A PROCLAMATION, to all, of all sorts, high and low, rich and poor, wherein is Proclaimed the law-hill, which in keeping thereof is true Liberty: Given forth by force and Power for every one to observe, upon pain of death.  
AS there was, is, and always shall be an Omnipotent, eternal, Infinite Essence, and Being, GOD, which created and fashioned the Earth and all that therein is, by which, whom, and none other, all things and appearances (light and darkness) were created and made: (and by which and whom they shall be ended, and by none other.) In which Creation of Light, he placed Man chief King, Ruler, Father & Governor, to Rule, & Govern himself first: then all other Creatures upon the Earth, according to their several natures: And gave unto him Laws, as adherent and inherent to his perfection, profession, office, and nature: in, and according to which, he was, and is to walk, rule, and govern himself, & all others under him in the universe: which Laws were actually observed, performed, and kept, by our forefathers inviolable, and steadfastly maintained to be the fundamentals, foundations, pillars, and props of Government, by which they enjoyed life and light, and were free: holding it better the fabric to break in sunder, than the Law to be violated or broken.  
harken therefore, O People, learn to know your Laws which make you free, (they are short and easy) Make good all your conclusions with your mouths and hearts, and kindle your benumbed senses with a constant zealous obedience to your greatest lawgiver, greatest King and Father JEHOVAH▪ (the only end, centre, and foundation of your understanding, judgement, peace, and rest,) not regarding pleasure, profit, honour, popularity, and the like glittering interest: but stand steadfast and close in, and to his honour, worship, goodness, naked truth, and obedience, as it is prescribed in the Law of our forefathers, abridged in two sentences, Love God withal thy heart, thy Neighbour as thyself.  
Every man is a King, Priest, & Governor in, to, & over himself: Every one in his family is himself, & every thing in that family is for good in that family to every particular person. And none hath any thing to do with him, but by his assent, (except in a public necessity) if any one taketh any thing from him (otherwise) without his consent, it is no less than Theft and Robbery, and absolutely against the Law of our forefathers, the Law of Nature, and against the liberty and freedom of the People and Nation: But if any one ruleth not well, let his judgement come from the neighbourhood, the people who best know him, yet gradually from the people's trusties or Officers.) For judgement centres at every man's door.  
Man of himself is absolutely free, so long as he keepeth himself from Contract: but in case he enters into Contract with another, he is no longer free, but bound: therefore that he is in bondage, it proceedeth from himself, and thereby destruction is of himself, and there lieth his bondage▪ for having once contracted, he and they ought to keep faith, &c.  
No man would make a Contract, if he were not thereunto compelled by some exigence; for Contract: leads to be performed in time and place; but no Man can command time, place, ability, or power. Surely he is only free, happy man, which keepeth himself from any Contract, but what God in Nature hath enjoined him. God in Nature hath made men Kings and Governors (as I said before) to govern well themselves; now see wherein he is bounded by God in Nature, Do as thou wouldest be done unto, and no otherwise: for therein lies the foundation of the Law, which shall judge every particular person; for in every particular person is the Judge placed which shall either justify or condemn.  
Follow not the opinions of others, which (rightly considered) are mere fancies, and depend more upon your concession, than truth. But (study the Law of God in Nature) look into thyself; remember thou art a Stem proceeding from the Stock of the greatest King, Father, Priest, and Prophet, JEHOVAH: that thou art King, Father, Priest, Prophet, and Governor over thyself, and all that he hath given unto thee. Rule Well, and thou art well, for he that Ruleth must be just, Ruling in the fear of the Lord: if thou Rule not well, thou art not well, and disquieted in thyself: there is thy liberty and thy bondage.  
Return first into thyself, dost thou Rule well thy mind, thy thoughts, thy words, thy hands, thy feet, nay, even all thy action? (then to others as to thyself) if so, than thou art well, and happy shalt thou be, for He that Ruleth well is worthy of double honour. To Rule yourselves well is the high way to be chosen to Rule them which cannot rule themselves well. Remember unruly Cain who murdered his brother Abel; the Scripture is full of them, as rebellious Absolom, covetous Ahab, proud Haman, lascivious Jezabel, and others; did they Rule well?  
Wherefore were Rulers and Governors chosen, but to Rule those well that would not rule themselves well? which Rulers, and Governors, as elected and chosen by the people, are as servants to the people: and in Ruling well, immediate Officers and Servants to JEHOVAH: for they in their administration, instruct and admonish those which Rule not well: and from hence springs the Magistracy, and ministerial function, Aaron's Rod, and Pot of Manna; civil and ecclesiastical proceedings. Here you may see the beginning of Writings, how Moses began, the rest followed him: here O Men may you discern the end of all.  
Now let us bear our shame: we have lost our knowledge, we have perished: hath not Covetousness, Pride, and hypocrisy been a continual stumbling block? the Judges of the Land have judged unjustly, and administered false judgement for bribes, and have led the people in ignorance.  
The Preachers (called the Clergy) have preached false Doctrine, venting those things which accrued to their profit and advantage, practising covetousness, pride, oppression, lasciviousness, superstition, Idolatry, and hypocrisy: Indeed preaching and practising any thing, for base lucre, profit, and gain. Thou hast nothing to do but thy father's will: what is that will? ask the Law inherent in thy Nature.  
Where a chief Ruler is chosen, his Office and duty is, to defend and preserve those that Rule well: from the pride, covetousness, and oppression of those that Rule ill, and to remove, take away, and destroy the cause of Ruling ill, and to support and cherish those that Rule well.  
Perhaps you will say, you have chose none to Rule over you: indeed every one is not fit to choose, because they have lost their understanding; how can he which Ruleth ill himself, choose well? his eyes are dim, and his understanding clouded? is the blind fit to lead the blind? (no) yet it is the indubitable right of the People to choose.  
Now that the Government is not understood, you that have had the Ruling, and Teaching Powers, are to be blamed and fhamed, for you have lead the People in ignorance, and only Ruled, taught, and Lorded for yourselves.  
If you challenge a right of governing, as being chosen; then as Governors and Rulers you ought to have the Laws of our forefathers planted in your hearts: which you are to observe and practise: for if you challenge our forefathers Powers in ruling over the People; then is it but just, that the People challenge, you Rule in our forefathers ways and laws, and therein be limited and bounded; for therein lies the liberty and freedom of the People, and your safety.  
Therefore they which choose, aught to have skill in Ruling well, in regard those Officers, and Governors are to be chosen, who have skill in Ruling well: which Officers, and governors, are no other than Servants, or trusties to, and for the People: and ought not to make any by-Laws, but such as centre upon the fundamentals, which before they be confirmed and enacted, ought of right to be presented to the People by the Sheriff of every County, at their County Courts: as also by the Stewards of every Hundred and Liberty at their Courts (which Steward ought to be sworn for the execution of his Office, which is altogether neglected) to be approved and allowed of by the People: And in case the People find them not good as to the public, they may refuse obedience to that Law, and that Law ought to lie dormant until the People have chosen wiser and more faithful trusties, for the altering, or rectifying of such Law: For all by laws are alterable, but the fundamental Law is unalterable: Is not the People greater than their trusties, and Officers? The Master is more worthy than the Servant.  
You Powers, you Kings in power that give Power, Offices, and places of Trust (by the people's power) are empowered to call them to an account: Therefore look to it, for the People the King's eyes are upon you. Did the by-Law-makers Rule well in running ad infinitum with by-Lawes Sans number, till they run themselves out of doors, and left an odium behind them? do not you overrun yourselves, the royal Law, the people's Right; it is better to stand still, lest you run into confusion.  
As the People have right to choose their own Officers, it being their Liberty, an Appendix to their birthright and freedom which doth gradually ascend from the People to their chiefest Officers: So are they to let justice gradually descend and centre to, and in the People again.  
Did those Rulers Rule well, when their benumbed Senses preferred their own pleasure, profit, honour, and the like, not regarding the honour, worship, and obedience to JEHOVAH, when they flighted the Stock (from whence they proceeded) JEHOVAH the greatest King, the Laws of God in Nature, the Laws of our forefathers, the good and welfare of the People. Nay, suffering the pure and perfect Law of God to be monopolised into a Trade, permitting the inventions of men to be preached to the ignorant (for gain) which the wisest could neither understand nor know how to reform, so that the People perished in want of knowledge, keeping the People in subjection, only Ruling and Lording it for themselves.  
Did they Rule well, when they converted the public Treasure to their own Interest? contracted themselves into a smaller number, that the dividend might be the greater to them that were left: conniving at each others ill ruling: gratifying one another (as they termed it) with thousands, (when the commonwealth wanted money to perfect their great affairs) fully intending never to give an account thereof; they endeavoured to perpetuate themselves in their unlimited power; laying yokes upon the people's necks, which makes them complain and groan under the burden of them: denying the People to choose other trusties (in their places who were secluded) whereby their actions might have been discovered, and the People eased.  
Did they Rule well, when there was not an oppression in the Nation, but (if not contrived and acted by them) was solicited by some of their Clerks, or favourites, and connived at by them, whereby justice was perverted, and Bribery and oppression practised by Authority, (forgetting to be just, Ruling in the fear of the Lord) forcing many to travel after them and their laws, till they have worn out their Petitions at the door: denying assistance to just requests, when by a little lip labour they might have made those happy, who have been compelled by excessive expense, (the Mother of want) to leave the prosecution of a just Cause, to the ruin and destruction of them and theirs.  
Did they Rule well, in making so many laws the People can neither number, nor understand them; (if they keep them from their shoulders:) for in reading them, no man knows where to centre; by which and their own wills (being their reasons) they made double, and treble consequences, of men's words, according to their own constructions, whereby to accuse, imprison, and afflict them. (By the like practice Christ suffered as a Blasphemer) men's Words are their own, and the interpretation of them.  
Did they Rule well, when they suffered the poor, blind, and lame to perish in the streets, & highways, (permitting them to want work, and their children bread,) setting up the metal Money (which he that hoards it deserves to eat and drink nothing else until the poor be satisfied:) above the whole Creation: monopolising the Earth, which if (by the project of a Kilvertist) they could have monopolised totally to themselves, (by their own laws) they might have ejected the people (their Masters) out of the Land: and it is thought they would have monopolised the Sun, moon, and Stars, if it had been possible; nay, God himself, if they could have known where to have found him.  
Did they Rule well, when they were ten Months of twelve in the Country; waiting to catch necessitated men in Bargains, (extorting and oppressing the People) for themselves and others? what excused them in their absence; who when they were in Town, could make their appearance in the morning, and all the day after sit drinking in Taverns, Bowling Alleys, or— making the members of their bodies (the Temples of the Holy Ghost) to be the members of Harlots? Particular failings produce inevitable destruction: were they not all breakers of the royal Law of God planted in Nature?  
A word to those that Rule not well: Dost thou say, do not murder, and wilt thou murder? Dost thou say, do not commit Adultery, and wilt thou commit Adultery? Dost thou say, do not steal, and wilt thou steal? Dost thou say, do not covet, and wilt thou covet? Dost thou say, be not drunk, and wilt thou be drunk? Dost thou say, be not envious or malicious, and wilt thou be envious and malicious? Dost thou say, do not oppress thy neighbour, and wilt thou oppress thy neighbour? Dost thou say, do not swear, cheat, and lie, and wilt thou swear, cheat, and lie? Do so still: he that is filthy let him be filthy still: you are the causes of confusions: There would be no need of Stocks, Houses of Correction, Whips, Prisons, nor Gallows, but for you, whosoever thou art; Governors, Rulers, and counsels, (yea, and Parliaments too) might meet and have nothing to do, were it not for you unruly Members; but go your ways, you have lost your Kingly Government, your Priestly Government, and prophetical Office; and so are laid aside, as useless: Will you overrun God in Nature, the royal Law inherent in you? O the darkness within, which makes the confusion without!  
A word to all Rulers, and to all of all sorts: The greatest King with the greatest Powers is at your heels; he comes with such force and Powers, that neither Crowns nor Castles, walled Cities, nor your weapons of war shall prevail: he will put an end to your Tumults, and evil doings by the brightness of his coming; then shall you come, and give an account of your Kingship and Governments: have you Ruled well, or not well? harken! what means the noise from the North, from the South; nay from all quarters? some crying out of Prisons, some in Prisons, some in the Streets and highways; the Creation groans, and their cries are gone up to the greatest King JEHOVAH: if you will not amend, and help, and plead the cause of the poor, and oppressed; and set open the Prison doors, the greatest King comes with salvation and deliverance; and you shall stand by as ciphers, and be ashamed.  
Here I have set down your work, you need not trouble yourselves, except to do well be a trouble to you; (if you please) understand the excellent foundations of God, his laws planted in Nature, which will instruct you to the understanding of his Prophets, Apostles, the Scriptures; yea, things to come: Wherefore if you covet any thing, let it be Love and Meekness, towards all; Man being indeed limited, and bounded within that excellent Law of God in Nature: which is for the ordering of every particular Member, in every particular Man in good and for good; and if he steps out of that bound to govern another, it must be by contract; for otherwise it begetteth enmity; from hence springeth the great confusions in the world: If we see one that Ruleth not well, it is our duty to advise him in love and meekness, that he Rule well.  
Your wellwisher, William Covell.