A LETTER FROM Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, Thomas Scot, Io. berner's, and John Weaver Esquiers, delivered to the Lord FLEETWOOD: OWNING Their late Actions in endeavouring to secure the Tower of London, and Expostulating his lordship's defection from his Engagement unto the Parliament.  
Printed in the Year 1659.   

A LETTER  
From Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, Thomas Scot, Io. berner's, and John Weaver Esquiers, delivered to the Lord Fleetwood:  
Owning their late Actions in endeavouring to secure the Tower of London, and Expostulating his lordship's defection from his Engagement unto the parliament.  
SIR▪  
UNderstanding you have received▪ some disturbance of late in examining divers persons about a design to surprise the Tower, to save your further trouble we do hereby freely own our utmost and hearty endeavours to have put that place into more faithful and confiding hands, and that by authority from the Council of State, who at the passing of that Resolve, had the sole legal Power from the Parliament of ordering directing, and disposing of all the Garrisons and Forces of this Common wealth, both by Sea and Land; An Action so Honest and Honourable, as would not only have given check to your Exorbitances at Wallingford-House, and White-hall, but was most necessary to the preserving the Peace and safety of this great city, by giving advantage to them, to put themselves into a Regular Posture of Defence, and such an Encouragement to the sober party amongst them, as would (through God's mercy) have utterly defeated the designs of the Common Enemy.  
Sir, Let us tell you this design was not so vain but that we had (by the blessing of God) possessed that place some weeks since, had we not been frustrated by our mistake in the Courage and fidelity of a Person, whose opportunity, Interest and duty, (if not Principles) gave us better hopes; But in this Age we are to complain and wonder at nothing, yet we cannot but highly resent the Confidence of sending for one of our number by a party of soldiers; As if Red-coats and muskets were a Non Obstante to all Law and public privilege, not as if that person or any of us are afraid or ashamed to own the enterprise before any that have a lawful authority to demand an account of it, which we are sure no single Person, Juncto or Pack of Men at White-Hall, or Wallingford-house have a pretence to.  
Sir, We have the witness with our own Spirits that we have and do Cordially wish the preservation and good of you and your Family, but if the Lord hath said, you shall not harken, but be hardened in your way, we must acquiesce in his Providence, and with sorrow look upon that ruin which is flowing in upon you, as upon one in whom we thought we had seen some good.  
Sr. consider that in the day of trouble which is certainly coming upon you, what support you will have to your spirit when you shall be assaulted with the shame you have brought upon God's people, with the breach of Faith to the Parliament, from whom you received your Commission; with the ruin you have brought upon your native country (Unless the Lord by his own almighty arm prevent it) and with the misery you have led the poor Soldiers into; who instead of being the instruments of securing and settling the Peace and Liberty of these Nations, enjoying the honour and quiet thereof, their arrears fully paid, future pay and advancement settled and established, in order and with the blessing of their countrymen, are now become the instruments of nine mens' ambition, have made the whole Nation their enemies, and are exposed again to the hardship and hazard of a new unnatural War, without prospect of ever hoping that the issue of these affairs can leave their new Masters so rich (though conquerors) as to satisfy their arrears, or so secure as to trust preferment in any hands but such whose fanatic principles or personal relations makes them irreconcilable to the public interest: But God (we trust) has raised up a deliverer, having by admirable providence put an opportunity and power into the hands of general Monck the ablest and most experienced Commander of these Nations whom he hath also spirited to stand firm for the interest of this Commonwealth, as well against a Rebellious party of our own forces as the designs of the common enemy (notwithstanding all causeless and false aspersions maliciously cast upon him) being warranted in his present actings by especial Commission and authority from the Council of State, whereas yours is that only of the Sword. Our prayers and earnest request for you and all honest men amongst you are, that you may timely join with him, and partake of the honour and blessing of his actions, and your true repentance shall be a greater rejoicing▪ then your defection was a trouble. When providence shall have separated the precious from the vile, and no have suffered our scum to boil in, but shall have placed the Sword and Civil Authority in the hands of men of the best and soberest principles.  
Sir be not so far deceived as to think sober men see not through the mask of this strange new Parliament, whose Liberty▪ and safety, either of meeting or debating must be at your pleasures, who having taken upon you, to be Conservators of the cause, will only make use of them as your assessors and Tax-gatherers: The present interrupted Parliament being the sole lawful Authority, and which can only be hoped to make the Sword subservient to the Civil interest, and settle the Government in the hands of the people, by successive and free Parliaments lawfully derived to them.  
Sir, we have in sincerity given you our sense, and shall leave you to him that disposes of all men's hearts, and remain  
December 16 1659. For the Lord Fleetwood late lieutenant general of the Army. Your Servants so far as you shall be found to serve the public 

Anth. Ashley Cooper.  
Thomas Scot▪  
Io. berner's,  
John Weaver.