A Letter written to an Honourable MEMBER of the House of COMMONS. SIR, THe jealousies that are against certain Members of the Parliament concerning their failing in their places and Trust, give us sensible occasion (as to call to mind the several happinesses which we of this Corporation have received in your part of representation of us so for your further encouragement in well doing) to express your thankfulness for the same as to God, so to yourself. Sir, We do thankfully acknowledge, that for more than eight years past as you were freely chosen by us, so you have freely and cheerfully all this time taken this charge upon you of serving your Country as one of the Burgesses of this Burrow. To which place, we had the more reason to make choice of you, most of us having plentiful experience of your fitness in sund●ie respects, and of your fidelity manifested in former Parliaments, in which we found your ready willingness not only to be active for public good, but to suffer also with cheerfulness in the public cause of the Commonwealth. Sundry of us well know, and thankfully remember your carriage against the Loan money, and other projects tending to public detriment, though much to your particular hazard in bearing witness against them. And as for this present Parliament, which hath past the greatest hazards, trials and oppositions of any (for maintenance whereof (as we of this Town have from the first all along to this day been engaged with them against the common Enemy) so you in particular have always countenanced and encouraged us therein, as well in your personal as other affitance in the same common cause. As for your carriage in this Parliament, though we could not be spectators, eye and ear witnesses thereof, yet we have not been wanting to be inquisitive after the same. The result of which Inquisition ever rendered you to us a diligent attendent as of the House, so of the particular Committees, and one that ever closed with that party of the House th●t most endeavoured Reformation of things am sse both in Church and Commonwealth. A●d as to such particular occasions as thy Corporation hath had in this Parliament, both for our Church and our Garrison, we thank you for it; your endeavours have been most readily extended to the utmost on our behalves. And for your carriage in the Country at such times as you have had liberty to come amongst us, we thankfully acknowledge that in order to the weal public, both as a Justice of the Peace, and as a Commissioner of the Parliament, you have been very active in discountenancing persons ill-affected, or any ways obstructing or impeding the public Service of the Parliament; and encouraging and advancing the payment of taxes, and execution of the Ordinances of the Parliament. We well remember your seizing, and sending to the Parliament the high Sheriff that was of this County, and your proceed against other potent Enemies of this County. And to this day we have observed your adhering to the first principals, as well by expressing the like activity for the Parliaments occasions here in the Country, as by your Letters which some of us have seen, as also by your rejoicing at the successes of the Parliaments Army under his Excellency the Lord Fairfax, and your bewailings of the sad condition of the Kingdom upon the Scots Invasion this Summer; of which also some of us are witnesses. And surely your own advantage to your particular estate h●th not been an Ince●tive to all this; for as for recompense from us You were nobly pleased to way ve it and serve us freely: so we believe that you have as freely at your own charge served the Commonwealth: For we well observe and understand that in this time of your ●ong absence, your Estate here i● considerably impaired, which though you lightly esteem, being it is for the service of the public, yet we have reason to acknowledge it with thankfulness. Sir, We writ not thus to flatter you, or to make way for any design of putting you to any increase of service in our own particulars, but in way of testifying our hearty thankfulness unto you, and to encourage in that furthee public Service which your place and trust calls for from you. And so with our very loving remembrance to yourself, and your Honourable Lady, we rest: Boston, Linc. Sir, Your very loving friends to serve you, Reginald Hall, Mayor. Aldermen. John Hobson. Sam: Cust. Andrew Baron. Thomas Ceny. Francis Vaughan. John Ellis. John Atkin. Henry Mawbray. Disertion Cousin. John Tooly. Robert Atkin. Sam: Beetson. W●lli: Leverington. George Metcalfe. John adam's. John Letsham. Henry Rosse. Matthew Harris●n. Edward Mould. Thomas Cave. Henry Calverley. Edward Tilsen John Whiteing Reginald Hall, Thomas Asham Thomas Law Charles Empsen Thomas Tooly Thomas Welbye William Wight John Tilson Edward Adlard For our much honoured Friend, Sir Anthony Irby Knight, these present. Decemb. 20 1648 Vera Copia.