THE REMONSTRANCE AND PROTESTATION OF THE Well-affected People of the Cities of London, Westminster, and other the Cities, Counties and Places within the Commonwealth of ENGLAND, AGAINST Those OFFICERS of the ARMY Who put Force upon, and Interrupted the PARLIAMENT The thirteenth of Octob. 1659. AND Against all pretended Powers and Authorities that they have, or shall set up, to rule or govern this Commonwealth, that is not established by PARLIAMENT. EDINBURGH, Re-printed in the year, 1660. A Remonstrance and Protestation of the Well-affected People in the Cities of London, Westminster, and other the Cities, Counties and Places within the Commonwealth of ENGLAND, Against those Officers of the Army, who put forceupon, and interrupted the PARLIAMENT, the 13. of October 1659. And against all pretended Powers or Authorities that they have, or shall set up to rule or govern this COMMONWEALTH. WHen we take into deep and requisite consideration the first Remonstrance of Parliament the 15th of December 1641. declaring the great dangers and fears, the pressing miseries and calamities, the various distempers and disorders which had about sixteen years before that time, not only assaulted, but in a manner overwhelmed and extinguished the Liberty, Peace and Prosperity of the Nation, and exceedingly weakened and undermined the foundation and strength thereof, by several ways, by which we did and do understand what was the Cause, lately termed, The Good Old Cause, for which there hath been much precious blood shed, many thousand Families impoverished and undone, and many millions of Treasure consumed; And because we and our posterities are, and shall be mutually and unavoidably concerned in the wo or happiness of our native Country, we cannot but mention what was amongst manifold, considerable and exemplary particulars, declared by this Famous and Renowned Parliament, in right of the English People against the King, his wicked Council and Adherents, as the Groundwork and Reasons of the first War. It was declared, That the Root of all mischief, was a malignant and pernicious design, to subvert the Fundamental Laws and Principles of Government, upon which the Land was firmly established, and to discontinue, break and dissolve Parliaments, and wickedly advice the King so to do, and to return to ways of Confusion, in which their own evil ways were most likely to prosper and succeed; Publishing untrue and scandalous Declarations and Proceedings, to corrupt and invenom the English Army then in being, against the Parliament and City of London, that they might execute their malice to the subversion and dissolution of our Government, and shaking off all Bonds of Obedience to the Laws, and with impudence of spirit to make Parliaments odious, to colour the Violence used against them, to the great dejecting the hearts of the People, forbidding them even to speak of Parliaments, seducing and corrupting some of the Commons in Parliament, to draw them into Conspiracies and Combinations against the Liberties of Parliaments, by illegal, arbitrary and cruel Commitments and Usages, against the Fundamental Law; which Law was justified and defended by the Petition of Right in full Parliament; New Oaths forced, new Judicatories erected, a Star-Chamber, High-Commission, &c. as so many Forges of Misery, Oppression and Violence, to bind the People in their Freeholds, Estates and Actions; and to advance Prerogative above and against Law, heavy Impositions and Projects executed to raise Moneys without the Peoples Consent in Parliament; Engrossing the Militia of the Nation, that the People were left without necessary defence; Inventions to make those odious that sought to maintain the Laws and Liberties, insomuch that they were weeded out of Power and employments in Government, so that the Power and Authority remained in a few or compacted party, to model and innovate Government, merely to get countenance and execution, and not for debate and deliberation; And those that did not contribute to their Designs, were( upon all occasion) injured and oppressed: so that Parliaments were only ●alled to get countenance and supply of Money, and to engage party in their Quarrel, to make unjust Levies of Men and Moneys, ende●vouring to make the Parliaments pliant to their Wills, to establish mischief by colour of Law, imprisoning those that denied to submit to their Levies of Men and Moneys; A Parliament called and prest for Money to maintain War with Scotland, before Englands Grievances were relieved, which was declared to be against the Fundamental privilege and Proceedings of Parliament so to do; A Provincial Synod erected, who were so presumptuous as to make Canons, contrary to the Fundamental Laws, Statutes, Rights of Parliament and Liberties of the People, to justify such Actions and Innovations, which they had heretofore introduced, without warrant of Law, and a new Oath imposed for the maintenance of their own Tyranny; as may upon serious and deliberate reading be easily seen in the Book of Collections, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, pages. And when we consider these things in a true, serious and conscientious manner, according to our duty to God and our Country, ourselves and Posterity, we are amazed and troubled, because it doth not only produce in us thoughts of comparison and parallel with those high and unlawful, and extreme Actions, which have been done by the Military Power and influence of some few of the Chief Persons of the Army, in Parliament, and out of Parliament, before the year 1653, and since. The Premises considered, We do remonstrate and declare, That the declared Grounds of War betwixt the late King and the ever Renowned Parliament, in the Right of the People, was, as is before declared, the Kings illegal imposing Taxes upon the People, without their consent in Parliament, contrary to the known Laws of the Land, His subverting the Fundamental Laws of the Nation, His neglecting and refusing to bring Delinquents to trial, that had been Instruments in obstructing Justice, promoting Monopolies and other Grievances, to the great Oppression of the People; The Redressing of all which Grievances and Enormities the Parliament then sitting saw they could not effect, for that the King attempted the assuming the power of the Militia, to secure himself and defend the unjust practices frequently exercised by his Favourites: Insomuch, that the Parliament declared they were constrained, in order to the discharge of their Trust, to raise the Militia for their own and the Laws necessary preservation, The which the King opposing, begot a long, dangerous, chargeable and bloody war, which ended with Victory to the Parliament, and produced the taking ●way of the King, and the exterpating of the Kingly Office; upon which England was declared a Free-State. But so it hath been, that by the practices of the Common Enemy, and the pride and ambition o● the late General cromwell, the endeavours of the Parliament to settle these three Nations as a Free-State and Commonwealth was obstructed; To accomplish which, divers odious Aspersions were cast upon their Proceedings, to the weakening of their Credit in the eye of the Nations, the better to make way for their Interruption, and his intended Usurpation. In which pernicious design he was assisted by divers Officers of the Army, and others who were invited to a compliance in expectation of good things pretended by the said Usurper, who during the time of the exercise of his usurped Authority, multiplie● Inconveniences and Mischiefs not a few, viz. In levying Taxes up●n the People, without consent in Parliament, obstructing of Justice, imprisoning the Innocent in divers loathsome Goals and Dungeons, and sending divers honest & faithful Persons to Castles in remote Isla●ds, not only to the ruin and destruction of their Families, but to the lo●se of some of their Lives; contriving snares, and sending his hired Emi●saries to catch and trepan many innocent persons into his invented Plots, which being brought to pass, he basely murdered many score persons by his unjust, tyrannical, illegal, arbitrary High Court of Justice; Selling for Slaves many of the innocent people of this Commonwealth into parts beyond the Seas, to the ruin and utter destruction of them, their wives and families; erecting under his Tyrannical Power in the several Divisions of the Nation his Basshaws, or mayor Generals, to the great grievance of the People; Decimating of the Cavaliers after they had Compounded and paid their Compositions, and were by the Parliament of the Commonwealth, pardonned in their Act of Oblivion for all their by past Actions; which was one of the most tyrannical, illegal and vildest actions that ever was done by any Tyrant, violating the Sacred public Faith of a whole Nation, to the great scorn and dishonour of the English People in the sight of all Nations in the World, making them to be accounted the most faithless People that ever was. Moreover, those his mayor Generals have by their Orders attempted to bind the People of this Nation in their Free-holds, Estates, Suits and Actions, threatening to sand them to Jamaica, if they would not observe their Tyrannical Orders, as is notoriously known in most Counties of England. His making an unnecessary and destructive War with Spain, an Ally of this Commonwealth, In which the Lives of many thousands have been lost, and the damages, loss and expenses in the Charge of the several Expeditions made against that Crown, to the loss of about two thousand of Merchants Ships( the decay of Trade thereby, amounting to above sixteen Millions of Money) The patching up a Peace upon dishonourable and disadvantageous terms with the Dutch, to the great dishonour of the English Nation; The neglect of putting in Execution the Act for the Increase of Navigation and Trade, And erecting by Will and Power several Conventions under the notion of Parliaments, to carry on his arbitrary ambitious designs. The consideration of which, no doubt, did induce the Army to decline Richard the late Protector, so called, and to return to their duty they did owe the Parliament, from whom they did lately receive their Commissions, and promised their Obedience after their Repentance made in their Declaration the sixth of May, 1659. in these words, viz. The public concernments of this Commonwealth being through a vicissitude of Dangers, Deliverances and Backslidings of many, brought into that state and posture wherein they now stand, and ourselves contributing thereunto, by wandring divers ways from righteous and equal paths: And although there hath been many essays to obviate the dangers, and to settle the Nations in peace and prosperity, yet all hath proved ineffectual, the only wise God in the course of His Providence disappointing all Endeavours therein; And also observing to our great grief, that the good Spirit that appeared amongst us in the carrying on of this great Work did daily decline, so as the Good Old Cause itself became a Reproach, we have been lead to look back and examine the cause of the Lord's withdrawing his wonted presence from us, and where we turned out of the way, that through mercy we might return and give Him the Glory; And amongst other things, calling to mind that the Long Parliament, consisting of the Members which continued their sitting until the twentieth of April, 1653. were eminent asserters of that Cause, and had a special presence of God with them, and was signally blessed in that Work: the desires of many good People concurring with ours therein, we judge it our duty to invite the aforesaid Members to return to the exercise and discharge of their Trust, as before the said twentieth of April, 53. And therefore we do hereby most earnestly desire the Parliament, consisting of those Members who continued to sit since the year, 1648. until the twentieth of April, 1653. to return to the exercise and discharge of their Trust; And we shall be ready in our places to yield them, as becometh us, our utmost Assistance to sit in Safety, for improving the present opportunity for settling and securing the Freedom of this Commonwealth. Let this remain as a Testimony for ever upon Record to all posterity against those who were instrumental in the Interrupting of the Parliament upon the thirteenth of Octob. 1659. For which Action there can be nothing pleaded in defence thereof, it being so horrid a breach of Trust, to put Nine Commissions in the balance with the Safety of Three Nations; to adventure the Interest of the public upon so hazardous undertaking, and for so light an Occasion to attempt the Overthrow of the supreme Authority, and thereby expose themselves to a necessity of introducing new unlawful Forms of Government; the which will prove( if possible to be effected) unsafe, dangerous, and destructive to Posterity, and may hold their sons and sons sons in Chains of Tyranny, Oppression and Servitude. And all this to gratify the Lust and Pride of some great ones, which practices our fore-fathers abhorred, and respected Posterity so much, that they choose rather to leave unto us Parliaments for bulwarks to our Liberties, and our Laws for our badges of Freedoms, than to trust to the Wisdom, Counsel, or Religious Pretences of the best of men; They knew well that under the most specious pretence the greatest danger is lodged. Therefore they left us such Laws and Principles of Government, that by the justice thereof they should be able to preserve themselves, and those that should be subject thereunto, without the unnecessary addition of Force, which should be never made use of but in defence of Fundamental Laws and Rights, and in opposition to Enemies to the said public Interest. Now, from these manifold and weighty Considerations, wherein the Lives, Liberties and Estates of ourselves and posterities are so deeply concerned, that if at this juncture of time we do not endeavour a stop to this Torrent of Confusion thus breaking in upon us, the total subversion of our Fundamental Laws, our Parliaments and Freedoms will be most deeply endangered, it being the intent of the now Rampant Sword to seat itself for ever upon us, and entail an Army to posterity over us, for the Government of these Nations, ● thing so horrible to be thought on, that no Englishman that hath the least spark of English courage, honour or virtue in him, will endu●e the same; And therfore being prest in judgement and conscience to clear our selvs to this present Age, and to the English Generations that are to come, from the guilt of so great a bondage and ruin to the Nation, We are resolved as we part with our Liberties, to part with our Lives; and in pursuance thereof, We do hereby unanimously protest against, disclaim and renounce the late Act of the Interruption and Force put upon the Parliament, the thirteenth of October, 1659. as the Highest of Treasons, of dangerous and wicked intents against all Law, Parliaments and Civil Authority, and of total subjugation of England to the mercenary, tyrannical and oppressive Government of the Sword. And we do Remonstrate and Declare, That we will be subject to no Authority in England, but to the Authority of the People in Parliament; and that to the utmost of our powers, with our lives and fortunes, We will endeavour the preservation of our Fundamental Good Old Laws and Liberties, the Restauration of this present Interrupted Parliament, and the Settlement of this Nation upon the constant succession of Parliaments, and that no other Authority be exercised in England. And we do utterly disclaim, for us and our posterities, all Usurpations and Innovations whatsoever in Government, all exercise of marshal Law over our Persons and Estates, their pretended Committee of Safety at Whitehall, and whatsoever is or shall be set over us otherwise than by Authority of the People assembled in Parliament, according to our good wholesome Fundamental Laws and Birthrights. And do also Remonstrate and hereby Engage to, and with, one another, That we will pay no Moneys whatsoever that is not duly levied upon us by common consent by Act of Parliament, nor suffer any Souldiers to be quartered on us, or to take or force from us any Maintenance in lieu of Quarter; all such and other Exactions being treasonable and against the Fundamental Rights of the People, and the known Laws of the Land; the free People of England being not to be taxed but by themselves represented in Parliament, and therefore till then we will keep our Moneys, being most certainly assured, if we keep our Moneys, our Enemies will not be so well able to show their affections or force to destroy our Cause; and if those Lawless uncommissionated Officers in the Army will take it by Fire, Sword and Plunder, let them have a care of the issue thereof: for that is not to be born by the Spirit of Englishmen, or Christians. And we do also remonstrate and maintain, That neither the Officers of the Army, nor their pretended Committee of Safety at Whitehall, have any right of Government over us, or to form, impose any Government upon us, and that their proceedings are all Treason against the Laws of England, the sovereignty of the People; And do also declare, That we do own, stand by, and will in all lawful ways adhere unto the Authority of this Parliament that was interrupted the thirteenth of October last, it being the only means under God, to heal these Nations of these Distempers, Breaches, and Inundations which have lately broken in upon us; which violence is such a Precedent, that no Parliament can be, or account themselves safe in such actions. And therefore to the Officers of the Army we do make our Demand and legal Challenge for the session and freedom of the interrupted Parliament, whom, with our Fundamental Laws, we will not barter away for any thing that they can pretend to give us. Therefore hands off those sacred things, for if you touch them, ye touch the apple of our eye; for your tyrannical Committee of Safety shall have no obedience from us: And therfore we say again, We demand the force that is upon our Parliament be removed, and that the Army do forthwith return to their duty they owe, and their obedience they so lately promised to perform, both by their Declaration of the sixth of May, as aforesaid, and their solemn Promises upon their receiving their Commissions from this present Parliament; And it being the undoubted and inherent right of the People to have the Possession and Commands of the Armies and Militia of England, and not to be managed but by their consent in Parliament; the power of Raising and Disbanding of Armies, of making War and Peace, being one of the main ends and reasons of Parliaments, and the very essential properties thereof: the Sword of England of right belonging to the Civil Authority of England, and not the Civil Authority to the Sword: For it was never yet heard of since the Creation, that any Army did assume the Civil Authority, except that of the Memmulucks in Egypt, who soon did come to confusion; and so will these have just cause to fear, as a just judgement of the eternal God upon them, except they once more repent. And therefore, if this will not avail with them, We must and will endeavour to rescue the Sword out of their hands, and, as our dut● commandeth, to gird it to the sides of our Legal Magistracy. And we are the rather induced to assert the Session and Authority of this Parliament, in this late single difference between them, and some Officers of the Army, for that we have had experience of their abilities and courage, their experience of managing Affairs with foreign Princes and States, their abilities to encounter with their Machinations, and the great and several successses that God hath signally blessed them with, as these Officers do themselves aclowledge, besides their frugality or great husbandry for the Nation; who notwithstanding their great charge in a tedious and long War in the three Nations, and in foreign parts, yet they left the Nation out of debt, having clearly paid off all( except the residue of the public Faith, which they were in a way to have fully paid, as may appear by the Parliaments * Tuesday, Octob. 4. Resolved, That the Arrears due unto the Officers and Souldiers of the Army, and also of the Militia troops, shall be paid out of the moiety of such Moneys as shall be raised by the Sale or Composition of the Delinquents sequestered, and to be sequestered, upon the late Insurrection; and out of one moiety of the Money to be raised by the sale of Forrests and chaces, excepting New forest, and the forest of Dean, and excepting such Timber and Trees as shall be thought fit to be reserved and made use of for the service of the Commonwealth. And that the moiety of the Money to be raised by the said Delinquents Estates, shal go to the use of the navy; and that the other moiety of the Forrests, except as aforesaid, shall go to the payment and satisfaction of the Debts due upon the public Faith, and that the best way and means be speedily taken for rendering this Vote effectual. Resolve of the fourth of Octob. 1659.) and left Four hundred thousand pounds in ready Cash; but when they came to sit again, they found the Nation run into debt by the late Usurper Oliver cromwell, and his evil Counsellors, Thirty five hundred thousand pounds, which they were resolved to discharge, had not Sir George Booth and his parties Insurrection, and the constant interruptions by the Officers of the Army, prevented them; and it now hath and will cost the Nation many thousand pounds, to maintain the Interest of the new Intruders into Power, viz. Lambert and his Faction, who are already grown so bold and imperious, as to compel Free-Quarter in the North; and, to increase the Peoples misery, the pretended Committee of Safety at Whitehall having sent down Orders to the city of gloucester and Bristol, and divers other places, for the Souldiers that are there, to take Free-Quarter on all the People, which the Parliament declared no intent to do, they having made divers Laws against that intolerable burden. Again, we have sufficient ground to believe, That all the indifferent interests and persuasions in Religion within these Nations, will be more equally respected and secured, by the Authority and care of this Parliament, than by any other Assembly of men that can be chosen or thought on, by these pretenders of Government, as may appear by the Resolves of the Committee of Parliament for the Government. Viz. At the Committee for the Government in the Speakers Chamber, Septemb. 14, 15, 27, and 30. 1659. Sept. 14. 1659. Resolved, That the supreme delegated Power residing in the Peoples Trustees, is and ought to be limited in the exercise thereof by some Fundamental, not to be dispensed with, or subjected unto alteration. Sept. 15. 1659. Resolved, That the supreme delegated Power, is reposed in Trustees by the People for their Preservation, not for their Destruction. Sept. 17. 1659. Resolved, That it is destructive to the Peoples Right and true Freedom, unto which by Gods blessing they are now restored, ever to admit or receive any earthly King, or single person whomsoever to be Chief Magistrate in this Commonwealth, or any hereditary claim or exercise of Legislative or Executive Power in the Government. Sept. 30. 1659. Resolved, That the supreme delegated Power is not entrusted, to restrain the profession of any person or persons, who profess Faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, and in God the holy Spirit, God blessed for evermore; and do aclowledge the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, to be the revealed and written Word or Will of God, &c. So that it is clear and manifest by their said actions, together with these Resolves, the Parliament minded their former and latter declared grounds, and intended to maintain the Fundamental Laws of this Nation, Knowing that therein is secured the Liberty and Freedom of all persons, both as Men and Christians, and no other way can be thought on to secure the Liberties and Peace of all People. Considering that the Original that gives being to any other power, must be an Army, and such an Army as hath not been constant to any thing; but on the contrary have, through the influence of their grand Officers, started from all sacred Obligations, and have pursued and been subservient, under pretence of Religion, and public Good, to corrupt Interests, and the chief Officers, who have beguiled them by specious pretences, that thereby the Nation is altogether unsettled, and hath past through divers and dangerous changes, to which it is too much to be feared they have been influenced by foreign Jesuitical Councils. We further take into consideration, that when pretended foundation of a new Government is enforced, and shall receive its unlawful and unwarrantable being from a single sect or party in a Commonwealth, the same will be too narrow, and impossible to comprehend the common interest of the whole, especially in a Nation so divided and sub-divided into parties, as ours is; and that private or particular interest, that so giveth it its pretended being, will principally and indeed fully respect its own, which must unavoidably tend to public servitude and ruin to the whole; for, in a Settlement wherein all are not equally concerned and involved in the common benefit thereof, persecution and bondage must be the only portion of all save those of the over-ruling, unlawful and violent faction, if they can carry their self-unlawfull ends. We do further remonstrate and declare, That forasmuch as the whole Council of the Officers of the Armies in the three Nations, are but a particular Party and interest, to whom it was never delegated nor entrusted to be Legislators to the People of this Commonwealth, Laws, Liberties Civil, Religious, or Military either, themselves being but the hired servants of the Commonwealth; therfore they cannot any ways be judged in the least to have either Wisdom, Authority, Temperance, or ability to comprehend the Interest of all the People in the three Nations. Moreover, the woeful experience we have had of their great, horrible and unheard of unfaithfulness, as by several particulars may and will appear, viz. A Declaration of the ninth of September, 1647. from the then General Council of the Army, about one mayor White that had in their Council publicly declared then, That there was then no visible Authority in the Kingdom but the power and force of the Sword; This they did disavow from their hearts, as not having any design to set the power of the Sword above, or against the Fundamental Authority and Government of the Kingdom, and their readiness to maintain and uphold the said Authority, disavowing such principles or purposes. See their Declaration of the sixth of April, 1659. calling them, The famous long Parliament, and that their Enemies were proud and insolent, and offered abuses and assaults to the Friends thereof, whose famous Actions were vilified and evil spoken of; And in their Declaration of the 20th of April, 1659. calling to mind that the Long Parliament were great and eminent asserters of that Cause, and had a special presence of God with them, and were signally blessed in that Work; And on this they do promise the Parliament, that they would be ready in their places to yield them, as becometh them, their utmost assistance to sit in safety, for improving the present opportunity, for settling and securing the Peace and Freedom of this Commonwealth. See their Declaration of the twelfth of May, And their Representation of the fifth of October, 1659. where they say, that they did not design or intend any thing tending to the Interruption of the Parliament, styling themselves in many places of it, Their faithful Army. Nay, many of them when they took their Commissions from the Parliament, promised and passed their Faiths to the Parliament, that they would serve them with all obedience, as the supreme Authority: all which they have voluntarily and violently broken. And can they now think that the good people of these three Nations, after they have had so much experience of their inconstancy and unfaithfulness, will trust them with giving them Laws, and appointing them Governours, they having no power nor Authority so to do; or can they suppose that the just God will not avenge upon them all their apostasies and abominable breath of Trust, Oaths, Covenants and Engagements, made with hands and eyes lifted up to Heaven, in the most solemn and sacred manner that men can perform to God, with solemn Fasting and Prayer? We do with reverence, fear, and great dread to the just God, conjure them to consider what He hath done of old to Covenant-breakers; as to the house of Saul, for his breaking the Covenant that Joshua made and had sworn unto the Gibeonites, by the Lord God of Israel, and therfore they might not be touched, Josh. 9. with 2 Sam. 21. chap. And it is not only recorded in sacred and divine Writ, but we have human history also affording us Testimony sufficient to strike men with Amazement,( if they are not hardened in their hearts) and to constrain men to look back and see where they have turned out of the way, and fall down before the Lord and repent, and do their first work, that so an atonement may be made, lest the great and just God of Heaven break forth in wrath until there be no remedy; and therefore we also lay before them that which is recorded in the Turks History of Vladislaus King of Hungary, and Amurath the sixth Emperour of the Turks: See the Turkish History, pag. 246, and 247. where it is recorded, That there being a League made between Vladislaus the King of Hungary, and the Emperour Amurath, sworn to, and confirmed in great and sacred solemnity; the King of Hungary swore and confirmed it upon the holy Evangelist, and took the Sacrament to keep and perform the League, then made, inviolable; and the Emperour Amurath on the Alcoron: but behold some time after, the King of Hungary( that professed Christianity) taking advantage of the Emperour Amuraths Troubles with other Enemies, and by the persuasion of the Pope of Rome, perfidiously and basely breaks this League, that was so sacredly and solemnly made, and invades the Turks Territories with a great Army, and at last came to join battle, without any cause, where there was a sore and bloody fight, and many thousands slain; Amurath seing himself going to the worst, his Army likely to be beaten, there ●eing great slaughter made of his men, and beholding the picture of a Crucifix in the displayed Ensigns of the entitled Christians, plucks the Writing out of his Bosom, wherein the then late League was comprised, and holding his hands up and his eyes cast up to the Heaven, said thus, viz. Behold thou crucified Christ, this is the League thy Christians in thy Name made with me, and without cause have violated: Now, if thou be a God, as they say thou art, and as we dream, Revenge the wrong they have done to thy Name, and me, and show thy power on thy perjurious people, who in their deeds deny thee their God. Now, the great and just God, that loveth righteousness, and hateth Covenant-breaking, did show His Power on that false King of Hungary, Vladislaus, himself being slain, and his head cut off and carried about in triumph, and all his Army lost, so that there was scarce two left together. Surely the same God which was so just as to punish Sauls Children for their Father's breaking the Covenant that Joshua made many hundred years before with the Fathers of the Gibeonites, and destroyed Vladislaus the King of Hungary, for but once breaking Faith with Amurath the Emperour of the Turks, will much more punish these many Officers of our English Army, which have so many times violated Oaths, Leagues, Covenants and Engagements, and have frequently been false to their Trust, and broken Faith with Christians, yea, with three Nations who do profess Christ, and whom they call Brethren. And we do now appeal to Thee, thou only wise God, in whose Name they have made all their Oaths, Promises, Engagements and Covenants, Thy Honour is engaged to take vengeance on these Faith-breaking men; We beseech thee to behold all those Leagues, Covenants and Oaths which these men, that call themselves Thy People, have solemnly made in Thy Name, and yet remain hard and unrepentant. Having now remonstrated and declared the manifold miseries of this Nation, occasioned by the Usurpation and Tyranny of those that have violated our Foundation of Government, our Parliaments and Fundamental Laws, and have disserted and almost destroyed us in our Trade and Interest; both at home ●nd abroad eclipsed our Glory in the eyes of other Nations,( who are daily more and more animated against us, by reason of our Changes). We therefore desire the soldiery of the Army, to consider, that as they will appear to all the world to be no mercenary Army longer, that do serve the Lust and Ambition of any whatsoever,( as they have often declared) and as they do expect to find mercy with the Lord Jesus at the last day, and to stand up and appear to do their utmost endeavours, that the Nation( out of whose Purses they have had their Pay) may return to the true English Center of Honour, Safety, Peace and Freedom, themselves and posterities being equally with us and ours concerned, it being of no private nature, but of common and impartial good unto all. Let not your Swords be masters of your Consciences and Reason: The Parliament and People, the Laws and Liberties of England cry out aloud, call-for, and challenge your help; it is your duty, and not to be slighted. The Vengeance of England, and the Curse of Heaven hang over your heads, and will certainly consume you if you do not Repent, and we warn you thereof; Search your Consciences, and examine yourselves what it is that you pursue, whether you can answer it to God or man. It availeth not to say, you are for the Army, or to run headlong after great Officers to fight for Plunder, Rapine or Ruin, which must of necessity be, without the Parliament sit in Freedom and Honour, there being no other Legal way to raise Money on the People for your Pay. It is not their Nine Commissions, their greatness or Ambition can justify you therein, or satisfy Conscience, when Conscience hath any force. You are English-men, and all England is at stake. The very Soul and Reason of your Country is concerned; your great Officers have stabbed the Nation to the heart; Our Parliament, Our Laws, Our Liberties lie gasping and striving for Life; be therefore like the good Samaritan, bind up our wounds, pour-in the oil: and know that if your great Officers could over-power and destroy those that are engaged in Scotland in the behalf of the Parliament, under the conduct of General monk, that noble Patriot and gallant Assertor of English Rights, in the privileges and Liberties of Parliaments, according to his late Declarations; Can you therefore think we shall die in their Bodies? shall our living Spirits be there extinguished? No, Our Cause is immortal, head after head, generation after generation will rise up in judgement against you to rescue our Freedom, such is the Spirit of the English Nation: For, when the Norman conqueror had six score thousand men in Arms on English ground, to conquer the People of Englands Laws, but could not do it; and was forced to swear allegiance three times to the Laws of England, and ever since they have lived in despite of all enemies; And think not that you can do that which never could be done: Our Parliaments( though they be stunded by your force, suffer your interruption for a while) think not you can outlive them; there is that life in a Parliament, though you are not ware of it, which is too great an Interest for your strength; you may sooner split yourselves than ever to destroy it. Behold, O ye Souldiers! here we have speed the Cause of England, and the whole series and course thereof for above thirty years before you, that you may compare things with things, and judge of our sad and woeful condition, how we have been abused and cheated; and whilst fighting for Freedom and Law, our Bonds have been increased, and more load and more hath been heaped upon the People, endeavours are to bring us into a most absolute servitude, and make us, if possible, mere vassals and slaves, and greater than ever. This Bondage is above all before it, both Modern and Ancient, a yoke as is heavy to be born. Here is Good and Evil before you: and this our Protestation and Remonstrance we leave at your Door, having discharged the sincerity of our souls in all plainness and simplicity of mind, without favour or guile, And God be the witness betwixt us, if you reject us herein, the Evil and Guilt is yours. We have given you notice and warning aforehand; and all the blood that ensues, will be as the blood of Abel against you. Rouse up therefore and awake, Consider before you strike, how you can shed the blood of the Innocent for the humour of your Officers, and satisfy your Consciences therein; or, how can you die for it yourselves? Is your blood of no more value than to be spilled for their Ambition? Or, can you have the hearts to ripp up the Bowels of your Mother, your Native Country, for their lakes, and to make your Posterity their Vassals? We are plain with you, do what you will, We for our parts shall not recede or go back from this our Protestation and Remonstrance, but shall faithfully avow and attest the same to the utmost hazard of our Liberties, Lives and Fortunes. And in pursuance of this our Remonstrance and Protestation, and sacred Undertaking, We, the present asserters, Promoters and Subscribers hereof, in and about the Cities of London, Westminster, and burrow of Southwark, have delivered, and will deliver our Names in a Roll to certain Persons of Trust, and of assured Confidence, engaged and united with us herein, as a Memorial to God and our Country of this our Protestation, &c. with this sacred Vow one to another, To stand and fall, to live and die, and might our blood and Estates together in the just Execution hereof. 2 Chron. 10.16. And when all Israel saw that the King would not harken unto them, the People answered the King, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: Every man to your Tents, O Israel: And now, David, see to thine own House. So all Israel went to their Tents. Chap. 11. ver. 4. Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up to fight against your Brethren: Return every man to his House, for the thing is done of me. By which( in brief) we are induced to observe from both the aforesaid Chapters and Chronicles, That although David was a King or governor, by special, or extraordinary Anointment;( which kind of title the late deceased pretended Protector, or the now Grandees of the Army could not, neither can justly pretend unto) And although after the death of Solomon, Rehoboam was the successor, yet the People of Israel when they assembled to make him King, tendered him Obligations and Conditions, to secure and free them from the heavy yokes, and grievous servitude they were before that under, in the time of his father: And also when Rehoboam refused his Fathers sage counsellors Counsel, or Advice, which was to be kind, and also to give good words; yet he took the Counsel of his own Confederates, and violent lawless persons that stood before him, whose advice and ends were, to make his little finger heavier than his fathers loins, and to chastise them with Scorpions that had before been chastised with Whips; Whereupon the house of Israel declared themselves, they had no portion in David, nor inheritance in the son of Jesse; and advised David to go to his own house: and they themselves went to their own habitations, without making him King over them. And when Rehoboam had gathered one hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men and warriors of the house of Judah and Benjamin, to fight against Israel, the Word of God came to the Man of God, to give command to the violent persons, or warriors, That every man should return to his own house, and gives the reason for it; because the thing was done of God. So, We free-born English-men assert, that our Fundamental Laws and Liberties( for which so much blood hath been shed) are just and sacred. Our Parliaments are our Rights, and the Defenders and ancient Conservators of our Rights, and by these our Laws we have such lawful bounds and conditions to ease us from our Yokes and heavy servitude, that no unlawful violence ought to be used in our Nation; But in the late fact of the violent interruption of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England,( to whom the Officers of the Army were solemnly engaged) a violence is not only thereby done, but an example is thereby laid to scourge us with Scorpions, destroy our Laws, and to make Parliaments for ever afraid to assemble, and sit, to discharge their Trust, and be faithful to their Countries Liberties, for fear of detestable Force, and all the sad consequences thereof. And therefore seing some of the Officers of the Army without any colour of Right,( Rehoboam having a Right in those dayes and times, as hereditary from his anointed Grandfather David, and his Father Solomon) have, contrary to their Faith, Interrupted the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, and seduced divers Souldiers to their Faction, and have usurped a power and pretence to Authority; Therefore, to your Rights, O England, to save your Laws, Liberties, Parliaments, Posterities. What Portion have we in those Officers of the Army? What Inheritance have we in them? Let them return to their own Habitations, that we may at length have the benefit and fruit of our contention for our Laws, Liberties and Parliaments, by expense of blood and Treasure. Our Laws and Liberties( notwithstanding defect and ill Government in persons) were and are as so many invincible bulwarks, and righteous Fundamentals, that no Kings nor Princes, or any other persons, could exercise an Arbitrary Power over us. And therefore we see no reason at all, why a few or many Officers of the Army, or any of their Faction or Party, should endeavour to make our Laws, Liberties, Parliaments and Posterities subject to their violent and arbitrary pleasure, to declare, null and make voided their just Acts, which many Tyrants and Monarchs in former times durst never presume to do, or at least to publish it so presumptuously; All which we lay before the righteous God of Heaven and Earth to judge between them and us. The Citizens and Inhabitants of London, Westminster, and the burrow of Southwark, the present Promoters and Subscribers hereof, To their Brethren and Friends of this Common-wealth. November 16. 1659. Brethren and fellow Freemen of England, WE desire that constant prayer be made to the Almighty God for a blessing upon our endeavours herein; And it is judged that about three months time after the date hereof, is sufficient for the taking the Subscriptions of the whole Nation hereunto; And we have to that end sent several Copies to each County and City, And those that can be ready sooner, are desired to make their Return of their Subscriptions by the first of March next, to any of the Persons here-under-written, who have engaged in the Cause. THOMAS Lord FAIRFAX. mayor Gen. Philip Skippon. mayor Gen. Overton, governor of Hull. Col. Nathaniel Whetham, governor of Portsmouth. Col. Thomas airs, governor of Hurst-Castle. Capt. Pechel, governor of Tarmouth-Castle. mayor Wearing, governor of the Town of Shrewsbury. Col. Croxton, governor of Chester-Castle. Col. Bingham, governor of Guernsey. Lelut. Col. Meers, governor of Berwick. Leiut. Col. Styles at Tarmouth. Col. Saunders of Derby-shire. Col. Marcomb of Lincolnshire. John Streater, controller of the Ordnance. mayor Barton. Doctor Parker. Leiut. Col. Farley. mayor Arthur Eveling. Col. alured. Col. moss. mayor John Wildman. mayor Robert Harloe. Col. Sylvanus tailor. Leiut. Col. Bayns of Southwark. Agitant Gen. Sedascue of Warwick. Col. Hawkworth of Warwick Castle. Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper. Capt. tailor of Westminster. Mr. highway-man Petty of Berks. Capt. Disher in Hartfordshire. Agitant Gen. Nelthorp. mayor Brown in great St. Bartholomew-Close, London. Leiut. Col. Andrews of Col. Mosses Regiment. Leiut. Col. Camfield. Col. Hacker. mayor Hubbard of Col. Hackers Regiment. Col. randal of Wiltshire. Col. Rich. mayor Breman of Col. Riches Regiment. John Trot of Laverstock in the County of Southton, Esq Richard Reeve of the City of Winton, Esq Col. John White of the Tower of London. Col. Rainborough of Northamptonshire. mayor Cerling of Gravton. Quarter-master Gen. Fincher of Berks. mayor William Scut, and Maj. George Scut of pool. Vice-Admiral Lawson. Vice-Admiral Goodson. Sir Richard Staynor of Greenwich. Capt. Hall of St. Mary Magdalens. Col. William Web. Lord MAYOR and Common Council of the City of London, and to the Commissionners of the Militia of the City of London by Act of Parliament. Alderman D●thick. Alderman Love. Alderman Bateman. Alderman Biddolph. Alderman Atkins. Deputy cliff. Deputy Camfield. Deputy Leuthall. Thomas Arnold. Joseph Holden. William Jelly. Mr. Rosse. Mr. Havington. Mr. Bak●●. Mr. hind. Col. John Okey. Col. Slingsby Bethel. Col. Go●er. mayor Mark Coe. William Pennoyer, Esq mayor Robert Russel. Capt. William Mead. Capt. Nicholas Roberts. Capt. Stephen Hanbury. Leiut. Col. John Marriot. Richard Waring the elder. John Jackson. Edward bushel. Col. Wogan of South-Wales. Captain Morgan of South-Wales. mayor Gen. Morgan. Col. Brigh● of Yorkshire. mayor huntingdon of Oxfordshire. Capt. John wagstaff of Bedfordshire. Col. Kendrick of Kent. Col. Blunt of Kent. Lambert Godfrey of Kent, Esq Mr. Broughton of Maidstone in Kent. Col. Sparrow of Essex. Col. Cook of Pedmarsh in Essex. Col. William Web of London. Col. Boswell. The present Mayor of Colchester. Or to any one of those Commissioners of the Militia of Westminster by Act of Parliament. Mr. Houlton. Capt. Constable, Mr. Charlwood, Mr. Dodson, Mr. Wartop, Mr. Martin, signior, Mr. Seagood, Mr. Hawkins, Lieut. Col. Harrington, Mr. Barners, Mr. Nevil, Mr. Arthur Samuel, Mr. Scot, Col. Wetton, Mr. Colchester, Mr. wain, Col. Silvanus tailor, Mr. black, Mr. Norris, Mr. Martin, junior. Bedford. Edward Cater, Joseph Barber, mayor John Barber. Bedford Town. John Easton, Alderman. Robert Bell, Alderman. Berks. John Blagrave, Daniel Roberts, John Fenwick of Bray. Buckingham. Henry Phillips, John Deverel, Thomas White. Cambridge. Robert Castle, John Lowery, Richard Timbs. Ely. Francis Underwood, Hamond Ward, Thomas Castle. Chester. Thomas Brewerton, Edward hid, Robert Venables, Henry Brook. cornwall. Charles Buscaven, John Lampen, Edward Eliot, Richard Penwarren. Cumberland. William Briscoe, John Barwis, Thomas Croyster. Derby. Gervis Bennet, Robert Eyre, Mr. John Delton, Alderman of Derby. Devon. William Fry, John Serla, Henry Hatsel, Thomas Foxworth, Justinion beard, samson Lark. Exetor. James Peerse, Samuel Slade, William Venner, Walter Deeble. Dorset. Robert Pellam, Edward Butler, John Coker, William laurence. Pool. Moses Dorrel, Jones Deway. Durham. Francis Wren, Paul Hobson, John Brackston. York. George Lord ewer, Francis Lassels, Francis Thorp, sergeant at Law, John Narey, John alured, Thomas Westby, Richard Robinson, John Ledghard. York City. Leonard Thompson, Henry Thompson, Richard Hewit, Bryan Dawson. Essex. Henry Mildmay of Graces, Christopher earl, Edward Turner, Mr. show of Colchester, Capt. Rayner. gloucester. John Stevens, Robert Ienkinson, Silvanus Wood, Edmond Worcap. gloucester Town. William Shepherd, Luke Nurse, laurence Singleton, John Singleton. Hereford. John Woodgate, Ralph Darnal, John Walsham, Capt. John groom, Hartford. Sir John Whitrong, Sir He●●● Blunt, Isaac Puler, William Turner. huntingdon. Robert Wanton, William Drewery, Joseph Juxon, John Bardell. Kent. Thomas blunt, William James, Thomas Foch, Richard Meredeth, John Nut, Thomas Plommer, George Crumpton, Richard Boles. Canterbury. Thomas Ockman, Alderman lad, Alderman page., Alderman Lee. Lancaster. William West, Richard Shuttleworth, John Storkie, Alexander Rigby of Middleton, Alexander Rigby of Laiton. Leicester. Sir John Hertrop. John Horton, William Frank, Capt. Baker, Col. Markham. Lincoln. Sir Michael Armyre, Baronet. Humphrey Walcat, Thomas Hall, Samuel Cust. Middlesex. Sir John Thorrowgood, Thomas Hubbert, Thomas Treswallen, Lawrance Steel, Justinion Paget. Monmouth. Edward Herbert, John Herbert, David Morgan, Robert Jones. Glamorgan. humphrey Windham, Edward straddling, Rice Powel, Edmond Gamuge, Henry Morgan. Radnor. John Williams, Nicholas tailor, Robert Wever. Brecon. John Morgane, Thomas Watkins, Lewis Jones. Northampton. Sir Richard Samuel. Richard Samuel, Edward Farmer, William Ward, John Cleypole, signior Francis Quarles. Nottingham. Christopher alured, Francis Molineux, John Martin, Robert Kirby, Jonathan Everrad. Nottingham Town. John Fillingham, Alderman. William Drury, Alderman. Norfolk. Sr. Horatio Townsend, Baronet Sir Ralph hair, Sir William Doyly, George Cock, Thomas Toll, Joshua Green. Norwich. mayor Erasmus Earl, sergeant at Law. Adrian Parmenter. Northumberland. Ralph Dellaval, William Shafto, Robert Fenwick, Henry Ogle, Thomas Bonner, Alderman of Newcastle. Jeremiah Tolhurst, Ralph Salkeild. Newcastle. George D●wson, John Blackiston, George Blackiston. Oxon. William Draper, Thomas Appletree, John Butler, Robert Warcup, John Phelps, Adrian Scroop, John Carey. Rutland. Evers Armin, Richard Halford, Ambrose Broughton, John Osborn, Abel Barker. Salop. Samuel Moor, John Cotber, Creswel tailor, Edmond Warring, John Groom, Thomas Haies, Edward Cresser. Stafford. George Bellot, Thomas Bagnel, Zechariah Rabinton, Thomas Pudsey, Leicester Barber, Edward Parkhouse. Somerset. Henry Bonner, John Harrington, John carry of Castle-Cary, George Trevillian, Robert Aldworth, Esquires. John Paeice, Mayor of the City of Bath. Capt. Nicholas black, Capt. William Pitman, Capt. Thomas Hilyard Col. Web, Capt. Thomas Colins, Capt. Philip Lissant, Capt. William Gapper George Gold, Gent. Bristol. John Hagger, Esq one of the Judges for Wales. Rob. Aldworth, Esq Dennis Hollister. Nehemiah Collins. Capt. Edward Piet. Southampton. Sir John Digby, Knight. Chalenor Chute. Francis Roll. Thomas Betsworth. George Withers of Winton, Esquires. Isle of Wight. Thomas Bowerman, John Richards, Robert Dillington, George Searl, Gent. Capt. Newman, Capt. Leg of Stenburg. Suffolk. Henry Felton, Baronet Thomas Waldgrave. James Hobert, Robert Gurdon. William Gibbs, John Shepherd of Ash James Colthrop, Giles Barnardiston, Thomas Chaplyn, Robert Duncon, Barnaby Bowtel, John Moody. Surrey. Leiut. Col. George Duncomb. Walter Raseigh, John Gold of Clapham, dean goodwin, Richard Downs, Marsh of Darkin. Sussex. Thomas Hasilrig, William Spence, Thomas Betsworth of Vining. Arthur Betsworth, Esq William Cawley junior, Esq William Hay junior. Worcester. Sir Thomas Rous, Baronet. Henry Bromley of Upton. Edward Salway, Thomas Milward, Esqs Edmond Pit. Warwick. Sir Simon Archer. Thomas Archer, John Halford, Esqs Matthew Bridges. Samuel Ebral of Coventry, John Crichley, Mayor of the City. Thomas bassinet Alderman. Robert Bedford Alderman. Wilts. Philip Smith, William Ludlow, William coal of Downton. Nicholas Green. John red. William Shute. Bennet Swain, Esqs William coals of the Close of New Sarum. Edward Stoaks. Edward Hungerford of Farloe Castle. Thomas Goddard, Gent. Westmerland. Roger Bateman, Thomas Brathwaite, Edward Briggs, Randal Bateman, John Archer, James Cock, Edward Lee, Richard Sedgwick. Mongamery, Denbigh, Flint, Carnarven, Morioneth, and Anglesey. Sir John Wittewrong. Luke Lloyd, Esq Robert Griffith. Rice Vaughan. John perk. Thomas Harly. Edward Allen. Gerrard Barber. William Wyn●. John Sydenham, Richard Jones of Beamauris. Cardigan. Thomas Wogan. James Lewis. Jenkin Lloyd. David Morgan. Sir Richard Price, Baronet. Carmarthen. John Hagger. David Morgan. Jenkin Lloyd. Rowland Gwyn. Walter Thomas. pembroke. Sir Erasmus Philips. Roger Lort. Thomas Wogan. samson Lort. John Eliot signior. Walter Coney. Rowland Wogan. FINIS.