A coppy of the speech made by Sir Iohn Lenthall to the Lord-Mayor & aldermen in the Guild-Hall, London, the of 1659 for the satisfying of such as, either by mis-report or mis-understanding of some passages in it, have excepted against it.

My Lord Mayor,

I Am very happy that you have given this Committee of Parlia∣ment such satisfaction, and also that we have given this Court the knowledge of our In∣tentions: How farre the Parliament is from giving you any just occasions, I have already given you Assurances of, and I hope this Conference will give us a better and more firm Confidence one in the other, that so we may walk to∣gether in a mutual and happy Compli∣ance; It was hinted by the worthy Alderman that spoke last, how that the Posts and Chains were set up for the Security of the City, and to prevent

such Dangers as they were so lately threatned with. This I must confesse was a just occasion to secure your selves from hazards of this nature, but why it should now be done when your dan∣gers are past, and when that Authori∣ty is in being, which you pretended to have so ardent desires too, and which (I may say) you cannot fear, when you consider how tender they have been to the People, how great Friends they have been to the Commerce and Trade of this place, and how desirous they formerly have been to preserve the Pri∣vileges and Rights of it against all Dan∣ger and Invasion; And me thinks 'tis no small happiness, that from a Con∣fusion so lately here, there should be this Calm and this Tranquility.

In the several discourses, I apprehend there has been a little glance at the form of Government, and though we have no instructions as to that, yet since the opportunity is given, I will let you

understand what I perceive the intenti∣ons of the Parliament are. Their whole design is a Common-Wealth Govern∣ment, that is, that the Nation shall be Governed by successive Parliaments free∣ly chosen by the People. I must con∣fesse I know not how this may agree with the inclinations of the English Nation, for it has been my misfortune never to have known a quiet or an esta∣blished Government amongst us, so that I can speak but of such a one as I have been informed of, and such a part of one, as I a little time lived under. The first is determined by the hand of warr, the other disturb'd before t'was brought to perfection, yet under that lit∣tle glimpse we had of what we should have, it might easily be discovered, that was not likely to be an unproffitable one: And I am of opinion, that most of this Honorable number will affirme the same; it being a season wherein Trade so flou∣rished, and the Merchant made so suc∣cessefull

returns, that I believe most of you can date the begetings of your wealth from the time you were under that Au∣thority; And if any of you have had losses, you must derive them from suc∣ceeding times, which have been very unfortunate to this Nation, and most un∣happy to this City.

There are in Europe several formes of Governmernt, some under Monarchies, others under Free-States, the first may be good, the other we are certain are very beneficial to the people that live under them, as there are many of you can witnesse from what you have ob∣served in some parts of Italy, Germany, France, and from our rich and near Neighbours, the Free-States of Holland, who have now master'd the Trade of this part of the world, and swallowed the English glory and wealth. And I am of opinion this proceeds from the very form of Government, which is amongst them, but yet I do not like

it so well, as that I could wish an imitation of it here, for it will neither agree with the interest nor the people of this Nation, it not being generous enough for so magnanimous a peo∣ple.

I have spoke all this my Lord bro∣kenly, because 'tis only to answer ob∣jections that have been made, and I am very sensible of the trouble I have detaind you with, I shall therefore conclude with this advice, that this City would be carefull how they make causeless jealousies, and by making pre∣parations against them you may create real dangers; For 'tis not my observati∣on only, but of the best Historians; That when too much mistrust of their dangers have been infused into the multitude, they make their resorts to numbers and very quickly increase and commonly the most indigent are the most luxurious, when having their o∣portunity they become their own Car∣vers,

and if under-hand this be com∣posed for the bringing in of the King, (as that is the opinion of many) why then certainly if he found the indi∣gent did his businesse, 'tis his interest to enrich them with the wealth of those that were lesse active though not less desirous to have the thing done.

Thus my Lord, I have given you my opinion, and my advice must be, That your Lordship, with the rest of this Ho∣norable number, would make it your endeavours to appease the distractions not to inflame them, the one relishes much of prudence, the other of Precipitancy.

FINIS.