A LETTER to the Lord General Monck In answer to his excellency's LETTER unto the Gentry of Devon; which also relates to the secluded Members, grievances of the Citizens of London, Sir George Booth, and Nations in general.  
May it please your Excellency,  
HAving perused yours of the 21. of January from Leycester, unto the Gentry of Devon, I find an expostulation or reasoning of the case in reference to our present distractions, and extreme grievances of the people, then and everywhere remonstrated unto you, Therefore, my Lord, since you have wisdom to discover the several interests which you then mention to be interwoven both in Church, State, &c. It will also be as considerable to consider that those persons are but few in respect to the whole, and they are only those who now obstruct our peace, and cause the Nations thus to complain; So that to make any conclusion with your Excellency, that those are rational or satisfactory grounds (under favour) cannot be admitted since it opposes the people's freedom, their ancient Rights, and that which is of more concernment, even the Scriptures which (without yea and nay) are the revealed will of God, for that the Government apparently declares itself to be built upon, or by the blood and ruins (not to name all our consciences tells us) of our brethren, countrymen and friends, and is upheld by persons whose interests at this day in temporals denies them any thoughts of Christ and his Laws, which is restitution and severe repentance, and who certainly, although for a few days of momentary joy they are seemingly by successful errors allowed of, cannot long deface this State, and once glorious Church of God, by which further I must tell your Lordship, and all must confess, that those foundations thus built upon are altogether sandy and fallacious, and all those who seek and endeavour to be Builders in that Babel by the fierceness of the wrath of God shall be destroyed even in the imaginations of their own hearts. And now, my Lord, I am come to that particular where the people and the secluded Members, as I humbly conceive, are denied a right upon a supposition of necessity, and as to that the answer is easily reduced to this, who or what brought us or them to this necessity, was it not former crimes? if so then, My Lord, all necessities are lawful if not so, and that they dread not punishments or loss of worldly interests for some deviations and crying sins, why do they not acquiesce in this, that the power is in the people, as they for their own ends sometimes did declare (those Members being twice the major part, and thrown out by Cromwell and his adherents, these men then countenancing and contriving the same which your Lordship knows hath abundantly returned upon them to the great destruction and hazard of these Nations, Therefore my Lord, I would to God I might be the Prophet to forewarn you of the violence and oppression which is in their hands, that you might be kept from so sinful compliances, for to defend a few discontents in self interest only is obstinancy almost beyond parallel: And therefore, my Lord, since Noble actions do always attend a generous mind. It is my greatest hopes, and not only mine, but the expections and longings for of these Nations (since the prize is put into your hands,) That you should now be the happy instrument of their Redemption, by such conditions as may secure all persons so concerned, or else what means all those Addresses made unto yourself from the City of London, tumults and importunate desires for a Free Parliament of the Nations in General, whose burdens are unsufferable to uphold the envious ambition of some few, and cannot but be grievous as clamourous in your ears.  
But, My Lord, there are yet some considerable Observations and remembrances to be laid before you; was it not their sin in that place of Naboth's Vineyard that killed? and was it not the aggravation that they also took possession? Is not rebellion as the sin of witchcraft? is it not our saviour's express command, give unto Caesar that which is Caesar's? and is not this the Royal Law? do as you would that others should do unto you; innumerable are the Texts, and readings in History that might be here inserted, which doubtless, My Lord, you will recollect to your eternal honour, and the everlasting peace and settlement of these afflicted Nations, whose perjuries in breaking Allegiances, vows and Covenants, both with God and man, and lead thereunto by their various governors, even as if we had been in trouble until we were double damned in sinning, and causing others to fin is matter of amazement. In a word, to conclude your excellency's trouble, be pleased to let this maxim remain with you, That Government which once becomes a byword to the people is not durable, this is so, we have tried all forms and models, and this is yet the judgement upon us, that we strive against his providence, and will not be healed: How many who had commands almost equal with yours, have outlived the days they might have been renowned, who by countenancing factions and crying sins afterwards fell into tribulation and great scorn, being tormented by their own confederates: And this, my Lord, is the portion and fate of all such who put their trust in man, taking indirect means to attain glorious ends, as they pretended, and this perpetuates our thraldom and miseries, My Lord, It is therefore my hearts desire, that you may employ the talon God hath now put into your hands to these purposes, which will for ever make you famous and precious in the sight of God and Good men; and sure I am, it will abundantly illustrate that joy which you may gain in that immortality and glorious life to come, in the interim you cannot but find the secret overflowings in your own breast, the streams of which the people pray may never be diverted by thousands per annum; and this, my Lord, with the present condition of that noble Gentleman, Sir George Booth and others, who are now under great sufferings for asserting their countries Right, and freedom of Parliaments, which is the sense and perfect desires of these Nations, is humbly offered unto you as becometh your excellency's  
Most humble and faithful servant, C. E.