EIGHTEEN COURT-QUERIES, &c.
I.
WHether this Lord Protectors Patience in letting go his•old ſo calmly, and tamely, were in him a Vertue, or not? and if it were a Vertue, whether Neceſſity did not make it ſo?
II.
Whether eight thouſand pounds per annum, and withall free liberty to take the Country Air, be not very ſufficient an reaſonable conſiderations, and ſtipend, for the old Protectreſs; as a very gratefull acknowledgment from our Free-State, of the good ſervice which her husband in his life time did for this Commonwealth? and whether or no ſhe ought in conſcience to flight and undervalue this ample teſtimony of the Officers good af•ection, and charity to her?
III.
Whether if the Sky ſhould f•ll there world be any work for a Lark-catcher at Whitehall?
IV.
Whether the Army ought not to have given to them, new Red Coats, and black buttons now, to mourn for the Depar ure of this Protector, as well as they had for the Deceaſe of•he Old one?
V.
That ſeeing ſo it is, and muſt, and ſhall be, that the Courtiers muſt of neceſſity repair all of them to their reſpective dwelling, and habitations, bag and baggage; whether it would not be a greater expence and burthen to the States (upon whoſe hands they yet lye) to ſend for Mules out of Egypt for their Convoy; than〈◊〉them their next neighbours in James his Park (the Aſſes) to perform that piece of drudgery?
VI.
VVhether or no Peter Sterry, the Court Confeſſ•ur, when he preach'd in the Chapell the very next Lords day after his H•ghueſſe cied, and uttered in that his Sermo•there, words, either theſe, or to this effect, (viz.) [As certainly as I hold the word of God in my left hand, ſo certainly is his late Highneſſe now at the right hand of God, interceding for the iniquities of this ſinfull Nation:] did not commit an high, and moſt horrid piece of blaſphemy? And then, whether He does not therefore very well deſerve to be a fellow-ſeeler o•James Naylour's Sentence, and to be as coarſly uſed as He, who yet continues at his expiatory task of pounding hemp in the Houſe of Correction?
VII.
VVhether or not, Dr. John Owen, and Dr. Thomas Goodwin, would make it any〈◊〉of matter of Conſcience to3 accept of the two Archbiſhopricks of York and Canterbury if the State could think fit to reward their endeavours with ſo rich a profer?
VIII.
VVhether it be not very fitting, and neceſſary, and much tending to the gladding of the Hearts of many men, that the Banquetting houſe at Whitehall be ſpeedily remoov'd from thence, and carried croſſe the way to Wallingford-houſe, for the noble Officers of our invincible, and ſucceſſefull Armies, to triumph in, after all their encounters, and valiant atchievements? And whether the State would not do well as to that end and purpoſe, with all expedition poſſible, to make all the Citizens Pioneers for the carrying on of that Great Work.
IX.
VVhether theſe Proverbs following 1. That ſome man man may better ſteal a Gooſe, than another pluck a feather? 2. That bought wit is best? 3. That Occaſion makes the thief? be all moſt true and authentick, and confirm'd by modern experience, yea, or no?
X.
VVhether it may conſiſt with the tender, and delicate education of our new Ladies of Honour, to dabble through the Country dew theſe Summer mornings with a milking pail on their heads? and conſequently, whether it is not likely to be very much prejudicial to their beauties, to go (after this•tate) out of God's bleſſing, into the Warm Sun?
XI.
VVhether illiterate men, partial, covetous, worldly minded, ſelf-ended greedy of gain, having mens perſons in admiration, naughty, an hypocritical, be competent judges (according to the Cano•of the•oly VVrit) of Students in both Univerſities of our Land, for the diſcharge of the moſt ſacred Miniſterial Function?
XII.
VVhether Mr. Hugh Peters, when he kept daily and•ightly correſpondence with the Gentleman's wife in the Low-Countries, during the abſence of her husband, upon ſervice in the worres, did punctual y perform that•readfull threatning of his, in the hear of his Zeal againſt Popery, That He would lay the whore of Babylon upon h•r back? And whether that mad〈◊〉Spirit wherewith he ſeems alwayes poſſeſs'd, becomes a man of peace, or ſuits with the meekneſſe, and humility of the glorious Goſpell?
XIII.
VVhether Mr. Needham the Curranto-maker, the Court Pamphleteer, being an impudent fellow, a lye•, and forger of forein le•ters; a mercenary in•ormer, an abuſer, and baſe vilifier of worthy and eminent perſons; an inſulter over gallant mens afflictions, and miſeries; A murtherer of mens•ame, credit & reputation, to their utter and moſt inevitable ruine and deſtruction; does not very well deſerve to forfeit his Eares to the Pillory?
XIV.
VVhether all the men of the three Nations that lately made〈◊〉to his Highneſſe; are dead or alive?
XV.
VVhether now, Whitehall be not a place commodious to make a Play-houſe of, having been accuſtomed for theſe many yeares to ſuch alteration of Scaenes? and the penſioners, &c. well accompliſht to turn Stage-Players? Firſt, becauſe it is conceiv'd they have now little elſe to do. Secondly, becauſe they have been bred up upon that Stage, and can act any part; and Thirdly, becauſe they never wear good cloaths longer than the Play continues.
XVI.
VVhether the old Protector's Cradles ſtanding in Weſtminſter Abby in the ſame place where the High Altar, or Communion Table formerly ſtood, is not the ſetting up of one Superſt•tion where another Superstition (as 'twas termed) was pull'd down? and whether the Eſſigies, when it was there, might not be call'd, without any abuſe of Scripture, the abhomination of deſolation in the holy place?
XVII.
VVhether the wainſcot Preſſe that is made in Henry the ſeventh his Chapell, for reception of the aforementioned Idoll, being as yet empty, and thought unfitting for that Employment, would not ſerve a great deal better to keep in it the ſacred Reliques of VVell-affected Perſons in the Commonwealth? as for example, The Lord Brooks's Eye; The flappets of Mr. William Prynn's Eares; My Lord of Eſſex's Prolifick Inſtrument; Sir John Hotham's Head; Lundsford's teeth; Mildmaye's Jewels; Dr. Doriſlaus's four quarters; Alderman Hoyle's Rope; the dagger that kill'd Watt Tyler; The Lord Pride's ſlings and tallies; the Lord Hewſon's ſhooing-horn; the Lord Barkſtead's thimbles and bodkins; with many other remarkable things of this nature, which it may be elſe may happen to be loſt or forgotten?
XVIII.
VVhether all theſe eighteen Queries, are not worthy the peruſal of every ſober, melancholy man? and very mainly effectnal (if they may but be anſwered according to the earneſt longings, gapings, and expectations of the honeſt people of this Commonwealth) to remove a great many ſcurvy, baſe incommodities, dammages, and inconveniences, which otherwiſe may chance to fall upon us?