The Youngman's and the Apprentices Outcry: OR, An Inquisition after the lost Fundamental Laws and Liberties of ENGLAND.  
Directed (August 29. 1649.) in an Epistle to the private Soldiery of the Army, especially all those that signed the solemn Engagement at Newmarket-Heath, the fifth of june, 1647. But more especially to the private soldiers of the General's Regiment of Horse, that helped to plunder and destroy the honest and truehearted Englishmen, traitorously defeated at Burford the 15. of May, 1649.  
By Charles Collins, Anthony Bristlebolt, William Trabret, Stephen Smith, Edward Waldgrave, Thomas Frisby, Edward Stanley, William White, Nicolas Blowed, John Floyd, in the name and behalf of themselves, and the Young men and Apprentices of the City of London.  
Who are cordial 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.  LAMENT. 2.11, 12. 
Mine eyes do fail with tears: my bowels are troubled: my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people, because the children and the suckling's swoon in the streets of the City.  
They say to their mothers, Where is corn and wine? when they swooned as the wounded in the streets of the City, when their soul was poured out into their mother's bosom.   

Gentlemen,  
WE are all of one Nation, and People, it is the sword only that differeth; but how just a title that is over us, your own private thoughts surely are our determiners, however your actions import: For, it is not imaginable, (except amongst Bears, Wolves, and Lions,) that brethren of one cause, one Nation, and family, can without remorse and secret check of conscience, impose such I●on yokes of cruelty and oppression upon their fellows, as by the awe and force of your Sword rampant, 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 overawed to the supportation only of the raging lawless Sword, drenched 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 thirty times confirmed in open and free Parliament, with all other the fundamental laws, safeties, and securities of the people, which our Ancestors at an extraordinary dear rate (as with abundance of their ●lood and treasure) purchased for the inheritance of us, and of the Generations after us, and for which ●ou pretendedly took up arms against the late King and his party, are now all subverted, broken down ●nd laid waist, the Military Power being thrust into the very office and seat of the Civil Authority, The King not only most illegally put to death, by a strange, monstrous, illegal, arbitrary Court, such as England neverknew; Monarchy extirpated (not rectified) 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 just humane Authority) ●ut even our Parliaments (the very interest, marrow, and soul of all the native rights of the people) ●ut down, and the name and power thereof transmitted to a picked party of your forcible selecting, ●nd such as your Officers (our Lords, and Riders) have often and frequently styled no better than a mock-Parliament, a shadow of a Parliament, a seeming-Authority, or the like pretending the continuance thereof, but till a new and equal Representative, by 〈◊〉 mutual 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 Counsel, or as they call it, a Counsel of State, of superintendency, and suppression to all future successive Parliaments for ever, erecting a martial Government (by blood and violence impulsed upon us) making soldiers to be executioners of Orders and Warrants, pretending to the Civil Authority, and in every particular (notwithstanding, all your famous and glorious Declarations of Freedom and Liberty) dealing with us, as an absolute; conquered and enslaved People: The Law being nothing but a mock protection to our lives, liberties and properties; the Judges set apart, for the excutors of it, a mere delusion, our Sheriffs, Mayors, Justices of Peace, Constables, etc. being laid by, or made no better than cyphers, (the choice of them, by will without right) appropriated to a few factious men, while the right owners (the people) are robbed of their free and popular elections of them) as not daring to execute Justice upon the rudest or meanest soldier in England, although the Law sufficiently warrants them thereunto, but contrariwise, Commoners are forceably convented and tried before a Council of War, and some sentenced even unto death, others by a private verbal order made to run the gantlop, and whipped most barbarously, for refusing to take false and illegal oaths; and the blood of war (expressly against the Petition of right, and for which amongst other crimes, the Earl of Strafford lost his head as a Traitor, 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 April; 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 solemn engagements at the taking of them, (as their friends lately defeated with them, in their vindication of the 20. of August, 1649. fully declare, pag. 6.7.) and others yet fresh in our memory doth witness: parties of horse and foot, (contrary and in direct defiance, of the due course and process of Law) sent at unseasonable hours, 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 accusation shown, or accuser appearing, or the least pretence or shadow of Law produced, some sent into remote Garrisons, where they have been most barbarously used, and endeavoured to be starved, and to●● from Garrison to Garrison, others locked up close prisoners, with sentinels night and day upon their doors, and all due trials and help at Law, stooped and denied, and no remedy to be obtained, ye●, free men most barbarously put out of their legal possessions, by force of arms; without any manner 〈◊〉 trial at Law, yea the Law damned, and stooped up against them, for recovering of their legal right, and they threatened severely to be punished, if they desist not their suits at Law; yea, and freemens estates never pretended to be within the compass of the Ordinances of sequestrations, seized on to 〈◊〉 great value (by some great men's wills, protected by their swords, to do even what they lift, without control) without any manner of trial or conviction, or any shadow of legal pretence, or ever so much as laying any pretended crime to the parties charge; all which are the very (if not higher) crimes, than the Earl of Strafford principally lost his head for, as a Traitor, as clearly appears by his Act of Attainder, and by his large printed additional 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 faithful maintainers of the English Freedoms, are most maligned, abused, and vilified, that it is now become a crime of the greatest peril and penalty, to be faithful to the declared interest of Parliaments, or rights of the people therein; a thing so dreadfully 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 entrap the most conscientious, so that we cannot talk or discourse of our lost Freedoms, or open our mouths of our oppressions, but we are in as bad a condition, as our Forefathers were, in the days of William the Conqueror, (that thought any fact crime enough to entitle him to their estates,) if not worse by being Treason struck; and besides all this, multitudes of pick pocket, murdering taxes are heaped, and continued upon the old, and in default of payment, soldiers are put upon straining, seizng and plundering of our Master's goods; and houses, for which violence and villainy, 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 ensnaring in its penalties, that no man well knows how to behave himself in his trading, for fear of being undone; yea, so numberless 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 doleful groans, of the oppressed and enslaved ruinated people. Trade decayed and fled, misery, poverty, calamity, confusion, yea and beggary grown so sore, and so extreme upon the people, as the like never was in England, under the most tyrannical of all our Kings, that were before these in present power, since the days of the Conqueror himself; no captivity, no bondage, no oppression like unto this, no sorrow or misery like unto ours; (of being enslaved, undone and destroyed by our large pretended friends, for whose preservation, we could have even pulled out our very eyes) the people become desolate and forsaken, wand'ring, pining, and mourning (like those in Jeremy's Lamentations, unto whose sorrows, they said none was like) after their lost fundamental Laws, their native, and just freedoms, and rights, and there is none to comfort, none to pity, none to relieve, none to help or or save. Alas, alas for pity. For,  
Your hearts seem to us as obdurate as the flinty rock, as savage and inhuman, as if the flesh and blood, the bones and marrow of the people, were become your meat, as already it is in effect, and instead of encouragement and support to our true friends, and real relievers, (at least in faithful desire and endeavour) as shall stand in the gap betwixt our destroyers and us, all ways and means are used to impoverish, destroy, and suppress them, and in them to break and vassalage the spirits of all the English, which in all ages have had the preeminency 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 maintain their freedoms; (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 murmur and complain, on seek for remedy, though by way of Petition or Address to the House, presently their houses, as with Furies, are beset, with armed mercenary Janissaries, Guards, and Sentinels, set upon their doors 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 Traitors therefore imprisoned, for weeks, and months; yea, and close imprisoned from the society of all their friends, without ever so much as ever seeing either informer, accuser, prosecutor, or witness, yea, or ever seeing Indictment, impeachment, or Charge, yea, or face to face, or in their Mittimus', or any other formal or legal way, ever so much as having 〈◊〉 crime, or pretence of a crime laid unto their charge, by those very men before whom they 〈◊〉 brought, and who by the rules of their mere will commit them therefore, although the Parliament in several Declarations have declared, That they have received Petitions for the removal of things established by Law, and we must say, and all that know what belongeth to the course or practise of Parliament will say, that we ought so to do, and that both our Predecessors, and His Majesty's Ancestors have constantly done it, there being no other place, wherein Laws that by experience may be found grievous and burdensome, can be altered or repealed, and there being no other due and legal way, wherein they which are aggrieved by them, can seek redress, and that it is t● tumult to deliver Petitions by popular multitudes, 1 part book of Parliaments Declarations, pag. 113. 201. 202. 209. 533. 548. 691. 720.  
Yea, and your very selves, and your juggling Officers quarrelled with, and took up arms against the Parliament, your creators and original Lords and Masters, for prohibiting you to perseus, and make known your grievances to them, and sufficiently envy and exclaim against them for so doing, and impeach some of them as Traitors therefore, as clearly appears in your own book of Declare. p. 10. 11. 17. 23. 33. 35 44. 60. 61. 62. 83. 85. 118.  
●nd yet nothing but the boundless wills and humours of those  men of blood, forageth and ruleth over us: and is this all the return and fruit, that people are to expect at your hands doth your solemn engagement at New-market, and Triplo heath, with your Declaratious, Remonstrances, Vows and Protestations unto us all, centre in this beadroll of cruelties? we pray you gi●e us leave to make inquiry amongst you after those things, and give losers leave to complain. Remember you not with what chieerfulness and alacrity our fellow-Apprentices; the glory and flower of the youth of this Nation, and multitudes of ourselves yet surviving, ran in to your assistance o●● of a conscientious intent, to uphold and maintain the fundamental Constitution of this Common. Wealth? viz. the interest and right of the people in their Parliaments, it being most rational, and unquestionably just, that the people should not be bound but by their own consent given to their Deputies in Parliament, which by the Laws and customs of England, aught [wholly new] to be annual, to deliver and clear the Land from its heavy pressures and bonds, not engaging in the least, against the person of the King, as King, or with any thoughts or pretence of destroying, but regulating Kingship, but merely for the removal of al● those cruelties and oppressions, he had laid upon the people by his will, contrary to Law● this you know to be true, your own papers extant to the world are our record and witnesses, 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, registered in your book of Declarations? in which pag. 14. you say, you shall through the grace of God, discharge your duties to the Parliament, etc. and also demonstrate, that the good and quiet of the Kingdom is much dearer to you, than any particular concernment of your own: and in pag. 23. the General 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 fir● peace in this Kingdom may be settled, and the liberties of the people cleared, and secured accordingly, to the many Declarations by which we were invited, and induced to engage in the late want, most seriously there promising them, they will not meddle to the advancement of any particular party, or interest whatsoever.  
And in your solemn engagement of the 5. June 1647. pag. 26. you promise and engage to God, the Kingdom, and to each other, that you will not disband, divide, nor suffer yourselves to be disbanded, nor divided (either for Ireland, or any other place else) until we have first such satisfaction [〈◊〉 you say] to the Army, in relation to our grievances, and desires heretofore presented, & such security, That we of ourselves (when disbanded, and in the condition of private men) or other the freeborn people of England (to whom the consequence of our case (about petitioning) doth equally eatend) shall 〈◊〉 remain subject to the like oppression, in ury or abuse, as in the premises hath been attempted and put upon 〈◊〉 while an Army.  
O that there had been an heart in you, to have made this good before your gross apostasy from all your engagements and promises, t●at hath already occasioned so much misery, w●rr and block shed. Or, o● that yet there were hearts within you vigorously and effectually to go about the accomplishment and fulfilment thereof (and thereby prev●●t all the miseries, bloodshed and desolations that for want thereof undoubtedly mu●● and w●ll ensue) which you are bound and tied unto both before God and man, as is (in our judgements) unanswerably proved in the forsaid treacherously defeated Batford men's Vindication, p●●. 8. 9 10.  
But to return, in your said engagement, in the forerecited ●6. page, you positively there dis●●n and disclaim all purposes or designs in our late or present proceed, to advance or insist upon a particular interest, to ●e overthrow of Magistracy, etc. neither (〈◊〉 you) would we (●f we ●ight or could) advance or set up any particular p●●ty or interest in the Kingdom [though imagined never so much our own] b●● sh●ll much rather [as far as may be within our sphere or power] study to promote such ●n establishment of common equal right and freedom to the whole, as all might equally partake of  
And in that most choice and best or Declarations made by the whole Army of Soldiers, 〈◊〉 well as Officers June 14. 1●47, tendered to the Parliament, concerning their just and fundamental rights 〈◊〉 sib●rites o● themselves and the Kingdom, Book Decl pag. 36. 37. you say, That we may no longer be the dissatisfaction of 〈◊〉 friends, the subject of our enemy's malice [to work jealousies and misrepresentations upon] and the suspicion [●f not astonishment] of many in th● Kingdom, in outlet or present transactions and conduct of business; we shall in all faithfulness and clearness profess and declare unto you, these things which have of late protracted a●d hindered our disbanding, the present grievances which possess o● Army, and are yet unremedied; with our desires, as to the complete settlement of the Liberties and peace of th● Kingdom, which is that blessing of God, than which (of all worldly blessing) nothing is more dear unto us, or more precious in our thoughts, we having hitherto thought all ●n r●●●● enjoyments [whether of life or livelihood, or nearest relations] twice but sufficient to the purchase of so rich a blessing, that we, and all the freedom people of this Nation may sit down in quiet under our vines, and under the 〈◊〉 ad ●mistration of justice and Righteousness, and in full possession of those fundamental Rights and Liberties, without which we can have little ho●es (as to humane consideration) to enjoy either any comforts of life, or so much as life itself, but at the ●●●sarres of some men, ruling merely according to will and power:  
And in the same Declaration pag. 38. 39 you t●r●●●r ●ay thus; Nor will it now (●e 〈◊〉) seem strange or unreasonable to rational and honest men, who consider the consequence of our present case, to their own and the Kingdoms [as well as our] future concernments, in point of right, freedom, peace and safety (if from a deep sense of the high consequence of our present case, both to ourselves [〈…〉] and all other people) w●●h●ll, 〈◊〉 disbanding, proceed in our own and the Kingdom's behalf, to propound and ●●ad for some provision for our and the Kingdom's satisfaction and futute security, 〈◊〉 relation to those things especially, considering that we were not a mere mercenary 〈◊〉, hired to serve any arbitrary power of a State, but called forth and conju●●● by the several Declarations of Parliament, to the defence of our own and he ●●●●es just Rights and Liberties: and so we took up arms in judgement and content to those ends, and have so continued them, and are resolved, according to your first just desires in your Declarations, and such principles as we have received from your frequent informations, and our own common s●●s, concerning those ou● fundamental Rights and Liberties, to assert and vindicate the just power and rights of this Kingdom in Parliament for those common ends premised against all arbitrary power, violence and oppression, and 〈◊〉 all 〈…〉 still directing 〈◊〉 to the equitable sense of all Laws and Constitutions, as ●ispe● 〈◊〉 with the very letter of the sam●, and being supreme to●●, ●●je●● the safety and preservation of all 〈◊〉 concerned: and assuring us that all ●ut●o●●p●● fundamentally se●●ed in the Office, and but ministerial in the Persons.  
A●● 〈…〉 out of th● Parliament, ●●declare, your ●●rri●g● towards them shall be su●h, as that he world shall see we 〈◊〉 nothing of pr●●●te revenge and 〈◊〉, but that Justice may have a free course, an● the Kingdom be ●ased and f●cured, ●●d ●n●bl●●g such m●n [at least] from place of Ju●i●●●, who desiring ●o advantage and se●●p ●●●●●lv●s and their party in a general confusion, 〈◊〉 endeavoure● to p●t the Kingdom into a new flame o● Warr, th●n which nothing is more 〈◊〉 horrent to us. And in the same Declaration▪ spending the 42 and 43 pages in most excellent expressions, of the excellency and benefit of frequent and successive Parliaments [〈◊〉 new] and the mischief, bondage and vassalage of the long continuance of any Parliament, 〈◊〉 pa. 44. you say, A●d thus a firm foundation being laid in the authority and constitution of Parliaments, for the hopes at least of common and equitable Right and Freedom to our selus and all the free born people of this Land; we shall for our parts freely and cheerfully co●●● our stock or share of interest in this Kingdom into this common bottom of Parliaments, 〈◊〉 though it may [for our particulars] go ill with us in one voyage, yet we shall thus hope 〈◊〉 right be with us] to far better ●n another.  
And in the last end of that transcendent Declaration, pag. 46. you conclude thus: We have thus freely and clearly declared the depth and bottom of our heart, and desires in order● the Rights, Liberties and peace of the Kingdom; wherein we appeal to all m●n, whether 〈◊〉 seek any thing of advantage to ourselves, or any particular party , or to the paradise of the wh●le; and whether the things we wish and seek for, do no● equally concern 〈◊〉 conduce to the good ●●oth 〈◊〉 common with o●t selves, according to 〈…〉 ●●●sires and intentions (wherein as we have already found the concurrent sense of 〈◊〉 people in divers Country's, by their petitions to the General expressing their ●●resentment of these things and pressing us to stan● for the in e●est of the Kingdoms therein; so we shall ●ish●nd expect he unanimous concurrence of all othery who are equally concerned with us in these things, and wish well to he ●●lick.  
And in p. 52. being writing to the Lord Mayor Aldermen, and Commons of the C●●●● London in Common Council assembled, it is thus said To con●●●d. We say f●mou beau●●● our especial ends are the glory of God, and the good of this whole Land, so 〈◊〉 deavour shall be to 〈◊〉 ut● the ●am● without 〈…〉 the being 〈◊〉 well being of Parliaments general; the maintenance whereof we value above our own lives; or (as we 〈◊〉 formerly said) o● th●● Parliament in pa●●c●●a●, but 〈◊〉 together ●n order to the g●od and Peace of Nation, and with a most ●ender regard to your City.  
And in. page 57, 58. its▪ said that, In our last Representation it may appear whe●●● desires are, as Members of the Commonwealth in behalf of ourselves and all other the clearing, feeling and securing of the rights, liberties and Peace of the Kingdom; for justness, reasonableness necessity and common concernment whereof unto all, we d●●peal to the whole Kingdom, and to the world.  
And in page 76 to the Lord Mayor of London, etc. it is said, That it is a sudden and substantial settlement of the whole we destro in a general, safe, and well grounded peace, and the establishment of such good Laws, as may duly and readily render to every man their just rights & liberties; and for the obtaining of these, not only our intentions had led us in, 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 selus and posterity, that neither we nor they can live comfortably without them,; and therefore their help is m●ch pressed for to bring things to a happy conc●●●en, to the satisfaction of all ho●●● men's expectation, and that in all our undertake we shall be ●●und men of truth, fully and singly answering the things we have held forth to the Kingdom in our several Declarations and Papers, without by or base respects to any private end or interest whatsoever.  
And in page 97. is recorded a notable Proposal to the Parliament from Red●ing, July 1●. 1647. which doth sufficiently condemn your late tyrannical dealing with some of the very parties therein mentioned; The Proposal thus followeth; ' We do earnestly desi●e, That all persons imprisoned in England or Dominion of Wales, not for Delinquency in relation to the 〈◊〉 War, but fu●● pretended misdeameanou●●,) and whose imprisonment 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 Trial, (or if the ●●●ss●● o●●et●ing the general affairs of the Kingdom 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 present ●●tal●) than the● may have p●●s●●● 〈◊〉 (upon reason ●●le s●●u●i●●e) o● their appearance at a●e ta●● day, to answer w●●t shall be charged against them in a Legal way, and that when they should be tried, if they appear wrongfully or unduly imprisoned, they may have reparation according to their sufferings.  
In particular we desire this may be done in behalf of L. Colonel john Lilburn, Master john Musgrave, Master Overton and others (in their condition) imprisoned in 〈…〉 London. Read also more ●ully to this purpose p. 101. 105. 110. 112 118. 128. 132 137. as also the large Remonstrance from Saint Alban's 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, ●ut you in mind of your most wicked and gross apostasy (such as the world never see nor read of before, from men that profess God and godliness in a strict manner, and would be reputed the CHOICEST SAINTS in England) and cry out unto you with astonishment and admiration; and thus interrogate your very consciences (where God alone ought to sit King) Do hear you not the blood of our dear fellow Apprentices, and of the rest of th● good People of England spilt for the redemption of this enthralled Nation (especially since your first contest with the Parliament) cry aloud in your cars and hearts (where ever you go) for vengeance upon you, the people's perfidious abusers, be trayers and destroyers? Oh ●o not you hear them cry out unto your very conscences; O give our Fathers, our Mothers, our Brothers, our Sisters, and others of our near and dear relations, the full and speedy accomplishment of all your forementioned inravishing promises and engagement, by virtue of the power and efficacy of which you stole away their heart, and spirits from all t●●●r relations, and ma●● them with willingness and chieerfulness become sacrifices for your assistance; for that end principally (if not only) that they that survived might enjoy the full and ample fruition of all your gloriou ●●●●ses and engagements, for common Freedom, distributive justice and righteousness upon the earth; Oh do you not hear their blood cry unto you? O mock not (nor dally with) God any longer, but without delay, give our friends and countrymen the promised price of all our blood, by the full and speedy paying of all your vows, and engagements made unto God for that end, lest for all your perjury, apostasy, and perfidiousness he create a mighty and unresistable spirit of revenge amongst the people, and knit together (their other wile divided hearts, in one, is one man to rise up in one day to destroy you, with a more fatal ●eco●●● destruction than you have already destroyed others (yea the highest in the Nation) pretendedly for oppressions, breach of Oaths, Faith and Covenants) yea to sweep you away from the l●nd of the 〈◊〉 w●th an overflowing de●●●e of destruction, as the mislived women 〈◊〉 six or seven hundred years ago, did the Danes in one night throughout England.  
Oh do not your h●●●●s 〈◊〉 all rel●●? can you consider this your ●or●●●ced u●●●●a 〈…〉 horrible defection and apostasy, and not tremble and be amazed, and even confounded? is there less remorse of conscience in you then was in Belshizz●r, who at his s●eing the hand writing upon the wall, ●ha●ged his countenance, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joynt● of his 〈◊〉 we●e loose●, and his knee● smote one against another, (though otherwise in as gre● Jollity and prosperity as any of yourselves or Officers) or have you l●sse apprehension of the Majesty of 〈◊〉 than was in ●he heathen Roman Governor Felix, who when he heard Paul reason or Pr●●● of righteousness, temperance and Judgement to come trembled and feared, and durst not proceed in fury against him, although much thereunto provoked by his adversaries, Act. 24. S●●● all sense and compunction of conscience is not totally departed from you; hear us therefore i● the earning bowels of love and kindness we entreat and beseech you with patience and do 〈◊〉 abuse us for complaining and crying out, for the knife hath been very long at the very throats of our Liverties and Freedoms, and our burdens are too great and to many for us, we are not able to bear them and contain ourselves, our oppressions are 〈◊〉 ready to m●ke us despair, (or forthwith to fly to the prime Laws of nature, viz. the 〈◊〉 ●iolent remedy at hand, light it where it will, or upon whom it will) they are become as devouring fit in our bones, ready to burn us up, rendering us desperate and careless of our lives, prising tho●● that are already dead, above those that are yet living, who are ri● of that pain and torment, 〈◊〉 we do & must endure, by sensibly seeing an● beholding not only the d●ing, but the daily bu●i●● our native Liberties and Freedoms, that we care not what becomes of u●●, se●ing that we are 〈◊〉 into that original state or chaos of confusion; wherein lust is become a law, envy and mali●●● become laws, and the strongest sword rules and governs all by will and pleasure; all our ●rcien● boweries and landmarks, are pulled up by the roots, and all the ●yes and bonds of humane society in 〈◊〉 English horizon totally destroyed and ex●erpa●ed A●●s fo● pity.  
We had rather die then live th●s life of languishing death, in which our Master's poff●●● nothing (to buy themselves or us bread to keep us alive) that they can call their own; therefore it's no boot for us to serve out our times, and continue at our drudging and ●oyling trades, while these oppressions, cruelties and inhumanities' are upon us, and the rest of the people; ●p●sing thereby the Nation not only to domestic broils, wars and bloodsheds (wherein we ●●●sure our bodies must be the principial burrs) but to foreign Invasions by France, Spain, Denmark, Sweathland, etc. as was well observed by our endeared and faithful friends of the 〈◊〉 mentioned late treacherously defeated party ●t Burford in their Book of the 2● of Aug●●● 1649. Entitled the Levellers v●ndicated, or the Case of their 12 Troops truly stated, pag. 11. ●●. which we cannot but seriously recommend (with them) to your serious perusal and judgement and desire to know of you (but especially the p●●vate Soldiery of the General's Regiment of horse, 〈◊〉 we understand had a hand in seizing upon and plundering our true friends at Burford) whether you 〈◊〉 own the abominable and palpable treacherous deal of your General and Lieutenant General Cromwell and their perfidious Officers with them or no? (that so we may not cond●●● the innocent with the guilty, and may know our friends from our so●●) as also to tell us, whether 〈◊〉 do approve of the total defection of your Army under which it now l●eth, from their Faith 〈◊〉 solemn engagement made at Newmarket-heath, June the 5. 1647. not one of those righteous 〈◊〉 in behalf of the Parliament and people, on which your vow was made, being yet fulfilled or 〈◊〉 but on the contrary (as we have before rehearsed) 〈◊〉 whole floodgate of tyrannies are let in upon us, and even over whelm us; and whether you justily all those act●●●s done in 〈…〉 ●t the A●my upon your account, and un●er pretext of that Engagement since the Engagement itself was broken, and your Counc●l● of Agitators dissolved? And whether you will hold up your Swords to maintain the total abolition of the people's choicest interest of freedom, 〈◊〉 frequent and successive Parliaments, by an Agreement of the People, or obstruct the annual succession? Whether you do allow of the late shedding of the blood of war in time of pe●ce, to the subversion of all our Laws and Liberties? And whether you do councen●nce the ●●●●pation of the fundamental Freedoms of this Common-wea●●●? as their revocation or ●ullity 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-ru●e, or make void, our ancient 〈◊〉 of trials in criminal Cases, by a Ju●y of 12 men of the nei●●bour hood? and whether you 〈◊〉 assist or joy ne 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 shall endeavour the composure ●f our differences, to gether with the pro●●ement of our Freedoms and settlement of our pe●ce (●our plenty and prosperity) accordingly as it was offered by the 4 Gentlemen prisoners in the Towe● of London upon the first of May 1649 (as a peace-offering to this Nation) by the Agreement of the People?  
last; We earnestly besee●h 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 remorall of those ●●ron bands and ●o●ks of oppression, that have thus enforced us to complain, and address ourselves thus to your serious consideration.  
For we canno● choose 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 friends 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 fetling of the peace, Liberties and Freedoms of this distracted nation, which hath so much justice, righteousness and safety in it, that we hope it will in a very short time level all self interests before it & make it clearly appear to him that claims the greatest persmall share in the government of this Nation, that there i●no way to obtain the ●●e●●ve of the understanding English people (without which he will never obtain his desired Crown) but by a cheerful, hearty and real promotion of such principles therein ●●●ained as do sufficiently tie h●s hands from cutting the people's throats, at his will and pleasure, the endeavouring of which, exposed his father to that fa●all end that be●ell him; which may be a seasonable caveat to all Princes etc. to take heed of tha● desecrate rock, viz. the attempting to govern the people by will, and not by Law; by force, and not by love; the only and alone durable and perma●●●●●ie 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 equity righteousness and common safety in it, that we are resolved to bury all by past DISTASTES at the greatest of Englishmen that shall heart●ly and cordially, sign and put forth their power and interest, to promote the establishment of the principals therein contained; and in the ADHERING TO AND STANDING BY, all such as shall be ●n 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 effectual promotion of which said Agreement we are necessiously compelled, to resolve in close upon to join ourselves, or our Commissioners (chosen for that end) in Counsel with our foresaid Burford friends, or their Commissioners, and to resolve to run all hazards, to methodise all our honest fellow Prentices, in all the Wards of London, and the out-P●rishes, to choose our their Agents to join 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 Counsels amongst themselves, out of which we shall desire (and exhort them) to choose Ag●●● or Commissioners (impowered and entrusted by them) speedily to meet us and the Ag●●●● of all ours (and the Agreement of the People) adherents at London, resolvedly to consider of a speedy and effectual method, and way how to promote the Election of a new and e●●all Representative or Parliament, by the Agreement of the f●ee People, seeing those men that now 〈◊〉 at Westminster, and pretendedly style themselves the Parliament of England, and who are (as they say (although most falsely) in the Declaration for a Free State, dated March 17. 1648 p. ●●. entrusted, aund authorizedly the consent of all the People of England whose Representative● 〈◊〉 make it their chiefest and principallest work, continually to part and share amongst themselves, all the great, rich, and profitablest places of the Nation, as also the Nations public treasure 〈◊〉 Lands, and will not ease our intolerable oppressions, no nor so much as of late receive our Popular Petitions having upon Thursday last, August 23. 1649. rejected that most excellent of Petitions re●dy at their door to be presented to them by divers honest men (our true hea●●● neighbours of Surrey) the true Copy of which for the worth of it although it be at large ●●ready printed in Friday Occurences and the Tuesday Moderate,) we desire here to in●●●.  

To the supreme Authority of this Nation, the Commons of England assembled in Parliament The humble Petition of the oppressed of the County of Surrey, which have cast in their Mite into the Treasury of this Commonwealth.  
SHOWETHS,  
THat as the Oppressions of this Nation in time foregoing this Parliament were so numero●● a●● burdensome, as will never be forgotten; so were the hopes of our deliverance by this Parliament exceeding great, and full of confidence, which as they were strengthened by many Acts of yours i● 〈◊〉 beginning, especially towards conscientious people, without respect unto their judgements or opini●●, 〈◊〉 did the gratitude of the well-minded people, exceed all precedents or example sparing neither estate, 〈◊〉 liberty, or life, to make good the authority of this honourable house, as the foundation and root of all 〈◊〉 Freedom, although we many times observed (to our grief) some proceed holding resemble ce●●● with our former bondage: yet did we impute the same to the troublesomeness of the times of Wa●●●●ntly and silently passing them over, as undoubtedly hoping a perfect remedy, so soon as the Wan●●●● ended: But perceiving our expectations in some particulars frustrated: and considering some 〈◊〉 deal with some of our friends, etc. the consideration of which lies so heavy on our spi●●● that for prevention thereof, we conceive ourselves bound in conscience and du●y to God, to set bef●●● you once more, the general grievances of the Commonwealth, and the earnest desires of the ing●●●●●●s and well-minded people.  

First, That the Petition of the Eleventh of September last, and the Agreement of 〈◊〉 People may be reassumed, and the particulars thereof speedily established.  
Secondly, we most earnestly beg, with many other of your faithful friends in all the Counties England that that most irksome and intolerable oppression of Tithes, which is retained in 〈◊〉 form Church, nevertheless more firmly established then ever by your Ordinance for●●●● damages, made in the Parliaments corruption, and yet no Act against it, which causes our 〈◊〉 to be discouraged, and brought into much fear and doubt of the removal of these and other b●●●●● by this Representative: Wherefore we cannot pass it by, but again entreat, that the Ordin●●●● for Tithes may be speedly revoked, and that a more equal way of maintenance be provided 〈◊〉 public Ministry.  
Thirdly, That all proceed in law may be in English, that a short time may be inserted for the try all of all causes, and that by Twelve men of the N●●gh●●rbood, and that none may be debarred of Freedom to plead his own or his Neighbours' Cause, [as by Law any man may and aught to do, as clearly appears by the Statute of 28 E● 1 ch. 11.] before any court of Justice, ●●bough no Lawyer. And that no member of your House be suffered to plead as a Lawyer, whilst a ●●●ber thereof.  
Fou●●●, That some course may be taken for the future, to parths' Army; not la●ing such intolerable Brown and ●axes on the people which we are not al●e to h●at, And so we shall for ever hand by you, ●●ill Representative f●● the 〈…〉 o●●hu N●●●on, is formery. Destring that we may obtain speedily a ne● and equal Represen a●●ve.   
We say, considering what is before premised, we are necessitated and compelled to do the utmost we can for our own preservations; and for the preservation of the Land of our Nativity; and never (by popular petitions) address ourselves to the men sitting at Westminster any ●o●e, o● to take an● notice of them, than is of so many sy●ant and Vsur●●er●, and for time to come to hinder (as much and as far as our poor despised interest will extend to) all oth●rs whatsoever save subscribing or presenting any more popular petitions to them: And only now as our last P●pe●-r●fuge, mightily cry out to each other, of our intolerable oppressions in Letters and R●monstrances, ●●●●ned in the behalf, and by the appointment of all the rest by some of the stoutest and stiff●st amongst us that we hope will never apostatise, but be able through the strength of God, to lay down their very lives for the maintaining of that which they set their han●s to.  
You our fellow-Countrymen (the private Soldiers of the Army) alone, being the instrumental authors of your own slavery and ours; therefore as there is any bowels of men in you, ●y love to your Native Country, Kindred, friends or relations, any sparks of conscience in you, any hopes of glory of immortality in you, or any pity, mercy, or compassion, to an Inslived, undone, pershing, dying people, O help, help! save and redeem us from to tall vassalage and slavery, and be no more like brute beasts, to fight against us or our friend, your loving and dear brethren after the flesh: to your o●n vassalage a● well a● ours.  
And as an assured pledge of your future cordialness to us (and the true and real liberties of the Land of your Nativity) we beseech and beg of you, (but especially those amongst you that subscribed the solemn ●ngagement at New ma●ket heath the fifth of June 16●●) speedily to choose out from amongst yourselves, two of the ablest and constantest faithful men amongst you in each Tro●p and Comp●ny, now at last, (●y corresponding ●a●h w●th o●rer, and with your honest f●iends in the Nation) to consider of some effectual course (obey ●nd all pretences and cheat) to accomplish the ●eal end of all your engagements and fightings, viz. the settling of the Liberties and Freedoms of the people, which can never permanently he done, but upon the sure foundation of a POPULAR AGREEMENT: who (viz. the people) in Justice, gratitude, and common equity, cannot choose but voluntarily and largely make bett●r provision for your future subsistence (by the payment of your ARREARS) then ever your Officer, or this pretended Parliament intends, or you can rationally expect from them; witness, their cutting off three parts of your Arrears in four for E●ec-quarter and then necessitating abundance of your fellow-soldiers (now cashiered, etc.) too s●ll their Debenters at two shillings six pence, three shillings and at most four shillings per●l. by means of which you that keep your Debenters being necessitated to vie with the greatest hidder, in th● purchase of the late King's ●ands, they are able to give above 30 years' purchase, for that you cannot give● yea●s purchase 〈◊〉; and if you will not give with the most you must have no l●nd, so th●t the m●st of your Debenters are likely to prove was●● paters, and those that purchase will have but a slippery security of their possessions, by ●eason of general discontents amongst all sons of people, and particularly by so extraordinarily disengaging and cheating so many Sould●●rs as they have done of their just expected recompense of reward.  
And also, as a further demonstration of the cordialness of your hearts to us, OUR B●FORD FRIEND'S, and ●our own and our Liberties; we desire you to take some speedy 〈◊〉 for the faithful restoring to the right Owners, all such Horses, Money, Clothes, etc. as yo●● any of you, plundered or stole from our true friends, (cheated and defeated) at Burfords publish some kind of Demonstration of your or any of your remorse of Cons●●● for your being instrumental in destroying of them there, that stood for your good, ●reed●● and ARREARS, as much, (and as well) as their own, especially considering they have their fore●aid Vindication made it evident and apparent (and we understand they are 〈◊〉 face to face to prove) That ●oth ●o 〈◊〉 General, and lieutenant Gen●rall Cromwell broke their 〈◊〉 faith with them, and treacherously surprised them; and so dealt worse and more vildest them, than ever they did with the worst of Cavaliers, with whom in that kind they ne●●● broke faith with, in their lives; but more especially we desire the last foremetioned thing your hands; because upon that Traitorous and wicked defeat of those our 〈◊〉 Friend's, (and wilfully murdering of three of them) that really stood for the Nations interest, 〈◊〉 berries, and Freedoms your General and Cromwell, with the rest of their faction ma●● most transcendent Feast, t● insult over the Liberties and freedoms of the servants of the most h●gh 〈◊〉 as though by that most vile act, they had subdued and buried all the Liberties of the No●●● in eternal oblivion, and FOILED the Lord of life and glory himself, from disliking any mor● Sy●●● of Courage and Resolution into any to stand for them; and in that wickedest of Feasts, not only 〈◊〉 great measure imitated belshazzar, Dan. 5. Th●t ●●ade a great Fea● to a thousand of his Lords, 〈◊〉 fetched out the v●ss●●●, that by the spoil of the people of God, his father Nabuchadnezzar had got 〈◊〉 the Temple of the Lord, and drank wine in them, and praised the gods of ●old and of silver, of brass, of 〈◊〉 of wood, and of stone, but also imitated the greatest of the enemies of Christ, who at the s●y●● of the two witnesses, Rev. 11. rejoiced over them and made me●●y and sent gifis one to another (〈◊〉 Gold and Silver plate, etc. was most largely done to your General Fairfax and Lieutenant 〈◊〉 Cromwell) the reason of which is there ●endred, which is, because the two prophets (of Tr●●● and Justice) tormented them that dwelled on the r●●th; but with comfort and joy we cannot bu● 〈◊〉 serve the next words to them, which is, That within a little season after, the Spirit of life from 〈◊〉 enured into them, (as we hope and doused not, but it will abundantly now do upon the true ●●●ders for justice and righteousness amongst men) and they stood upon their feet, and great fe●● upon them that saw them, and great Earth quakes followed, in the nick of which is proclamation 〈◊〉 that the Kingdoms of this world are became the Kingdoms of our ●ord and of his Christ; and he s●all 〈◊〉 for ever and ever; unto which we hearty say, Amen, Amen. So with our hearty 〈◊〉 true love remembered to you all, expecting your, or some or your speedy answer, we co●● you to God, and rest  
London this 29. August, 1649. Your faithful, though abused Countrymen. Signed in the behalf of ourselves and the unanimated sent of the Agents of the young men and Oppress of the City of London, that love and approve of Agreement of the People, dated May 1. 1649. the Vindication of the sat defeated men at Bull entitled, The Leveller vindicated. 

Charles Collins  
William Trabret  
Ed. Waldegrove  
Ed. Stanley  
Nicholas Blowed  
Anthony Bristlebolt  
Steven Smith  
Thomas Frisby.  
William White  
John Floyd.     
FIN●●