A new-years-gift For ENGLAND, and all her Cities, Ports, and Corporations, and all such therein who are fit for the same, and desire it. OR, A Gift of God to the Wife, this new year 1653 to make them a free Commonwealth, if that they pursue therein. It being a Caveat to the reserved, unconstant, ambodextrous engagers with this Commonwealth and present Government, who being unstable in all their ways, are burdenous thereunto. ALSO, An Incitement to the Commonalty & freeborn people of England, (who are by Act of this present Parliament declared to be the commonwealth) to stand for their Rights and privileges, and to claim their birthrights both of voice and choice therein, (in their several capacities and places) which they were not only born unto, but also have been carefully left them by their ancestors, as their undoubted Rights for ever; as Magna Charta and the Petition of Right hold forth, and the particular and several Charters in London and England declare and manifest, upon their examination. And this present Parliament also do say they are resolved to renew the several Charters, as they may con●ute with this commonwealth and Government, as by their Order and Letter made and written for and by their Committee to the Companies of London, will plainly appear; which, for your satisfaction and encouragement, is here also asserted. Here is also added two Letters which have relation or dependence on the Parliaments Order, and a Letter sent to the several Companies of London to bring in their several and respective Charters to be altered and renewed, and all the Charters of the Nation: and two Petitions by the penman hereof: All which do partly discover the enemies and impediments of the common people's Rights and privileges, or Commonalties, as in the several Charters is terminated or called, in the Right of every freeborn English man's person and capacity who hath not forfeited it: and he is called also a successor thereof, and thereunto; wherefore he is not to count it a vain thing, and to part with it for slender promises of any governors or pretending Officers in places whatsoever insinuations, or any mercenary lying Lawyers alluring, sly persuasions, or solicitors; but earnestly to contend for the same, lest with Esau hereafter they repent it with tears, and their children's children curse the slavishness they are born unto thereby. Printed at London, and are to be sold by Will. Larnar, at the sign of the Black-moor near Fleet-bridge. 1653. Tuesday Sept. 14. 1652. Resolved, THat it be referred to the Committee for Corporations, to take into consideration how Corporations may be most agreeable with, and suitable to the Government of a Commonwealth; and how their respective Charters may be altered and renewed, to be held from and under the authority of this Commonwealth. Hen. Scobel, Cler. Parl. By the Committee for Corporations, and renewing of Charters, Sept. 16. 1652. THis Committee do appoint to sit in the Queen's Court, on every Tuesday and Thursday: whereof all parties concerned are to take notice. Sa. O Neal, Clerk to the said committee. This invited us to petition for relief and redress: and this large Petition was preferred by us, about the 21 of October, 1652. viz. To the honourable Committee for Regulating of Charters and Corporations: The humble Petition of Daniel Potter, Nathaniel Burt, Roger Read, and Humphrey Millet, four freemen and members of the Corporation of the Mystery or Art of Sadlers, in the City of London, as well on their own behalf, as on the behalf of all the rest, of their Brethren, working saddlers, the communality thereof, and Citizens of London of the same Mystery of Art, being well affected from the beginning to all the honourable proceedings of Parliament. Humbly showeth unto your Honours, THat whereas it hath pleased Almighty God, by the Parliaments happy success against the Enemy of the English Commonwealth, to free the English Nation from the Norman Yoke of Kingly power, and Monarchical and Tyrannical Government; and thereupon the honourable Parliament of England did long since declare that the People of this Nation for the future should be governed by their representatives in Parliament, the same being now made a free State, without either King, or house of Lords; and therefore of late in their wisdoms, they have appointed this honourable Committee, for regulating of Corporations set up and ordained originally, by the late Tyrannical King, and his Progenitors and Predecssors ever since King William the first invaded and subdued this Nation, which have from time to time since being continued, renewed, and enlarged by his successors, for corrupt and superstitious ends and purposes, as will appear upon the due examination thereof. And whereas, the Corporation of, Sadlers was first obtained in Edward the third's days, and afterwards confirmed and enlarged in Richard the second days, as appears plainly upon view thereof, for praying for Souls departed, and such like superstitious uses, expressly contrary to several good Laws and Statutes of this Nation; nevertheless there hath been several confirmations thereof, obtained from several Kings and Queens of this Nation, even to King James his time; by means whereof, the Wardens or governors thereof from time to time have exercised a Tyrannical and Arbitrary Government under their Charter upon several of the freeborn persons of this Nation, of the same Mystery or Communality of Sadlers, and by misuser, abuser, and non-user of the same, have since forfeited the same to the Keepers of the Liberties of England by Authority of Parliament; and amongst other things, they govern the Company by a Master and Wardens, where there is no such things granted unto them, and daily vex, and disquiet, and exact divers several great sums of money, for quarterage and other sesments by them unjustly imposed upon your Petitioners and other the freemen of the said Mystery Communality of Sadlers; and for no other cause, but for that your Petitioners some of them have served the Parliament from the beginning in the Wars and otherwise, they deny your Petitioners the common privilege due unto them, as freemen of the said Mystery and communality. The Premises therefore duly considered, It is most humbly prayed, that the said Charter and Books of accounts, and Book of Orders, now kept at saddler's Hall, by the Master and Wardens and clerk of the saddler's Company in London now in being, may be forthwith seized upon, and brought in before your honours; by which the truth of the Premises may more fully appear; and that your Petitioners may be admitted, as well on their own behalfs, as on the behalf of the rest their Brethren and Communality thereof Citizens of London, freemen of the said Art or Mystery of Sadlers, to propound unto your Honours the form of a new Charter, for the better regulation of the said saddler's Company, and such as may best agree and consuite with the present State-Government and constitution thereof, in opposition to Monarchical and Kingly Government; by what names or titles your Honours shall hold most expedient to incorporate the saddler's Company, to exist and be. And your Petitioners will ever pray for your Honours. This Petition being read the 21 of October, procured us three several Orders on the Commonalties part, against the usurping Master and Wardens: To answer to the Petitioners grievances, one; to bring in the Charter, a second; and to bring in their Books of Accounts, and Books of Orders, a third. And as they were signed with five parliament-men's hands, so they were served on them by an Officer to the said Committee, on the day vulgarly called The Lord mayor's day, when Monarchy was in power; since known by the 29 of October: but is was before they went to dinner, having been upon the water; and they were sober, the Messenger said, or the Officer who served them. Which Orders follow, to show the hope we may have, when our Charter is renewed, for your and all peaceable English-mens encouragements and example, to stand for your birth-rights and Liberties, which you were born unto, and by your Ancestors left you in Charters, as the Title of this new-years-gift setteth forth. By the Committee for Corporations, and renewing of Charters, Octob. 21. 1652. Upon consideration had of the Petition of divers of the Commonalty of the Company of Sadlers, It is ordered that the Petitioners shall have librerty to make known their grievances to this Committee, on the fourth day of November next; on which day, the Master and Wardens of the said Company have liberty to answer the same. Whereof they are to have convenient notice. Richard Lucy. Tho. Atkins. Hen. Darly. Dan. Blagrave. J. Davers. By the Committee for Corporations, and renewing of Charters, Octob. 21. 1652. Upon consideration had of the Petition of divers of the Commonalty of the Company of Sadlers, It is ordered that the Master and Wardens of the said Company to bring unto this Committee, by the fourth day of November next, the Original Charter whereby the said Company are incorporated; to the end that the said Charter may be taken into serious consideration, and that the same may be renewed, and held from and under this Commonwealth. Whereof they are not to fail. J. Davers. Dan. Blagrave. Tho. Atkins. Hen. Darly. Rich. Lucy. By the Committee for Corporations, and renewing Charters, Octob. 21. 1652. Ordered that the Master, Wardens, or Clerk of the Company of Sadlers, do bring unto this Committee, by the fourth of November next, the books of Accounts and books of Orders belonging to the said Company. Whereof they are not to fail. Dan. Blagrave. J. Davers. Tho. Atkins. Hen. Darly. Richard Lucy. But our Master and Wardens being seemingly discontented with us; our Petition and Orders served on them, and our proceedings, despised our advice. Whereupon, we put in a second Petition, they appearing by council, to delay us and the Commonalty and Commonwealth, Novemb. 4. 1652. To the honourable Committee for regulation of Corporations. THe humble Petition of many of the communality of the Art and Mystery of Sadlers, who have hereunto subscribed our names, and freemen of the said Corporation; who have heard of your honour's love, in answering a former Petition, which was put in before this Honourable Committee in our behalfs, and all others freemen of the said Art and Mystery of Sadlers, who work, make and fell the saddler's wares, or can work them, for the renewing of the said Charter, under the constitution of this present Government, and settle it according to the charitable intents of our Predecessors, for relief of us and our Successors, and for our better Government in godliness and honesty; whereupon it hath pleased your Honours to command by your Orders the original Charter and Books of Accounts, and Book of Orders, that when your Honours have considered the same, how they may be renewed and held from and under this Commonwealth; we in all humble manner return you hearty thanks, for your great love and care therein, not doubting but that you will finish the said work in due time. Whereupon we are humble Petitioners and humbly pray, for ourselves and all our Brethren, freemen of the same Art and Mystery of Sadlers, that your Honours will please to perfect the said work you have begun, that so under this commonwealth our Charter of Sadlers may be renewed, amplified, and enlarged with such privileges, Articles, Clauses, and Rights, as may be for the Establishment, ordering and Government of working saddlers; which is, both the Art and Mystery thereof, that so both we, and ours in successive generations, may have occasion to say and report, Many have done virtuously, but you have surpassed them all. And we shall ever pray, &c. To which Petition they assented and consented, we protesting against their Counsel, he acting against the Commonwealth and Committee; and than this ensuing Order was made, as followeth. By the Committee for Corporations, and renewing of Charters, Novemb. 4. 1652. ORdered by consent of Parties on both sides, that the Cause between the communality of the Company of Sadlers, and the Master and Wardens of the said Company, in the Paper of this day, be deferred till the second of December next; by which day the said Master and Wardens are to bring unto this Committee the Charter whereby the said Company are incorporated, and the Books of Orders, and Books of Accounts belonging to the said Company: and this committee do appoint on the said day, to consider of the complaint of the communality against the said Master and Wardens; at which time, the said communality have also liberty to present further complaint, if they have any; and the said Master and Wardens are to answer the same. Dan. Blagrave. Roger Chr. Martin. Will. Leman. John Pyne. Hereupon they yet procured a month's time, and never yet performed; in which time there were Letters written to all the Companies of London, by the chairman of the said Committee, A true copy whereof followeth. Gentlemen, THe committee for Corporations, having taken into their consideration an Order of Parliament, of the fourteenth of September 1652. touching the alteration and renewing of the several and respective Charters or this Nation; and upon serious debate had thereon (judging it most agreeable with, and suitable to the Government of a Commonwealth, that they be held from, and under the authority of the same) commanded me to signify unto you their pleasure therein, (viz.) That in pursuance of the said Orders of Parliament, you fail not to bring or cause to be brought, unto the said Committee, upon the seventh of Deccember next, sitting in the Queen's Court in Westminster, the Charter or Chatters, by which you are incorporated, This being all I have in command. Westm. Nov. 30. 1652. Dan. Blagrave. Hereupon, finding ourselves delayed and abused, as well as the Commonwealth, and that by daring mercenary council who appeared against us the Committee and the Commonwealth herein; I the Penman hereof, for the Commonweals utility and profit, procured two Letters to be presented to the chairman; one for himself, and the other for the honourable Committee, who as they have taken our Petitions into consideration, it is hoped (as they have promised, will also (in time) when their emergenter occasions shall give them leisure to renew Charters, they then will also renew the saddler's Charter, whereof I am a member, and a successor also unto, with as large privileges as in its pristine virtue our Ancestors either procured or left it, though since, by the vicissitude of persons and time, abused, to divers persons. Mr. Blagrave, HAving twice petitioned the honourable Committee in the behalf of the Commonalty of Sadlers, who are much abused; and also seen of your Letters sent to the several respective Companies and Corporations in London to bring in their Charter of Charters to be renewed and altered; and having observed the general averseness thereunto, or ignorance, or wilfulness of divers Citizens in government and place; and also the evil Counsel by mercenary Lawyers given them therein, to close with the present Government, or submit thereunto; I could not rest in my thoughts, until I had penned these enclosed lines, which I humbly entreat you to communicate or present (on mine and the Commonwealths behalf) unto the honourable Committee: for which you shall oblige me to rest From my house windmillcourt, near Col. Prides, London, Dec. 6. 1652. Your servant, and (therein) the Commonwealths, Capt. Nath. Butt. Indorsed thus: To the Right Worshipful William Blagrave Esquire, at his house at Westminster or elsewhere; from a lover of this commonwealth and Government; these present. Honourable Sir, I Salute you, as in the behalf of that Honourable Committee you are chairman of, to renew Charters and Corporations, wherein for the benefits and profits of the communality of the working saddlers, and all freeborn English men in this Commonwealth I have laboured abundantly, to settle ourselves under this present Government; also having laid hold on your own invitations by Tickets set upon the posts over which you often fit, for the said end, to consider how to renew Charters, as was therein expressed, as well as in your several Letters by command sent forth to the Companies of London, to produce the bringing up of their several and respective Charters; these also are to give you notice of the evil example it will be to the Companies proceedings in London, and Corporations of England, if that mercenary council be suffered to appear against the Commonwealth and present Government, as on the saddler's Master and Wardens & Assistance part hath been already against the communality thereof; which council hath twice appeared before this Honourable Committee, whereby the Orders thereof have been made of no esteem, by the Master, Wardens, and Assistants, and counsellor of the saddler's Company and your Petitioners put to much charge and trouble, and much delayed and vexed thereby, who have waited at Master farewells Chamber two days, to see the Charter of the saddlers examined as was ordered by this Honourable Committee, and it is not yet brought thither, but your Honourable order is by them contemned; this I thought myself bound both in duty to your Honours, the Committee, and present Government, as also the dear relations to the settlement of my Native Country, and the saddlers therein as I am a free member thereof, for all whose prosperities and peace I could desire to spend myself and be spent, and have already suffered much therefore, and having observed many of the Actions, and transactions since this time of Parliament sitting, and troubles in this Nation and Commonwealth; wherein the delays of the House of Lords and others, when there was one, did much protract, and hinder the proceedings and rights for the Nations peace and safety (as by woeful experience hath been felt, heard, and understood) by the distractions, discontents, and confusion it did produce, is very well remembered; which came to be promoted much also, by their and your suffering of mercenary Counsel against the Commonwealth and Parliament; who thereby both Counselled and exasperated this reserved, unconstant, Tyrannical, exsorting City of London, who abound in oppression and destroy, slay or divide the communality, as their mercenary and diabolical Counsellors do by consent, &c. & the unsettled Country corrupt Officers, who also pretended to have engaged with the City, and under the present Government, without either King, or House of Lords, and yet these cannot or will not submit to have their Charters renewed by the said Parliament and Government, or affect such, who either persuade thereunto, or act to help forwards this great work, so necessary to be furnished, and without which cannot be a found agreement and settlement, &c. Thus much premised, give me leave to mourn for the abuses I have observed among several in trust at times, which are great obstacles (and have been) of our peace and safety, both past and present, which hath been much to this Commonwealths detriment, and that partly much brought about by mercenary Lawyers, yea rather liars, and busy insinuating setpentine solicitors; who may be said to be of their Father the Devil also, (as Christ saith) who hath been a murderer from the beginning, who doth both seduce and harden the people, and obstruct justice, and subvert Government, as may be easily proved, who may fitly be compared to that impudent Harlot in Solomon's time, who would have the living child divided or slain; so these impudent lying Lawyers, and serpentine Solicitors seek not only to slay the people, and divide the people's inheritances, for their own sees and maintenance, but also they to please others, labour to divide the living Government, and Acts of Parliament made for the safety and good of the people therein, and by their impudence to stay it, or to possess the people of the deadness of it, in respect to the life of Monarchy in Charters: but as these are liars and abide not in the truth, so their works are earthly, sensual and devilish, and descend not from above, but tend to sedition, &c. My prayer therefore is, that the God of wisdom will give you wisdom, to do justice to the Commons and communality of England; who have and do adhere in singleness of heart, to settle the Commonwealth in its Native rights, and undoubted privileges, as again and again by Parliament is promised, and by your Committee held forth; wherefore suffer not these mercenary Lawyers to lie any longer against the truth, or your Government in the Commonwealth, and the people's undoubted rights and privileges, which they have bought so dear, or any interloping Solicitors; but extirpate and expunge them; and you will not only excuse yourselves, but also engage your Native countryman, and also the hearts and tongues of all the freeborn English men of this Nation to say, the wisdom of God doth appear in you. So verily believes From my house near Col. Pride's, London, Decemb. 6. 1652. Yours (in the Commonwealths service) Capt. Nathaniel Burt. Endorsed thus: To William Blagrave Esq chairman of the Committee to renew Corporations and Charters, to be communicated to the honourable Committee, &c. A LETTER to incite freeborn Englishmen to stand and contend with a godly jealousy for their birthrights, their Liberties. Written by a lover of Right and Liberty. FEllow-Commoners, who are the Commonwealth, or Native countrymen, or brothers Englishmen; for indeed, if we had grace and heavenly wisdom, we should so live, and so love, as brethren, as kinsmen in the flesh as Paul speaks of the Israelites, Rom. 9.3,4. yea, as David saith, How comely would it be for brethren to live together in unity in amity, Psal. 133. which would be as a precious ointment: Then would not those in place and power tyrannize over, and oppress, or defraud, or falsely imprison those that are under them, or extort from them any manner of thing, or suffer their Clerks therein, or other Officers: then would be no impoverishments, by procured or provoked lawsuits, or delayings, demurrings, or false returns: then would be no quarrelings, no bloodsheddings, no Wars or Rebellings, or tumultuous proceedings, or cunning contrivements, by machinations or combinations, or excommunicatings; but those of superiority would respect such of inferior rank, and those of inferior degree would have occasion to speak well of and honour such as are or should be in place of Judicature, or trust of superiority or power. It is not my intention, herein, personally to recriminate any man, though I believe, by my sufferings and innocency, through experience I could nominate many in many places; but to invite to peace, to love; for fightings and quarrelings will never settle this commonwealth, and therein our common rights and privileges; but petitionings, entreatings, conferings, in its time, place, and order, so it be not with vain janglings or obstinacy, but in love and faithfulness to one another. Wherefore do but look back upon the love care, and faithfulness of our Ancestors, who set forth Magna Charta and other good Laws and Charters for our settlement and quiet Government, and for our utility or profits and benefits for ever; and to allay the proud coruptions of such who should usurp in Governing left power to the communality in their several places of abode and capacities in England, and to every freeborn English man therein, whether in Counties, Cities, Corporations, Parishes, or Companies to choose governors, or Parliament-men, or all manner of Officers therein; and again, if that any of these entrusted by the Commoners of England should abuse their trust, than also they granted the communality power, when any should prove unfaithful to their trust, and unjust in their several places, to assemble together, and to displace and expunge such, and to choose others in their places, who should be faithful Stewards for the people's benefits, utility, and profits, ever accounting the safety of the people to be the supreme Law, they alluding to holy Writ, that they should choose out of the people, for Rulers or governors, men of courage, fearing God and hating covetousness. And in holy Writ it is said also, that of the Children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, there there were two hundred of them, and these were called the heads of them, and it is said, that all their brethren were at their command. O my dear brethren of England, your times of choice of Officers is coming, by your Charters, which are promised by Parliament to be renewed, and your liberty and freedom confirmed to you: be not therefore more fearful and stupid than ●alaams Ass who as Saint Peter averreth spoke with man's voice, and rebuked the iniquity and foolishness of the Prophet, in his 2 Epistle 2 chapter and 15 and 16 verses; and suffer not yourselves to be thrown into Prisons at the lust and pleasure of every one in place, or their injurious clerks, or abused, and threatened, or defrauded; but put on courage, and in the name of the Lord claim your privileges, and rebuke them or such openly: it is commanded by God, Lev. 19.17. by Christ, Luke 17.3. and by Saint Paul 1. Tim. 5. 20. Wherefore he that will not rebuke his neighbour, is said, that he suffereth him in his sin, and hateth his brother in his heart; and Christ teacheth it as a doctrine of love and charity, to rebuke our brother if he trespass against us, or any one of us, and repent not of it; or as Paul saith, though he be an Elder, a governor, or Magistrate, if he sin openly, let him be rebuked openly, that the rest may fear. It is a brand of infamy upon the Priests in Israel, Hos. 4.6,7,8. that they did eat up the sins of the people in those days, for which they were cast off from being Priests unto God, and their glory turned into shame; because they listed up the people's minds thereby in their iniquity, by going out of the way themselves, they caused many to fall, and they themselves became partial, and therefore were they made vile, and despised among the people, Mal. 2.5,6,7,8 9 and the Rulers or governors were so hardened thereby, that they loved to say with shame Bring ye, Hos. 4.18. that is, to take bribes or rewards, Mie. 7.2,3. and who can either trust a friend or a counsellor, as our Fathers were for bidden, Mich. 7.5,6. seeing a man's enemies are those of his own house? do not we at this time, pull sin and shame, and suffering upon our own selves, for that we rebuke not such men among us, do not we thereby eat up their sins, and by our cowardice and partiality become guilty thereof, and they themselves despise us? and we may be said to depart from the Lord our God, and for this to be captivated, and to be reproached and subject to payments, as the Israelites were, and as Baruch speaketh, chap. 3.7,8. and hereafter our children may say, it was for the iniquity of our Fathers, as there it is said, that they are become so cursed, and subjected, and reproached. Solomon saith, Better is wisdom than weapons of war, and that he knew a poor wiseman deliver a City, Eccles. 9.15,18. Wherefore let me entreat you mind your liberty in a loving peaceable wise way, but yet claim your undoubted rights, and be not outfaced therein by usurping governors, Officers, and mercenary Lawyers (or insinuating serpentine Solicitors) a sentence I inserted into my Letter sent to the Committee since upon further observations, who privily lurk to betray English men of their liberty and right; and I am persuaded, that though divers of us hath contended with a sword in our hands for our liberties, yet by this viperous serpentine brood of mercenary Lawyers, and letter-carrying convoying Solicitors, are we daily pleaded out, and delayed of our just rights, and by their complices, and betrayed therein, as experimentally I have often seen, and ever shall be so long as they be cherished or countenanced, I could make this appear in several cases, but I promised I would not personally recriminate; yet I must needs commend that spoken, as is reported by Colonel Pride in Westminster Hall, that it would never be well with England until that mercenary Lawyers gowns were hung up by the Scotch-Trophics: for indeed such Counsellors are but concealers of that Law, which is our rights and privileges, and act more politicly or serpentinely, then really and truly, more for their own profits utility and self ends, than the client's utility or profit, which the Law holds out to all, without respect of persons; but these and the Solicitors are they who jesuit-like make distinguishings and distinctions, for their own and their friends sakes, and ends, for filthy lucre's fake; as the unjust Steward, in the making his Lord and Masters accounts, yet he is said to be wise, Luk. 16.8. and so are these Lawyers and Solicitors commended by many, yea by most; but the time may come they may repent of their mercenary and unjust moneys they have taken to betray the people's rights; as Judas that betrayed the Lord of life and glory, whose service is perfect freedom, to which I commend you all, that shall read herein, humbly desiring God's glory to be advanced, your souls eternally saved, and freeborn Englishmen kept from oppressions, frauds, extortions, taunts, provocations, and false imprisonments, that so having their undoubted rights, the privilege of their fleshly bodies here, they may be enabled thereby to serve God in their Spirits, and to do no evil, that so they may be set at liberty as the sons of God. So prayeth the penman hereof for you all, that so there may be no more cryings or fightings heard in our streets, but that we may walk and live in love, must ever be the Prayer of Your kinsman in the flesh, Nathaniel Burt, A servant of Jesus Christ in spirit and a member of this Commonwealth, a freeborn English man. From my house windmillcourt, near Col. Prides, London, Dec. 28, 1652. Postscript. Reader, UNdoubtedly know this, that by receiving thy undoubted right of Voice and Choice of Officers, which is thy birthright, if in a capacity to pay Tax and Tallage, in time you may see a Reformation thereby: for, by discoveries of men's trusty actions and their unfaithfulness, they may be either confirmed, or expunged out of place; and in time, it may be a means to promote truth and righteousness, by breaking of combinations and factions in guildhalls, Corporations, Fraternities, Common counsels, Assistants, or Committees, who are cemented usually by Oaths of secrecy, or strong promises of confederacy; which in such places, or in Committees, cannot be discovered, but by their Assistants, Clerks, or solicitors, who have been known (for their own advantages and lucre) to convoy Letters of intelligence, or carry or send Letters of discovery to such party or parties the Committee or others shall affect: or otherwise, I have also known Committee-men (though Parliament-men) write Letters against the innocent person who hath pleaded before them by virtue of Parliament-Acts and Ordinances broken; and they have cleared the guilty and offenders, and acted thereby against their own Acts and Ordinances of Parliament, then and still in force: by which example, others have been encouraged so to do, &c. to the great damage of the party or parties, and the ensnaring of the Commonwealth and people, they practising like sons of Jezebel, or sons of Belial, 1, Kings 8. 10,13. Lord, thus are thine Heritage killed, spoiled, and destroyed, as of old; and they eat up thy people all the day long, and labour to root out their inheritance, by buying their debentures at small rates (which is as the price of their blood) and the Lordly buyers thereof receive the full rate of 20s. in the pound for them, when its likely they gave not above 3s. 6d. in the pound for them; and some of these oppressors Parliament-men. Yet David, a King, and a soldier in the field, and in distress for water, which three of his Commanders (breaking thorough the enemy's host) fetched, he would not drink thereof, but offered it to the Lord, and said, O Lord, be it far from me to do this thing: Is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? 2 Sam. 23.15,16,17. Thus some of them we fought for to maintain, Do drink our bloods, as 'twere a thing most vain. At Dover I once saw a Mayor, who the first time he did sit on the Bench in their Guild-hall, after that he was sworn Mayor, he silenced and would have turned off the Bench one of his Brethren, a Jurat there (which is as an Alderman in other places) upon the Bench, because he would not agree with him, the present Mayor in being, in a piece of injustice; and the reason the Mayor showed, was, that the said Alderman or Jurat had not been new sworn to secrecy or privacy since he had been sworn Mayor; I could name the parties, but I forbear: I could also nominate several injuries done in Guildhall London, and in the Committee of the Militia and Court of Aldermen, and of some by Common councillors and Companies with their Assistants and clerks, and that by combination of, and with their clerks, and Officers, and Assistants, and how by their Oaths of secrecy or promises, and confederacy, and private choosing of Officers, or fore-running their choice, to the outfacing the Law, and perverting or Judgement, and oppression of the freeborn people the Commonwealth, whom they also divers times have been fain to arm for their own preservations to fight, although they will not allow them voice or choice, even when judgement hath followed them at their heels, for their iniquities, promising their destructions, and I do believe this truth is known to divers also, though the persons and injuries are not nominated; which for future to prevent, next unto your reasonable service performed to Jehovah, your vigilancies over those in places, and by a laudable and free choice, displacing such as are not trusty and faithful, and labouring, and protesting also against false Oaths, for because of Oaths our land doth mourn, and much more for such as are Oaths of secrecy: but wait you with patience in brotherly love, bearing one another's burdens; that we or ours hereafter may happily arrive at the fruition of liberty and rest from this sea and calamity of oppression and trouble; that our children may say of us, their deceased Fathers hereafter, they acted courageously as freeborn English men in their generation, wisely as commonwealths-men in their places and capacities, and lovingly and patiently as Christians, through whom we have had deliverance, and are become a happy English people born, and left to freedom and liberty. By N. B. a lover of the English people, and its Native rights and liberties, and a constant contender for the same. FINIS.