A pair of Gold-Weights, or Calumny, and its Confederates, to be bound to the Peace, and Good Behaviour.  
Humbly sheweth,  
THat whereas your Appellant, was by process of Law, Arrested personally to appear, at the Quarter Sessions to be holden for the East Division of the County of Kent, at the Castle of Canterbury, upon the 15. day of July next ensuing the date of the same process. And your Appellant in obedience thereunto, did then, and there appear, and being called in open Court, an Indictment was forthwith red, wherein your Appellant( with some others) were charged with breach of the Statute of the 23. Eliz. for exercising Religious duties, at a house called Wylmonton, &c. As in the said Indictment was set forth( as pretended) contrary to the tenor of the said Statute. Whereupon your Appellants council learned in the Law( for the clearing the letter, and scope of the said Statute therein, And for vindication of the Innocency of your Appellant, from all colour of being brought within the penalty thereof) did avouch in open Court, That though the said Statute should be granted to be of force, as it was before the Repeal thereof, by both Houses of Parliament, as in the Preface to the Directory appeareth. Notwithstanding the same Indictment, would neither hold good, in matter, nor in form. That Statute no ways barring in any, the exercising of religious duties, nor reaching to any, but such as should refuse to hear Divine Service, &c. as by the same appeareth. Howbeit, though there could be no colour found for bringing your Appellant within the compass of the Penalty of the said Statute, or any branch thereof, whereupon the Indictment fell. nevertheless, Thomas den Esquire, councillor at Law, then, and there being Judge, did immediately( no intervening Cause being given by your Appellant, nor alleged by him the said Thomas den) pronounce sentence against your Appellant, for the Peace, and Good-behaviour, with such other prohibitions, and restrictions of your Appellants just Rights, and native privileges, as he pleased, enjoining your Appellant, and his Sureties, to enter into Obligations of vast sums of money, to observe such promiscuous Conditions, as the said Thomas den, by his Arbitrary constructions should determine, which proceedings of the said Thomas den( as your Appellant verily believeth) were contrived, and prosecuted of set purpose, not onely to bring reproach, and contumely upon him in the open face of the County, but also to ensnare him thereby, to the ruinating( as much as in him lay) of your Appellant, together with his wife and many small children. And, howbeit, your Appellant from that time to this instant,( for avoiding all colour of contempt, of such promiscuous, and( as he conceiveth) illegal Obligation) hath not onely forborn to exercise Religious duties at Wylmonton, according to the Prohibition annexed to the Obligation, but hath likewise( to the not a little sadding of his own, and others spirits, withdrawn himself from participation in Religious duties, with the Church of which he is a member, though their most frequent meetings have been, remote from the place aforesaid, notwithstanding, the design, is still carried on, with a violent hand, against your Appellant and others, by new quoined wil●ss, and projects( as upon due examination, will be made notoriously manifest) tending not onely to the infringing of your Appellants and their interests, in those common Birthrights of Magna Charta, The Petition of Right, &c. handed to them, amongst the rest of His Majesties loyal Subjects, as a most unquestionable Refuge, against all illegal Exactions, and Arbitrary practices, under what guise or Pretext soever. But tendeth as well to the bereaving of your Appellant and others, together with their wives and children) of all creature comforts, as casting him your Appellant with others into worse then egyptian bondage touching Spirituals. And since necessity, cannot be immured within the walls of silence, and considering that even, amongst Heathens, where Religion, life, liberty, or livelihood, of any freeborn Subject, hath been concerned( though dissenting from the general in matter of worship) there hath usually been a free way, and liberty for Appeal, and vindication. Much more, doth your Appellant humbly conceive it to be an unquestionable privilege appropriated to him, to appeal to Suprem Power, & highest Court of when not onely one, but all of them, are most apparently driven at, and that by those who have wrong such successive pleasant Peals, and sang such alluring songs, of vindicating, Religion, Laws, and liberties; But the present face of things gives your Appellant but too much cause to fear, that( by the subtleties, and cunning practices of Transactors) those pleasant peals, and alluring songs, will be( by transmutation) turned into doleful alarms, and siren charms, to lull asleep the loyal Subjects of this Kingdom, in the arms of vain hopes, the more promiscuously( under specious pretences of indulgency and tenderness) to stifle in the womb, and cause to be obortive, those fore-mentioned privileges, of Religion, Laws, and Liberties. And since the Passing Bell of depopulation, to this Kingdom, seems to sound a doleful Tone, in our ears, to summon us to perfect our Accounts, and present them before him, who is as well, the great heart Searcher, as the impartial Judge to render( without respect of persons) to all according to their doings. And since your Appellant rescenteth it, as a peculiar, and common privilege, as a Patient, to make his addresses to You, as the onely Phisitians( under God) by way of Appeal, to seek redress touching present depressure under Insupportable Grievances, so to commend to your Respective, serious considerations, some Cautions to remove doubts, and to prevent future Enormities flowing in upon him, as well as the rest of the whole Kingdom. Wherefore, he is emboldened( humbly) to demonstrate, and unfold unto you, these his Apprehensions, and digestions ensuing. ( viz.)  
1. That the people may be put in full possession( according to the Rule, and prescript of the Scriptures) of their free, and common right of Electing their Ministers, and other officers in their several Congregations. Till, it shall be made appear to be a thing but just, and equal, for one man to be compelled to accept of a wife of anothers choosing: or till, it shall be concluded not to be an entrenching upon the Subjects privileges, for a King by Writ, or Mandate, to appoint, and obtrude, Knights, and Burgesses for the Parliament, in opposition to the peoples right of Election.  
2. That such sums of money, or other provisions, allotted towards the maintenance, of such as shall be employed in spiritual dispensations, be cast into a Common Bank, or Treasury, and thence distributed, in considerable proportions, according to the number of Communicants, or nature of their charge, as in equity shall be found most meet, and equal. Till, Gospel-Ministers can make good their rights to tithes, or Till, good security be given, that the disputes and controversies betwixt Ministers, and people, will not be an incessant wearisomeness to Magistrates, by reason of such continual clamours, as will be occasioned thereby: or till there be better evidence then yet appears, that Ministers will not be drawn away from their people, even, as often, as the lodestones of greater Livings present themselves un to them.  
3. That all railing Rabshakeis, and cursing Shemeis, may be prohibited the use, of press, and Pulpit, for venting their railing rhetoric, and venomous Invectives, to beget an odium( as well from the magistracy, as the multitude) against those who are not less loyal, then the most loyal, to render to Caesar the things properly distinct to Caesar, and to God, the things properly distinct to God. Till, such time as occurrences will permit, an equivalent liberty, for the reproached, and traduced to vindicate their innocency, touching such aspersions, and calumnies daily cast upon them.  
4. That( since Christians enjoy not less freedom, under the Turks Dominion, and protection then under many Christian Governments) admonition may be given, that there be not too inconsiderate lashing out in generals, against that Government, as slavish, and tyrannicall. Till, we would be contented, to have the like reproach, cast upon the general Government, and constitution of this Kingdom, for the Refractarines and malignity of some few, that should surprise, and seize upon some Port of this Kingdom, and there set up, and drive a Trade of piracy, in spite of the rest of the whole Nation.  
5. That, those Deliverances of Eighty eight, and the Gunpowder Treason, be not made use of, as incitations to inflame any, to seek revenge of the Innocent; but rather to invite us all, to dig down deep, and exterpate Root, and Branch of that fatal three( of human Edicts, and Constitutions over the consciences, or estates of free-born Subjects, for dissenting in matter of Religion) whose accustomend fruits have been the same, or of the same affinity. Till, the remembrance of Rochel, Cales, and Lisbourn can be blotted out, and butted in oblivion. Or Till, it can be proved that casting on fuel is the proper means to lessen the flames, or powring on oil to extinguish wild-fire.  
6. That, Magistrates on the Bench be cautionated, not to be too vehement to endeavour the cutting off( by pretence of human Laws, nor Ministers in the Pulpit, too preposterous to give such large Commission, to spare neither man, woman, nor child, of free-born Subjects, though different in Religion, Till, those, who are not less powerful, then politic, may( by some slight) have their ears stopped from hearing such echoes, and their understandings darkened from Interpretation.  
7. That, the doleful Spectacles, and ghastly Monuments of so many hundred thousand of the Protestant profession, occasioned by Conscience binding and native infringing laws, and Edicts, may be seriously laid to heart, who, though we writ Martyrs( and hope God writes so) yet others have written them heretics, factious, troublers of Israel, schismatics, Rebells, and Traytors; till there can be given a fuller stamp, or better warrant of lawful Power, human or divine, then they have done or had for such their practices.  
8. That, royal assent be endeavoured to be had, for the further strengthening the stroke, for total repealing, and utter disannulling of that Conscience binding, if not( saving Gods election) soul murdering Law, which divine Providence hath guided the hearts of the Lords, and Commons in Parliament, to attempt the giving of it its deaths wound. Till, there can be produced justification of all the Rebellions, depopulations, desolations, Massacres; and murders,( occasioned by Conscience binding laws, and native infringing Edicts,) not only from righteous Abell, to Zachariaes, but thence upward to this very juncture of time.  
9. That, the whole English Nation, unanimously set to their helping hands, and hearts, to bury( in the sepulchre of perpetual oblivion) this unnatural monster of Civill, uncivil Warres, propagated by the large contribution of the sins in general( of this not long since flourishing, now even forlorn kingdom) and blown up to this monstrous bulk, and hideous shape, by the venomous and incendiarick breaths of those, the masterpiece of whose Art, is to conjure up storms, that they may thereby the more cunningly shrowded a wolf, under a Lamb-skin covering, and with less suspicion, and better hopes of success, fish for the pearls of their own ambition, and sinister ends in the troubled Waters of the public ruin. Till by impartial national inquisition there shall be unquestionable evidence produced, for any to be set a part, and singled out as blameless, and so entitled to cast a ston at the sins of the times.  
10. That, the whole Nation, stand charged proportionably, according to each mans Estate real, and personal, to make considerable reparations touching the vast expenses, and detriments of the whole kingdom occasioned by our unhappy divisions. Till, good security shall bee given( that if either party now in contestation, should so fully prevail, to have the carving, and disposing of the Estates and Lives of the other, that they would not carve so liberally, and lance so deep, that the remedy would beget a more dangeros constitution, then the decease itself.  
11. That, that( most equal, and even, unparrald Act for the 400000. l. bee made the platform, and rules for advancing, all sums of Money, as well for present defrayments as for future, till a more equal way can be contrived, or till it can be manifested, that, that command, to do as we would be done unto,( set forth in holy writ) doth not concern our times.  
12. That,( unless God move the hearts of the three Estates of this kingdom by mutual assent thereunto) there be not overmuch hastiness used, or necessity proposed, to establish new laws in civill matters, care being taken for the impartial, and due execution of the old). Till, the invalidnesse of the old shall appear to bee of manifest inconsistency for our present Peace, and preservation.  
13. That, such an even balancing of the Militia, and Judicature, and other weighty affairs of the kingdom, bee mutually assented unto, that Caesar may distinguish an equivalent proper right, as invested in him to preserve, and the Subjects alike equivalent proper power, as invested in them to defend. Till it bee decided, which Oath shall be implicit, the Kings of Coronation, or Subjects of allegiance, or till there be a more clear definition then yet is manifest, where the disproportion will appear, betwixt Prerogative written in Syphers, and privileges written in round Oes; Or, till it shall appear to be but equal terms, for a naked Pygme to be thrust forth in open field, to encounter an armed goliath.  
14. That, for preventing the( otherwise) unavoidable shipwreck of all our hopes, all Estates of people endeavour to bind to the Peace, and good behaviour, and to cast forth to the dunghill of contempt, Calumny, makebate, self-love, envy, and Ambition, with their confederates; and to set at liberty, and to receive in Clemency, seekpeace, brotherly love, Charity, and humility, with their alliance, as proper Inmates and ingredients; and Antidotes, to work the general Pulse, and constitution of this kingdom, to such a kindly and complying temper, that every one may endeavour to quench the flames, of our unnatural divisions, and to turn each stream into its proper channel, that the Inhabitants of this kingdom may again, each one sit peaceably, under the shadow of his Vine of Birthright privileges. Till, it shall be on all hands concluded, as an undeniable Article of Faith, that the King defireth not the multiplication, but the dyminution of his Subjects. That the Nobles desire not to leave their large Patrimonies, and inherent Honours to their offspring, but to cast all into the throats of greedy Cormorants, and aspiring Parazites. And that the Commons are become so wanton, and devoid of reason, to cast their Birth-right privileges into the arbitrary Lottery of unequal Taxes, and Monopolies.  
15. That, no reasonable Propositions of Accommodation be rejected, whereby such a Peace may bee concluded, as all may have a share in the benefit thereof, till it can bee made appear, that, that party, which accepts of a reasonable Proposition from another; shall thereby weaken his own power, or lose a rational friend( thatis able to put the controversy out of dispute, by adding his power to either party) by accepting of what is just, and equal. Or, till it can bee demonstrated who they are( Conditions for premised considered) that would not as one man, mutually engage themselves, to prevent Invasion by foreign Forces, to suppress national Insurrections, and to calm domestic dissensions.  
16. That, each Subject( rendering to Caesar, an active, or passive Obedience in Civill Rights, and maintaining and defending Authority, and all that submit to what they shall tender in spiritual matters, in their own quiet enjoying and practising thereof, from violation and disturbance of all men whatsoever) be left free, as by proper Prerogative from God invested in him) to embark his soul in such a vessel, of whose bottom he shall least doubt, and in whose desperate he shall best confided. Till there be good satisfaction given, that the Issue of the contrary will not in all probability prove, the ruin of the greatest part of the Protestants through the world, or till there can bee a sufficient ransom given, for all the Innocent blood, devastations, soul Rapes, and shipwrecks, occasioned in present, and by past times by Conscience binding laws; Or, till it can bee made appear that not the preaching of the Word, but the dynt of the Sword is the means ordained for the conversion of the Jews, and for the bringing in the fuller number of the Gentiles to the obedience of the Gospel, or till Satan and his instruments, being disappointed of their common Vewchee and last refuge,[ Pretext of Religion] for dividing kingdoms, Cities, and Families in themselves, can quine( if it were possible) an other equivalent Stratagem to cause such national, and domestic dissensions, and Civill Warres, as by stirring up such incessant variance, and intestine hatred in Kingdoms, Cities, and Families successively to bite and devour each other, till they have been frequently consumed one of another, as by thus arming the strongest party to determine in matter of Religion by the Sword of violence.  
17. That, there be a unanimous endeavour, as well by such as are in public places, as those in private, that the Nerves & Synues of true love, Christian harmony, and brotherly affection, may be strengthened, and especially where dissenting in matter of Religion shall appear that there be diligent circumspection used, not to give any just cause of offence to a differing party; but as all tender the honour of God, and the promulgation of the truth( as they conceive) on their sides, so to conceive, and strive( for the better vindication of their Judgements) to out-strip, and excel each other, in all ways of Christian correspondency, charity, peace, and concord. That none taking dominion over the faith of their brethren, but so many as are of one mind( in matter of Religion) may walk by one, and the same Rule, without any prejudice, or evil surmises towards any that are otherwise minded: That there may thereby( by the blessing of God) be a kindly foundation laid, for the growth and propagation of the Gospel: That mercy, and truth may meet together; and righteousness, and peace, may kiss each other, in all our habitations. And that none attempt, Giant-like, to fight against their Maker, by anticipating the Lord of hosts, or limiting the holy One of Israel( who calleth at all houres into his Vineyard) as being the alone Lord, and Master, before whom we shall stand, or fall. Till they shall be fortified against all fear of undergoing that final sentence of, Go, ye cursed, or past all desire of participation of that joyful voice, Come ye, blessed.  
 
Sir,  
 
I commend this Appeal, and Demonstration, to your circumspectly perusal, to mend and rectify in form, for the more orderly and regular presenting of it, to the King and Parliament.  
Yours in all Christian Obligations, Thomas belike.