trade advanced, the Rebels in Iveland punished as
they deserved, with restoration of the Protestants drive out, which shows, that the
talke whispered about a Treaty with Owen Ree, and those naturall Irish, the Onely
Massacrers of the English Protestants there, is not true, and lastly, that there shall be
care taken to advance the protestant profession, pay the publike debts, &c. and if any
shall goe about to intermeddle with this State, or disturb them in their good intentions
for the people, they doubt not but to be able to carry the worke through, and therefore
exhort all the people of England against opposition, and expect their conformity and
assistance: The Act for dissolving the Lords House, came abroad also, which is as followeth.
An Act for abolishing the house of Peers.
THe Commons of England Assembled in parliament, finding by too long experience
that the House of Lords is uselesse and dangerous to the people of England to be continued,
have tl ought fit to Ordain and Enact, and be it Ordained and Enacted by this
present parliament, and by the authority of the same, That from henceforth the House
of Lords in parliament, shall be, and is hereby wholly abolished and taken away; And
that the Lords shall not from hence forth me et or sit in the said House Called the Lords
House, or in any other House or place whatsoever, as a House of Lords; nor shall Sit,
Vote, Advise, Adjudge, or Determine of any matter or thing whatsoever, as the House
of Lords in Parliament: Neverthelesse it is hereby declared, That neither such Lords
as have demeaned themselves with Honour, Courage and fidelity to the Commonwealth,
their Posterities who shall continue so, shall be excluded from the publique
Councels of the Nation, but shall be admitted thereunto, and have their Free Vote in
Pariiament, if they shall be thereunto Elected, as other persons of Interest Elected and
Qualified thereunto ought to have: And be it further Ordained and Enacted by the
Authority aforesaid, that no peer of this Land, not being Enacted, Qualified, and sitting
in parliament, as aforesaid, shall claime, have, make use of any priviledge of Parliament,