Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/289

 Struggle for Constitutional Government 251 If we take a view of the several pretensions, carried on 323. Parties in the nation apart, we shall find the most considerable to ! n En S land be the Roman Catholic, the Royalist, the Presbyterian, the expediency Anabaptist, the Army, the Protectorian, and that of the of calling in Parliament. Charles II. ,_, . . . ., (From a 1. lis the Roman Catholics aim not only to abrogate pamphlet of the penal laws, and become capable of all employments in the time.) the Commonwealth, but to introduce his religion, to restore the rights of the Church, and utterly eradicate all that he esteems heresy. 2. 'Tis the Royalist's desire to bring in the king as a conqueror, to recover their losses in the late war, be ren- dered capable of civil employments, and have the former government of the Church. 3. 'Tis the Presbyterian's desire to set up his discipline, to have the covenant reenforced, and only such as take it to be employed in church or state ; to be indemnified in refer- ence to what they have done, and secured of what they possess. 4. 'Tis the wish of the baptized churches that there might be no ecclesiastical government of any kind, nor ministerial function, or provision for it ; and that only persons so minded should be capable of employment ; likewise to be indemni- fied for what they have done. 5. 'Tis the aim of the Army to govern the nation, to keep themselves from being disbanded, or engaged in war, to secure their pay, and to be indemnified for all past action. 6. 'Tis the desire of the family of the late Protector to establish the heir of the house, that they may rule him, and he the nation, and so both preserve and advance them- selves. 7. 'Tis the wish of the present Parliament (as far as they have one common design) to continue themselves in absolute power by the specious name of a popular government ; to new-model and divide, and, at last, take down, the Army ; and, finally, under the pretences of a committee of Parlia- ment, or council of state, set up an oligarchy resembling that of the Thirty Tyrants in Athens.