ected； and commanded by and with the advice of the Council of War； according to the orders of this commonwealth。 〃V。 That this commonwealth make no distinction of persons or parties； but every man being elected and sworn； according to the orders of the same； be equally capable of magistracy； or not elected； be equally capable of liberty； and the enjoyment of his estate free from all other than common taxes。 〃VI。 That a man putting a distinction upon himself； refusing oath upon election； or declaring himself of a party not conformable to the civil government； may within any time of his the three years' standing of the army transport himself and his estate； without molestation or impediment； into any other nation。 〃VII。 That in case there remains any distinction of parties not conforming to the civil government of this commonwealth； after the three years of the standing army being expired； and the commonwealth be thereby forced to prolong the term of the said army； the pay from henceforth of the said army be levied upon the estates of such parties so remaining unconformable to the civil government。〃
The proposer having ended his oration； the trumpets sounded； and the tribunes of the horse being mounted to view the ballot； caused the tribe （which thronging up to the speech； came almost round the gallery） to retreat about twenty paces； when Linceus de Stella； receiving the propositions； repaired with Bronchus de Rauco the herald； to a little scaffold erected in the middle of the tribe； where he seated himself； the herald standing bare upon his right hand。 The ballotins； having their boxes ready； stood before the gallery； and at the command of the tribunes marched； one to every troop on horseback； and one to every company on foot； each of them being followed by other children that bore red boxes： now this is putting the question whether the question should be put。 And the suffrage being very suddenly returned to the tribunes at the table； and numbered in the view of the proposers； the votes were all in the affirmative； whereupon the red or doubtful boxes were laid aside； it appearing that the tribe； whether for the negative or affirmative； Was clear in the matter。 Wherefore the herald began from the scaffold in the middle of the tribe； to pronounce the first proposition； and the ballotins marching with the negative or affirmative only； Bronchus； with his voice like thunder； continued to repeat the proposition over and over again； so long as it was in balloting。 The like was done for every clause； till the ballot was finished； and the tribunes assembling； had signed the points； that is to say； the number of every suffrage； as it was taken by the secretary upon the tale of the tribunes； and in the sight of the proposers； for this may not be omitted： it is the pulse of the people。 Now whereas it appertains to the tribunes to report the suffrage of the people to the Senate； they cast the lot for this office with three silver balls and one gold one； and it fell upon the Right Worshipful Argus de Crookhorn； in the tribe of Pascua； first tribune of the foot。 Argus； being a good sufficient man in his own country； was yet of the mind that he should make but a bad spokesman； and therefore became something blank at his luck； till his colleagues persuaded him that it was no such great matter； if he could but read； having his paper before him。 The proposers； taking coach； received a volley upon the field； and returned in the same order； save that； being accompanied with the tribunes； they were also attended by the whole prerogative to the piazza of the Pantheon； where； with another volley； they took their leaves。 Argus； who had not thought upon his wife and children all the way； went very gravely up： and everyone being seated； the Senate by their silence seemed to call for the report； which Argus； standing up； delivered in this wise：
〃RIGHT HONORABLE LORDS AND FATHERS ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT：
〃So it is； that it has fallen to my lot to report to your excellencies in the votes of the people； taken upon the 3d instant； in the first year of this commonwealth； at the halo； the Right Honorable Phosphorus de Auge in the tribe of Eudia； Dolabella d'Enyo in the tribe of Turmae； and Linceus de Stella in the tribe of Nubia； lords commissioners of the great seal of Oceana； and proposers pro temporibus； together with my brethren the tribunes； and myself being present。 Wherefore these are to certify to your fatherhoods； that the said votes of the people were as follows； that is to say：
To the first proposition； nemine contradicente； To the second； nemine contradicente； To the third； the like； To the fourth； 211； above half； To the fifth； 201； above half； To the sixth； 150； above half； in the affirmative； To the seventh； nemine contradicente again； and so forth。
〃My Lords； it is a language that is out of my prayers； and if I be out at it； no harm 〃But as concerning my Lord Archon （as I was saying） these are to signify to you the true…heartedness and goodwill which are in the people； seeing by joining with you； as one man； they confess that all they have to give is too little for his highness。 For truly fathers； if he who is able to do harm； and does none； may well be called honest； what shall we say to my Lord Archon's highness； who having had it in his power to have done us the greatest mischief that ever befell a poor nation； so willing to trust such as they thought well of； has done us so much good； as we should never have known how to do ourselves？ Which was so sweetly delivered by my Lord Chancellor Phosphorus to the people； that I dare say there was never a one of them could forbear to do as I do…and； it please your fatherhoods； they be tears of joy。 Aye； my Lord Archon shall walk the streets （if it be for his ease I mean） with a switch； while the people run after him and pray for him； he shall not wet his foot； they will strew flowers in his way； he shall sit higher in their hearts； and in the judgment of all good men； than the kings that go upstairs to their seats； and one of these had as good pull two or three of his fellows out of their great chairs as wrong him or meddle with him； he has two or three hundred thousand men； that when you say the word； shall sell themselves to their shirts for him； and die at his foot。 His pillow is of down； and his grave shall be as soft； over which they that are alive shall wring their hands。 And to come to your fatherhoods； most truly so called； as being the loving parents of the people； truly you do not know what a feeling they have of your kindness； seeing you are so bound up； that if there comes any harm； they may thank themselves。 And； alas！ poor souls； they see that they are given to be of so many minds； that though they always mean well； yet if there comes any good； they may thank them that teach them better。 Wherefore there was never such a thing as this invented； they do verily believe that it is no other than the same which they always had in their very heads； if they could have but told how to bring it out。 As now for a sample： my lords the proposers had no sooner said your minds； than they found it to be that which heart could wish。 And your fatherhoods may comfort yourselves； that there is not a people in the world more willing to learn what is for their own good； nor more apt to see it； when you have showed it them。 Wherefore they do love you as they do their own selves； honor you as fathers； resolve to give you as it were obedience forever； and so thanking you for your most good and excellent laws； they do pray for you as the very worthies of the land； right honorable lords and fathers assembled in Parliament。〃
Argus came off beyond his own expectation； for thinking right； and speaking as he thought； it was apparent by the house and the thanks they gave him； that they esteemed him to be absolutely of the best sort of orators； upon which having a mind that till then misgave him； he became very crounse； and much delighted with that which might go down the next week in print to his wife and neighbors。 Livy makes the Roman tribunes to speak in the same style with the consuls； which could not be； and therefore for aught in him to the contrary； Volero and Canuleius might have spoken in no better style than Argus。 However； they were not created the first year of the commonwealth； and the tribunes of Oceana are since become better orators than were needful。 But the laws being enacted； had the preamble annexed； and were delivered to Bronchus； who loved nothing in the earth so much as to go staring and bellowing up and down the town； like a stag in a forest； as he now did； with his fraternity in their coats…of…arms； and I know not how many trumpets； proclaiming the act of parliament； when； meeting my Lord Archon； whom from a retreat that was without affectation； as being for devotion only and to implore a blessing by prayer and fasting upon his labors； now newly arrived in town； the herald of the tribe of Bestia set up his throat； and having chanted out his lesson； passed as haughtily by him as if his own had been the better office； which in this place was very well taken； though Bronchus for his high mind happened afterward upon some disasters； too long to tell； that spoiled much of his embroidery。 My Lord Archon's arrival being known； the signory； accompanied by the tribunes； repaired to him； with the news he had already heard by the herald； to which my lord strategus added that his highness could not doubt upon the demonstrations given； but the minds of men were firm in the opinion that he could be no seeker of himself in the way of earthly pomp and glory； and that the gratitude of the Senate and the people could not therefore be understood to have any such reflection upon him。 But so it was； that in regard of dangers abroad； and parties at home； they durst not trust themselves without a standing army； nor a standing army in any man's hands but those of his highness。 The Archon made answer； that he ever expected this would be the sense of the Senate and the people； and this being their sense； he should have been sorry they had made choice of any other than himself for a standing general； first； because it could not have been more to t