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 AND ADDRESS Of the GENTRY of the County of ESSEX, who have adhered to the KING, and suffered Imprisonment or Sequestration, during the late Troubles.

May it please your Excellency,

WE the Gentlemen of the County of ESSEX, taking notice how industrious some pernicious and desperate persons have been to raise a jea∣lousie, that all who adhered to the KING have such a a Settlement of rancour and revenge in their hearts, a∣gainst those who were of a different party, that the bles∣sing of a firm and lasting PEACE, so long wisht for, and now hoped to be in a near Propinquity, is not likely to take its due and desired effect, have thought fit to express the true sense of our hearts, in a Declaration which we have enclosed herein, Conceiving it very fitting, not to make the same more publick, till it hath first arrived at the view of your Excellency, whom God hath been plea∣sed to make so signally eminent in the delivering of this Nation from those pressing miseries it hath so long lay panting and groaning under; and for which, as we can

never enough magnifie his mercy, so can we not suffici∣ently express that high Honour and Respect which we re∣tain in our hearts towards your Excellency, the great and worthy instrument he hath been pleased to make use of therein.

MY LORD,

We subscribe our selves, Your Excellencies most Humble and Devo∣ted Servants.

Chelmesford, April 17. 1660.

This was subscribed by the Gentry, whose names are expressed under the subsequent Declaration, and superscribed To his Excellency the Lord General MONCK.

The DECLARATION.

WHereas Almighty God hath raised this distra∣cted Nation to some hopes of Re-settlement on Just, Known, and lasting Foundations: We magnifie his mercy from the bottom of our hearts, and shall ever pay a most grateful Acknowledgment to his Ex∣cellency the Lord Gen. MONCK as the signal Instrument of so great a Deliverance.

And whereas some pernicious and desperate persons have laboured to raise a Jealousie, that those who adhered to the KING doe still in their hearts detain Revenge against such as were of a different Party: We think our selves bound to declare to all the World (in the presence of God) that we detest and abhor all thoughts of Animosity or re∣venge against any Party or Persons whatsoever. For as

we could wish the late Divisions had never been begotten, so we desire they may for ever be buried, and shall think those Persons the greatest and common Enemies of our Country who shall offer to revive them. And we also de∣clare, That we will thankfully submit and attend the Re∣solutions of the next ensuing Parliament, for a just and hap∣py Settlement of Church and State, that so at last (by Cods blessing) that so those odious marks of Sides and Parties may for ever be blotted out, and a perfect Union may a∣gain be restored to this distressed Nation.

• Edward Russel, Esq.
• Sir Henry Appleton, Baronet.
• Sir Benjamin Ayloff, Baronet.
• Sir Denner Strutt, Baronet.
• Sir Humfrey Mildemay, Knight
• Sir John Tirell, Knight
• Sir Granmer Herris, Knight
• Sir Edmund Peirce, Knight
• Sir Henry Wroth, Knight
• William Ayloff, Fsq.
• James Altham, Esq.
• Gamaliel Capel, Esq.
• Anthony Browne, Esq.
• Charles Fytche, Esq.
• Thomas Argal, Esq.
• Stephen Smith, Esq.
• Salter Herris, Esq.
• Henry Pert, Esq.
• John Fanshaw, Esq.
• Thomas Roberts, Esq.
• Richard Humphrey, Esq.
• John Lynn, Esq.
• Dr. John Michaelson,
• Richard Symons, Esq.
• Anthony Kempson, Esq.
• William Herris, Esq.
• William Bramston, Esq.
• John Brown, Gent.
• Nicholas Serle
• John Vavasour, Gent.
• John Green, Gent.
• James Cookson, Gent.
• Fdmund Coole, Gent.

This Declaration and Address was agreed upon by the Sub∣scribers at a General Meeting, at Chelmesford in Essex, April 17. 1660. Sir Benjamin Ayloffe, and Sir Edmond Peirce being then appointed and desired to present them to his Excellency, which was done accordingly at St. James's the 19th. of the same Moneth.