An arrow against all tyrants and tyrany,: shot from the prison of New-gate into the prerogative bowels of the arbitrary House of Lords, and all other usurpers and tyrants whatsoever. wherein the originall rise, extent, and end of magisteriall power, the naturall and nationall rights, freedomes and properties of mankind are discovered, and undeniably maintained; ... the late Presbyterian ordinance (invented and contrived by the diviners, and by the motion of Mr. Bacon and Mr. Taet read in the House of Commons) examined, refuted, and exploaded, as most inhumaine, tyranicall and barbarous. / By Richard Overton prerogative archer to the arbitrary House of Lords, their prisoner in New-gate, ... sent by way of a letter from him, to Mr Henry Martin, a Member of the House of Commons. Imprimatur rectat justitia.

Postscript.

SIR,

YOur unseasonable absence from the House, chiefly while Mistres Lilburns Petition should have been read (you having a RE∣PORT to make in her husbands behalfe, whereby the hearing thereof was defer'd and retarded) did possesse my mind with strong jealousies and feares of you, that you either preferred your own plea∣sure or private interest before the execution of justice and judgement, or else withdrew your selfe, on set purpose (through the strong insti∣gation of the Lords) to evade the discharge of your trust to God and to your Coūt••y; but at your returne understanding, that you honestly & ••••••thfully d••d redeem your absent time, I was dispossessed of those feares and jealousies: So that for my over-hasty censorious esteem of you, I humbly crave your excuse, hoping you will rather impute it to the fervency of my faithfull zeale to the common good, then to any malignant disposition or disaffection in me towards you: Yet (Sir) in this my suspition I was not single, for it was even become a generall surmise.

Wherefore (Sir) for the awarding your innocency for the future, from the tincture of such unjust and calumnious suspitions, be you diligent and faithfull, instant in season and out of season, omit no opportunity, (though with never so much hazard to your person, estate or family) to discharge the great trust (in you reposed with the rest of your fellow members) for the redemption of your na∣tive Country from the Arbitrary Domination and usurpations, either of the House of LORDS, or any other.

And since by the divine providence of God, it hath pleased that Ho∣nourable Assembly whereof you are a Member, to select and sever you out from amongst themselves, to be of that Committee which they haue Ordained to receive the Commoners complaints against the House of LORDS, granted upon the foresaid most honourable Petition: Be you therefore impartiall, and just, active and resolute care neither for favours nor smiles, and be no respector of persons, let not the grea∣test Peers in the Land, be more respected with you, then somany old Bellowes-menders, Broom men, Coblers, Tinkers or Chimney-sweepers,

who are all equally Free borne, with the hudgest men, and lostiest A∣nachims in the Land.

Doe nothing for favour of the one, or feare of the other; and have a care of the temporary Sagacity of the new Sect of OPPORTUNITY POLITITIANS, whereof we have got at least two or three too ma∣ny; for delayes & demurres of Justice are of more deceitfull & dange∣rous consequence, then the flat & open deniall of its execution, for the one keeps in suspence, makes negligent & remisse, the other provokes to speedy defence, makes active and resolute: Therefore be wise, quick, stout and impartiall: neither spare, favour, or connive at friend or foe, high or low, rich or poore, Lord or Commoner.

And let even the saying of the Lord, with which I will close this present discourse, close with your heart, and be with you to the death. Leviticus, 19. 15.

Yee shall doe no unrighteousnesse in judgement; thou shalt not respect the person of the poore, nor honour the person of the mighty, but in righteousnesse shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

October 12. 1646.