AS we are English-men we are all incorporated into one Body, and though [...] and different Families, Fortunes and Qua­ [...] yet fellow Members and Col [...]irs of one and the same Bir [...]g [...]t, not only by [...], as we are the Sons of [...]en, ( [...] obliging all in [...]e Common and equal Bond of Freedom and Unity) but b [...]ce ta [...] sacred Laws and Customes of peculiar and inhe­rent Flight to this Nation; general; equal and impartiall to all [...] with­out effect of persons, rank, quality, or degree, de [...]ved through all suc­cessions of Ages by the Blood, Justice, and prudence of our Fore fathers to us their Posterity, as ours, and the Right of our Children after us, not [...] it able: though this Age were wholly made up or Apostates and Traytors to Common Justice and Freedom, and should make sale of, and deliver up their Children as Slaves and Vassals, yet English I Right at [...], to wit, our [...]st Lawes and Liberties, and may justly beste-inforced as oporturity may present; Sometimes they sleep, but never die, their total E [...]tingu [...]ment is not to be imagined so long as any English-man, or English-blood abideth: and whoever undertaketh (though by Arms, or otherwise) their recovery and Redemption, is justified in that very Action by the Laws of God, of Nations, Nature, Reason, and [Page 2]by the Laws of the Land; and within the Bowels of our Nation among our selves no War can be justified, but upon that score; the contrary is Sedition, Murder, Treason, Tyranny, and what not? and the Instru­ments thereof no other in the Eye of English Freedom and Right, but as Bears, Wolves, and other Beasts of prey.

Now right worthy and noble Citizens, and all other our English Bre­thren, let us consider and lay to heart the sad and deplorable condition of our native Countrey, Oppression, Injustice, and Tyranny reigneth; Division, Discord, and Dissimulation fomented and fostered; Trade and industry discouraged, our Land-rent into parties and factions, and the common Band of Unity Cancell'd, our Fundamentall Laws supplanted, High Courts of Justice introduced, the blood of War shed in times of Peace; A bitrary and illegal imprisonments, Pattents, Monopolies, Excise, and other payments brought upon us, and continued contrary to Magna Charta, and the Petition of Right; no form or face of Govern­ment of English Constitution among us; the Name and Authority of the People in Parliament usurped and abused, and the stamp thereof put upon strange and prodigious Actions, vexing and oppressing the People with daily changes and alterations in Government, as the Interest of some few ambitious Grandees alter and change or [...] advantages one of another, and all under the [...]am [...] of a Common-wealth, when as the Nature is not practised or intended at all, it being utterly incons [...]ent with their very temper and interest: they are wrapt up and compound­ed of nothing but guilt, blood, and Tyranny; and Equal and Common Justice (the Essence of a Common wealth) are utterly repugnant there­to; and whatsoever they [...], must be planted and maintained by Sword and violence, against the very Heart and Sence of the Nation; and they know not where; nor [...]ow to centre an Oligarchy, [...] some­thing they would have to be Masters of the People, and perpetuate their power and Tyranny, and therefore would amaze and confound us with their New Debates of a Co-ordinute Power, or Senate for life, such as our English Laws and Liberties know not of, and of pernitious Consequence to this Nation; so that from these men that thus handle the Stern at VVestminster, there is no expectation of any just settlement of Peace or Freedom from Oppression; especially considering the Apostacy, Hy­pocrisie, Deceipt, and Perjury of those men: their manifold solemn En­gagements, Oaths, Vows, Protestations, Appeals unto Heaven; Pro­mises, Remonstrances, Declarations, all by them broken again and again; never keeping Faith, Truce or Oath; being unbounded, unlimitted, cer­tain to nothing, not to be held either by the Law of God, of Man, of [Page 3]Conscience, or Reason: and from such persons in Government good Lord deliver [...], and all the good People of England [...] And that all this is true of them, your own Consciences Noble Citizens, and all other the Free people of England can witness; there is no tongue, no pen is able to vindicate them in this point, it is known of all, owned by all, and can be denied by none; how then can any honest or just man shed any blood in their Quarrel, of lend them Assistance? surely that blood will be re­quired at their hands, and we doubt not but you will be carefull what you do.

And therefore from those Considerations and just provocations we have taken up Arms in pursuance of, and Inquisition after our Govern­ment, Lawes, and Liberties, that every English-man may be protected and secured in his Religion, Liberty, and property: and though it may be suggested, that we intend to introduce Prosecution for Conscience in­to the Land again, we do hereby (in the presence of Almighty God) pro­test and declare against all Coercive Power in matter of Religion, and that to the utmost of our strength (through Gods assistance) we will en­deavour (to the hazzard of our blood and Fortunes) the Freedom and protection of all vertuous and religious people, by what name soever differenced from us, equall with our selves: And that no Forreign or other Authority (s [...]ve only the Civil) be exercised in England: That the practise of the Law be reformed; all corrupt Statute repealed; Annual Elections of all Officers and Magistrates, with the constant Suc­cession of Parliaments restored; our Fundamental Laws cleared and as­serted, and whatever is contrary there to be abolished; That no Tayals be admitted in England for Life, Limb, Liberty, or Estate, but by the good old way of Juries, and that they be restored to their Original po­wer and purity: That all Extrajudicial and illegal proceedings by High-Courts of Justice, or otherwise, with all Illegal and Arbitrary Comittees be strictly provided against: That the Excise and all other Payments and Taxes such as our Ancestors never knew of, together with all Monopo­lies and Patents destructive to Trade and the Comnion good of the Na­tion be also abolished: And, that our Parliaments and Magistrates be se­cured from all Force and Violence, and utterly cleared from all bound­less Prerogative, and unlimited priviledge: That the Right of the Poor in the Commons of England, all Donations for Charitable Uses, and all Lands formerly belonging to the People be restor'd again: And that Mercy and Justice be truly established amongst us. And for these ends and what else may be of publick good to the Nation, we do desire, and [Page 4]indeed challenge as of English Right the speedy Election of a New Free, Parliament.

And thus Most noble Citivens, Brethren and fellow Free [...] of Eng­land, we have dealt [...] and plainly with you, and given you the real Grounds and Reason of our taking up Arms; I [...]king upon you as the most concern [...] this Nation, and therefore hold our selves, the more oblieged to give you this I only Advice of ou [...] Candid and Just Intenti­ons in this Undertaking, that you [...]ay not be deluded or flighted (though [...]als [...]y) into any strange opinion of us, either through your own mistake, or by the policy of those men, who will leave no means unat­ten [...]ed to [...] us as Publick Enemies, Rebels and Traytors, Plun­derers, Tyranus and Persecuters, or whatever is odicus and monstrous, to engage you in Blood.

Were [...]e us, Right worthy Citizens, and Free-born English Brethren, [...] have no design of Fire or Sword, or of Evil toward you or your Ci­ty, o [...] any pa [...]t of the Nation, or any person in it: We know there are thousand amongst you that are satisfied in us; it may be indeed that [...] the [...]a [...]hoted Seperate Churches may be fearfull and jealous of us; and sol may be [...] to Arm: against us; but we do again and again protest before Almighty God, and the whole World, that we have no other purpose towards them, but that they with us, and we with them, may be bound up as Friends and Brethren in the Common [...], that every English man may have English Free­dome and Right; and we do not de [...]e to wrong either Man; Woman, of Child the worth of a Shooe- [...]a [...]cher [...] Therefore we hope you will ad­vise before you proceed in a new War lest you bring not only your own, but others blood on your heads (for we [...] resolved to prose [...]te this to the last drop of our blood.) The Gaser of England is laid before you our Laws and Liberties, they are [...]ours as well as ours, and for which we have all engaged in the first War, and not to he so streightly vallued, as to be set at stake against the private ends of [...] ambitious and corrupt persons: Salus Populi, Suprema Lex, Let the People live, and their, Enemies perish.

Therefore we beseech you, we conjure you as English-men, to stand by your Native Country, and your Countries Cause: Our voy [...]e is and it is no other than the Consent and Voy [...]e of the People, A new free Parliament, A new free Parliaments, it is the English mans Birth-right, which we are resolved to put the People in possession of, or to perish with our Swords in our hands. But if you will not joyn but degenerate, we hope notwithstanding (by Gods blessing) to carry on this Work: yet [Page 5]that just and glorious Work we may challange your concurrence, it being your duty as well as ours to endeavour the procurement thereof: And therefore to you make it our Proposal, to your Militia, to the Army, and the whole People, for the prevention of a New War, and the effu­sion of English blood, that you would be Instrumental with us for the speedy Election of a New-Free-Parliament, for the ends aforesaid; and in the neer in all host [...]ity to [...]e forborn, and that a cay may be appoin­ted, and the People suffered to go to their free Elections, and we shall quietly submit unto their Authority; heartily de [...]ing that all revenge, division, [...] or, and a [...]osity of spirit may be for ever buried in one General Act of Oblivion; And that all Parties, Sects, and Sorts (now ja [...]ng, and making up interests one against another) may reconcile, ce­ment, and concente in the common Brotherhood of English Freedome and Right; in and for which we are.

HAd you declared more for THINGS then MEN, more for GO­VERNMENT then GOVERNOURS, we might perhaps have acquiessed, or concurred with you; But to hope only for CHANGES of Governours, which you your selves acknowledge Vexation and Op­pression, can be but variety of Miseries, not true and certain comfort or satisfaction.

You Declare against those men That handle the Helm at VVestmin­ster. Are we sure you are better?

You cry up Magna Charta, Fundamental Law, Birth-rights, Liberties, Taking off Taxes: So do they. You swear it: So have they. You will secure Parl. & Magistrates from violence, and Protect us: so do they. But can you do it without an Army? And if by an Army, is it not the same thing? Unlesse you have gotten the secreet of Dr. Chamberlen's Chimera, to maintain an Army without Taxes; and the poor without invading Proprieties. But why will you do it now, and not when you were of the Parliament? Was not Sir George Booth and Sir Tho. Mid­dleton, and others of you sometimes of this very Parliament? Did you not Vote and Declare, and Swear with them? Nay, did you not Vote us into Blood, Oaths and Protestations, and there leave us? And now we en [...]oy some Peace, would you engage us into Blood again? 'Tis you and su [...]h as you have occasioned our Armies, and for that cause are Taxes raised to maintain those Armies, which you occasioned; And it is su­spected, that had not your party used your Cat's Paw for an Order for Tythes, to diso [...]lidge the Parliaments friends and grati [...]e the Enemies (your Pulpit Heralds) to embolden them to P [...]each Sedition by the Hour, and betray the very Conscience to Rebellion; And for an Act to raise a Militia to Pay the Army, or at least provoke them to jealousie, contriving the Common people into a Tribe of Isachar couching be­tween two Burthens; And an Act for new Assessements one year and three Moneths before hand; whil'st they that gleaned away the old ones and many Millions more, are secured by an Act of Indempnity, to in­cense the whole Nation the more against them you had not so far ad­vanced in your Rebellion, as to begin a new War.

You hope we will advise before we preceed to a new War, and in the [Page 7]mean time you Act it: proclaiming you will hazzard your Blood, and pe­rish with your Swords in your hands: And that when no sign of War remained but an Army; An Army that had nothing to do but to receive Pay. Ought you not first to have advised with us? Is it so you mean to Protect us, by fighting with us? For you say, You will Protect us. But can you Protect your selves? Why should you be our Protectors? Why not we yours? You will Protect us if we submit to you: so will the Turk or any forreign Prince. We have too lately felt the weight of a Protector. The Lord Protect us, and then we shall not need you nor any else; yea He hath protected us, for He is our Judge, our Lord, our King, he will [...]ave us.

Your Result is, To give us a Free Parliament. What's that? To bring us back to 41 or 42? That were to fight over the same lesson again. Why do you not speak out, and say you would have a King? Or, must we be subject both to Sir George Booth & a King? For both Proclamations were contemporary. This jugling away the lives and souls of men is a sad businesse. A Free Parliament hath been pretended in the several Moods and Figures of the Old Protector, till at last we came to a Linsy-Woolsy Parliament of English, Scottish and Irish, as being all alike en­slaved to his Will, And the first work was in pure zeal, to enslave the Conscience of those whom their godly Ministers could not convince: whose powerful preaching hath at last enslaved you into this Bellum Presbyteriale, Wherein though you challenge us, to be of the same Bo­dy of the English Nation; yet you cannot be ignorant, that if every member of the Body inflame into a Gangreen, it must be cut off lest the whole perish.

A Free Parliament you fight for secured from Violence: And a Free Parliament we have already secured from Violence, secured even from your violence that would invade it. A Parliament freely chosen in the most dangerous of times. A Parliament confirmed by King and Lords, and owned by all the Counties of the Nation. A Parl [...]ament whose Au­thority God himself hath owned, and born witnesse to in all the great things he hath done in these three Nations: and hath miraculously gi­ven them a Resurrection beyond the very design of those that brought it to passe. And whilest this is printing sendeth Tidings of Victory in fur­ther confirmation. A Parliament sifted and refined. Would you have it now fil'd with drosse again and rubbish?

But you despise it because the number is small, Will you despise the day of small things? You despise it because deserted by so many: There­fore the more they are to be esteemed, who so long have continued con­stant. [Page 8]But you could not Act with them, or some of you were driven away from them; the more unfit such to be [...] Parliaments, who want eit [...]e wisdom to argue out a good Cause, it they [...], or valour to protest against a bad one, o [...]dy in the controve [...] And now at present, had you [...]ad reason in your doings, what needed you a [...] ­ter [...] ought [...]y force, since Beasts overco [...] by force, and Men by Rea­son, even to the engagin, of force against unreasonable and beastly Men.

But why is the spleen against these men? Can you exclude the your New Parliament, who could not [...] their choice your Inst motley Parliament, nor outereason their Arguments against you, though [...] under one roof? And why must you do it in haste and all in [...]lood [...]? Could you not stay till their short me by themselves Emitted to May next, to have left the without excuse? For whilest you now find fa [...]le, you furn [...] them with just excuses and vindreations, by your frequent and most dangerous interruptions.

We know the Liberty of the Nation is invaded, Treasure wasted, and Trade decayed, and the poor famished; But is all that to be mended by your Laws, They are the Laws that cause them. For whilest the Legisla­tive Power remains in lowder ye [...]s, or nays of Parliament, though many things may be unjust, yet nothing is illegal, especially being into pre [...]ed by a gang of Judges and Lawyers, alwa [...]es to want is uppermost. And this is the reason why Lawes are as Changeable [...]. And [...] prove [...] good; New Lords new Laws. Whereas if the [...] power be owned by whom Kings Reign, Whereby in King Alfred days Peace and prosperity rejoyced this whole Nations And in King Solomons dayes Silve was as the Stones in Jerusalem, and all the people dwelt in lafety every man under his own Vine and under his [...]. Then may we [...]oyn in peace with joy and gladness, eating and drinking and making merry, and none to make us afraid. Then shall we nay Judges as at first, and Counsellors as at the beginning. All tears shall he wiped from our eys, all sorrows from our hearts. The poor shall be no more Oppressed, nor honest men Arrested, nor Imprisoned Men shall no more be Prest to fight against their Will or Conscience But our Swords shall be bearen into Plough-shares, and our Spears into pruning hooks; Nor shall there be any complaint in all the Holy Mountain of the Lord.