A happy handfull, or Green hopes in the blade; in order to a harvest, of the several shires, humbly petitioning, or heartily declaring for peace.

THE DECLARATION OF THE Gentry, Clergy, and Commonalty of the County of ESSEX.

WEre it not that our former too unhappy Zeal (in Idolizing those persons who are now become, by far more oppressing than the Egyptian Task-masters) at this time seconded with silence, would bespeak us stupid and insensible; we needed not to repeat the Sighs and Groans of an Oppressed and almost Ruined Kingdome: But lest a tacit silence should render us complaint with Their Sacrilegious and Regicidious Proceedings, we are necessitated to declare our present Thoughts and future Resolutions. We cannot look up∣on our present Rulers without casting an Eye upon a Militant Church, and there we finde them converting a House of Prayer into a Den of Thieves; an Orthodox, Learned and Reverend Clergy, by them reduced to the extremest want, under pretence of pro∣pagating the Gospel; and those (who are yet permitted to exer∣cise their Ecclesiastical Function) treatned to be deprived of Gods Allowance, except in effect, they will forsake Him, and fall down to their Baal. We cannot look into our Cloathing Towns, but we behold Famine ready to assault them, the poor and diligent Labourer, for want of work, not able to buy him bread, so that those, who before wrought with their hands at home, are now forced to wander abroad, and work with their tongues to beg life, whilst we, who although willing, are hardly able (through the Oppression which lyes upon us) to relieve them: And when we look upon the Instruments of these our

Miesries, and consider their Persons and Qualifications, we cannot finde one publick Spirit (not one wise man) among them; Their number is inconsistent with our Laws, and a large part of that small number are reputed Relatives to Gaoles and Brothil-houses: Persons who outwardly profess God, but in their lives and actions utterly deny him, who through their most perfi∣dious Treacheries, and reiterated Perjuries, have blasted the honour of our Nation, and rendred our Religion contemptible to all our Enemies; Who (while they pretend to strive for Religion and Liberties of the people) have no other Cause but Cains, thinking their Sins greater than can be forgiven; and therefore per fas, aut nefas, they endeavour to lay a foundation for their own Security, although in the Church and Kingdomes desolation. These Premises considered, we conceive our selves obliged, and therefore readily and unanimously we do declare, That with our Lives and Fortunes we will protect, abet, and assist all tho e worthy Remonstrators of the most Renowned City of London, ansd the several Counties of this Kingdome, in the pursuance of their se∣veral Declarations for a Full and Free Parliament; which is the onely means (under God) to bring us out of this miserable Confusion, in which at present we are plunged. And we further declare, That we will pay no Tax, or other Imposition whatsoever, but by Authority from our Representatives in a Full and Free Parlia∣ment: Into whose hands we shall commit our Lives and For∣tunes, and into whose Results we will ever acquiesce.

Our eyes are up unto our God for Help, and thence our Hopes are fixed on General Monke, that God hath called him forth to be the Ʋmpier and Determiner of our Divisions and Oppressions, by whom he will lead us through the Wilderness of our present Confusion, and bring us to our desired Canaan. In this Confi∣dence we pray to God to Bless, Direct, and Keep Him.

Advertisement.

THis our Declaration had came forth a week since, had not the Trappanning Diligence of an unworthy Member of our Country endeavoured the surprizal of it and us: Let not three

hundred and thirty hands (an inconsiderable number for so great a County) bespeak this Declaration forged, we being forced to do in one day the work we had cut out for seven; had we had time, we had brought ten thousand hands, such as upon a good occasion, will bring hearts suitable to the merits of their Cause.