THE Copy of a Letter From a LINCOLN Shire Gentleman; Sent to his Friend in the City of LONDON.  
Printed 1660.   

A Copy of a Letter from a Lincolnshire Gentleman, sent to his friend in the City.  
Section I.  
Worthy Friend,  
SInce my last (in a concurrence with the general, if not unanimous Vote of this Nation) this County hath sent up a Declaration (being awaked out of that dull Lethargic stupifaction, that had long seized their Spirits to a quick resentment of their own condition:) To solemnize the approaching Funerals of the glory and happiness of this Nation, with their sad Complaints, if timely remedies be not applied, which I shall not despair of (since as Physicians tell me, the sense and knowledge of the disease is a great advance towards health;) And that those hidden charms, that lay wrapped up in the prostitute name of Parliament, to bewitch us, hath lost its force; even with me and others, that once adored that great Diana, the Craftsmen or Mechanics of our times, set up even to the pulling down of Sceptres, Laws, Religion nay Parliaments themselves, considered in their original Rights and Constitutions; though my design was no more at the taking up of Arms, than their pretences, even a pruning off of luxurious excrescences in Church and State, not a digging up of the Vine; and in so much I am still the same, though not in my Actings any longer, in Countenance of those that departed from themselves, Duties and Oaths; yet am I resolved ever to oppose all exorbitances in State, Innovations in the Church, and invasion of our Liberties I first engaged against; and in it agree, I think with all truly wise and honest Englishmen.  
§. II. And I conceive, these Considerations, and the like, have animated these parts into generous Resolutions, if they cannot Vindicate their Rights, no longer to betray them by their silence and Compliances; daring to die their Country's Martyrs, rather than not attempt their Duties, Resolving with the Cantabrian to Augustus, though their goods of Fortune may by Tyranny and Usurpation be taken from them, they will be their own and Gods; and having discovered the great Impostures of the Mountebanks at Westminster) will not longer be Cheated out of their dearest Interests; seeing their pretences, how specious so ever, are but a painted Flower upon a withered Stalk, a Devil in samuel's mantle: When under pretence of Religion, they let in Athiesm; and by abuse of our Liberty, lay snares to enslave us, turning our Laws and Charters into Arbitrary Votes (the Negative Voices, and balancing Interests of King and Lords, being forced from us) yet by it they give us a holy advantage, in showing us that in our present Condition, we enjoy rather an Aery than real being; when by a vapour, a breath, those Senators may take away (ours, our Lives, Liberties and Religion at once.) And yet by it, they undermine, those pillars that should support their own Houses to Posterity, and make Shackles for their Children to wear.  
§. III. Nay, so highly insolent is their Cruelty, as they force us to be instrumental to our own ruins (by payments to support their Usurpation, and to twist a Cord to hang ourselves) and are not only acting, but enacting mischief as Law, which ought to make Crimes not Virtue the object of its punishment; and to stand (as the Pin in the Balance;) a middle thing between Supreme Power and Common Right, which they yet deny us; in obstructing our enjoyment of a Free Parliament, the only prudential Remedy (under God) to compose our distractions, unite our Affections, and concentre all Interests in a Conscientious submission and obedience to lawful Authority, the very Nerves, and Sinews, and Ligaments that can keep the body Politic in a happy combination at home, and make it both reverenced and feared abroad, open Trade, and secure (under God) all other blessings.  
§. IU. And therefore as your City's Declaration, gave the first Invitation to other Counties to Declare; I hope you will still continue fixed (as the Centre in the Circumference; however things moves in their vicissitudes about you) in your Resolves to stand for a Free and Full Parliament  
§. V Which implies Freedom in Sitting from all Force; Freedom in Elections, to sit (where the known ancient Laws restrains not;) and Freedom from all previous Oaths and Engagements, as the Essentials and Elements, out of which it is Constituted, the Legislative Power (however it may regulate itself, in its Actings) being never to be bound with humane Cords; Nay, not by itself, in that it may (nay ought) to unloose the knois it ties; when public Interest and utility requires it: And therefore should not be confined by any more high and sacred bands; nor admit of discriminations of Persons in law eligible, which are but the breasts, that feeds and nourish Divisions, Distractions and Animosities amongst us.  
§. VI However since all humane law obliges Conscience only in things, which in their nature are indifferent and Arbitrary, and that by our Fundamental Constitution, every man's Consent is therefore presumed to concur (actually or virtually in his Proxies) in those laws he is to be submitted to (as may appear by the Petition of Right.) We all unanimously Resolve no more Taxes, Excises, Customs ought by the present Dictator's to be laid upon us; and therefore not to pay them, unless charged by a Free Parliament, which we desire may be insinuated unto your Common Council; who have yet carried themselves with great show of Gallantry, Prudence, and public affection to the Kingdoms Settlement and Peace: That as we aim at one Port, we may steer by one Compass: And the better to take in all Interests,  
1. We shall desire Indemnity to all that oppose not a Full and Free Parliament.  
2. Indulgence to all tender Consciences, that seek Peace not Faction, with the Vindication of our Established Religion from all its Opposers.  
3. The Soldier's satisfaction in relation to their Arrears, and for the present, the Counties will resolve (if your City concur) voluntarily to raise 60000 l. a Month, and to pay it into the hands of their several Treasurers; by them immediately to be paid to such Regiments as the General and Army shall assign to each County; (and this to continue till a Free Parliament take further care for them,) which will pay them fully for the future, and advance something towards the Arrears, of those that shall in this way witness their good affection to this Nation; and redeem the prey out of the hands of those Land-Pirates at Westminster. Who all this while have made a gain of them and us;  
§. VII. In which we cannot doubt of my Lord General Monks concurrence, he is in all opinions, a person of so entire a worth (Though yet abused by the specious pretences of a ruling faction) when he sindes the greatest part by much, (if not all) of the Kingdom desire it as the only means to compose us at home, and secure us from many, now united and powerful enemies abroad, especially if he will but consider, how often this pretended Rump of a Parliament, that poisons all with their Hellish Fumes hath been dissolved, as  
1. By the King's death (as all great Lawyers will agree) who was the most essential part of it; his assent only giving a being and animation to all Laws.  
2. As the Bill itself, (by which they pretend to disinherit the Primogeniture of the Triennial Act.) Refers to the Parliament as then composed of three Estates, when one dissenting, no Act could pass.  
3. By their several dissolutions and submissions to other called Parliaments, and by most of their sit as members in them.  
4. By the Counties new Elections, which was an actual revocation of their Trust, and Power  
5. By the forfeiture of their rights to sit as a house of Commons in the forcihle expulsion of the best part of their members.  
6. By their breach of Trust, their Commissions (as delegated by their elections) being only to advise with the King in (rebus arduis weighty affairs, (not to destroy him) as appears by the Writts of Summons; And all this, with the violation, of their faith both to God and man; Wilful breaches of their Declarations, Oaths, and Covenant; So as a person of General Monks worth and honour can never, upon digested thoughts, espouse their cause and crimes by his protecting them, however he is a person of too much Piety and prudence; to engage us in a civil and foreign War at once (where so fair and Just an expedient, as a Free and full Parliament to be called by the Triennial Act is proposed) for the skirts and rag of an exspired Parliament, which would botch up a garment only for their own wearing, leaving us stripped and naked by depriving us of all our Rights, and all this for the maintaining their guilt and interest, who care not to prevent, the rack of our ship of state, wherein all are embarked, if they may but stand upon land themselves; and therefore be not discouraged by what he hath yet appeared, but let us do our duties, and leave the event to God; which is the resolution of,  
Your lately converted Servant.