A DECLARATION Of some PROCEED of Lt. Col. john Lilburn, And his ASSOCIATES: WITH Some Examination, and Animadversion upon Papers lately Printed, and scattered abroad. One called The earnest Petition of many Freeborn People of this Kingdom: Another, The mournful Cries of many thousand poor Tradesmen, who are ready to famish for want of Bread, Or, The Warning Tears of the Oppressed.  
Also a Letter sent to KENT.  
Likewise a true Relation of Mr. Masterson's, Minister of SHOREDITCH, Signed with his own hand.  
Published by Authority, for the undeceiving of those that are misled by these Deceivers, in many places of this Kingdom.  Prov. 18.17. 
He that is first in his Cause, seemeth just, but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.  2 Tim. 3.13. 
But Evil men, and Seducers, shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  
London, Printed for Humphrey Harward, and are to be sold at his Shop, the Crown and Bible at Budge-Row-End, near Canning-street. Anno Domini, MDCXLVIII.   

A Declaration, etc.  
THere can be nothing more evident to any that will give themselves leave maturely to weigh and compare the past and present state of affairs in this Kingdom with an impartial Judgement, than that all the pressures formerly imposed, the late War, the present distempers, and future threatened danger thereby, do all grow out of the same root, and flow from the same fountain; and will lead, if they be pursued, to one and the same end, Even that which was first in the intention of the first Designers, The settling of Tyranny, and enslaving the People. And although he that shall look upon these things only en passant, will scarce believe that such different Principles and pretensions as are held out to view, should serve the same ends. And though it should seem there could be nothing at greater distance to the intention of some, who are abused into these distempers, than to promote slavery and hasten ruin. Yet they who are uninteressed and uningaged in them, and instructed in, and convinced of the Grand Design of those who began our troubles, and how it is still carried on▪ can both see the Artifice by which they are raised and fomented, and the End to which they tend, and where at they are like to arrive; There is no need to reckon up what the state of this Kingdom was before the breaking out of these troubles, being in such condition of wealth, and all mnaner of prosperity, as made it the Subject of Envy to those who knew not what was designed against it. But no less than an absolute Tyranny would please the King, to command the hearts of his people by a just Government, according to the Laws, and the Limits of his Trust, and there by to command their persons, and purses, and all; for the good of all, was beneath Royallity. And that it was fit for a King to take, than ask, was then State Doctrine, and the practise suitable. We were to be modelled to a foreign pattern, and in pursuance thereof, all manner of Arbitrary exactions, and impositions were laid upon the people, the particulars will not be forgotten this Age, and need not a recapitulation. A Consumption had seized the people, and their usual Physic was denied them; and when 'twas grown dangerous even to sigh for a Parliament, the King's necessities by the stirs in Scotland enforce him to call one. But that was not the first the King had broken, and he then knew well enough when it would not serve his turn, and verify Edicts, How to keep it from serving the people for the recovery of their Liberty: His necessities increase, this present Parliament is called; and in regard of so many broken before, this was not able to serve the necessities of the Kingdom, unless it were put beyond his power to break; And therefore was continued by Law till the Houses by joint consent should dissolve it; Now the King being fast, as to usual Court Stratagems, hath recourse to force, deals with one Army, tempts another, frustrate in both; impeacheth Members, comes himself to fetch them, nothing takes; He retires into the North, resolves a Conquest of the Parliament, the People, the Laws, and though to blind the  multitude, He forbids the repair of Papists to the Court, yet his principal Assistants in it are those his good Subjects; He set up his Standard, raiseth an Army, maketh War against the Parliament and Kingdom, and put it to the trial of the Sword, whether he shall govern by the Laws, or by his Will without Law. In the prosecution of which appeal to the Lord of Hosts, he hath lost his Cause, which stands determined against him by a full Conquest of all his forces; And thereby an happy opportunity given, not only to deliver from those late Exactions, and to make their return impossible, but for the recovery and establishment of all that just Freedom that may make a people happy, as they stand in the Natural Constitution, and Civil Consociation, and distinct and mutual relations of the people of England; if themselves hinder not.  
The way of force being at an end, but there being no end of the malice of our Enemies, but the slavery of the Nation; and the ruin of all those faithful Patriots that hath hitherto hindered it.  
They convert now their whole industry to the manage of that Maxim (Divide and Rule) as to the only Engine left them to attain their ends, yet this is not now first in practice amongst them, it hath had its part during all the time of the War (though not so strenuously pursued, while they had other hopes) by raising and fomenting of factions, and divisions in all places, Armies, Counsels, Cajoling all sorts by all those Artifices, whereby their Interests, humours, and discontents might be wrought upon. Thus they have had their Emissaries under every disguise, who have laboured to divide the people among themselves; and  that division by distinguishing Names, and to divide them all from the Parliament by several pretences; that it being naked of the protection of their force, might be unable to protect the people by their Authority. The Pulpits have served the King's Interest, while they thought they pursued their own. (The Instruments putting them on, being a New Malignant party, under a disguise, they not discerning they were acted by the old one, through the entremise of these,) and while they have divided the people, they have left them less able to defend themselves: Division among themselves is not all, they divide also from the Parliament: for the people being wont to believe what ever they hear from that place, by those men, have from thence been abated in their respect and opinion of the Parliament. Hence the City Remonstrance, and hence the first visible turn to their Actings toward the Parliament: The same Instruments tell the soldiers of their Arrears, strengthen their reflections upon their merit, help them to heighten the sense of their present wants, and sufferings, and in the mean time labour all they can possibly, both in the Houses, and among the people, to hinder the advancing or levy of moneys to satisfy them. And what workings there hath been, both toward, and in the Army under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, to breed faction and division there, to irritate it, or to break it, by whom it was done, and whose interest those men carried on, all men know. And how incredible soever it seem, yet even the Cries for liberty, endeavours of levelling perfectly play the King's Game; his Tyranny can with greater ease overflow a level, then where it meets with the opposition of the power of the Kingdom in the Parliament. The Instruments of those designs, know that it is impossible for Tyranny ever to grow again upon Us, till that power be taken away, or disabled, by which it hath been broken, and our right recovered; and that so long as the people acknowledge their Protectors, and own their Protection, they will be safe under it. The Woolves persuade the Sheep, if the Dogs were away, there would be a happy peace between them. The difficulty now is, to make the Sheep believe they are Woolves that make the overture.  
The truth is, 'tis the greatest pity in the world that plain and simple integrity, and well-meaning innocency should be deceived. But their unhappiness is, there is nothing easier; it is necessary the Serpent & the Dove should go together, else he that only consults his own Candour and Integrity, will never believe that another man's Propositions or Designs have any worse principle. When Absalon went about to dethrone his father, there followed him three hundred men from Jerusalem, that went in the simplicity of their hearts, knowing nothing: the man pretended only a Religious Vow, and these poor, believed him, And every age produceth sufficient numbers of as little foresight; and there is no doubt, but if many among those that promote the dividing destructive Agreement of the people, and endeavour an anarchical levelling, had had but as much light to have judged the designs of their leaders, and to have foreseen the end of their motions, as they have good meaning, their Musters had never swelled to the numbers they account them, though in that there is very little credit to be given to their own Roll.  
It hath not been the least part of the Art of those that drive on these designs, to employ such to serve their turns, whose former merit might seem to privilege a mistake in their duty, and that it must be ingratitude at least, if not cruelty in the Parliament to proceed to any severe animadversion against men of so much merit as the Leaders, or so large and good affection as their followers.  
In which Stratagem, they have not failed, for by the Parliaments lenity and forbearance toward such men, (in hope they would see their mistakes, and return to the ways of their duty and safety,) they are grown to that height, both by making Combinations; Printing and dispersing all manner of false and scandalous Pamphlets and Papers against the Parliament, to debauch the rest of the people, gathering monies, and making Treasurers and Representons of themselves, as it is necessary to obviate by present and effectual means. And the Parliament can no longer suffer them in these seditious ways, without deserting their trust in preserving the Peace of the Kingdom, and the freedom and property of peaceable men.  
Among all the Instruments they have out-witted to carry on their designs with this sort of people, there are none have visibly done them more service than Lieutenant Col. john Lilburn, a man who hath made himself sufficiently known to the world, by those heaps of scandalous Books and Papers that he hath either written, or owned against the House of Peers, and such as have done him greatest courtesies; filled with falsehoods, bitterness, and ingratitude, whereby he hath given himself a Character sufficient to distinguish him (with the Judicious) from a man walking according to the rules of sobriety, and the just deportment of a Christian: 'Tis true, he suffered much from the Bishops, in the time of their exorbitancies, and he was one of the first the Parliament took into their care for liberty and redress. But the present temper of his spirit, gives some ground to believe, that he added much to the weight of his pressures, by his want of meekness to bear what Providence had laid him under.  
'Tis also true, that he hath done good service for the Parliament, and adventured his life, and lost of his blood in the Common Cause. But some that know him, well observe, that he brought not the same affections from Oxford, that he was carried prisoner thither withal; though indeed he hath also done service since that time. And the Parliament hath not been unmindful either of his sufferings, or of his services, but hath given him several sums of money, notwithstanding the Committee of Accounts reported to the House, that in their judgements there was nothing due to him.  
But let his services be as great as himself, or his friends will have them, yet 'tis possible for a man to reflect too much upon his own desert; and men's overvaluing their services, have oftentimes produced such subsequent Actions, as have buried their first merit in a punishment.  
It is very probable, many of those that he misleads into these dangerous Actions, look upon him as a Martyr in the Cause against the Bishops; and believe that all his zeal is only for the promotion of Righteousness, and just things, and for the Vindicating and Asserting the people's liberty against Oppression and Violence, and that only by Petition, and indubitably just, and allowed way for all men to seek their grievances by, and by which they may without offence, address to any authority or greatness whatsoever.  
To take off this disguise, and disabuse well meaning men, who cannot judge him by his Character drawn of himself, by himself, in his several books; It will be necessary to give the world a Narrative of what his deportment and carriage was toward the House of Peers, upon which he was imprisoned, it having yet been spread to the World, only as he and his friends have pleased to dress it, all which is taken out of the Records of that House, and is as followeth.  
UPon the publishing of a Book by him written, called, The just man's justification, and complaint thereof made to the House; It was Ordered the 10. of june, 1646. That Lieutenant Colonel john Lilborne shall appear, and answer such things as he stands charged with, concerning a Book entitled, The just man's justification. The 11. of june he appeared, and there delivered at the Bar a paper, entitled, The Protestation, Plea, and Defence of Lieut. Col. john Lilborn, given to the Lords at their Bar, the 11. of june, 1646. with his Appeal to his proper and legal Tryers, and Judges, the Commons of England assembled in Parliament. In which Protestation, after he hath acknowledged an Obligation to the House, for dealing justly and honourably with him in a Parliamentary way, in a business of his, lately before that House, yet that he would not submit to any Judgement of this House against him in a criminal Cause; but would rather undergo all deaths or miseries which the wit of man can devise, or his power and Tyranny inflict; And closeth his Protestation in these words, Therefore do from you, and from your Bar, as Inchroachers and usurping Judges, appeal to the Bar, and Tribunal of my competent, proper, and legal Tryers and Judges, the Commons of England assembled in Parliament: which Protestation being contrived, and prepared by him upon premeditation, and given in at the Bar with so much contempt of and affront unto the Privileges of this House, It was upon consideration thereof had, Ordered that the said Lieutenant Colonel john Lilborn should stand committed to Newgate, for bringing into the House a scandalous and contemptuous paper, And that the Keeper of Newgate do keep him in safe custody.  
The 23. of june following, the House Ordered he should be brought into the House as a Delinquent, being formerly committed as a Delinquent. At which time being brought to the Bar according to the said Order, he refused there to kneel, which is the constant posture, and so known to be; and accordingly practised by all who are sent for as Delinquents by either of the Houses. And upon that refusal, the House Ordered, That he should for that his contempt to the House, be committed close prisoner to Newgate, And that none be suffered to resort to him, nor any pen and ink to be allowed him, until the House should take further Order therein, And it was then further Ordered, That the King's Counsel, with the assistance of Mr. Hailes, Mr. Herne, and Mr. Glover, should draw up a Charge against him with all convenient speed, and that they should advise with the Judges herein, and acquaint them with precedents: Which Charge being by the said Council drawn up into certain Articles, and brought into the House by Mr. Nathaniel Finch, his Majesty's Sergeant at Law. july 10. Containing matter of high crimes, and misdemeanours, (and such as only concerned the House of Peers in the Privileges thereof, and some of their Members, of which matters, We are certainly the unquestionable and undoubted Judges) which Charge was then and there read. And it was then Ordered, That the said john, Lilborne should be brought to the Bar next day, which was done accordingly. And he being there, was required to kneel at the Bar (as is usual in such cases) and to hear his Charge read, that he might make his defence thereto; he did not only refuse to kneel, as before he had done, but when the House commanded his Charge to be read, he said he would not hear, and upon reading thereof he stopped his ears with his finger. Being commanded to withdraw (after the House had taken this his contemptuous carriage into consideration) it was Ordered, That he should be called in again, and admonished, and told, that by his stopping of his ears, his ill language, and contemptuous and scornful deportment, he had deprived himself of what favour he might have had in the House. And commanded him again without stopping of his ears to hear his Charge. He answered, he had appealed from this House (as not his competent Judges) to the House of Commons, to which he would stand so long as he had any blood in his body. The House again commands his Charge to be read, and he again told them he would not hear it, And accordingly he again stopped his ears while it was readings being asked what he said to his Charge, he answered he heard nothing of it, had nothing to do with it, took no notice of it, but would stand to his Protestation, having appealed from this House, and protested against it, as unrighteous Judges, to those Judges who were to judge him and them, namely the House of Commons assembled in Parliament. Being again commanded to withdraw, the House took his refusal as an Answer pro Confesso to the whole matter of his Charge. And taking into consideration, the high contempt to the honour and dignity of the House of Peers, showed by his words and speeches at the Bar, which were also contained in his Charge. It was amongst other things adjudged, That Lieutenant Colonel john Lilborne for his high contempt to the honour of the House, should be imprisoned in the Tower of London, during the pleasure of the House. And upon consideration of the whole matter of his Charge, it was likewise amongst other things adjudged, that he be imprisoned seven years.  
Had this Contemptuous carriage been showed to the meanest Court in the Kingdom, or to a single Justice of the Peace, he would certainly have been committed for misbehaviour. Courts and Magistrates are no longer able to execute the duty of their places, and discharge their trust in the administration of Justice, than they keep up and maintain their Dignity and Authority from the tramplings and contempt of Delinquents. And there is no doubt but these approaches made by Lieutenant Colonel john Lilborne, and carried even within the walls of the Lords House with so little loss, was a main encouragement to that general assault and force upon both Houses, upon the 26. of july last, by that Rabble of Reformadoes, and of the Prentices set on and encouraged, by the known Malignant-then- ruling-part of the City. This carriage of his might seem sufficient to discover the Man, and being known, might warn every well-tempered and peaceable disposition, to take heed of engaging in any Design that may be the conception of such a Spirit: the birth whereof can portend nothing but Distraction and confusion. And the better yet to undeceive well-meaning men, who may perhaps believe the Results and productions of the late frequent, and numerous meetings of him, and his party, in and about the City, are of a contrary complexion and tendency, and can serve no other end than a firm and speedy settling the peace and tranquillity of the Kingdom, which all good men desire and should promote; They may here take notice of what was delivered to the Houses of Parliament, by Mr. Masterson Minister of Shoreditch, who was present at one of those meetings, And which was also (after many denials, tergiversations and prevarications, by the said Lieutenant Colonel john Lilborne, and the lie given (or words that signified as much) to Mr. Masterson in the House of Commons (who was confronted there with him at the Bar) confessed by himself, in every particular one only excepted. The whole Relation whereof is here printed from the Copy, signed by the said Mr. Masterson with his own hand, and is as followeth.  

At a meeting in Well-Yard, in, or near Wapping, at the house of one Williams a Gardener, on Monday the 17 of january. 1647.  
THere were Assembled Lieutenant Colonel john Lilburn, john Wildman, (with many others) debating a Petition, when I and one Robert Malbor of Shoreditch Parish came in; anon after we entered the Room, one Lieutenant Lever Objected against the manner of their Proceed, and said, That he liked well enough the particulars of the Petition, but he did not like the manner (namely) of Petitioning the House of Commons, for (said he) They have never done us any Right, nor will they ever do us any: To this Lieutenant Colonel john Lilburn Answered, We must, said he, own some visible Authority for the present, or else we shall be brought to Ruin and Confusion: but when we have raised up the spirits of the people through the whole Kingdom whether it be nine days hence, or a month, or three months, when the House shall be fit to receive an Impression of Justice) We shall FORCE. them to grant us those things we desire.  
Lieutenant Colonel john Lilburn did then and there Affirm, That the People of London had appointed ten or twelve of their Commissioners, (whereof he the said Lilburn was one) though he said likewise, that the honest Blades in Southwark did not like the word Commissioners. These Commissioners were appointed to promote the Petition, and send out Agents into every City, Town, and Parish, if they could possibly) of every County of the Kingdom, to inform the people of their Liberties and Privileges; and not only to get their hands to the Petition, for (said he) I would not give three pence for ten thousand hands.  
A plain man of the Company Objected against that way of Proceeding, thus: Mr. Lilburn (said he) we know that the generality of the People are wicked, and if (by the sending abroad of your Agents into all the Parishes of the Kingdom) they come to have power and strength in their hand, We may suppose, and fear they will cut the throats of all those who are called Roundheads, that is, the honest, godly, faithful men in the Land. Lieutenant Colonel Lilburn Answered, Pish (said he) do not you fear that, he that hath this Petition in his hand, and a Blue Rib and in his Hat, need not fear his throat cutting; or this Petition in your hand, will be as good as a Blue Ribbon in your Hat to preserve your throat from cutting. It was further Objected by one of the Company that sat at, or near the upper end of the Table, That it was not fit to disturb (or to that purpose) the House at this time, seeing they had made such excellent Votes concerning the King, and had appointed a Committee to hear, and report all our grievances. Lieutenant Colonel Lilburn Answered, Do you know, said he, how those Votes were procured? (or words to that effect.) Some Answered, No; nor did they care, since the Votes (as they apprehended) were so excellent; Lieutenant Colonel Lilburn said he could tell them. There was (said he) a bargain struck between Crumwell, Ireton, and the King, and the bargain was this, They (namely Lieutenant General Crumwell, and Commissary General Ireton) by their influence on the Army, should estate the King in his Throne, Power, and Authority; and for their Reward, Crumwell should receive (or had received) a Blue Ribbon from the King, and be made Earl of Essex, and his son Ireton, either Lord Lieutenant, or Field Martial of Ireland: and this he (the said Lieutenant Colonel Lilburn) said he would make good to all the world.  
Lieutenant Colonel Lilburn said further, that certain Information of this coming to a Member of the House of Commons, our good for best) friend: I need not name him, said he, I suppose you all know him; his father was a Parliament man, and a Knight, but he is dead, and this Gentleman his son is of his Christian name (as they call it) a man of a good Estate. This Gentleman, said he, takes upon him a noble Felton resolution, that (rather than a Kingdom should be enslaved to the lust of one man) he would dispatch him (namely Crumwell) wherever he met him, though in the presence of the General Sir Thomas Fairfax himself, and for that end, provided, and charged a Pistol, and took a Dagger in his Pocket, that if the one did not, the other should dispatch him. The said Lieut. Col. john Lilburn, (being asked how it came to pass that he did not effect it, and Act according to his resolution? Answered, The Gentleman (said he) communicating his resolution to a Member of the House of Commons, a Knight whom he judged faithful, the Gentleman was by this Knight shut up in his Chamber in White Hall a whole day; and the Knight dispatched an express to Crumwell, to inform him of the Gentleman's Resolution; whereupon, Crumwell (apprehending his person in danger) called a pretended day of Humiliation; there he was reconciled to the Officers of the Army, drew up a Declaration to the House, which begat and produced those Votes. Upon this John Wildman said, That he knew three other men (at the same time) had taken up the same Resolution of kill Crumwell, and there was not one of them that knew the Intentions of another: likewise the said john Wildman said, That he would never trust honest man again for Crumwels' sake.  
Lieutenant Colonel Lilburn, and the said john Wildman (speaking promiscuously in the Commendation of the said Petition) one or other or both of them affirmed, That this Petition was of more worth and value, than any thing they had ever yet attempted; and that some great Malignants (as they are called) told them, that if they were not engaged to the person of this King, and had personally served him, they would engage with them; and the said Malignants gave them encouragement to go on with it, saying, it was the most rational piece that they had seen: And that they (the people assembled) might understand how the Petition had wrought already, they affirmed that it (the Petition) had made the Lords House to quake, and the Commons themselves to stink: and that before the Petition was two days old, or had been two days abroad, the Lords (I shall not need to name them, said he, but the greatest Earls of them in Estate, in Authority and Popularity) sent to us a creature of their own to Article with us, and offered (so we would desist-from promoting the Petition) to consent to all our privileges and liberties that we desired in our Petition, so that we would abate them their Legislative power. Lieutenant Colonel Lilburn said further, When they saw we would not desist, they (the Lords) offered us thirty thousand pounds, if we would yet sit down, and lay the Petition aside: nay, more said he, but here the said John Wildman interrupted him, and said, Prithee do not tell all, but Lilburn replied, He would, and they should hereby see their (the Lords) baseness, whereupon going on, he said, This morning they sent to this Gentleman's Chamber (laying his hand upon Wildman) at the Saracens head in Friday-street, and offered him, that if we would forbear to Promote this Petition, they would be content for their heirs and successors, to cut off the Legislative power from them by Ordinance or Act for ever, so we would let them quietly enjoy the Legislative power for their lives.  
Lieutenant Col. Lilburn told them, That they (the Commissioners) had their constant meetings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in the evening at the Whalebone; and the other three days at Southwark, Wapping, and other places, with their friends; and that upon the next Lord's day they were to meet at Dartfort in Kent, to receive an account of their Agents, (from Gravesend, Maidstone, and most of the choice Towns in that County) how they had promoted the business there.  
Lieutenant Colonel Lilburn drawing a Paper-Book from under his short Red Coat, and turning over the leaves of it, told them that there were certain Letters, one to Colonel Blunt, another (as I remember) to Sir Anthony Welden; and that he said, he wrote himself likewise divers Letters to our friends the well-affected of such and such a County, whose names I remembered not: he the said (Lieutenant Colonel) told them likewise, That because the business must needs be a work of charge (there being thirty thousand Petitions to come forth in Print to morrow, and it would cost money to send their Agents abroad, though the honest soldiers now at White Hall would save them something in scattering them up and down in the Counties) they had therefore appointed Treasurers, namely Mr. Prince, Mr. Chidly, and others, and Collectors, (whose names as I remember, he did not read) who should gather up from those that acted with them, of some two pence, three pence, six pence, a shilling, two shillings, half a Crown a week: and thus promising to meet them the next night, he took leave.  
But immediately before his departure told them, that they shut him up in the Tower the night before, but they should not have his company these fourteen nights for it. This is the sum and sense of that which was delivered, and affirmed in the House of Lords, at the conference, and in the Commons House by  
Geo: Masterson.   
BY this testimony of Mr. Masterson (which was all but one particular, as was said before, confessed by Lieutenant Colonel john Lilburn himself) It's hoped all men truly conscientious will take heed how they comply with these men, who have conceived those black designs in the dark, and think to bring them forth by murders and assassination; certainly these Counsels look as if they were suggested from him that is a Murderer from the beginning, and yet many are drawn into the same guilt, danger, and disservice to the peace of the Kingdom. The Conspiracy seems to be form, and the actings to be at hand, Treasurers chosen, Collectors appointed, moneys gathered, Emissaries sent abroad to stir up the people; Murders and assassinations are undertaken, and Lilburn, and Wildman know the Instruments. Can any man now that desire to have Peace, and prosperity settled, and conserved, and that abhors to think of Confusion of all things, and the effusions of innocent blood, wonder if the Parliament takes care in discharge of their Trust, to make abortive these monstrous conceptions, and prevent the like for the future, by present securing in order to punishing the Authors of these?  
To say any thing further upon this relation seems needless, it being not imaginable, That after so clear and full a discovery, there should be found any man, either so simple, or so wicked, as not to discover the monster under the mask, to see the danger, hate the design, and fear the Event; and that will not fly from the Counsels & Companies of these Pests and Incendiaries, who while they call themselves Christians, do yet project, or else at least conceal, and applaud designed murders and assassinations. And that all men may the better see, what is like to be the end to which these actions ●end, let them here take this account given from a sure hand in foreign parts, Namely, that a Priest, a Chaplain of a foreign Minister of State, whose name (which is to be concealed) seems to make him an English man, was lately employed hither as a Spy, and at his return gives this account to his Master, and to other Confidents, That there are four hundred Missionaries now in London, and in the Army, under several disguises, and that some of them act the Preacher, all which, with all diligence attend the service of their Mission, with hope to give a very good account to their Superiors: Are not these Designs, these Counsels, and the violent carrying thereof, more like to be the Doctrine of those Wolves under Sheep's skins, than of any man that hath resigned up himself to be led by the Spirit of God.  
But that which covers all is, that you do but Petition, and address to the House of Commons, with much seeming respect and deferencie. But, what account you make of their Authority, is seen by Lieutenant Colonel lilburn's Answer to Lieutenant Levelly his Objection, and what account of all the Parliament hath done, in asserting and vindicating the just freedom of the Nation, is seen in the said objection. And how fare you mean to attend upon, and acquiesce in the Judgement of the House, to which you address, is likewise seen in some of the Letters mentioned by Mr. Masterson, to be sent to their friends, the well-affected of such and such a County. That, to all the peaceable and well-minded people in Kent, who desire present Peace, Freedom, Justice, and common Right, and good of all men, is, as followeth, the Original whereof is ready to be produced when occasion is.  
Worthy Gentlemen, and dear Friends,  
Our bowels are troubled, and our hearts pained within us, to behold the Divisions, Distractions, heart-burnings, and contentions which abound in this distressed Nation, and we are confounded in ourselves upon the foresight of the confusion and desolation, which will be the certain consequence of such divisions, if they should be but for a little time longer continued; there are now clouds of blood over our heads again, and the very rumours and fears of War hath so wasted Trading, and enhanced the price of all food and clothing, that Famine is even entering into your gates; and doubtless, neither pen nor tongue can express the misery, which will ensue immediately upon the beginning of another War; Why therefore O our Country men, should we not every man say each to other, as Abraham to Lot, or Moses to the two Israelites, Why should we contend each with other, seeing we are brethren? O that our advice might be acceptable to you, that you would every man expostulate each with other, and now while you have an opportunity, consider together, wherefore the contention hath been these six or seven years! Hath it not been for freedom and justice? O then propound each to other the chief principles of your freedom, and the foundation of justice, and common Right, and questionless, when you shall understand the desires each of other, you will unite together inviolably to pursue them.  
Now truly in our apprehensions, this work is prepared to your hands in the Fetition, which we herewith send to you; certainly, if you shall all join together to follow resolutely, and unweariedly, after the things contained in that Petition, the blood and confusion which now threaten us may be prevented, and the sweet streams of justice will run into your bosoms freely without obstruction; O that the Lord may be so propitious to this tottering Nation, as to give you to understand these things which belong to your Peace and welfare!  
Many honest people are resolved already to unite together in that Petition, & to prosecute the obtaining it with all their strength; they are determined, that now after seven years waiting for Justice, Peace, and Freedom, they will receive no denial in these requests which are so essential to their Peace and Freedom; and for the more effectual proceed in this business, there is a Method and Order settled in all the Wards in London, and the out Parishes and Suburbs; they have appointed several active men in every Ward and Division, to be a Committee, to take the special care of the business, and to appoint active men in every Parish, to read the Petition at set meetings for that purpose, and to take Subscriptions, and to move as many as can possibly, to go in person when the day of delivering it shall be appointed; and they intent to give notice of that time to all the adjacent Counties, that as many of them as possibly can, may also join with them the same day; and the like orderly way of proceeding is commended to several Counties, to whom the Petition is sent, as to Hartfordshier, Buckingham, Oxford, Cambridge, Rutlandshier, etc. And we cannot but propound to you the same Method, as the best expedient for your union, in pursuing after a speedy settlement of your Peace and Freedom, therefore in brief we desire,  
1. That you would appoint meetings in every Division of your County, and there to select faithful men of public spirits, to take care that the Petition be sent to the hands of the most active men in every Town, to unite the Town in those desires of common right, and to take their subscriptions.  
2. That you would appoint as many as can with convenience, to meet at Dartford, the 23. of this present January, being Lords day, and we shall confer with you about the Matters that concern your Peace, and common good and Freedom.  
We shall at present add no more but this, that to serve you, and our whole country in whatsoever concerns its common peace and well far, is, and always shall be, the desire and joy of  
Your most Faithful Friends and Servants which came from London from many other friends upon this Service, 

john Lilburn.  
Wildman.  
john Davies.  
Richard Woodward.   Dartford this 9 of jan. 1647.  
Well minded People,  
YOU who are apt to resolve and Act upon the bare consultation of your own unexperienced innocency, look to yourselves, there is a design upon you; you perhaps cannot believe, that this tenderness and trouble of Bowels professed, should tend to tear out your own; that these breathe after Justice should subject you to the worst Tyranny, and that these men are reducing the Kingdom into Atoms, while they cry out, and complain of Division; but a Poison is offered you in this sweet wine, and all these sugared words serve but to sweeten that Pill in your mouth, which will be bitterness in your belly; there is a book in the Bait, and all those seeming prudential directions in the close of this Letter, serve but to teach you how to destroy yourselves with the greatest dexterity and infallibility. The poison is in the middle, which (if you will take these State-Montebanks words) many honest people are resolved already to take, that is, To unite together in the Petition, and to prosecute the obtaining of it with all their strength; and they are determined, that now after so long waiting for justice, Peace, and Freedom, they will receive no deny all in these requests: Here's the second part of the 26 of july, to the same Tune to a syllable: There was a Petition, and so is here; there was an Union of the Rabble, so here must be an Union; there was an Horrid, and Barbarous force and violence; here must be a Prosecution with all their strength: The people of divers whole Counties solicited to be present at the delivery of it, and must be engaged to it by presubscriptions: Can this, all their strength, all this number, this determination to take no denial, be less than a War, or less than a forcing of the Legislative power? Be warned to take heed of such day's works as the 26 of july, it hath, and will cost some dear: Only the difference is, The Actors in this intended Rebellious and Treasonable force, in the judgement of these infallible Censors of Piety and Honesty, must be honest men: But if they be men so qualified, let them take heed of this Conspiracy, that they may continue so still, and let not those himble Presligiators juggle them into Sedition and Treason, before they consider whither they are going.  
The Truth is, you mean to stir up the people, and make yourselves the leaders; and then 'tis not one man alone that will be armed with Pisiol and Dagger. And it will not be then, either a Blue Ribbon in the Hat, nor a Petition in the Hand, that will be a sufficient defence to any of those, whose either Religion and Conscience, Wisdom and Judgement, Integrity and sense of Duty, or more large Estate, and desire to defend his propriety, shall have made them the object of your bevelling fury. But any one of those qualifications may make a man as guilty to you, as to write and read did those, who had the unhappiness of so much learning in the days of your Predecessors, jack Straw and his Associates.  
But let us examine your Petition itself, magnified, as Lilburn and Wildman affirm, by the greatest Malignants, for the most rational Peace they had seen, and which they persuade them by all means to promote, an acknowledgement of theirs to be specially noted, they have never yet been so zealous for the peace of the People, if it took not beginning from their suggestions, 'tis certainly promoted by their help. They also giving out that noman is more the Kings then Lilburn; And 'tis known to all, that while Lilburn was in the Tower, he still maintained a close Conversation and acquaintance with the principle dangerous men, and especially with David Jenkins, now a prisoner in Newgate for his Treasons. But if it be a Petition to the House, why is it Printed and Published to the people, before the presenting of it to the House? Is it to get the approbation of multitudes? What need of that? If what is asked be reasonable and just, and good for the public, it needs no other qualisication for its acceptance, nor arguments for its grant; though it were only the private suggestion of a single man: If it be not so, the Petitioners, though very many more than will own this, ought not to be gratisied with the wrong of all the rest. The whole judgement of the Kingdom, is in the judgement of the Houses; you can represent your own pressures, but not those of all the Kingdom, for you are not all the Kingdom. You may account that your pressure, which others, and as many as you, may judge their benefit; and the Houses trusted by all, must judge what is good for all.  

To the Supreme Authority of England, the Commons Assembled in Parliament.  
The earnest Petition of many Freeborn People of this Nation.  
SHOWETHS,  
THAT the devouring fire of the Lords wrath, hath burnt in the bowels of this miserable Nation, until it's almost consumed.  
That upon a due search into the causes of Gods heavy Judgements, we find 
a A●ns 5.9, 10 11 12. Micah 2 2.3. Micah 3.3 4 9.10.11.12. Habba 2.8.17 Joel 3.3  that in justice and oppression, have been the common National sias, for which the Lord hath threatened woes, confusions and desolations, unto any People or Nation; Woe (saith God) to the oppressing City. Zeph. 3.1.  
That when the King had opened the Floodgates of injustice and oppression 
b See the Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom, Decem. 1641. p. 5, 6, 7, 8 9 10, 11, 14, 15.  upon the people, and yet peremptorily declared that the people, who trusted him for their good, could not in, or by their Parliament require any account of the discharge of his trust; and when by a pretended negative voice 
c See the Kings Answer to the Parliaments Remonst. of May 19 1642. 1 part book Decla. page 254, 284, 285. See the Kings Answer to the Parl. Decla of May 26. 1642. page 298.  to Laws, he would not suffer the strength of the Kingdom, the 
d See the Ordinance for the Militia, Feb. 1641 1 book Decla. page 89, & pa. 96, 105 106. 114, 126, 175, 176, 182 243, 289, 292  Militia, to be so disposed of, that oppressions might be safely remedied, & oppressors brought to condign punishment, but raised a War 
e See the Parliaments Votes May 20, 1642 1 part Book Decla, 259, see also page 5●9, 576, 577, 580, 584, 617.  to protect the subvertors of our Laws and Libe ties, and maintain Himself to be subject to no account, even for such oppressions, and pursuing after an oppressive power▪ the Judge of the Earth, with whom the Throne of iniquity can have no fellowship, hath brought him low, and executed fierce wrath upon many of his ad●…r●nts  
That God expects Justice from those before whose eyes he hath destroyed an unjust generation. Zeph. 3.6.7. and without doing justly, and relieving the oppressed, God abhors fastings and prey s, and accounts himself mocked. Esa. 5 8.4 5, 6 7. Mic. 6.6, 7, 8.  
That our eyes fail with looking to see the Foundations of our Freedoms and Peace secured by this Honourable House, and yet we are made to depend upon the Will of the King, and the Lords, which were never chosen or betrusted by the People, to redress their grievances. And this Honourable House, which formerly declared, that they were the representative of all England, & betrusted with our Estates, Liberties and Lives, 1 part Book of Decla. 264.382. do now declare by their practice, that they will not redress our grievances, or settle our Freedoms, unless the King and the Lords will.  
That in case you should thus proceed, Parliaments will be rendered wholly useless to the People, and their happiness left to depend solely upon the Will of the King, and such as he by his Patents creates Lords; and so the invaluable price of all the precious English blood; spilt in the defence of our freedoms against the King, shall be embezzled or lost; and certainly, God the avenger of blood, will require it of the obstructors of justice and freedom. judges 9.24.  
That though our Petitions have been burned, and our persons imprisoned, reviled, and abused only for petitioning, yet we cannot despair absolutely of all bowels of compassion in this Honourable House, to an enslaved perishing people. We still nourish some hopes, that you will at last consider that our estates are expended, the whole trade of the Nation decayed, thousands of families impoverished, and merciless Famine is entered into our Gates, and therefore we cannot but once more assay to pierce your ears with our doleful cries for justice and Freedom, before your delays wholly consume the Nation. In particular we earnestly entreat:  
First, That seeing we conceive this Honourable House is entrusted by the People, with all power to redress our grievances, and to provide security for our Freedoms, by making or repealing Laws, errecting or abolishing Courts, displacing or plaecing Officers, and the like: And seeing upon this consideration, we have often made our addresses to you, and yet we are made to depend for all our expected good, upon the wills of others who have brought all our misery 
f See the Kings Decla. of the 12 Aug. 1642. 1 part book Decla. page 522, 526, 528, 548, & pa. 617.  upon us: That therefore in case this Honourable House, will not, or cannot, according to their trust, relieve and help us; that it be clearly declared; That we may know to whom, as the Supreme power, we may make our present addresses dresses before we perish, or be enforced to fly to the prime Laws of nature 
g See 1 part book decla. pa. 44.150, 382, 466, 637, 699,  or refuge.  
2. That as we conceive all Governors and Magistrates, being the ordinance 
h See Col. Nath. Fines his Speech against the Bishop's Canons, made in 164●, in a book called Speeches and Passages of Parliament, from 3 Nove. 1640. to June 1641, page 50.51, 52.  of m●n, before they be the ordinance of God, and no Authority being of God, but what is erected by the mutual consent of a People: and seeing this Honourable House alone represents the People of this Nation, that therefore no person whatsoever, be permitted to exercise any power or Authority in this Nation, who shall not clearly and confessedly, receive his power from this House, and be always accountable for the discharge of his trust, to the People in their Representers in Parliament: If otherwise, that it be declared who they are which assume to themselves a power according to their own Wills, and not received as a trust from the People, that we may know to whose Wills we must be subject, and under whom we must suffer such oppressions, as they please, without a possibility of having justice against them.  
3. That considering, that all just Power and Authority in this Nation, which is not immediately derived from the People, can be derived only from this Honourable House, and that the People are perpetually subject to Tyranny, when the jurisdiction of Courts, and the Power and Authority of Officers are not clearly described, and their bounds and limits 
i See your Remonstrance of the state of the kingdom, book decla. pag, 6, 8 See also the Acts made this Parliament, that abolished the Starchamber and Hig● Commission.  prefixed; that therefore the jurisdiction of every Court or judicature, and the Power of every Officer or Minister of justice, with their bounds and limits, be forthwith declared by this honourable House; and that it be enacted, that the judges of every Court, which shall exceed its jurisdiction, and every other Officer or Minister of justice, which shall intermeddle with matters not coming under his (ognizance, shall incur the forfeiture of his, and their whole estates And likewise, that all unnecessary Courts may be forthwith abolished; and that the public Treasury, out of which the Officers solely aught to be maintained, 
k See the Statute of Westmin. 1, made 3 Edw. 1 chap. 26, & 20 Edw. 3, 1, and the Judge's oath made in the 18 Edw. 3, Anno 1344, recorded in Pultons' collections of statutes, fol. 144,  may be put to the less Charge.  
4. That whereas there are multitudes of Complaints of oppression, by Committees of this House, determining particular matters, which properly appertains to the Cognizance of the ordinary Courts 
l See the 29, chap of Magna Charta, and Sir Ed. Cooks ezpo sition upit, in his 2, part instit. fol. 187, and the Petition of Right,  of justice; and whereas many persons, of faithful and public spirits, have been, and are daily molested, vexed, Imprisoned by such Commits, sometimes for not answering Interroga ories, and sometimes for other matters, which are not in Law Criminal; and also without any legal warrants expressing the cause, and commanding the Jailor safely to keep their bodies, until they be delivered by due course 
m See the Petition of right made in the 3 of the King, & Sir Edward COOKS 2 par, insti. fol. 52, 53, 589, 590, 591.  of Law; And by these oppressions, the persons and estates of many are wasted, and destroyed: That therefore henceforth, No particular cause, whether Criminal or other, which comes under the Cognizance of the ordinary Courts of justice, may be determined by this House, or any Committee thereof, or any other, then by those Courts, whose duty it is to execute such Laws as this honourable House shall make; and who are to be censured by this House in case of injustice: Always excepted, matters relating to the late War, for Indemnity for your Assisters; and the exact Observation of all articles granted to the adverse 
n See Psal 15, 4 See Rom 4, 15  Party: And that henceforth, no Person be molested or Imprisoned by the will or arbitrary powers of any, or for such Matters as are not Crimes, [o] according to Law: And that all persons Imprisoned at present for any such matters, or without such legal warrants as abovesaid, upon what pretence, or by what Authority soever, may be forthwith released, with due reparations.  
5. That considering it s a Badge of our Slavery to a Norman Conqueror, to have our Laws in the French Tongue, and it is little less than brutish vassalage to be bound to walk by Laws which the People 
p See the 36, Edw. 3, 15, 80 1 Co●. 14 7, 11 16, 19, 23 See also the English Chronicles, in the Reign of Wil the Conqueror.  cannot know, that therefore all the Laws and Customs of this Realm, be immediately written in our Mother's Tongue 
q See Deut 30, 12, 13, 14.  without any abreviations of words, and the most known vulgar hand, viz. Roman or Secretary, and that Writs, Processes, and Enroulments, be issued forth, entered or inrouled in English, and such manner of writing as aforesaid.  
6. That seeing in Magna Charta, which is our Native right, it's pronounced in the name of all Courts, That we will sell to no man, we will not deny, or defer to any man either Justice or Right, notwithstanding we can obtain no Justice or Right, neither from the common ordinary Courts or Judges, nor yet from your own Committees, though it be in case of indemnity for serving you, without paying a dear price for it; that therefore our native 
r See Sir Ed. Cook in his 1 part insti. lib. 3 chap 13, Sect, 701, fol, 3●8, where he positively declares it was the native & ancient Rights of all Englishmen, both by the Statute & Common Law of England, to pay no Fees at all to any Administrators of justice whatsoever. See also 2 part insti. fol, 74, 209, 210, and 176, and he there gives this Reason, why Judges should take no fees of any man for doing his office, because he should be free, and at liberty to do justice, and not to be fettered with golden fees, as fetters to the subvertion or suppression of truth and justice.  Right be restored to us, which is now also the price of our blood; that in any Court whatsoever, no moneys be extorted from us, under pretence of Fees to the Officers of the Court, or otherwise: And that for this end, sufficient salaries or pensions be allowed to the judges, and Officers of Courts, as was of old, out of the common Treasury, that they may maintain their Clerks and servants, and keep their Oaths uprightly; wherein they swear to take no mon●y o● , or other rewards except meat and drink, in a small quantity, besides what is allowed them by the King; and this we may with the more confidence claim as our Right, seeing this honourable House hath declared, in case of Ship-money, and in the case of the Bishop's Canons that not one penny, by any power whatsoever, could be levied upon the people, without common consent in Parliament, and sure we are that the Fees exacted by judges, and Clerks, and jailors, and all kind of Ministers of justice, are not settled upon them by Act of Parliament, and therefore by your own declared principles, destructive to our property; 
s See the Articles of high treason in our Chronicles against judge Tresilian, in Rich. the seconds time.  therefore we desire it may be enacted to be death for any judge, Officer, or Minister of justice, from the highest to the lowest, to exact the least moneys, or the worth of moneys from any person whatsoever, more than his pension or salary allowed from the Common Treasury. That no judge of any Court may continue above three years.  
7. That whereas according to your own complaint in your first Remonstrance of the 
t See 1 part book decla. p. 9  State of the Kingdom, occasion is given to bribery, extortion and partiality, by reason, that judicial places, and other Offices of power and trust, are sold and bought: That therefore for prevention of all injustice, it be forthwith enacted, to be death for any person or persons whatsoever, directly or indirectly, to buy, or sell, or offer, or receive moneys, or rewards, to procure for themselves or others, any Office of power or trust whatsoever.  
8. Whereas according to justice, and the equitable sense of the Law, Goals and Prisons ought to be only used as places of safe custody, until the constant appointed time of trial, and now they are made places of 
u See Sir Edward Cook 1 part Insti. lib. 3 Cham 7. sect. 438 fol. 260. who expressly faith, that imprisonment must be a safe custody, not a punishment; and that a prison ought to be for keeping men safe, not to punish them See also 2 par. instit. fol 589.590.591.  torment, and the punishment of supposed offenders, they being detained many years without any Legal trials: That therefore it be enacted that henceforth not supposed offender whatsoever, may be denied his Legal trial, at the first Sessions, Assizes, or Goal delivery, after his Commitment 
w See the Statute of the E. 3.2. 12 R. 2.10.  and that at such trial, every such supposed offender be either condemned or acquitted.  
9 Whereas Monopolies of all kinds have been declared by this honourable House, to be against the Fundamental Laws of the Land, and all such restrictions of Trade, do in the consequence destroy not only Liberty but property: That therefore all Monopolies whatsoever and in particular that oppressive Company of Merchant Adventurers be forthwith abolished, and a free trade restored, and that all Monopolizers may give good reparation to the Commonwealth, the particular parties who have been damnified by them, and to be made incapable of bearing any Office of power, or trust, in the Nation, and that the Votes of this House Novemb. 19 1640. against their sitting therein, may be forthwith put in due execution.  
10. Whereas this House hath declared in the first Remonstrance of the 
x See 1 part book decls. pa. 14.  State of the Kingdom, that Ship-money, and Monopolies, which were imposed upon the people before the late War, did at least amount to 1400000 l. per annum, and whereas since then, the Taxes have been double and triple, and the Army 
y See the Armies last Representation to the House.  hath declared that 1300000 l. per annum, would completely pay all Forces and Garrisons in the Kingdom, and the Customs could not but amount to much more than would pay the Navy; so that considering the vast sums of moneys, raised by imposition of money, the fifth and twentieth part, Sequestrations, and Compositions, Excise, and otherwise, it's conceived much Treasure is concealed: that therefore an Order issue forth immediately from this Honourable House, to every Parish in the Kingdom, to deliver in without delay to some faithful persons, as perfect an account as possible, of all moneys Levied in such Town, City, or Parish; for what end or use soever, since the beginning of the late War, and to return the several receivers names, and that those who shall be employed by the several Parishes in every Shire or County, to carry in those accounts to some appointed place in the County, may have liberty to choose the receiver of them, and that those selected persons by the several Parishes in every County or Shire, may have liberty to invest some one faithful person in every of their respective Counties or places, with power to sit in a Committee at London or elsewhere, to be the General Accomptants of the Kingdom, who shall publish their Accounts every month to the public view, and that henceforth there be only one Common Treasury where the books of Accounts may be kept by several persons, open to the view of all men.  
11. Whereas it hath been the Ancient Liberty of this Nation, that all the Freeborn people have freely elected their Representers in Parliament, and their Sheriffs and 
z 28. Edw. 1 Chap. 1.8. and 13. See 2 part instit. fo. 174.175 where Sir Ed. Cook positively declares that in ancient times by the common law of England, the Coroner, the high Sheriff, justices of Peace, Verderors of Forests yea and in times of war, the leaders of the Counties soldiers, were chosen in full county by the freeholders.  justices of the Peace, etc. and that they were abridged of that their native Liberty, by a Statute of the 8. H. 6.7. That therefore, that Birthright of all English men, be forthwith restored to all which are not, or shall not be legally disfranchised for some criminal cause, or are not under 21 years of age, or servants, or beggars; and we humbly offer, That every County may have its equal proportion of Representers; and that every County may have its several divisions, in which one Representer may be chosen, and that some chosen Representatives of every Parish proportionably may be the Electors of the Sheriffs, justices of the Peace, Committee-men, Grand-jury men, and all ministers of justice Whatsoever, in the respective Counties, and that no such minister of justice may continue in his Office above one whole year, without a new 
a It hath been a maxim amongst the wisest Legislators that whosoever means to settle good Laws, must proceed in them with a sinister, or evil opinion of all mankind; and suppole that who soever is not wicked, it is for want of opportunity, & that no State can be wisely confident of any public minister continuing good longer than the Rod is over him.  Election.  
12. That all Statutes for all kind of Oaths, whether in Corporations, Cities, or other, which ensnare conscientious people, as also other Statutes, enjoining all to hear the Book of Common Prayer, be forthwith repealed and nulled, and that nothing be imposed upon the consciences of any to compel them to sin against their own consciences.  
13. That the too long continued shame of this Nation, viz. permission of any to suffer such poverty as to beg their bread, may be forthwith effectually remedied: and to that purpose that the Poor be enabled to choose their trusties, to discover all Stocks, Houses, Lands, etc. which of right belong to them, and their use, that they may speedily receive the benefit thereof; and that some good improvement may be made of waste Grounds for their use; and that according to the promise of this honourable House, in your first Remonstrance, care be taken forthwith to advance the native commodities of this Nation, that the poor may have better wages for their labour; and that Manufactures may be increased, and the Herring-fishing upon our own Coasts may be improved for the best advantange of our own Mariners, and the whole Nation.  
14. Whereas that burdensome Tax of the Excise lies heavy only upon the Poorer, and most ingenious industrious People, to their intolerable oppression; and that all persons of large Revenues in Lands, and vast estates at usury, bear not the least proportionable weight of that burden, whereby Trade decays, and all ingenuity and industry is discouraged: That therefore that oppressive way of raising money may forthwith cease, and all moneys be raised by equal Rates, according to the proportion of men's estates.  
15. That M. Peter Smart, Doctor Leighton, M. Ralph Grafton, M. Hen. Burton, Doctor Bastwick, M. William Prinne, Lievt. Conell john Lilburne, the heirs and executors of M. Brewer, M. john Turner, and all others that suffered any cruelty, or false illegal imprisonment, by the Star-Chamber, the high Commission, or council-board, as M. Aederman Chambers, and all others that suffered oppression before the Parliament, for refusing to pay illegal imposts, customs, or Shipmoney, or yield conformity to Monopolising Patentees, may (after 7. years' attendance for justice and right) forthwith by this House receive legal and just reparations out of the estates of all those without exception, who occasioned, acted in, or procured their heavy sufferings, that so in future Ages men may not be totally discouraged to stand for their Liberties and Freedoms, against Oppressors and Tyrants.  
16. Whereas we can fix our eyes upon no other but this honour able House for relief in all these our pressing grievances, until we shall be forced to despair, we therefore desire, that the most exact care be had of the right constitutions thereof: And therefore we desire that all Members of this House chosen in their Nonage, may be forthwith ejected, and that all Votes for suspension of Members from this House may be forthwith put in execution; provided, that the House proceed either finally to expel them, that others may be elected in their stead, or they be restored to serve their Country: And likewise that all Lawyers who are Members of this House (by reason of their over-awing power over Judges of their own making) may wholly attend the people's service therein, and that every of them may be expelled the House who shall hereafter plead any cause before any Court or Committee whatsoever, during his Membership in this House: And we further desire, that every Member of this House may be enjoined under some great penalty, not to be absent above three days, without the express licence of this House, and not above one month without the licence of the place by which they are betrusted: And likewise that no Law may be passed, unless two third parts of all the Members of this House be present, and that the most speedy care be had to distribute Elections equally throughout the Nation.  
Now whereas the particular requests in our Peritions, are for the most part never debated in this House, but when we are at any time rightly interpreted in our meanings and intentions, we only receive thanks for our good affections, or promises that in due time our desires shall be taken into consideration, and by such delays our distractions are daily increased, and our burdens made more heavy; therefore we desire, that a Committee be forthwith appointed by this honourable House, who may be enjoined under some penalty, to sit from day to day, until they have debated every particular of our requests, and reported their sense of the justness and necessity of them to this House, that we may attend for an answer accordingly; and that a time be fixed when such a Committee shall make their report. And we further desire the same Committee may be invested with power to hear all our other complaints, and offer suitable remedies to this honourable House, and to bring in the Appeals of any persons from the judges at Westminster, to this honourable House, against their injustice, bribety, or illegal delay and oppression.  
Now O ye worthy trusties! let not your ears be any longer deaf to our importunate cries, let not our destruction be worse than that of Sodom, who was overthrown in a moment. Let us not pine away with famine and be worse than those who die by the sword. Oh dissolve not all Government into the prime Laws of nature, and compel us to take the natural remedy to preserve ourselves, which you have declared no people can be deprived of 
b See your Declaration of May 19 1642▪ 1 book dec. pag. 207. And your Declaration Nou. 1642. pa. 728. as also pa. 150.  Oh remember that the righteous God standeth in the congregation of the mighty, and judgeth among the gods, and saith, How 
c Psal. 82.1, 2, 3, 4.  long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked, defend the poor and fatherless, do justice to the afflicted and needy, deliver the poor and needy, and rid them out of the hands of the wicked,  
And your Petitioners shall ever pray, etc.   
'TIs indeed called a Petition, but the whole frame and matter of it is nothing else but a Calumny against those they seem to petition, charging upon their account all those Evils that are upon the Kingdom, and a great number more imaginary ones which they have created, and make men believe they are pressed with; and publish all this to the Kingdom, to render the Parliament odious to the People, to divorce their affections, and withdraw their assistance, without which, the Common Enemy know very well, they are not able to settle the peace and tranquillity of the Kingdom from foreign and domestic Force, and calm and compesce those civil and intestine aestuations, the remaining distempers of our late (almost mortal) Disease, (of which the motions of the Petitioners are a very consider able part) that thereby a fair way might be paved for a free and equal course of Law and Justice, (which is a fit means to preserve peace, then restore it) whose lower voice cannot be heard while the Drums beat, or the People tumultuate. It pursues that common and hateful Maxim, Calumniate boldly, something will stick. It runs in generals, which ever covers deceit: why descend you not to particulars? The Cries are loud against injustice, oppression, bribery, exacted, extorted Fees, and can you name no man that is guilty? You would make all the World believe you were in an iron furnace, and that the Kingdom were an Hell to its Inhabitants; and yet tell not who hurts you: But 'tis easier to calumniate then accuse, and yet to accuse, then to prove. Be not abused by them that serve their designs by you; Accuse no man falsely, though upon others informations; look upon the File in which false accusers march, and consider who may be like to the Leader. A good name is above riches, 'tis sooner taken away then restored: name those Oppressors you complain of, bring forth the matter and the proof, and then if you have not justice, you may have reason to complain. You complain of unnecessary Courts, and Courts exceeding the limits of their jurisdiction; you desire the one to be abolished, and the other to be limited; neither is here any particular: Hath not this Parliament taken away the Star-chamber, High Commission, all the Bishop's Courts, the Court of Wards? and are not all the jurisdictions of the other Courts well known? What have any of the Petitioners suffered by those Courts transgressing their limits? or what are the unnecessary Courts you mean? was it your modesty, or want of matter, that you omit particulars? Untruths are boldly affirmed upon hearsay; why are you silent in the things that press yourselves?  
A word or two to your Margin, and then the particulars of the Petition itself shall be a little touched upon. The Margin you have filled, with Authorities and Quotations of Magna Charta, Statutes, Comments on them, Declarations of etc. Speeches in Parliament; to what purpose serve these? Would you have the Parliament bound in their Parliamentary proceed by precedent Laws? Were not those Laws made by Parliament, and is it not the proper work of the Parliament, to repeal, as well as to make Laws? Else why do you desire in your twelfth Particular, to have the Statutes there mentioned repealed? Either put out your Margin, and deceive not the ignorant with a show of that which signifies nothing, or else reconcile it with your text; unless you mean to say, you will appoint the Parliament what Laws they shall repeal, and by what they shall govern themselves. If it be only to tell them what hath been done before, you may take notice, that there are these in that House, to which you address, that can as well tell what the Law new is, or heretofore was, without your Index, as they are able to judge what is necessary for the present, or for the future, without your advice or intimation. But you would feign make the People believe, the Parliament neither have wisdom enough to know how, nor fidelity enough to make them willing to discharge their trust, unless you direct and incite them.  
The Petition is large; to give it an answer in proportion, were to write a volume, which few could buy, and fewer would read: and perhaps there is something of policy in the length, lest their seduced numbers should be satisfied by a just confutation. Yet because perhaps there are some among them of that sort of people, to whom a word is enough; therefore they may please to consider, 'Tis called only the Petition of many Freeborn people of this Nation; 'tis not then, by your own confession, of all, or of the major part: remember this, and be modest for once, act not as if you were all. But why many Freeborn People of this Nation? are there any Englishmen that are not Freeborn? why do you distinguish yourselves? what need of that Epithet, while you address to the House of Commons, who have asserted, and by the blessing of God upon the Counsels and Forces of the Parliament, vindicated the English Freedom from the Common Enemy, under the slavery of whom, by these your dividing distempers, and weak and out-witted designs, you seek to return, and carry the Kingdom with you.  
To give it the more Authority, the prefacing part of it is forced to speak Scripture; but not with the Idiom of the Spirit that wrote it, your Hebrew hath much of Ashdod, the breathe of that Spirit are purity and peace; and the fruits of that Spirit are love, joy, peace, and the rest of that Catalogue.  
You begin with a sad complaint, that the fire of the Lords wrath hath been among us, which must be acknowledged; and it may be justly conceived it is so still; what mean else the distempers of the people, that will not be healed, and the actings of division, together with the Cries for peace? But to say as you do, that it is almost consumed, were to lie against the truth, and sin against that mercy which he hath remembered in the midst of his wrath. This Kingdom hath found the effects of the rollings of his bowels, while it hath been under his chastising rod, that bush hath burned, but 'tis not consumed; and 'tis an evidence that God is in it. 'Tis true, in many places of the Land the scars of great wounds remain, but not as in Germany; the lands in England are not untilled for want of men, the thistles grow not in the furrows of the field, the Oxen are yet strong to labour, and the Sheep bring forth their thousands; if you had not intended an ill use of the complaint, the matter would have borne a mixture of thanks: but if seems you had rather God should lose the praise of his mercy, than you would omit this Engine, to move the People to murmur and discontent.  
'Tis true, that for injustice and oppression God hath threatened woes, confusion and desolation to any People or Nation; but if your search had been as due as you affirm it was, you might have found other besides those, which you may light upon perhaps, if you would make a review. It is not to be denied, that oppression and injustice cause loud cries to heaven, only remember justice is to render to every one his own, and not to do to another what you would not should be done to you.  
The rich may be oppressed as well as the poor, propriety is to be preserved to all: and a poor man that oppresseth the poor, is like a sweeping rain that leaveth no food.  
You observe the King's oppressions and how God hath brought him low, and executed fierce wrath upon his adherents. Why will ye suffer yourselves to be abused by those adherents, into those dividing destructive courses whereby you contribute directly to the restoring of the King's affairs; you are acted by his Counsels, and you will not see it, and every man shall be the Enemy of the people that tells you of it, and if his party shall again get head to the endangering of the Kingdom, which God forbidden, thank your own petulant importune and unseasonable interpellations of those Counsels, by which through the blessing of God, your deliverance had been perfected, if yourselves had not hindered; can you believe the King's Counsels are changed? or that he wants a party waiting an opportunity to bring that upon you which you fear and complain of? why do you then give them hope and the Parliament work, who have yet so much to do to preserve the vitals and recover strength, that they cannot attend to prescribe a topike to cure the Morphew on the face? trust them with your cure, and allow it time, overhasty ones prove palliate one's, and not sound. It is the Patient's part to declare his grief, and take his Physic, but he must let the Physician write the Recipe, if he desires the cure should succeed.  
That your Petitions were burned, and yourselves imprisoned only for petitioning, serves to irritate and enrage those whom you have misled and deceived, a Petition may well deserve to be burned and the Petitioners punished, if the matter be unjust, false, scandalous, seditious, read over some of your old copies, and see if there be none of those faults, 'tis true, it is your liberty to Petition, and it is also your duty to acquiesce in the Parliaments judgement upon it; a Petition is to set forth your grievances, and not to give a rule to the Legislative Power, if you mean it shall be an Edict, which you must compose, and the Parliament must verify, call it no more a Petition.  
You say your Estates are expended, how come you then to lay Contributions upon yourselves for the promoting these destructive designs? is that the way to reimburse yourselves? or is it to enable you to fly to the prime laws of nature for refuge? your Margin will teach the Legislative Power to suspect you, and that if you be not wicked, it is because perhaps you may not have opportunity or strength enough, which it will be therefore their care to prevent: and however perhaps it may be true, that these sad troubles have caused some diminution in your Estates, yet if you had used as much diligence since in your own callings, as you have done in those you less understand, and had let out the current of your thoughts, which have been misemployed about Politics, to the Oeconomy of your families, the account of loss had not run so high, and your private reflections (if ever you assume the trouble of viewing yourselves) had embraced you with the smiles of a sweeter peace with him, and your actions abroad had less procured the guilt of others.  
Thousands of families you say are improverished, and merciless Famine is entering into your Gates, and therefore You will once more essay to pierce their ears with your doleful cries for Justice and freedom, before the Parliaments delays consume the Nation. What justice, what freedom is it you mean▪ Which of all the particulars in your Petition being granted, will be able to turn this famine you so aggravate, into a plenty? what an odious aspersion is this, to lay upon the Parliament, to make them hateful to all men? To tell the World in Print, That there is something in their power (for otherwise you say nothing) that they delay, whereby this Dearth and Famine, as you call it, is upon the Kingdom? Have you learned this from those of old? That whenever Famine, Pestilence, or any publicker calamity, invaded the World from the just hand of God, then to cry out, Throw the Christians to the Lions, attributing to them the cause of all, as you do now to the Parliament. Do you not know that the unseasonable seedtime in 1646. and the unkindly Spring following, might well cause a Dearth, which is not yet in England, (through the mercy of God) as it is in other places? And do you think it is in the power of the Parliament to give a Law to the Heavens, to restrain the Pleyades, or lose Orion, to give or withhold rain? can the Parliament make windows in heaven, or create a plenty? Why do you say you care not what, and abuse the people without blushing?  
Your large Petitory part in 16 Articles, might well receive a very short Answer, That it offers many things as grievances that are removed, desires many things that are already granted, of which you will take no notice, that you may multiply the Odium, mistake the present state of things, as if all were an unformed matter, or abrasa tabula fitted for the projection of a new model, or for the compiling of a new body of Laws.  
He that will build a City upon a Plain, hath the place obedient to his projections, and succeptible of any form; And if he be not prejudiced by foreign extrinsical observations, to which he will conform his lines, he may exemplify the best Ideas his mind offers him: But he that would re-edify or beautify an old one, will meet with many things that will not submit to pure technicall rules; And where it will not, it is not presently to be pulled down, or set on fire. Rome had a greater beauty and uniformity as it was built by its first Kings, then after the Burning by the Gauls, and Rescue by Camillus, where each man built as it was most Commodious for him, and not as it was most comely, or convenient for the whole: And yet Catiline and his Complices were judged Traitors for designing to burn it, and it was only becoming Nero to put it into flames.  
The dispute is not now of what is absolutely best if all were new, but of what is perfectly just as things now stand: It is not the Parliaments work to set up an Utopian Commonwealth, or to force the people to practise abstractions, but to make them as happy as the present frame will bear. That wise Lawgiver of old, acknowledged that he had not given his people the Laws that were absolutely best, but the best they were able to receive. The perfect return of health after sickness, is to be left to nature and time; he that will purge his body, till there remain nothing peccant, will sooner expel his life, than the cause of his sickness. And he that out of a desire to repair his house, shall move all the foundations, will sooner be buried in the ruins of the old, then live to see the erection of a new structure.  
1. You forget that universal rule of Justice (to do as you would be doneby) which is not only one of those con-nate and common Notions which are written in the hearts of all, which every one capable of reason, and under wrong, can quote from that internal writing, though he that infers the injury, will not: And it is given also as a Compendium of the Law, and an Universal rule of Christian Practice, by him who is the one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy; To whose Commands and Dictates, whoever will profess contradiction, and pursue a contumacious disobedience, is more worthy the name of a Renegado then a Christian.  
Upon forgetfulness of this rule it is, that you would by force spoil the Lords of their part of the Legislative power, which they hold by a claim of an older date than any of the Petitioners can show for their Land: Ask yourselves the question, Would any of you be content to be disseized of his Land, to which he can derive a title, or prescribe to for so long a time? And your contumelious expression of Patent Lords might have been spared, seeing the Houses have resolved that none shall be made Peers of Parliament hereafter, but by consent of both Houses, whereby your Representors and trusties have a Negative voice against any such Creation for the future? Were it not to enlarge this particular beyond what is intended for the rest, you might be informed, That there were Princes of the people, and heads of the Tribes, amongst the Israelites; and the f rst choice of them, when they were new come up out of Egypt, and were then receptive of any form, was not by the people, but by Moses; and as it is express of the Priesthood, so it is evident in the rest of the Tribes, that the first of the first line was still Prince of the Tribe.  
And the longest lived, best governed, most Potent and flourishing Commonwealths that ever the sun saw, have always had their Orders of Nobility or Patricians, in succession from Father to Son, preserved with a kind of Religion in a clear distinction from the people: Those two of Old Rome, while a Commonwealth; And Venice at present, are known Examples. But this particular with divers others concerning Government, require a fuller Tractate than this occasional glance.  
2. Secondly (besides their right) there is at least a very great conveniency, if not a necessity, that the Legislative power should be in several and distinct bodies for the review of what might else be perhaps at first overseen: There is scarce any man but finds, that revising in the morning his evenings conceptions, he meets with something or other to be added or altered.  
3. Are not all Officers and Ministers of justice, and all other Civil Officers, all military Officers both by sea and land, chosen, and put into their places, by both Houses of Parliament, wherein, as in all other things, the Commons have a Negative Vote?  
4. Is not there a Committee that hath been a good while since appointed to receive Informations of grievances, and propound them with remedies to the House? What address have you made to them? Have they refused to take your Informations? Why do you complain before you have been refused redress?  
5. You complain of the imprisonment of faithful and public spirits, for matters not criminal, and would have no imprisonment to be but for crimes, according to Law. But are there not some actions in these unsettled times that may deserve a punishment, for which no former Law hath explicitly provided any? You would have no man kept in prison longer, than till he be delivered by due course of Law. You know there are two ways of delivery by due course of Law; And he that hath deserved the one should not complain he is still a Prisoner; And for what is a Crime, the party guilty is no Judge; it cannot be denied, that as the Parliament is the supreme Judge, so it is the most competent; and if they Judge it necessary, that seditious Incendiaries should be restrained, for the Peace of the Kingdom, must they give an account to the Delinquents of the reason of their Actions?  
6. You would have the Laws in our known tongue, and all writings and proceed in the present known hands; they have been so heretofore; What are you now the better for it? Which of you understand the Saxon Laws, written in the then vulgar tongue? And the Norman-French, though not then Nationall, yet was very generally understood. And if most of the Petitioners shall look upon the language of two or three Centuries past, they will meet with so many words they understand not, as will disable their understanding of the sense of those they do. And if those which are in other tongues, were in English, there were a possibility you might mistake them, as well as you do those that already are so. And if there should be a disuse in the Courts, of writing those hands which now are obsolete to vulgar use, the reading of those hands might in time come to be lost, and thereby a loss of all the Records that are written in them.  
7. If any shall deny to do you Justice, according to Magna Charta, unless he may sell it, why do you not accuse the man? Strike not through all by such obliqne insinuations, but let the guilty bear his shame and punishment. You might have taken notice, that the Parliament hath doubled the salaries of the Judges: but to pay all ministerial Officers from the public Treasury, were to waste the State's treasure to maintain the quarrels of the contentious against them that are peaceable.  
8. You would have no Judge continue for above three years; What shall he do the rest of his life? Were not this to put them upon the temptation of the unjust Steward? You will say he may return to private practice at the Bar again. Will any of you when he hath set up for himself for the space of three years, be content to serve journeyman for the rest of his life? If it be so comely or easy a matter, Why did Lieutenant Colonel Lilburn refuse the Command of a Troup of Horse offered him in the Army of Sir Thomas Fairfax, because he had the title of a Lieutenant Colonel before, And would not accept of less than a Regiment? Consider who they are that bind heavy burdens for other men, and grievous to be borne, but themselves will not touch them with one of their fingers.  
9 For the buying of Offices; suppose both parties agreed, yet he must have a large purse who can buy of a Parliament, and 'twill be hard where so many must be bribed to be secret in all.  
10. For that speedy trial of offenders; your desire may interferre with Justice, matter cannot be always presently proved, Will you free a man accused of murder done the day before the Assizes, because that which hath vehement presumptions, cannot have a legal Evidence till some days after.  
11. The Monopolies you so much complain of are condemned by Law, You may take your course against any, and no man can hinder you. If there be any Monopoliser in the House, why do you not declare it to the House, and prove it? Have they not formerly put out some for that offence? if there be none there, that piece might have been spared.  
12. You complain, That the Members of the House of Commons are chosen only by Freeholders', and not by all the freeborn people of the Kingdom. If you conceive it be an Injury to all the rest, that they are chosen only by Freeholders', Consider seriously, and then tell Us, whether it be not an injury to all the rest, that they so chosen must be directed and ordered by you. Tell the world how you came by your Privilege, To make a Collection of such as this is, of some things good; with a mixture of divers mistakes in the rest, and then magistically obtrude it upon the House, presently to pass and confirm, the highest affront to the Legislative power, and the highest injury to your freeborn fellows that can be well imagined.  
13. You take notice of the shame of the Nation, by the begging of the poor, and it is undeniably a great one, and Peace being settled, the remedy of it were one of the most desirable things to be undertaken, and this Kingdom wants not materials for industry, and there is not any doubt, that the encouragement of fishing in this Kingdom, might produce it a profit of exceeding value; but do You not know that the Parliament hath had so hard a task to preserve the Land, that they have had no time left to improve those advantages of the Sea? neither can they give industry to men, which if any will exercise in it, they may be sure of all acceptation. And certainly that, and divers other things for the good of the Kingdom have been thought upon by the Parliament (though you would feign have the world believe they mind nothing, unless You be their remembrancers) and had been in effect before this time, had not such consultations been diverted by the necessity of providing against these, and some other distempers. In the mean time, till care can be taken for prevention of beggary, increase not their number by the addition of yourselves; neglect not your Callings, forbear your clandestine Contributions, You may perhaps thrive in your own way, but your unhappy and ill advised Statizing will ruin yourselves, and hath a natural tendency to the ruin of the Kingdom.  
14. You complain of the heavy burden of the Excise, and there again you pretend to be the Advocates of the poor, but in nothing are you more the King's Attorneys, That standing and constant Revenue being that, which of all others with great est ease, supplied the Exigencies of the War when it was hottest, and contributed most to the breaking of the Enemy. Every thing must serve to heighten your discontent, and to stir up the ignorant people. Otherwise 'tis obvious enough to every discerning eye, that as 'tis least grievous of all other ways, because it passeth from a man unseen, so it cannot but be most Equal, because every man is in a sort his own assessor, it being in his own power by his frugality, to reduce it to as small a sum as he please, the greatest burden of it lying upon things not necessary, less necessary, or, if necessary, yet there in such a proportion, as those which are for the use of the richer sort have the greatest imposition, there being nothing but only strong beer, wherein the poor seem to be touched, which for the too much abuse of it, and that even by the poor, it may justly afford something toward the maintenance of the public, while it is so deeply accessary to the undoing of many private persons. For that other, that it is the decay of Trade, and the discouragement of all ingenuity and industry, You may, if you will but send some of your Emissaries into the united Provinces, be informed there, That that people could never find a foundation of money for those vast charges they were forced to be at, to defend themselves from those who tyrannised their Liberties, and to settle the free State they have since managed, till they had fallen upon the Excise; And that notwithstanding it, their Trade is so grown upon them since, that they have in a great measure engrossed it from the rest of Europe, and yet have little matter to raise it upon, but their Industry, which is not so discouraged by the Excise, but it produceth that effect, and were worth our Imitation; but there was but a word intended, If 'ttwere necessary, there is nothing more easy than to justify this way of Levy by Excise, before all other ways whatsoever.  
15. You do very magisterially appoint the House how to regulate their Members, and especially those of the long robe, who by no means may exercise their calling, because they are called thither to serve the public; Other Gentlemen have their rents and profits come in without their own particular care, and they who have trades can drive them by their partners and servants, only these whose employments must be personal must needs suffer loss in their Estates, because they are Members. And what reason is there why a just Judge, who judgeth according to Law, and proceeds according to the rules of the Court, should be awed by, or afraid of, the person of any, though a Member of the House? for though that House be a judge of the judges, yet the Judge in his Court is Superior in that qualification to whosoever pleads at his Bar.  
Your Epilogue might have been spared; the first part of it, in regard the Committee You desire hath been long appointed, to whom any man hath Liberty to bring his grievances, and there is doubt they will be received, and their sense of the justness and necessity of them be reported to the House, though 'tis probable 'twill not please you concerning yours, unless it be your own sense also.  
Your second might be with more Justice retorted; Poor deluded people! When will ye begin to turn a deaf Ear to those who seduce you? When will you remember your duty, and come out of your dream, in which you have believed that you are all the people, and therefore supreme, and have arraigned all men in a suitable Style? Act not a part, dissemble not with Heaven, remember you are in the light and view of Omniscience; Complain not of Famine before you feel it, lest you provoke him that can send it. There is a difference between scarcity and Famine. God is the God of order, forbear to endeavour any further to dissolve all government into Confusion, lest you compel the Parliament to prevent it in your just punishment; Remember that God stands in your Clandestine Conciliables, as well as in the Congregation of the Mighty, and as he requires of Magistrates to defend the poor and needy, so he hath also forbidden to countenance a poor man in his cause.  
Together with this Petition, there was at the same time brought to the House of Commons, by Colonel Barlistead, another scandalous printed paper, of which two quires had been delivered to one Lazarus tindal, a private soldier of Captain Groomes Company, in the Regiment of the said Colonel, the papers were delivered to him, to spread among the soldiers of that Regiment, and that same person that delivered them, told him he should have one thousand of the large Petitions also, to disperse in that Regiment, so soon as they were reprinted, which they were about to do in a smaller letter, for the saving of charges. By which it appears that paper also springs from the same root with the foresaid Petition, of which it also takes notice, and helps to promote the same ends with it; and who ever shall put himself to the trouble to read them both, will find them speak the same Language, and discern the same spirit in them both; and is yet more evident by the latter clause of the first Marginal note, which were lilburn's words to a syllable, at the Bar of the House of Commons; And by that paragraph of the paper, which gins [have you not upon such pretences] etc. which were Wildmans' words at that meeting in Well-yard, which is mentioned in Mr. Marstersons relation, and at the Commons Bar; and by the last clause of the next paragraph, which were the words of Lilburn and Wildman, or one of them, at the Bar of the House of Commons, and are also to be found in the Petition itself, so as a very dim sight may discern it to be a Whelp of the same litter.  

❧ The mournful Cries of many thousand poor Tradesmen, who are ready to famish through decay of Trade.  
Or, The warning Tears of the Oppressed.  
OH that the cravings of our Stomaches could be heard by the Parliament and City! Oh that the Tears of our poor famishing Babes were bottled! Oh that their tender Mother's Cries for bread to feed them were engraven in Brass! Oh that our pined Carcases were open to every pitiful Eye! Oh that it were known that we sell our Beds and  for Bread! Oh our Hearts faint, and we are ready to swoon in the top of every Street!  
O you Members of Parliament, and rich men in the City, that are at ease, and drink Wine in Bowls, and stretch yourselves upon Beds of Down, you that grind our faces, and flay off our skins, Will no man amongst you regard, will no man behold our faces black with Sorrow and Famine? Is there none to pity? The Sea Monster draws out the breast, and gives suck to their young ones, and are our Rulers become cruel like the Ostrich in the Wilderness? Lament. 4.3.  
OH ye great men of England, will not (think you) the righteous God behold our Affliction, doth not he take notice that you devour us as if our Flesh were Bread? are not most of you either Parliament-men, Committee-men, Customers, Excise-men, Treasurers, Governors of Towns and Castles, or Commanders in the Army, Officers in those Dens of Robbery, the Courts of Law? and are not your Kinsmen and Allies, Colectors of the King's Revenue, or the Bishop's Rents, or Sequestratours? What then are your ruffling Silks and Velvets, and your glittering Gold and Silver Laces? are they not the sweat of our brows, & the wants of our backs & bellies?  
It's your Taxes, Customs, and Excize, that compels the Country to raise the price of food, and to buy nothing from us but mere absolute necessaries; and than you of the City that buy our Work, must have your Tables furnished, and your Cups overflow; and therefore will give us little or nothing for our Work, even what you 
* And since the late Lord Mayor Adam, you have put in execution art illegal wicked docree of the Common Council, whereby you have taken our goods from us if we have gone to the Inns to sell them to country men; and you have murdered some of our poor wives that have gone to Inns to finde country men to buy them.  please, because you know we must sell for moneys to set our Families on work, or else we famish: Thus our Flesh is that whereupon you Rich men live, and wherewith you deck and adorn yourselves. Ye great men, Is it not your plenty and abundance which begets you Pride and Riot? And doth not your Pride beget Ambition, and your Ambition Faction, and your Faction these Civil broils? What else but your Ambition and Faction continue our Distractions and Oppressions? Is not all the Controversy whose Slaves the poor shall be? Whether they shall be the King's Vassals, or the Presbyterians, or the Independent Factions? And is not the Contention nourished, that you whose Houses are full of the spoils of your Country, might be secure from Accounts, while there is nothing but Distraction? and that by the tumultuousness of the people under prodigious oppression, you might have fair pretences to keep up an Army, and garrisons? and that under pretence of necessity, you may uphold your arbitrary Government by Committees, etc.  
Have you not upon such pretences brought an Army into the bowels of the City? and now Exchange doth rise already beyond Sea, and no Merchants beyond Sea will trust their Goods hither, and our own Merchants convey their 
* The Merchants have already kept back from the Tower, many hundred thousand pounds, and no bullion is brought into the Tower, so that money will be more scarce daily.  Estates from hence, so there is likely to be no importing of Goods, and then there will be no Exporting, and then our Trade will be utterly lost, and our Families perish as it were in a moment.  
O ye Parliament-men hear our dying cry, Settle a Peace, settle a Peace! strive not who shall be greatest until you be all confounded. You may if you will presently determine where the supreme Power resides, and settle the just common Freedoms of the Nation, so that all Parties may equally receive justice, and enjoy their Right, and every one may be as much concerned as other to defend those common Freedoms; you may presently put down your Arbitrary Committees, and let us be Governed by plain written Laws, in our own Tongue, and pay your Ministers of Justice out of a common Treasury, that every one may have Justice freely and impartially.  
You have in your hands the Kings, Queens, and Prince's Revenue, and Papists Lands, and Bishops, and Deans, and Chapters Lands, and Sequestered Lands, at least to the value of eighteen hundred thousand pounds by the year, Which is at least five hundred thousand pounds a year more than will pay the Navy, and all the Army, and the Forces which need to be kept up in England and Ireland; and out of that the Kingdoms debts would be paid yearly; whereas now you run further into Debt daily, and pay one thousand pounds by the day at least for use Money. Besides you may if you will Proclaim Liberty, for all to come and discover to a Committee of disengaged men, chosen out of every County, one for a County, to discover to them what moneys and Treasure, your own Members, and your Sequestrators, etc. have in their hands, and you may by that means find many Millions of Money to pay the public Debts. You may find 30000. li. in Mr. Richard Darley's hand, 25000. li. in Mr. Thorpes hand 
* M. William Lenthall, Speaker of the House, to cover his cozenage, gave 22000 li. to his servant Mr. Cole, to purchase land in his own name, though for his use; which he did, and then died suddenly, and the land fell to his son, and the widow having married a Lawyer, keeps the land for the child's use, and saith he knows not that his predecessor received any money from the Speaker, and now Mr. Speaker sueth in Chancery for the land. A hundred such discoveries might be made. , a Member of Yours, who first Proclaimed Sir john Hotham Traitor. And thus you may take off all Taxes presently, and so secure Peace, that Trading may revive, and our pining, hungry, famishing Families be saved.  
And O ye Soldiers who refused to disband, because you would have justice and Freedom, who cried till the Earth echoed, justice, justice; forget not that cry, but cry speedily for Peace and justice, louder than ever. There is a large Petition of some pitiful men, that is now abroad, which contains all our desires, and were that granted in all things, we should have Trading again, and should not need to beg our Bread, though those men have so much mercy, as they would have none to cry in the Streets for Bread.  
Oh though you be Soldiers, show bowels of Mercy and Pity to a hungerstarved People; Go down to the Parliament, desire them to consume and trifle away no more time, but offer your desires for Us in that large Petition, and cry Justice, Justice; Save, save, save the perishing People; O cry thus till your importunity make them hear you.  
O Parliament men, and Soldiers! Necessity dissolves all Laws and Government, and Hunger will break through stone Walls; Tender Mothers will sooner devour You, than the Fruit of their own womb, and Hunger regards no Swords nor Canons. It may be so great oppressors intent tumults, that they may escape in a crowd, but your food may then be wanting as well as ours, and your Arms will be hard diet. O hark, hark at our doors, how our children cry Bread, Bread, Bread; and we now with bleeding hearts, cry once more to you, pity, pity an oppressed, enslaved People: carry our cries in the large Petition to the Parliament, and tell them, if they be still deaf, the Tears of the oppressed will wash away the foundations of their houses. Amen, Amen, so be it.   
It seems to be written by some of the Professors of Rhetoric in Newgate, or Ludgate, whose long practice of that kind of Oratory had made him as great a stranger to truth, as to blushing▪ The whole matter of it composed of so gross an hypocrisy, that it scarce deserves that name; mixed with impudence, and lies, of the same Genius with the Petition, boldly affirming in generals, and brins gnot forth one particular with proof. Where are those famishing babes? and where are those pining carcases? Why are they not brought forth to the view of some pitiful eye? You cry for pity, why show you not the object? Where are those faces black with sorrow and famine? Spend no longer your breath in vain, Let the famishing pined Carcases, those black faces be seen, the view gives a deeper impression than hearsay. If you be not of those that have said in their hrarts, There is no God, (though your paper abuse the repetition of that sacred Name) Remember that the all-seeing God beholds your hearts, and knows your distempers, murmur, and black designations as well as your wants, And sees with what a frontless boldness you affirm any thing, be the untruth never so notorious. The language looks more like the ebullition of wine than the cries of want.  
You complain of the rising of the Exchange abroad, that Merchants will not trust their goods hither, and our Merchants convey their Estates. And what is the reason think you they do so? (if the matter of fact be true) Why an Army is brought into the bowels of the City. Doth one Regiment of Horse, and one of Foot make an Army in your account? And is Whitehall, and the Mews, in the bowels of the City? The Parliament hath had a guard these five yares; when it was furnished from the City, and places within the lines, it was held a great grievance, And what security the Parliament had by it was evident on Monday the 26. of july last, when either by the Cowardice, or Compliance of the than guard, so horrid and dishonourable a violence was put upon the Houses by an inconsiderable Rabble of people. And what a danger to trade these Regiments are like to be, You might be able to judge, if you would but make an Estimate of the Millions the City suffered in, when the whole Army, whereof these Regiments are a part, marched in Arms through the City, upon the sixth of August, after they had been sufficiently irritated by some of the City: Yet you are not able to bring so much as a loaf of bread to the account of loss to the City by all their march, though the shops were open, and the market furnished.  
But you would feign use any pretence to remove these faithful forces, because you see as long as they are here, you will hardly be able to make use of your pistols and daggers, or to dissolve all Laws and Government, or to have recourse to the prime Laws of Nature. But indeed 'ttwere worth the enquiry, what it is that causes this great exporting of Estates, and that hinders all importation, 'tis certainly a disease that must needs destroy, though not in a moment. There hath been a good while a rumour of a pestilence that walketh in darkness; and hath been known to have infected some that frequent your meetings, and are accounted as your own; and this rumour is not a whispering, it hath spoken almost as loud as some of your Cries for bread, And 'tis the Doctrine of Parity or levelling, bringing all men's Estates to an Equality; A notion that Merchants, and men of great Trade, are as little edified with, as either the Lords are with being devested of their Honours, and part in the Legislative power, or other Gentlemen to part with their Lands, and therefore having so good means to put them out of your reach, which other men have not, may perhaps transport them, not willing their large personal Estates should come under your Distribution, from which there an be no recovery. And if you think that Merchandise be good for the Kingdom, and if you have any care of that good, you must consider how to satisfy Merchants, that you intent not to level; for their Trade runs such an hazard, and must be managed with such a diligence, and industry, as will hardly receive encouragement from your Utopian parity. And however the Crowd of those that follow you intent no such thing, but think these are ways to secure their own property; yet just suspicion is upon many of you, And 'tis not your bare denial will serve, good words will not satisfy. You know who said hail Master, when the salutation was a watchword. It might be thought there would be nothing of greater deferency and respect, than the address of your Petition in the superlative inscription, yet Lilburn told you at the meeting in Well-yard, that when you had once raised the spirits of the peaple, you would then force the House to grant what you ask. Confide not in your present intentions, remember Hazael. There is not the most clear and Candid soul amongst you that knows to what (now abhorred) actions he may be driven by the violence of the people, if that Sea shall once break over his banks, and 'twill not be then in their power to stop, but only is his that calmeth the Sea and rebuketh the raging of the people, who can say to both, hitherto shalt thou come and no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed. But to pass by all the rest, be persuaded to examine the truth of fact with a little more care when you compose your next seditious Harangue; You may take notice, how ill your intelligence hath been in this; It's possible indeed, much of the public money may be in Collectors, Receivers, and sequestrators hands, and it were a meritorious service to the Commonwealth to discover it, and would no doubt be of universal acceptance; but be sure you be rightly informed, accuse no man falsely, specially in print, 'tis against Charity, to which Grace no Christian should be a stranger. Bring the particulars and proofs to the House, that a course may be taken to bring that money in to supply the necessities of the Commonwealth, which are great; some pains taken to the purpose in this service, will be more worth than all your Petitioning. But for these particulars here produced, they are so fare from truth, as makes your whole paper suspected to proceed from the Father of lies. You say there is 25000. l. in Mr. Thorps' hands, a Member of the House of Commons. He was never appointed or authorised Treasurer, or Collector of any public moneys, either by the Parliament, or any Committee, or any others, nor ever received one penny of the public moneys. Mr. Richard Darley was indeed appointed to receive some moneys in the East riding of Yorkeshier, But he never received more themselves than sixty three pound or thereabouts, which was upon occasion of calling the Sequestrators of Beverly to account; At which time his Deputy receiver, Mr. Richard Thornton, being not there, he received it himself, and put it to account. All other moneys were received by his said Deputy, who hath from time to time paid out the same, according to such Orders as he received for that purpose. Mr. Darley knows not particularly what is at present in his Deputies hand, in regard he is here at London, attending his service in the House of Commons, and his Deputy is in Yorkeshier, neither yet can he tell whether he may not have already accounted with the Committee of the County; how ever he knows it cannot be any great sum, and the account for the whole is ready, when it shall be called for; And so is also the money remaining, when Order shall be given for it. But your famous mistake, is that of your margin concerning Mr. Speaker, The truth of which story upon through inquiry, instead of what you have Printed, is clearly thus, That Mr. William Lenthall Speaker of the House of Commons, never purchased Land, either in his own, or any other man's name since these troubles; neither did Mr. Cole purchase any for him; Mr. Cole died not suddenly, but of a Fever, and that after ten or twelve days sickness; his wife is still a widow, and not married either to Lawyer, or any other; there is no suit against her by Mr. Speaker, nor cause of any. You say an hundred such discoveries might be made as this latter, and indeed its true, they may be done with great ease, it is but to sit down and write an hundred particulars what comes upermost, taking only care there be never a true word in them, which the suggestor of this will easily enable you to do, and then there will be an hundred such discoveries made; but indeed he that would take pains to examine both your Petition, and this Paper, and had so little to do with precious time, as so to employ it, might find among your Complaints, Suggestions, & Calculations, some convenient number of truths of the same Complexion with these: But as you may know the Lion by his claw, so you may know the Devil by his tongue, he is a liar, and the Father of lies; and certainly this your mistaken confidence may be sufficient to command belief from such as are content to be deceived in all your Generals, for information in which, it is not credible you would take more care, then in these particulars, which both concerned the reputation of particular Gentlemen, and whereof the truth might be inquired out. But now how will you do these Gentlemen right in this, and give them reparations? perhaps your scandalous Paper, by the great diligence of yourselves, and Emissaries to spread them, may come to many hands where their just defence may not follow, and perhaps they may escape more proper uses, so as to remain when the Gentlemen shall be at rest, and be a black Epitaph upon their innocency, and an unjust and unworthy Blot upon their fair reputation. If any man shall after this be misled by these guides, it will not be an easy matter to undeceive him, but he is to be Pitied, as one of those who being fallen out with truth, is given up to strong delusions to believe a lie. Be yet advised not to feign a necessity, and hold out that as a Veil to your Resolution to dissolve all Laws of Government, it may confound propriety, and level Estates, the thing perhaps that some aim at: But it may cause a promiscuous mingling of blood too, and in such a confusion as you seek to introduce, it is not impossible you may lose your own in the Crowd. Call not up therefore more spirits than you know how to conjure down, yo●● Spells may fail you, there may be some have Pistols and Daggers, that neither care for your Spells nor you, nor your Petition neither. While you plot tragedies, and endeavour thus to bring them upon the Stage, take heed there enter not some who will neither take their Cuckoe from your Prompter, nor Act according to your Poet's design.  
We shall add no further trouble to the Reader, and indeed very much of this might have been spared, as to those who have their parts exercised to discern good and evil. The evil of this is so written, that they that run might read it, if prejudice did not blind them, if perhaps there be not also some that do not see, because they will not see; but because there are some, who in the simplicity of their hearts, have followed those Impostors, let them suffer themselves to make halt in this furious march, and a little to consider their leader, and then think whither they are going; let them take a measure of Lilburn by his books filled with falsehoods and bitterness▪ by his ingratitude to those who have obliged him, by that behaviour in the House of Lords, that wants a name; by the Pistol and Dagger he speaks of, by which murder was designed, which he calls a noble resolution; by his company, the most desperate Malignants; by their opinion of him, as being wholly the Kings; by all these Actions which tend to stir up the people, to force the power which your Petition acknowledgeth supreme, and thereby to dissolve all Government, and mingle all with ruin; then judge impartially, if this be the Character of a Christian, or a Bandito; of a man acted and guided by the Spirit of God, or moved and driven by the Devil: And think if it be becoming men professing Religion to be found in these ways. To be Religious is no more in despising forms then in adoring them, The power of it is in Conforming the will of man to the will of God, and in all the go out of that will either into affection, or action, with an unreserved resignation to give up the man to be guided still, by the eternal rule of truth and goddess, of which there is sufficient, and clearly enough laid down in the word of truth, for direction in all things to him that humbly seeks it of which You should have made more use in sincerity and humility to direct yourselves, and less in prevaricating and misapplying it with a spirit of bitterness, to make it serve for the language in which you would falsely accuse, not your brethren, but your confessed Superiors. Be persuaded to study to be quiet, and do your own business, to live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you; and leave the public affairs to those, to whom God and the Kingdom hath committed them; abuse not lenity, but make use of thus much for your fair retreat, and charge no more; nor undertake any further to practice till you be a great deal better studied in, and have more universal, comprehension of, that very important, and yet very little known art of Statizing.  
FINIS.