Page:Celebrated Trials - Volume 2.djvu/126

104 "The Agreement of," &c. their final centre for a settlement of peace in the distracted nation, &c. for that in the late wars the King's party were merely selfish, the presbyterians no better, and the present independents only dissembled an interest for the people's liberties, when it was chiefly for themselves, and to set up the false saint and villainous murderer, traitor, &c. Oliver Cromwell, &c.

He then ordered the seventh and eighth pages to be read, where he says, "That the people of London should write to their friends to send two agents from each county, to consider with those agents they themselves should chuse, to settle the principles thereof, that what they concluded on might be as a standard to flock to, and not to side either with the pride and fooleries of the present power, joined with Owen Roe O'Neale, or with the prince's will, unless he or they would acquiesce to those settled principles: and, on those terms, he did not see but they might justly join with the prince, who had a large pretence of right; and believed, if he came in by the hands of Englishmen, and by contract of the said settled principles, three great plagues would be avoided, viz. free quarter, taxes and excise, and the people again live in peace and safety, whereas now under St. Oliver there is nothing but cutting of throats, and a daily increase of bondage and slavery," &c.

Mr. Attorney-General.—Now, my Lord, we shall come to his "Agreement of the People," &c. which strikes at the root of all government.

Lieutenant-Colonel Lilburne.—Pray, Sir, see if it be not licensed; and if so, question the licenser.

Mr. Attorney-General.—We shall question the author; read pages 2 and 3,

Wherein he says, "That the supreme power shall be lodged in the people's representatives, to the number of four hundred persons and no more, the places for and manner of election, with the salary for subsistence, to be settled by the present parliament, who are to act as a parliament till the month of August, 1649, and then end; and the new representatives to commence and sit the first Thursday after, and if this parliament should omit or be hindered from settling such election, that they should be elected at the same places, and in the same manner as usual, and the like number also; but that such persons should not be electors or elected as are excepted in the first, third, and fourth heads of the said book, called The Agreement, &c. and that all laws made or to be made contrary to this agreement should be void."

Mr. Attorney-General.—My Lords, Mr. Lilburne, in this Agreement, regulates the number of the supreme government, orders the time of dissolution of this parliament, and when his own shall meet; and that all laws contrary to this shall be void; and desires in his book before, that this Agreement may be the banner or centre to prosecute the design for destruction of the present government, which is treason; and now, my Lords, we shall proceed to shew the tendency of his "Outcry." Read page 11.

The substance of this is, "That the young men and apprentices of London, &c. are obliged to exert themselves, for their own and the nation's advantage; and neither to address, or suffer the tyrants in power to be addressed or petitioned, but to chuse some of the ablest amongst themselves, who would venture their lives