AN OUTCRY Of the Youngmen and Apprentices of London: OR, An Inquisition after the lost Fundamentall Lawes and Liberties of ENGLAND. Directed (August 29. 1649.) in an Epistle to the private Souldiery of the Army, especially all those that signed the solemne Ingagement at Newmarket-Heath, the fifth of Iune, 1647. But more especially to the private souldiers of the Generalls Regiment of Horse, that helped to plunder and destroy the ho∣nest and true-hearted English-men, trayterously defeated at Burford the 15. of May, 1649.

Signed by Charles Collins, Anthony Bristlebolt, William Trabret, Stephen Smith, Edward Waldgrave, Thomas Frisby, Edward Stanley, VVilliam VVhite, Nicolas Blowd, John Floyd, in the name and behalf of themselves, and the Young-men and Apprentices of the City of London. Who are cordiall approvers of the Paper, called, The Agreement of the free people, dated May 1. 1649. and the defeated Burford-mens late Vindication, dated the 20. of August, 1649.

VVE are all of one Nation, and People, it is the sword only that differeth; but how just a title that is over us, your owne private thoughts surely are our determi∣ners, however your actions import: For, it is not imaginable, (except a∣mongst Bears, Wolves, and Lions,) that brethren of one cause, one Nation, and family, can without remorse and secret check of conscience, impose such i∣ron yokes of cruelty and oppression upon their fellowes, as by the awe and force of your Sword ram∣pant, is imposed upon the people of this Nation: you see it; we are at best but your hewers of wood, and drawers of water; our very persons, our lives and properties, are all over-awed to the supporta∣tion only of the raging lawlesse Sword, drench't in the precious blood of the people, the ancient and famous Magistracy of this Nation, the Petition of Right, the great Charter of England, above thir∣ty times confirmed in open and free Parliament, with all other the fundamentall laws, safeties, and se∣curities Page  2of the people, which our Ancestors at an extraordinary dear rate (as with abundance of their blood and treasure) purchased for the inheritance of us, and of the Generations after us, and for which you pretendedly took up arms against the late King and his party, are now all subverted, broken down and laid wast, the Military Power being thrust into the very office and seat of the Civil Authority, The King not onely most illegally put to death, by a strange, monstrous, illegall, arbitrary Court, such as England never •…ew; Monarchy extirpated (not rectifi∣ed) without, and besides the consent of the people, (though the actors of that bloody Scene have owned and declared them to be the original of all iust humane Authority) but even our Parliaments (the very interest, marrow, and soule of all the native rights of the people) put downe, and the name and power thereof transmitted to a pick'd party of your forcible selecting, and such as your Officers (our Lords, and Riders) have often and frequently stiled no better then a mock-Parliament, a shadow of a Parliament, a seeming Authority, or the like, pretending the continuance thereof, but till a new and equall Representative, by a mutuall Agreement of the free People of England could be elected, although now for subserviency to their exaltation and Kingship; they prorogue, and perpetrate the same in the name, and under colour thereof, introducing a Privy Counsell, or as they call it, a Counsell of State, of superintendency, and suppression to all future successive Parliaments for ever, erecting a martiall Government (by blood and violence impulsed upon us) making souldiers to be executioners of Orders and VVarrants, pretending to the Civill Authority, and in every particular (notwithstanding, all your famous and glorious De∣clarations of Freedom and Liberty) dealing with us, as an absolute, conquered and insl•…ed People: The Law being nothing but a mock protection to our lives, liberties and properties; the Judges set apart, for the executors of it, a meer delusion, our Sheriffs, Mayors, Justices of Peace, Constables, &c. being laid by, or made no better then ciphers, (the choice of them, by will without right) appropriated to a few factious men, while the right owners (the people) are rob'd of their free and popular elections of them) as not daring to execute Justice upon the rudest or meanest souldier in England, although the Law sufficiently warrants them thereunto, but contrarywise, Commoners are forceably convented and tryed before a Councell of VVarr, and some sentenced even unto death, others by a private ver∣ball order made to run the gantlop, and whipt most barbarously, for refusing to take false and illegall oaths; and the blood of war (expresly against the Petition of right, and for which amongst other crimes, the Earle of Strafford lost his head as a Traytor, shed in times of Peace, as the blood of Mr. Richard Arnell upon the 15. November, 1647. near Ware, of Mr. Robert Lockier the 27. of A∣pril, 1649. (so much bewailed and lamented at London) of Col. Poyer, of Cornet Thompson, Mr. Perkins, and Mr. Church, upon the 16. of May 1649 at Burford, contrary to promises, and so∣lemn ingagements at the taking of them, (as their friends lately defeated with them, in their vindicati∣on of the 20. of August, 1649. fully declare, pag. 6. 7.) and others yet fresh in our memory doth witnesse: parties of horse and foot, (contrary and in direct defiance, of the due course and processe of Law) sent at unseasonable houres, to hale and pull people out of their beds and houses, from their wives and children, without so much as ever summoning of them, and without any crime or accusati∣on showne, or accuser appearing, or the least pretence or shadow of Law produced, some sent into re∣mote Garrisons, where they have been most barbarously used, and indeavoured to be starved, and tost from Garrison to Garrison, others lock'd up close prisoners, with centinels night and day upon their doors, and all due tryalls and help at Law, stop'd and denyed, and no remedy to be obtained, yea, free men most barbarously put out of their legall possessions, by force of arms; without any manner of triall at Law, yea the Law damn'd, and stopt up against them, for recovering of their legall rights; and they threatned severely to be punished, if they desist not their suits at Law; yea, and free-mens e∣states never pretended to be within the compasse of the Ordinances of sequestrations, seized on to a Page  3great value (by some great mens wills, protected by their swords, to do even what they list, without controul) without any manner of tryall or conviction, or any shadow of legall pretence, or ever so much as laying any pretended crime to the parties charge; all which are the very (if not higher) crimes, then the Earle of Strafford principally lost his head for, as a Traytor, as clearly appears by his Act of Attainder, and by his large printed additionall Impeachment, 1640. both in English and Irish cases, as clearly appears in the preamble thereof; and in Article 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. But that which is worst of all, the best and most faithfull maintainers of the English Freedomes, are most ma∣ligned, abused, and vilified, that it is now become a crime of the greatest perill and penalty, to be faithfull to the declared interest of Parliaments, or rights of the people therein; a thing so dread∣fully complained of by the Parliament, in the beginning of their first Remonstrance of December 1641. New Acts of high Treason to that end devised to ensnare and intrap the most conscientious, so that we cannot talk or discourse of our lost Freedomes, or open our mouths of our oppressions, but we are in as bad a condition, as our Fore-Fathers were, in the daies of VVilliam the Conqueror, (that thought any fact crime enough to intitle him to their estates,) if not worse, by being Treason struck; and besides all this, multitudes of pick pocket, murdering taxes are heap'd, and continued up∣on the old, and in default of payment, souldiers are put upon straining, seizng and plundering of our Masters goods, and houses, for which violence and villany, they must be largely paid, or else they will plunder over again for that; yea and the late large Act about Excize, so transcendent and insnaring in its p•nalties, that no man well knows how to behave himself in his trading, for fear of being un∣done; yea, so numberlesse are our most insufferable cruelties, overspreading and wounding the whole Land and people, that our borders are even filled with the lamentations, mournings, tears, sighs and dolefull groans, of the oppressed and inslaved ruinated people. Trade decayed and fled, misery, pover∣ty, calamity, confusion, yea and beggery grown so sore, and so extream upon the people, as the like never was in England, under the most tyrannicall of all our Kings, that were before these in present power, since the daies of the Conqueror himself; no captivity, no bondage, no oppression like unto this, no sorrow or misery like unto ours, (of being inslaved, undone and destroyed by our large pre∣tended friends, for whose preservation, we could have even pul'd out our very eyes) the people become desolate and forsaken, wandring, pining, and mourning (like those in Jeremies Lamentations, unto whose sorrows, they said none was like) after their lost fundamentall Laws, their native, and just freedoms, and rights, and there is none to comfort, none to pitty, none to relieve, none to help or save. Alas, alas for pitty. For,

Your hearts seem to us as obdurate as the flinty rock, as savage and inhumane, as if the flesh and blood, the bones and marrow of the people, were become your meat, as already it is in effect, and instoad of incouragement and support to our true friends, and reall relievers (at least in faithfull desire and indeavour) as shall stand in the gap betwixt our destroyers and us, all waies and meanes are used to impoverish, destroy, and suppresse them, and in them to break and vassallage the spirits of all the English, which in all ages have had the preheminency of other Nations, that there may not be so much of gallantry or courage left amongst the people, that one amongst them shall dare to assert or maintaine their freedomes; (which Act is not a little aggravated by M. John Pym, in his remarkable Speech against the Earl of Strafford, as the highest of Treasons against any Nation or Common-wealth,) for if any do but murmure and complain, or seek for remedy, though by way of Petition or Addresse to the House, presently their houses, as with Furies, are beset, with armed mercenary Janisaries, Guards, and Centinels set upon their doores and passages, no consideration had of the terror or affrightment of our Masters, their wives, children, or servants, or of reason, or law, and their persons as Traytors therefore imprisoned, for weeks, and moneths; yea, and close imprisoned from the society of all their friends, without so much as ever seeing either informer, accuser, prosecutor, or witnesse, yea, or ever seeing Indictment, impeachment, or Charge, yea, or Page  4face to face, or in their Mittimus's, or any other formall or legall way, ever so much as having any crime, or pretence of a crime laid unto their charge, by those very men before whom they are brought, and who by the rules of their meer will commit them therefore, although the Parliament in severall Declarations have declared, That they have received Petitions for the removall of things established by Law, and we must say, and all that know what belongeth to the course or pra∣ctise of Parliament will say, that we ought so to do, and that both our Predecessors, and His Ma∣jesties Ancestors have constantly done it, there being no other place, wherein Lawes that by expe∣rience may be found grievous and burthensome, can be altered or repealed, and there being no other due and legall way, wherein they which are agrieved by them, can seek redresse, and that it is no tumult to deliver Petitions by popular multitudes, 1 part book of Parliaments Declarations, pag. 123. 201. 202. 209. 533. 548. 691. 720.

Yea, and your very selves, and your Jugling Officers quarrell'd with, and took up armes against the Parliament, your creators and originall Lords and Masters, for prohibiting you to petition, and make knowne your grievances to them, and sufficiently envy and exclaime against them for so doing, and impeach some of them as Traytors therefore, as clearly appears in your own book of De∣clar. p. 10. 11. 17. 23. 33. 35 44. 60. 61. 62. 83. 85. 118.

And yet nothing but the boundlesse wills and humors of those fore-mentioned men of blood, ra∣geth and ruleth over us: and is this all the return and fruit, that people are to expect at your hands? doth your solemn ingagement at New-market, and Triplo heath, with your Declarations, Remon∣strances, Vowes and Protestations unto us all, center in this bed-roll of cruelties? we pray you give us leave to make inquiry amongst you after those things, and give losers leave to complain. Re∣member you not with what cheerfullnesse and alacrity our fellow-Apprentices, the glory and flower of the youth of this Nation, and multitudes of our selves yet surviving, ran in to your assistance out of a conscientious intent, to uphold and maintain the fundamentall Constitution of this Common-VVealth? viz. the interest and right of the people in their Parliaments (it being most rationall, and unquestionably just, that the people should not be bound but by their owne consent given to their De∣puties in Parliament, which by the Laws and customes of England, ought [wholly new] to bee annuall) to deliver and clear the Land from its heavy pressures and bonds, not in∣gaging in the least, against the person of the King, as King, or with any thoughts or pretence of destroying, but regulating Kingship, but meerly for the removall of all those cruelties and oppressions, he had laid upon the people by his will, contrary to Law: this you know to bee true, your owne papers extant to the world are our record and witnes∣ses, as might plentifully be recited, but they are known to all men, that know your affairs, you cannot deny it; but where is the fulfilment of all your glorious words, registred in your book of Decla∣rations? in which pag. 14. you say, you shall through the grace of God, discharge your duties to the Parliament, &c. and also demonstrate, that the good and quiet of the Kingdome is much dearer to you, then any particular concernment of your own: and in pag. 23. the Generall to both Houses in his Letter of the 6. of June 1647. assures the Parliament, it is his study and care to avoid a new war, and (further thus saith) so I find it to be the unanimous desire, and study of the Army, that a firm peace in this Kingdome may be setled, and the liberties of the people cleared, and secured according to the many Declarations by which we were invited, and induced to ingage in the late warre, most seriously there promising them, they will not meddle to the advancement of any particular party, or interest whatsoever.

And in your solemn ingagement of the 5. June 1647. pag. 26. you promise and ingage to God, the Kingdome, and to each other, that you will not disband, divide, nor suffer your selves to be disban∣ded, nor divided (either for Ireland, or any other place else) untill we have first such satisfaction [as you say] to the Army, in relation to our grievances, and desires heretofore presented, & such security, Page  5That we of our selves (when disbanded, and in the condition of private men) or other the free-born peo∣ple of England (to whom the consequence of our case (about petitioning) doth equally extend) shall not remain subject to the like oppression, injury or abuse, as in the premises hath been attempted and put upon us while an Army.

O that there had been an heart in you, to have made this good before your gross apostacy from all your engagements and promises, that hath already occasion'd so much misery, warr and bloodshed. Or, oh that yet there were hearts within you vigorously and effectually to go about the accomplishment and fulfilment thereof (and thereby prevent all the miserie, blood-shed and d•solations that for want thereof undoubtedly must and will ensue) which you are bound and tyed unto both before God and man, as is (in our judgments) unanswerably proved in the foresaid treacherously defeated Burford mens Vindication, pag. 8 9 10.

But to return, in your said engagement, in the fore-recited 26. page, you positively there dis∣own and disclaim all purposes or designes in our late or present proceedings, to advance or insist upon a

And in that most choyce and best of Declarations made by the whole Army of Souldiers, as well as Officers June 14. 1647, tendered to the Parliament, concerning their just and fun∣damentall rights and liberties o• themselves and the Kingdom, Book Decl pag. 36. 37. you say,

And in the same D•claration pag 38. 39. you f•rther say thus;

And in pag. •…. speaking 〈◊〉 generall of purging some evill members out of the Parliament, you declare,

And in the last end of that transcendent Declaration, pag. 46. you conclude thus:

And in p 52. being writing to the Lord Mayor Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London in Common Councel assembled, it is thus said 〈…〉 We say from our hearts that as our especiall ends are the glory of God, and the good of this whole Land, so our en∣dea•… shall be to prose•…te 〈…〉 without prejudice to the •…ing or well being of P•rliaments in generall, the maintenance whereof we value above our own lives or (as we have formerly said) of this Parli•…nt 〈…〉, but altogether in order to the good and Peace of this Nation, and with a most tender regard to your City.

And in page 57, 58. its said that,

Page  7And in page 76 to the Lord Mayor of London, &c. it is said, 'That it is a sudden and substan∣tial settlement of the whole we desire in a generall, safe, and well grounded peace, and the establishment of such good Laws, as may duly and readily render to every man their iust rights & liberties; and for the obtaining of these, not only our intentions had led us too, but we think that all the blood, treasure and labour spent in this War, was for the accomplishing those very things, which are of that concernment both to our selvs and posteritie, that neither we nor they can live comfortably without them, and therefore their help is much pressed for to bring things to a happy conclusion, to the satisfaction of all ho∣nest mens expectation, and that in all our undertakings we shall be found men of truth, fully and singly answering the things we have held forth to the Kingdom in our severall Declarations and Papers, without by or base respects to any private end or interest whatsoever.

And in page 97. is recorded a notable Proposall to the Parliament from Redding, July 18. 1647: which doth sufficiently condem your late tyrannicall dealing with some of the very par∣ties therein mentioned; The Proposall thus followeth; 'Wee doe earnestly desire, That all persons imprisoned in England or Dominion of Wales, (not for Delinquency in relation to the late Warre, but for other pretended misdeameanours,) and whose 〈◊〉 is not by the regulated course of Law, but by Order from either Houses of Parliament, (or of Committees flowing from them) may be put into a speedy regular and equitable way of Triall, (or if the necessity of se•…ing the generall affairs of the Kingdom admit not the•… present •…al▪) then they may have present libertie (upon reasonable securitie) to their appearance at a certain day, to answer what shall be charged against them in a Legall way, and that when they should be tryed, if they appear wrongfully or unduly imprisoned, they may have reparation according to their suf∣ferings.

In particular we desire this may be done in behalfe of L. Colonel Iohn Lilburn, Ma∣ster Iohn Musgrave, Master Overton and others (in their condition) imprisoned in and about London. Read also more fully to this purpose p. 101. 105. 110. 112 11•. 128. 132 137. as also the large Remonstrance from Saint Albones of the 16. of November 1648. pag. 6. 8 9 12. 14, 15. 22. 23. 29. 43. 45. 47. 48. 57. 62. but especially 65. 66. 67. 68. •9.

But after this large (but yet profitable and necessary) digression, let us seriously expostulate with you and put you in mind of your most wicked and grosse apostacy (such as the world never see nor read of before, from men that professe God and godlinesse in a strict manner, and would be reputed the CHOICEST SAINT, in England) and cry out unto you with astonishment and ad∣miration; and thus interrogate your very consciences (where God alone ought to 〈◊〉 King) Oh heare you not the blood of our dear fellow Apprent•ces, and of the rest of the good Peo∣ple of England, spilt for the redemption of this inthraled Nation (especially since your first con∣test with the Parliament) cry aloud in your ears and hearts (wher• ev•r you goe) for ven∣geance upon you, the peoples perfidious abusers, be•…ers and destroyers? Oh 〈◊〉 you bear them cry out unto your very cons ences; O give our Fathers, our Mothers, our Brothers, our Sisters, and others of our neer and dear relations, the full and f•…dy accomplishment of all your forementioned inravishing promises and engagements, by vertue of the p•wer and •…ffi•… of which you stole away their heart and spirits from all their relations, 〈…〉 and cheerfullnesse become sacrifices for your assistance; for that 〈◊〉 p•…ncipal 〈…〉 that they that survived might enjoy the full and 〈…〉 and engagements, for common Freedom. 〈…〉 Iustice and righteousensse upon the earth; Oh do you not hear their blood 〈…〉 you? O •…ock not (nor dally with) God any longer, but without delay, give 〈…〉 •…mised p•…e of all our blood, by the full and speedy payi•g of all y•…r 〈◊〉, and engagements made unto God Page  8for that end, lest for all your perjury, apostacy, and perfidiousnesse •e create a mighty and un∣resistable spirit of revenge amongst the people, and 〈◊〉 together (their otherwise divided

Oh do not your hearts at all rel•…? 〈◊〉 you consider this your forecited unparalleld and horrible defection and apostacy, and not •…emble and be amazed, and even confounded? is there lesse remorse of conscience in you then was in Belshazzar, who at his seeing the hand wri∣ting upon the wall, changed his countenance, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joynts of his loynes were loosed, and his knees smote one against another, (though otherwise in as gre•… Jolity and pro∣sperity as any of your selves or Officers) or •…ve you lesse apprehension of the Majesty of God then was in the heathen Roman Governour F•…, who when he heard Paul reason or Preach of righteousnesse, temperance and Judgement to come trembled and feared, and durst not pro∣ceed in fury against him, although much ther•unto provoked by his adversaries, Acts 24. Sure all sense and compunction of conscience is not totally departed from you; hear us therefore in the earning bowels of love and kindnes, we •…ent and bese•ch you with patience, and do not a∣buse us for complaining and crying out, for the knife hath been very long at the very throats of our Liberties and Freedoms, and our burthens are too great and to many for us, we are not able to •…ar them and contain our selves, our oppressions are even ready to make us despair, (or forthwith to fly to the prime Lawes of nature, viz. the next violent remedy at hand, light it where it will, or upon whom it will) they are become as devouring fire in our bones, ready to burn us up, rendring us desperate and carelesse of our lives, prising those that are already dead, above those that are yet living, who are rid of that paine and torment, that we do & must indure, by sensibly seeing and beholding not only the dying, but the daily burial of our native Liberties and Freedoms, that we care not what becomes of us, seeing that we are put into that originall state or chaos of confusion; wherein lust is become a law, envy and malice are become laws, and the strongest sword rules and governes all by will and pleasure; all our ancient bounda∣ries and land-marks, are puld up by the roots, and all the tyes and bonds of humane society in our Eng∣lish horizon totally destroyed and exterpated Alas for pity.

We had rather die then live this life of languishing death, in which our Masters possesse nothing (to buy themselves or us bread to keep us alive) that they can call their own; therefore its no boot for us to serve out our times, and continue at our drudging and toyling trades, while these oppressions, cruelties and inhumanities are upon us, and the rest of the people; expo∣sing thereby the Nation not only to domestick broyles, wars and blood-sheds (wherein we are sure our bodies must be the principall b•ts) but to forraign Invasions by France, Spaine, Den∣mark, Sweathland, &c. as was well observed by our endeared and faithfull friends of the fore∣mentioned late treacherously defeated party at Burford in their Book of the 20 of August, 1649. Intituled the Levellers vindicated, or the Case of their 12 Troops truly stated, pag. 11. 12. which we cannot but seriously recommend (with them) to your serious perusall and judgement; and desire to know of you (but especially the private Soubliery of the Generals Regiment of horse, who we understand had a hand in seasing upon and plundering our true friends at Burford) whether you do own the abominable and palpable treacherous dealings of your Generall and Lieutenant Gene∣rall Cromwel and their perfidious Officers with them or no? (that so we may not condemne the innocent with the guilty, and may know our friends from our foes) as also to tell us, whether you do approve of the totall defection of your Army under which it now lyeth, from their Faith and solemn engagement made at Newmarket-heath, June •… 5. 1647. not one of those righteous ends in behalf of the Parliament and people, on which your vow was made, being yet fulfilled or ob∣tained; Page  9but on the contrary (as we have before rehearsed); whole flood-gate of tyrannies are let in upon us, and even over-whelme us; and whether you justify all those actions done in the name of the Army upon your account, and under pretext of that Engagement since the Engagement it selfe was broken, and your Councell of Agitators dissolved? And whether you will hold up your Swords to maintaine the totall abolition of the peoples choicest interest of freedom, viz. frequent and successive Parliaments, by an Agreement of the People, or obstruct the annu∣all succession? Whether you doe allow of the late shedding of the blood of war in time of peace, to the subversion of all our Laws a•d Liberties? And whether you do countenance the extirpation of the fundamental Freedoms of this Common-wealth? as their revocation or nul∣lity of the Great Charter of England, The Petition of Right, &c And whether you do assent to the erection of Arbitrary prerogative Courts that have or shall over-rule, or make void, our ancient way of tryals in criminal Cases, by a Jury of 12 men of the neighbourhood? and whether you wil assist or joyne in the forcible obtrusion of this Martial and Tyrannical Rule over us? Also whether you will fight against and destroy those of our friends that shal endeavour the composure of our differences, together with the procurement of our Freedoms and settlement of our peace (your plenty and prosperity) accordingly as it was offered by the 4 Gentlemen prisoners in the Tower of London, upon the first of May 1649 (as a peace-offering to this Nation) by the A∣greement of the People?

Lastly, We earnestly beseech you to acquaint us, whether from your hands (to your power) we may expect any help or assistance in this our miserable distressed condition, to the removall of those Iron bands and yoaks of oppression, that have thus inforced us to complain, and ad∣dresse our selves thus to your serious consideration.

For we cannot chuse but acquaint you, that we are seriously resolved, through the strength and assistance of God, (with all the interest we have in the world) to adhere to the righteous things contained in our treacherously defeated freinds forementioned late vindication; very much approving of that unparaleld expedient (of an agreement of the free people,) they propose in the latter end thereof, for the firm setling of the peace, Liberties and Freedoms of this distracted nation, which hath so much justice, righteousnesse and safety in it, that we hope it will in a very short time levell all self interests before it, & make it clearly appear to him that claims the greatest per∣sonall share in the government of this Nation, that there is no way to obtain the true love of the understanding English people (without which he will never obtain his desired Crown) but by a cheerefull, hearty and reall promotion of such principles therein contained, as doe sufficiently tye his hands from cutting the peoples throats, at his will and pleasure, the endeavoring of which, exposed his father to that fatall end that befell him; which may be a sea∣sonable caveat to all Princes &c. to take heed of that d•sperate rock, viz. the attempting to govern the people by will, and not by Law; by force, and not by love; the onely and alone durable and perma∣nent tie or bond amongst the sons of men; We say that expedient of an Agreement of the free people appears to us to have so much •…uity righteousnesse and common safe∣ty in it, that we are resolved to bury all by-past DISTASTS at the greatest of English-men that shall heartily and cordially, signe and put forth their power and interest, to promote the establishment of the principalls therein contained; and in the ADHERING TO, AND STANDING BY, all such as shall be in any danger for walking in such paths, we shall through the strength of the Lord God Omnipotent (to the uttermost of our power and abilities) resolvedly hazard our lives and all that is dear to us.

For the effectuall promotion of which said Agreement we are necessitously compeld, to re∣solve in close union to joyn our selves, or our Commissioners (chosen for that end) in Counsel with our foresaid Burford friends, or their Commissioners, and to resolve to run all hazards, Page  10to methodize all our honest fellow Prentises, in all the Wards of London, and the out-Parishes, to chuse out their Agents to joyn with us or ours: to write Exhortative Epistles, to all the honest hearted freemen of England, in all the particular Countries thereof, to erect several Councels amongst themselves, out of which we shall desire (and exhort them) to chuse Agents or Commissioners (impowered and intrusted by them) speedily to meet us and the Agents of all our (and the Agreement of the People) adherents at London, resolvedly to consider of a speedy and effectuall method; and way how to promote the Election of a new and equall Re∣presentative or Parliament by the Agreement of the free People, seeing those men that now sit at Westminster, and pretendedly stile themselves the Parliament of England, and who are (as they say (although most falsly) in the Declaration for a Free State, dated March 17. 1648. p. 27. intrusted, •…nd authorizedly the consent of all the People of Engla•d whose Representatives •…ey are) make it their chiefest and principallest work, continually to part and share amongst themselvs, all the great, rich, and profitablest places of the Nation, as also the Nations publike treasure and Lands, and wil not ease our intolerable oppressions, no nor so much as of late receive our Popu∣lar Petitions having upon Thursday last, August 23. 1649. rejected that most excellent of Pe∣titions re•dy at their door to be presented to them by divers honest men (our true hearted neighbours of Surrey) the true Copie of which for the worth of it although it be at large al∣ready printed in Friday Occurences and the Tuesday Moderate,) we desire here to insert.

We say, considering what is before premised▪ we are necessitated and compeld to doe the ut∣most we can for our owne preservations; and for the preservation of the Land of our Nativity; and never (by popular petitions) addresse our selves to the men sitting at Westminster any mo•e, or to take any notice of them, then •s of so many Tyrants and Ʋsurpers, and for time to come to hinder (as much and as farr as our poor despised interest will extend to) all others whatsoever 〈◊〉 subscribing or presenting any more popular petitions to them: And only now, as our last Paper-r•fuge, mightily cry out to each other, of our intolerabl• oppressions in Letters and Remonstrances signed in the behalf, and by the appointment o• •…l the rest, by some of the stoutest and st•…est amongst us that we hope will never apostatize, but be able through the strength of God, to lay down their very lives for the maintaining of that which they set their hands to.

You our fellow-Countrymen (the private Souldiers of the Army) alone, being the instru∣mentall authors of your own slavery and ours; therefore as there is any bowels of men in you, any love to your Native Country, Kindred, friends or relations, any sparke of conscience in you, any hopes of glory or immortality in you, or any pity, mercy, or compassion, to an inslaved, undone, perishing, dying people, O help, help! save and redeem us from totall vassalage and slavery, and be no more like brute beasts, to fight against us or our friends, your loving and dear brethren after the flesh: to your o•n vassalage as well as ours.

And as an assured pledg of your future cordialnesse to us (and the true and reall liberties of the Land of your Nativitie) we beseech and beg of you, (but especially those amongst you that subscribed the solemn engagement at New market heath the fifth of June 16••) speedily to chuse-out from amongst your selves, Two of the ablest and constantest faithfull men amongst you in each Troop and Company, now at last, (by corresponding 〈◊〉 with ot•er, and with your honest friends in the Nation) to consider of some effectuall course (bey•nd all 〈…〉 and cheat•) to accomplish the real end of all your engagements and fightings, •iz. the settling of the Liberties and Freedoms of the people, which can never permanently be done, but upon the sure foundation of a POPULAR AGREE∣MENT: who (viz. the people) in J•stice, gratitude, and common equity, cannot choose but voluntarily and largely make better provision for your future subsistance, (by the payment of your ARREARS) then ever your Officer•, or this pret•nded Parliament intends, or you can ratio∣nally expect from them; witnesse, their cutting off three parts of your Arreares in four 〈◊〉 for Free-quarter, and then necessi•ating abundance of your fellow-Souldiers (now cashiered, &c.) to s•ll their Debenters at two shillings six pence, three shillings and at most four shillings per l. by meanes of which, you that keep your Debenters being necessitated to vie with the greatest bidder, in th• purchase of the late Kings Lands; they are able •o give above •… years purchase, for that you cannot give 8 years purchase 〈◊〉; and if you will not give with the most▪ you must have no Land, so that the most of your Debenters are likely to prove waste papers, and those that purchase will have but a slippery security of their possessions, by reason of generall discontents amongst all sorts of people, and particularly by so extraordinarily disengaging and cheating so many Soul∣diers as they have done, of their just expected recompence of reward.

Page  12And also, as a further demonstration of the cordialnesse of your hearts to us, OUR BUR∣FORD FRIENDS, and your own and our Liberties; we desire you to take some speedy course for the faithfull restoring to the right Owners, all such Horses, Money, Clothes, &c. as you, or any of you, plundered or stole from our true friends, (cheated and defeated) at Burford; and publish some kinde of Demonstration of your or any of your remorse of Conscience for your being instrumentall in destroying of them there, that stood for your good, freedomes, and ARREARS, as much, (and as well) as their own, especially considering they have by their foresaid Vindication made it evident and apparent (and we understand they are ready face to face to prove) That both your Generall, and Lieutenant Generall Cromwell broke their solemn faith with them, and treacherously surprised them; and so dealt worse and more vildly with them, then ever they did with the worst of Cavaliers, with whom in that kinde they never broke faith with, in their lives; but more especially we desire the last fore-mentioned thing at your hands; because upon that Trayterous and wicked defeat of those our true Friends, (and wilfully murthering of three of them) that really stood for the Nations interest, Li∣berties, and Freedoms, your Generall and Cromwell, with the rest of their faction▪ made a most transcendent Feast, to insult over the Liberties and freedoms of the servants of the most h•gh God, as though by that most vile act, they had subdued and buryed all the Liberties of the Nation in eternall oblivion, and FOYL'D the Lord of life and glory himself, from distilling any m•re Spirit of Courage and Resolution into any, to stand for them; and in that wickedest of Feasts, not onely in a great measure imitated Belshazzar, Dan. 5. That made a great Feast to a thousand of his Lords, and fetched out the vessels, that by the spoile of the people of God, his father Nebuchadnezzar had got out of the Temple of the Lord, and drank wine in them, and praised the gods of gold and of silver, of brasse, of iron, of wood, and of stone; but also imitated the greatest of the enemies of Christ, who at the slaying of the two witnesses, Rev. 11. rejoiced over them, and made merry, and sent gifts one to another (as in Gold and Silver plate, &c. was most largely done to your General Fairfax and Lieutenant Gen. Cromwell) the reason of which is there rendred, which is, because the two Prophets (of Truth and Justice) tormented them that dwelt on the earth; but with comfort and joy we cannot but ob∣serve the next words to them, which is, That within a little season after, the Spirit of life from God entred into them, (as we hope and doubt not, but it will abundantly now doe upon the true stan∣ders for justice and righteousnesse amongst men) and they stood upon their feet, and great feare fell upon them that saw them, and great Earthquakes followed, in the nick of which is proclamation made, that the Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ•; and he shall reign for ever and ever; unto which we heartily say, Amen, Amen. So with our hearty and true love remembred to you all, expecting your, or some of your speedy answer, we commit you to God, and rest