eir diligence, purses and blood from
under the Kingly Tyrant's and Oppressor's Power.

"THE WORK OF A PARLIAMENT--SECONDLY,

"Is to abolish all old Laws and Customs which have been the
strength of the Oppressor, and to prepare and then to enact new
Laws for the ease and freedom of the people, but yet not without
the people's knowledge.[197:1]

"For the work of a Parliament herein is three-fold:

"_First_, When old Laws and Customs of the Kings do burden the
people, and the people desire the remove of them, and the
establishment of more easy Laws: it is now the work of a Parliament
to search into Reason and Equity, how relief may be found for the
people in such a case, and to preserve a Common Peace. And when
they have found a way by debate of counsel among themselves,
whereby the people may be relieved, they are not presently to
establish their conclusions for a Law. But in the next place they
are to make a public declaration thereof to the people of the Land,
who choose them, for their approbation. And if no objection come in
from the people within one month, they may then take the people's
silence as a consent thereto. And then, in the third place, they
are to enact it for a Law, to be a binding rule to the whole Land.
For as the remove of the old Laws and Customs is by the people's
consent, which is proved by their frequent petitionings and
requests; so the enacting of new Laws must be by the people's
consent and knowledge likewise. And here they are to require the
consent, not of men interested in the old oppressing Laws and
Customs,[197:2] as Kings used to do, but of them who have been
oppressed. And the reason is this: Because the people must be all
subject to the Law, under pain of punishment, therefore it is all
reason that they should know it before it be enacted, so that if
there be anything of the Counsel of Oppression in it, it may be
discovered and amended."

ANSWERS TO TWO OBJECTIONS.

"But you will say, If it must be so, then will men so differ in
their judgements that we shall never agree.

"I answer: There is but Bondage and Freedom, _particular_ Interest
or _common_ Interest; and he who pleads to bring in particular
interest into a Free Commonwealth, will presently be seen and cast
out, as one bringing in Kin