SEVERALL PROPOSITIONS OF PVBLICK CONCERNMENT Presented to his Excelency the Lord Generall CROMVVEL.

  • 1. The Ordering, and setling of Particular Churches,
  • 2. Concerning the paying of Tithes, and in­gaging the People to heare Sermons every Lords day.
  • 3. An additionall Act against Adultery, and such as shall speake uncivilly. And further relief for maymed Souldiers, Widdows &c.
  • 4. The setling of Peacemakers in every City, and County of this Nation, with the forme of a new oath to be taken by them.

ALSO A Letter of great Concernment, directed to Mr. Hugh Peters, one of the Regulators of the Law.

By SAMUELL DVNCON, A wellwisher of Trutd, Liberty, and Perme to this Nation.

London Printed by I. C. Anno Dom. 1652.

A Letter with some Proposals humbly presented to his Excellency the Lord Generall Crumwell. As also a Letter to Mr. Hugh Peters.

May it please your Excellency,

I Vnderstand that the Parliament is making way for a new Representative, I am con­fident that your Honour doth apprehend, it to be a busines of very great consern­ment, and that the people are at present very unfit to make a good choyce. The Lord hath begun a very great worke by this Parliament and Army: And there is now an opportunity put into their hands to go on, and surely the Lord doth expect that this Parliament should make good (both to him selfe and his the people) that which have been Fought for, Payed for, and Prayed for, that his true worship may be Countenanced, and Incouraged, by an Act, of Parlia­ment, and that the Just Rights and Liberties of the people may be ratified, and Confirmed, so that all Tyrannicall and Anti­christian powers may be distroyed; to this end give me leave, to propound a few things to your Honours Consideration, which I doe humbly begg of God, that by your meanes this Parliament may be sturred up to inact some more Lawes ten­ding to his glory, and the peoples good, that it may not be said [Page 2](as some doe mutter) that this Parliament, and Army, have done great things for them selves, but litle or nothing for o­thers; I shall not trouble your Honour with a longe preface, or much intreaty, because I doe know your Honours wisdome, and good affections, therefore I come to the particulers, but leave all to the blessing and direction of our good God, in whome I am.

Your Honours most affectionat, and very humble servant Samuel Duncon.
September the 21. 1651.

1. AN Act for the establishing of all Churches of Believers, that are gathered to gether in the Faith, Fellowship and Order of Gospel, up­on a spiritual accompt, declaring their faith and Conversion, and shewing it in lives and Conversations by yeelding evan­gelicall obedience to the will and wayes of God, as they are re­vealed, in the Gospell, af our Lord Jesus, and by obeying the eivill Magistrate, in all civill things tending to the peace and well being of the Nation, and that such Churches may have li­berty to meet in any convenient place or places.

2. That the maintainance of a Gospell Minister may not be by paying of Tythes, that none may be forced to pay Tythes.

3. An Act to injoyne, all people, to heare Sermons at least every Lords day in one place or other, except Just cause to the contrary, and in default hereof to pay so much to the poore, & and so much to the informer.

4. An Adition made to that Act against adultery, that those that doe speak uncivilly that way be punished, or that doe fre­quent such houses, or such company, that such may be in­dicted and not cleared without the oath of two men known to be of good life and conversation, swearing that they in their Consciences doe not thinke, or believe any such matter in the party indicted, otherwise, to be punished according to the fact without respect of persons, the one halfe to the poore, the other the informer.

5. An addition made to those Acts for the releiving of may­med souldiers and widdowes, that lost their husbands lives in the service of the Parliament.

6. An addition made to those acts for the setting the poor one worke, and relieving of those that are Blinde, Lame, or Jmpo­tent not able to work, and that none may be suffered to begg, but that the Town, Parish, or place in which they are found to begg in, may be punished, and not the party, except for not working, and if not able to worke, then to be relieved by the Inhabitants of the place of their abode, and if they do neglect or do refuse to do their dutyes herein, then they to be punished.

7. An Act for peace making, to allow and inable the peo­ple of every City, and Towne Corporate in their severall wards or prescints, as also every hundred in every County, &c.

Annually to chuse 5. 7. 0111. of the most understanding plain honest harted men to be their peace makers; That no suit in Law may be Commenced against any, but that the Complay­nant doe first make known the difference to the Peace maker of that City, Town hundred &c. where the defendant doth live or most commonly abide, and that both plaintife, and defendant be Injoyned by that act, to the award or Arbitrement of those chosen, and sworne men, (and in case that either Plaintife or Defendant can except against those Actually chosen, then they may agree of 3 or 5 or more to be sworne &c.

8. That (as Parliament men) so all Justices of the Peace, Jurymen, all chief Constables, and all other civill Officers whatsoever may be annually chosen by the free people of the Nation, a accompetent number in each city, Town corporate, Counties, Hundreds, &c.

By writs issued our from the Parliament such a moneth an­nually and due returnes made by the chiefe Officers or Sheriffe of all such elections, the returnes to be made in so many dayes and of their being sworne sollemnly as aforesaid, the oath accor­ding to their place and offices.

The Oath of the peace-makers may be to this effect. viz.

I. A. B. In the presence of God, do swear that as I do hope for mercy at the hand of Almighty God through Christ, I will not judg or determi­nate any cause or difference between party and party, (That shall be brought before me) neither for favour or affection, or wiht by respects to any mans person, but according to the honesty, truth and equity, of the Cause, to the utmost of my knowledg and ability, and that I will do my utmost to end the controversie or differences between party and party.

So help me God according to the Contents of this Book, laying his hand upon the New Testament.

I do conceive that an Oath is part of the worship of God, and therefore that it may be with conveniency, it ought to be Administred by the Pastor of a Congregation in a solemn manner on the Lords day, in the face of the Congregation met together, for the worship and service of God; And the Pastor, & two more of the Congregation, to certifie the taking of the Oath, and the manner.

That (as Parliament men) so all Justices of the Peace, all Jury men, all Chief Constables, and all other civill Officers whatsoever: may be Annually chosen, by the free people of the Nation, a competent number in each City, Town, Corporate, County, Hundred, &c.

By Writ issued out from the Parliament such a moneth, annually and due returns made by the chief Officer, or Sheriffe of all such elections. The re­turns to be made in so many days, and of their being sworn solemnly as a­foresaid, the Oath, according to their place and offices.

One thing more would abundantly satisfie the people, and bring much honour, and love to the Parliament, and army, (if the Lord be pleased to give them harts so far to deny themselves, as to agree and make an Act, that the Army that is necessitated to be continued in arms in this Common­wealth, may be maintained and duly payed; That one half of the late Kings Lands, Bishops Lands, Dean and Chapters Lands, Delinquents Lands, and Recusants Land, may be for, and towards the maintenance of the said Ar­my, the said Lands being got but into a few mens hands, at an under rate, and that some other addition may be made that if it be possible, neither the weekly Assessements, nor the excise upon beer or coals may be continued.

A Letter to Mr. Hugh Peters.

SIR, I do find that you are chosen to be one of the seven or more, to consider how he Laws of this Nation may be regulated. You cannot but know that the people are in great expectation of much good to be done, I hope you shall want no asistance, I am not able to give much in that work, [Page 6]yet do think it my duty to do something towards it, and yet all may be too little without an extraordinary hand of God, (which I shall desire) the most that I should doe should be to stir you up to improve this opportunity, in putting life to that which you cited in your little booke intitueld. Good worke for good Magistrates, which was to have an act for peace makers, Sr. I have here inclosed, sent you a rough draught of a simple one of mine own devising, I doe know that the Lawyers, and all the enemies of the Gospell will with all their might oppose it, and although there be never so true a conception made by your Committee; yet it will be in danger to prove abortive, but I beseech you let not your utmost indeavours be wanting. There are some other things with it, all which were sent by my self accor­ding to the date, unto the Lord Generall: I shall in due time, take the bouldnesse to made an addition, although as yet I have had but little in­couragement. The Act for peace makers is the 7. particular.

I desire you, and some others to compleate it, and I doe conceive that such an act may bringe much glory to God, much comfort, peace and pro­fit to the people: God is pleased to pronounce Blessedness upon the peace makers, and truly I am afraid least a curse should fall upon, or follow those that have power to doe any thing tending thereunto, and doe not improve it, Sir I doe hope better things of you, and desire you to stir up others to their duties, shurely there in great neglect in some, otherwise those things that have been fought for, prayed for, & payd for might have been injoyed by the people of this Nation before this time. I desire you to communicate these to Collonel Disbrough, Maj. Parker, and some others, Sir

Your very Affectionate friend Samuel Duncn.
February the 10. 1651. Directed and sent to Mr. Hugh Peters.

A hearty well wisher out of his good affections, was bould to offer these things to Consideration, with earnest desires that some what in answer thereunto, might be acted. But beinge Conscious of his own inability, and of the ltitlenes in them. saving a true zeale for Gods glory, and a desire of the freedom, peace, and well being of this Nation, thought it his duty to publish them. to the view of all that Wish well to Zion, and to all the people of this Nation, intreating others to make some addition with a mendment; offering their humble desires, and adresses, to the Supreame Authority of this Nation, the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, for an establishment of what shall be for the glory of God, and the good of the people, and doubt not but the Parliament will be very ready to act ac­cording to former Declarations, and Promises.

I conceive that an Act for Peace makers may save the people of the Nati­on, as much mony as may maintaine asufficent Army, and free the people from a bundance of Tyrany, and Opression.

FINIS.

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