SHalt thou raign, because thou closest thy self in White-hall, guarded with Souldiers at the Commonwealths charge? We tell thee, Nay; except thou leave off thy hypocritical Mock-Fasts, and observe the true Fast which the Lord of hosts hath chosen, thou must also likewise perish. Jer. 22. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.

Is not this the fast that the Lord hath chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to take off the heavie burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break (not one, but) every yoke?

Notwithstanding,

Have not our burdens been increased, like Rehoboams little finger, which was thicker & heavier then his fathers loins?

Are not some of our brethren kept in remote places, from the company of their wives, children, and friends, under cruel and tedious imprisonment, (which is worse then death) after Tryals, and that they have been acquitted according to the Laws of the Land?

Do ye not keep others in prison by your arbitrary Wills, (so much heretofore complained of and fought against, in times of Kingship, as unlawful then; but now, all things must be lawful) without bringing them to any legal Tryal at all; contrary to all Law and Justice? Is not this notorious Injustice? and is it not impenitently and frequently practised amongst you? Is this to do as ye would be done unto? Is not Injustice done to one, done to all? For, what is one mans case to day, may be another mans case to morrow. Yet few lay it to heart: none goeth to White-hall to call for Justice, as they ought: for, Preaching, Scribling, nor Printing any thing, will ever prevail, or obtain any Justice from him in our case, no more then it did with the late King and his party, in Hampdens or rich mens case, till they were brought under imprisonment, and serv'd as they had served others; and then we saw it would not be accepted of: and so many of them have paid their utmost farthing. And yet this is no warning to others: for, Man being in honor, hath no understanding, (we see) but m [...]e compared to the beasts that perish. Read that please, Isa. 59. & consider it.

Do they not (as it's said of Alexander the Great) hate the Traytor, but love the Treason?

Is it not to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to house the harbourless, to release poor prisoners, and that ye hide not your selves from your own flesh?

Nevertheless,

Do not thousands both in Cities and Country perish for want of those Comforts?

Do not poor prisoners still lie roaring out at the Iron Grates, ready to perish for want of bread, and to be devoured by lice, un­released?

Do ye not, as it were, sit upon the Pinacle at White-hall, beholding the glory of three kingdoms subjected under your power, and fallen down to worship the devil, your own interest, by seeking riches and high Titles of honour, more then the honour of Je­sus Christ, and his poor oppressed people?

Did not some of you, about seven yeers since, fiercely accuse many members of the old Parliament to be corrupt, and betray­ers of their Trust, yet never brought them to any legal Tryal, as ye ought to do? and promised, that the world should see, you aimed at nothing of private revenge, as animosities, but, that Justice might have a free course, and the people eased and secured from such corrupt men for time to come & all this come to nothing, but setting your selvs up in their rooms. O brave Officers, O!

Now therefore be content; look upon (your own Declarations, and) us, for that it is evident to you, (and all the people of this Nation) if we lye, Job 6. 28. in any of these things before mentioned, and complained of.

Hath not the Earl of Kingston long since been declared and accused in print to be an oppressor? (which you cannot plead ig­norance to, considering many of the Papers were delivered to Lieutenant-Colonel Worsley at White hall, above two months since) and, it's believed, one of the greatest oppressors in England? and yet all these fat bulls and kine of Bashan, which oppress the poor, and destroy the needy, Amos 4. 1. slip thorow all your fingers, they are so greasie, that no justice can be obtained against them from you.

But this is our comfort,

The Lord God (our Protector) hath sworn by his holiness, that lo, the days shall come upon them, that he will take them away with hooks, and their posterity with fish-hooks, Amos 4. 2. (And we hope, (in his time) all such rebellious Sauls as ye are, also.)

This is he, that in Summer, 1653. procured many desperate unknown persons, armed with Guns, Pistols, Swords, Pike-staves, and other weapons, in a riotous manner, to enter upon the possession of another, and by force and arms cut down and carried away about 100 acres of grass and corn, contrary to the Laws in that case made and provided; and no right or justice can be had or obtained against him for it. By which rule, he may be encouraged to send them or some other, when he pleaseth, to cut their throats; and which no doubt he will do, if ever his great Master and Cosin Ch. Stuart prevail again. And it's thought needful to keep Guards for their safety and security at White-hall, which we help to maintain; yet we must have none to guard and secure us in the Country, though we pay for it, as aforesaid: nay, they would sooner take our Arms (if we had any) from us, and expose us to the worst of our enemies malice, as they have done to several persons formerly. This is good Justice also.

This is he, that assumes a priviledge still, as in times of Kingship, to answer Bills of Complaint exhibited against him, upon his Honour; (for it seems he sees no change, save in the Name onely) when alas! he has neither honour, nor common honesty, in his actions, as we could make appear in many particulars, if we could have justice against him.

This is he, that hath his hackney-winter-house, and his hackney-summer-house: but the Lord of hosts will smite them both; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the Lord, Amos 3. 15. And would you know the reason why? He hath eaten up the vineyard, the spoil of the poor is in his houses; yea, he beats the people to pieces, and grindes the faces of the poor. Contrary to the express minde of the Lord, even the Lord of hosts, Isai. 3. 14, 15. But the wo pronounced against him and his fellows, in time may overtake them. Isa. 5. 8, 9.

Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite them, and awake that shall vex them? and they shall be for booties unto them? Hab. 2. 7. And if you would know why, read also the 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 verses. Look to it, Tyrants and Oppressors.

For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it shall speak, and not lye: though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come; it will not tarry. Hab. 2. 3. And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? To whom will ye flee for help, and where will ye leave your glory? Isa. 10. 3.

Hath not the Lord commanded to execute judgment in the morning, and to deliver the oppressed out of the hand of the oppressor, under a severe punishment? Jer. 21. 11, 12. Jer. 22. 3. Zech. 7. 9, 10, 11. But thine eyes and thine beart are not but for thy covetousness, and for thine honour, and for to shed innocent blood, (by keeping men in perpetual im­prisonment, if not otherwise) and for oppression, and for violence, to do it. Jer. 22. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. For which cause, if it come to pass thou shouldst be buried with the burial of an Ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Sodom, alias London, (where many oppressed people are undone, let their cause be never so just, the cure being worse then the sore) who shall or will lament for him, saying, Ah Lord! or Ah his glory! or Highness? None but some of his creatures, that have been created by him; and dirt-daubers, that daub him with untempered mortar, for preferment and gain, and know they must stand or fall with him: hath he not good store of them? no doubt, 400. nay 4000 false prophets for one Micaiah, in these times.

And now, why is he wroth against us, (for telling him the truth) or why is his countenance fallen? If he did well, should he not be accepted? and if he hath not done well, sin lieth at his door; and, his sin assuredly will finde him out.

It was the oppressed Jews complaint, That the harvest was past, the summer was ended, and they were not holpen. How much greater cause then have we to complain as we do, seeing Thirteen bloody summers are past, and winters are ended, and yet are we not holpen?

We contend for nothing but Justice, and it's but Justice we crave; and Justice we will have. But if he still refuse to hearken, and put us off with delays, which are equal with denials; then, To your tents, O English-men: then, see to thine own house, Cromwel. (We will not be ridden like French asses, though thy saddle is upon our backs already.)

For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise (saith the Lord) I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. Psal. 12. 5.

It is written of that wicked Tyrant King Belshazzar, that whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive: and whom he would he set up, and whom he would he pull'd down. (Like as the old and new Parliaments were toss'd. Who will appear upon the next summons or election, think ye? none but fools, or some of his own creatures, that must act as he pleaseth, or else be pull'd our by the ears by his sword-men and musqueteers, as others have been formerly. O brave Oliver, O!) But when his heart was lifted up, and his minde hardned in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. Dan. 5. 19, 20. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

History informs us also, how Augustus Caesar, Antonius, and Lepidus, having got the power into their hands for five yeers, refused to resigne up their authority to the Romans (like our old Parliament) after those five yeers were expired, finding it much sweeter, and knowing it far safer, always to command, then ever to obey: But the Romans took an order with them, and so may others do with you, for all your Guards and Armies, if ye will not do it otherwise. Respice post te, hominem memento te.