Diary of Thomas Burton, Esq., Member in the Parliaments of Oliver and Richard Cromwell, from 1656 to 1659 (Volume 1); Now First Published from the Original Autograph Manuscript. with an Introduction, Containing an Account of the Parliament of 1654 from Th (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1828. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... had been before designed for the assessments, to lay the negatives aside, for this day, and to fall upon the assessments, which accordingly was done. At first, some little overtures were made, as if, perhaps, there might not be any necessity at all for an assessment. In consequence of that, it was desired that some scrutiny might be made, and some consideration had of what forces were necessary to be continued, and an inspection to be had of the revenue and the public treasury, that so, by reducing our charge and improving our stock, we might, if possible, make the one to answer the other, without an assessment.* Then, the professors of religion, through all their varieties, and even of irreligion, (in the opinion of those who unscrupulously "judge another man's servant") while they "study to be quiet" may be allowed to "do their own business." The great minister Colbert, is said to have once invited the merchants of France to consider how commerce might be promoted by the patronage or control of government; when they wisely replied, "Laisez nousfaire." * "To that end, it was proposed that the standing forces to be continued, according to the Instrument, were but 30,000, and the Lord Protector, in his speech, did intimate that he was not bound up to that number, but that if 10,000 foot and 5,000 horse would serve the turn, he should be satisfied. But, admit that 30,000 men should be the utmost establishment, it was conceived that 50,000/. per mensem, would defray that charge, which in the whole year might amount to 6 or 700,000/. That the charge of the Protector and the Government was to be 200,000/. per annum. And that in King James, and the late King's time, the charge of the navy did not ordinarily exceed 200,000/. per annum, which in all makes not above 1,100,00...