A DECLARATION CONCERNING The Government of the three Nations OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, And IRELAND, By his Highneſs the Lord Protector CROMWEL: And His Speech to the Lord Commiſſioners of the broad Seal of England, and the Judges in their ſcarlet Gowns, and Robes, immediatly before he took the Chair of State, the City Sword, and Cap of Maintenance. VVith the Oath taken by His Highneſs; the ſubſcribing of the Inſtructions tendered unto Him by the ſaid Judges; the full particulars of this great and honorable Solemnization; the manner how he was proclaimed throughout the City of London, and the proclamation of the Council, to be publiſhed throughout all Counties, Cities, and Market-towns.
London, Printed by R. WOOD, 1653.
WHereas the late Parliament having upon their Diſſolution delivered up their Power and Authorities, which they received from his Excellency at their firſt ſitting by a Writing under their Hands and Seals: His Excellency thereupon called a Councel of Officers, and adviſed with other perſons of Intereſt in the Nation, how this great Burthen of governing England, Scotland, and Ireland, ſhould4 be born, and by whom; who after ſeveral Dayes ſeeking of God, and adviſing therein; It was reſolved that a Councel of godly able and diſcreet perſons ſhould be named, conſiſting of 21. And that his Excellency ſhould be choſen Lord Protector of the three Nations. In purſuance hereof, ſeveral perſons of eminency and worth, are already made choice of to be of the ſaid Councel. And on Friday laſt his Excellency went to Weſtminſter, where he was inſtalled Lord Protector of the three Nations; a Narration whereof take as followeth:
His Excellency about one of the clock in the afternoon went from White-Hall to Weſtminſter, to the Chancery Court, attended by the Lords Commiſſioners of the great Seal of England, Barons of the Exchequer, and Judges in their Robes; after them, the Councel of the Common-wealth, and the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Recorder of the City of London, in their ſcarlet Gowns; then came his Excellency, attended with many of the chief Officers of the Army, and a Chair of State being ſet in the ſaid Court of Chancery, His Excellency ſtood on the left hand thereof uncovered, till a large Writing in Parchment, in the nature of an Oath, was read; the ſubſtance wherof was, That he ſhould govern the three Nations of England, Scotland, and5 Ireland, according to the Fundamental Laws thereof; That he ſhould maintain the true Orthodox Miniſtery of the Church of England; and that He ſhould extirpate and aboliſh all Popery, Schiſmes, and Hereſie; and maintain and preſerve the peoples Rights, Priviledges, and Liberty, &c. Unto which Paper, or Oath, his Excellency ſubſcribed in the face of the court, ſaying, to this effect, That ſeeing it was the will of God, and the pleaſure of the council, that he ſhould be inveſted with ſo great an honour, as to be Lord Protector, that he deſired to rule and govern the three Nations no longer, then it might have a perfect dependancie on the great work of the Lord; that ſo the Goſpel might flouriſh in its full ſplendor and purity; and the people enjoy their juſt Rights and Propriety? His Speech being ended, he ſate down in the chair covered; and the Lords comiſſioners then delivered up the great Seal of England to his Excellency, and the L. Major his Sword and cap of Maintenance; all which his Excellency returned immediatly to them again: the court then roſe, and his Excellency was attended back as aforeſaid, to the Banquetting houſe in VVhite-hall, the Lord Mayor himſelf uncovered carrying the Sword before the Protector all the way; and coming in to the Banqueting houſe, there was great acclamations of joy.
6So that now this Common-wealth is become the Wonder and Emulation of Europe; nay, of the whole World: ſince that the Lord Protector is reſolved to defend and maintain our National Rights, Lawes, Liberties, and Priviledges, againſt all ſorts of perſons whatſoever that ſhall dare to attempt the violation or extirpation thereof. And indeed, deplorable is it unto many, to behold the bird-witted Opiniators of this Age, who already begin to breath forth a diſowning and diſlike of this great and unparallel'd Change. Alas! how great a madneſs are theſe Antinomies captivated with, who blindly endeavor the ruine of ſo prudent a Governor, ſo excellent a Protector. Defend Us, O God! from that unhappineſs, where our own Reaſon wil not be our friend! We have nothing amiſs almoſt in England, but where our7 wholeſome Lawes, and excellent Government is abuſed. Alas! how is the whole body of men wel compos'd, but valuing their Patrial Laws, are troubled at the preſent Change. But doubtleſs, our Protector wil conſider, that in theſe Impreſſions of idle heads, their own Intereſt ſuffers an unmannerly violation. Can it be, that ever theſe lunatick Braines wil be conſtant to their Governors, who not knovving vvhat to ask, yet are reſolved upon impetuous malice againſt thoſe Conſtitutions they breath under, and vvould involve the Common-Wealth into inextricable Labirynthes.
8The Lord Major and Aldermen being returned from this great ſolemnization, in purſuance thereof, on Munday went in their ſcarlet Gowns, to meet the Herauld of Armes, and to proclaim the Lord Protector, which was accordingly done by 12 Trumpets both in Cheapſide, and at the Royal Exchange, where the enſuing Proclamation was publikely read, to the end, that all men may conform and ſubmit themſelves to this preſent Government.
WHereas the late Parliament diſſolving themſelves, and reſigning their powers and Authorities, The Government of the Common-wealth of England, Scotland, Ireland, by a Lord Protector, and ſucceſſive Triennial Parliaments, is now eſtabliſhed; And whereas O. Cromwel Captain General of all the forces of this Commonwealth is declared Lord. Protector of the ſaid Nations, and hath accepted thereof: We have therefore thought it neceſſary (as we hereby do) to make publication of the premiſſes, and ſtrictly to charge and command all, and every perſon or perſons, of what quality and condition ſoever, in any of the ſaid three Nations, to take notice hereof, and to conform and ſubmit themſelves to the Government ſo eſtabliſhed. And all Sheriffs, Majors, Bayliffs, and other publike Miniſters, and Officers, whom this may concern, are required to cauſe this Proclamation to be forthwith publiſhed in their reſpective counties, cities, corporations, and Market towns; to the end none may have cauſe to pretend ignorance in this behalf.
Given at White-Hallthis 16 day of December, 1653.
(EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A80887)
Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 118119)
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