A DECLARATION AND REMONSTRANCE OF THE ALDERMEN AND MEMBERS of Common-Council, Now Imprisoned in the Tower OF LONDON.  
Published for general satisfaction.  
LONDON, Printed for George Horton, 1660.   

A DECLARATION AND REMONSTRANCE OF THE Members of the Common-Council, now Imprisoned in the Tower of London.  
WEre it as Lawful to utter Truth, as Unlawful to Suffer for Truth; to compare the nearest of Our Thoughts with the most notorious of Our Actions, and present them as in a Mirror to the Public Eye, We might then Declare; That as We have engaged Our selves in one Sacred ●ye of Covenant, so therein We have in all fidelity persevered, declining neither Law, Religion, Parliament, nor Liberty, necessary in professing Christians, properly natural to true Subjects.  
The Covenant binds all (without exception) within the Pale thereof, to an Unite Defence, and Mutual Co-assistance of each other: But as in the Divine Law, the Breach of One Commandment, pleads the Offender guilty of all; so We presume in this humane Law, the Covenant, the forfeiture of one Branch brings self-guiltiness on all the rest. We pray for mercy on this National sin.  
And seeing, with too Transparent Eyes, both Nature and Religion turned Antipodes, acting themselves into a self-antipathy, as if Man, above all sublunary Creatures, was only compound of all contrarities, seeing the foundation; on which next under Heaven Out hopes depend, of Our Laws, Our Religion, Our Proper Rights and Privileges, We say not Oaths and Protestations, blown up by the very roots, by such a strong Tempestuous violence, which beats down all things before it, making the loftiest Cedar level with the lowest shrubs, until it hath vented itself into a Universal Destruction; that the Fearful overawed and beguiled Multitude, may in the view of Our present Condition be sensible of their Own Ruin: Thus unanimously We unbosom Ourselves unto the World, showing that in all Our Erterprises, since these unnatural and Domestic Divisions, We have endeavoured to keep a good Conscience towards God and all men; and how unsavoury the fruit of these last Years have relished with Us, none, better than our own Souls, can attest; what forwardness for the Public Good; what backwardness in the Enbrewing ourselves in unknown Alarms, especially of Blood; what assistance both in our Persons and Purses, for the cutting off the neck of this unnatural War, and the closing up of all distractions in the Arms of Peace and Unity, not done in closerts, nor promoved in secret corners, the whole City and Nation can bear witness.  
And when We had exhausted ourselves for the General of the Natian abroad the Sword being by Divine Mercy plucked out of the Hand of our Enemies hoping then We should receive a sweet and blessed issue of all our travels, finding our own Sword still drawn, yet no Enemy to oppose, and too sad probation of sinister reaches; We could not but reflect upon ourselves and apply our endeavours to the safety of that wherewith God and the Laws had entrusted Us at home. Will any man suffer his Estate and Livelihood to be Entrenched on by another that hath no right thereto and be silent? Have not We through many Generations, by the Gracious influence of many glorious Parliaments been possessors of an Honourable and Free Charter, the very sinew of the City, and Fee simple of our being, and shall it now, Vi & armis, be wrested from Us, and We be accounted Enemies to others, for endeavouring to preserve our own? if such things pass for Law who can be Master of what he hath? What can the Nations expect when those out of the very Bowels of the City seeks her ruin?  
Neither did We ever harbour the least thoughts of an Embroiling War, as by our daily and incessant actings with the Parliament did appear; straining ourselves to our utmost Power and the highest Key of pure Conscience, to Qualify all things into a right sense; But the returns of our endeavours with our hopes, are like Pills guilded over with specious glozes and pretences.  
And, that which We value above the richest price of Nature our Religion is made an Odium, become a laughing stock unto many; who like Ramping Lions, rather than Lambs of Christ, rend and tear down the pale of his fold, from a Christian conformity to a Platonical Community, and that uncivilized Liberty, the flood gate to a perpetual confusion, and yet they and We are Brethren: Do they stand up for a Liberty? Why not We? No, We deny our own Liberty that We may be the Lords Freemen.  
And We call Heaven and Earth to witness, that We have not failed in any thing that may plead Us innocent; We have been more than Servants to the Parliament, more than Votaries to the Army; less We were not, more We could not be: We have procured the dislike of many, and are slighted for emptying ourselves to make others full, and for others Liberty We stand Imprisoned.  
Hear, O Heavens, and judge, O Earth, the cause of the distressed: And because with Man there is neither Truth nor Mercy, may the Divine Arm of justice carry on these things unto a blessed issue, whilst from the bottom of our hearts We unfeignedly do pray, That God would be pleased to pour Oil and Wine into our Nations wounds, to the everlasting peace and consolation of his People, that a Free Parliament may with highest honour be chosen in this Nation, and remain as a fixed Star in the Firmament of the Church, that they may judge righteous judgement, and settle our Divisions in a peaceful posture, That the Army, as hitherto, so they may still be faithful to their friends, victorious over their Enemies; and that the whole Nation may enjoy that Liberty, which by Religion, Law, or Custom, they can claim.  
FINIS.