Chaos: or, A discourse wherein is presented to the view of the magistrate, and all others who shall peruse the same, a frame of government by way of a republique, wherein is little or no danger of miscarriage, if prudently attempted, and thoroughly prosecuted by authority.: Wherein is no difficulty in the practice, nor obscurity in the method; but all things plain and easie to the meanest capacity. Here's no hard or strange names, nor unknown titles (to amaze the hearers) used, and yet here's a full and absolute power derivative insensibly from the whole, and yet practically conveyed to the best men: wherein if any shall endeavour a breach, he shall break himself: and it must be so, that cats shall provide supper, here they shall do it suitable to the best palats, and easie to digest. By a well-willer to the publique weale.

The first days Work.

ANte mare & terras— as the wanton Poet sings, rudis erat molis quem dixere Chaos. It might be well wished the sober heads of these times could use the Poers words, erat ante: but as if Fortunes Wheel were turned pside down we may seem to be in the first condition of things again, ubi mollia pugnant duris. The Tail commands the Head, and all things are out of course; insomuch as a Solon was never any where more needful. And the childrens burthens are grown so great, as if a Moses appear not in time, it may be feared deliverance will come too late. After Nebuchadnezzar knew that the most high bears rule, his Kingdom was restored. Eng∣land no doubt wishes their Rulers had learned the same lesson; and if they have, that the practice thereof may appear in publike: for though the Sword seems satiated with bloud, yet the Elements threaten Vengeance if we return not: And though for Rulers offences the People suffer, yet they seldom escape Scot-free. It were to be wished, examples hereof were not so obvious in this Ge∣neration as they have been. Oh that Englands Rulers may see the work of the day! that Pride, Tyranny and Oppression may receive their reward: which, whilst men accused of greatest crimes sit as Judges in their own cause, cannot be expected; nor whilst any of those who have voices in making Laws, shall be admitted the Sanctuary of a Prison, to shelter themselves from the penalty there∣of,

of, can be hoped for. O horrenda & impudica rabies! And that the People follow their Guides, is sadly witnes∣sed by this days Verdict of a Devonshire-Jury at the Upper Bench Bar, who (in despight of the Judges honest, ho∣nourable and wary Advertisements) betrayed the Inno∣cent to the Fury of her over-potent Adversary, and set the guilty free; whereby they have used their utmost en∣deavours to prostitute their maids, daughters and wives to the lustful abusion of the wicked at their wills.

It were happy if every day spoke not the same or worse language, so much resembling that of Babel or Sodom, as nothing ever appeared so like the Poets old Chaos as this present Age. These few particulars, amongst the innu∣merary numbers of Babylons brats daily dispersed to the a∣busion of all that hath any resemblance of Goodness, com∣pels that hand which never intended any such thing, to command the Press, which now hath liberty beyond mea∣sure, to measure even Immensity it self; not purposing to accuse any for robbing the Publike, to erect a Private inte∣rest; nor for pretended relieving the Publike, to strain the strings of their Inventions, to contrive new Impositi∣ons; nor yet for pretended Frugality to the Common∣wealth, to destroy thousands of the Commons, by deny∣ing justice, thereby cherishing all villany and wickedness in the highest measure.

But when the Publike Faith of a Nation turns Bankrupt, who shall be accused? the Borrowers, or the Lenders? Sure if the Borrowers had not promised fair, the Lenders had not been. O unhappy hand, that ever drew Sword to countenance such things, as the Paper blushes to bear the news of! Yet O happy age, that affordest Hands to effect what Heads cannot do! Yea, O happy people, who live in such an Age where God commands the meanest of things to be means of Deliverance! Surely he hath Mer∣cies yet in store for such a people, if embraced: if not, let Moses and the Prophets declare the issue; or rather, the Saviour of the worlds weeping over Jerusalem, admo∣nish,

to beware of what that rebellious City shortly after suffered.

And if any shall say these Lines fell from Rabshakeh's Pen; let them consider, their origine, their birth and growth, is from Chaos. But the Poets word ante gives hopes, that as his ante was the fore-runner of better com∣posures, where was mare, coelum & terras; so this pre∣sent time elapsing, this Generation may hope to see mare & terras in their proper places, and coelum supervolutans, illuminans, & recreans. For never had Nation a Magi∣stracy better schooled and discipled, nor did ever Magi∣strate govern a people so generally capable of the best Rule of Government, as this is. But if, with Miles the Frier's man in the Fable, we flout and abuse this coy Mi∣stress TIME, and improve not the advantage and oppor∣tunity thereof, she will be gone, and then repentance may come too late.

Now that Chaos-like, out of which Order was produ∣ced, matter be administred for the framing of such a stru∣cture of Laws and Regiment, or at least some Instruments brought to search for some Foundation, or to discover some Quarries or other materials fit for so great a Fa∣brick, which is not to be expected to be done all at once, and all in one day, by any one private hand, nor yet from all the heads of our Governours at present, whose cares for speedy remedy to prevent imminent dangers, takes a∣way much of their time from these other contrivances. And though no one piece of what shall here be offered, shall be found fit stuff to build withal, yet may other more dextrous Artists be hereby invited to furnish the proper materials for the very work it self.

Chaos never travelled; or if she did, it was when she was in the womb of Nothing. So she brings no customes from other Countries, nor Laws from other Lands: one∣ly as the birth is produced in its proper dimensions, not respecting any other feature or proportion in the whole frame of Nature, who lest any part or member thereof

should steal anothers right, hath framed all creatures, A∣nimate, and Inanimate (if such a conjecture may be ima∣gined) in a convenient disparity each to other: yet so, as there is still an harmonious parity in the whole. So Chaos neither doats upon her neighbour-customs more then is convenable, nor is she affected with strange novelties fetcht from far Countries, so ardently as to surfeit there∣on: she is neither bewitched with the beauty and riches of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, neither is she enamour∣ed with the Cantonian formalities. All the Mitres in the Conclave of Rome, cannot invite her to fetch her Laws from Italy, nor all the Decencie and Liberty of Amsterdam furnish her with more then some miss-shapen pieces, which she purposes to polish for her own purpose. She purposes not to pry too deep into the Spaniards Sun∣burnt Inquisition, nor yet to roave too far in the frigid Zone of the Tartarian Territories; but out of her own store, Chaos-like, is her furniture; only the deck and dress may seem to be sometimes borrowed from one, sometimes from another. Yet unless she be new built, so as to suit with the temper of her own climate, she will be unservice∣able, and her fruit abortive.

Chaos considering that in six days a Creation of excel∣lent beauty and proportion, suiting to the magnitude thereof, in number, weight and measure, was by an all∣powerful hand produced, has propounded to her self six days work for perfecting of her intended Creation. (Crea∣tion she calls it, because she finding all the Rafters of her old Building rotten, and the Mortices and Tenons full of rubbish, all the Pins either broken or pull'd from their places, all the Beams battered and bruised, and indeed the whole Fabrick ready to fall about her ears.) As Light was the first thing in the Creation, and so properly called the work of the first day; so for her first days work she propounds for the Balancing of Interests, and reducing each piece to its proper place, (the praecognita being first allowed of, viz. a time prefixed (as already in great wis∣dom

the present Rulers have done) for the Parliaments sitting; within which time if they be idle, their work will be left undone; and what will be their Reward, if so?) So as if any one piece seem to be wrested out of its place, the weight and frame of the whole prevents it.

It is proponed, that one Common Interest be erected, whereof each member shall share, as well in receiving protection from, as giving contribution to; and to be so incorporated, as no variant opinion, either in Religion or Policie, shall be able to weaken the whole: (but if any shall endeavour it, it shall by weakning and destroying it self, add still to the whole.)

And as a light to the ensuing Intendment, Chaos pro∣pounds, That in this Island of Great Britain (heretofore consisting of many, but of late days of three distinct Prin∣cipalities; heretofore divided into many, but now either all speaking, or all understanding one and the same lan∣guage, and also incorporated into one Commonwealth) be one Law, and one Registery, dispersed into severall parts thereof; and so disposed, as each part shall be subservient to other, and each communicative to other, and all to the whole; not purposing to deprive the Head of his due respect, neither the Body, or any member thereof, of their proper dues, according to each ones particular propriety and proportion, without destruction or diminution of any Right, Franchise or Priviledge due to any Lord of Mannor, or other Proprietor whatsoever, or detraction from the just freedom of any English-men: wherein is proposed to the Magistrate, Honour and respect; to the Lawyer, Pro∣fit; to the People, enjoyment of Magna Charta; and to the Republick, the enjoyment of all. The distribution whereof, Chaos propounds to be, National, Provincial, Sub-Provincial, and Parochial; each Registry to have his Court and Officers. To which Courts and Registeries all matters of Civil concernment shall be reduced: and this to be erected within eight months, so that the present Ma∣gistracie

may have the honour to lay the foundation there∣of, and to reap the benefit also, when others shall come in their places, to ease their shoulders of the burthen of Go∣vernment, which none or few in the Nation are or can be enabled to go thorow so dexterously as they now are, who are at present entrusted therewith. In the intervall of which time, Chaos propounds (as that light may appear to be the fruit of this first days work) that all Suits in Law or Equity may be determined within six Months; and to that end, that sufficient time be alotted to the Judges Iti∣nerant in the several Circuits, for hearing and determining of all matters which shall be brought before them: and that within one month after the Circuit, another Term be kept in Westminster, where all further Issues may be joy∣ned; and another Circuit a month after that, for finishing the whole business as to matter of Law.

And for all Actions depending in Equity, let Judges in Chancery sit de die in diem, and cause speedy examinati∣ons of all things needfull to be made, and bring all to hear∣ing in Michaelmas Term next, or shortly after, upon pain of great Fines to be imposed upon the Judg or Judges who shall be remiss herein, and absolute loss of the Cause to the Clyent, whether Plaintiff or Defendant, that shall endeavour further delayes; and let Judges enow be ap∣pointed for that purpose at the Commonwealths charge. The like course to be used by all Committees: and that no new Suits be in the Interim commenced, That publike notice hereof be given to the whole Nation, at or before the next Assizes; and this to suffice for the first dayes work: only to shew what's intended for further light to the whole Creation, which is to receive Life and Perfection in the following days, within the time allotted, is promised Rules for the five dayes work to come, viz. For the

2. Rules for Registers, which shall but be one to all purposes, but distributed into its several parts.

3. For the Law and Jurisdiction of each several Re∣gisterial Court.

4. For future Elections and Transactions of Parlia∣ment.

5. For Assesments, Customs, Excise, and Provision for the Poor. And

6. For Trade and Husbandry; under which the Militia shall be comprehended, as also Provision made for the Ministry and Schools of Learning, as the perfection of the work: upon each of which, if this be approved of by Authority, and a Fiat put to the first dayes work already proposed, a several Discourse is intended for each succee∣ding dayes work, in their proper times.