〈…〉 present Engagement in Defence of his country's Liberties, &c.  
●IR,  
I Think myself, and the Gentlemen and others you know to be now engaged with me, have no hopes by new Troubles to better our present condition; with thankfulness we may say it, God hath made our Lot larger than our Desires in that kind; and we suppose by that blessing, put an obligation upon us, as we are considerable Members of our country, to have more sober and courageous thoughts in time of extremity than other men have: And though the Indifference that lies upon other men's spirits might flat ours, yet we tannot think, but if it were represented to them, how the present Power doth oblige us to put out our right Eyes, when they require us to acknowledge them as a Parliament, and lay upon us such heavy and grievous burdens, and such deceitful ones, as a Years Tax in Three months, besides the many other Impositions of Excise, &c. And by raising among us a Militia, they cut off our right Hand, by subjecting us under the meanest and most fanatic Spirits of the Nation, under pretence of Protection; their spirits would be warmed into the same zeal and indignation that ours are kindled with. Now consider what it is we ask, and consider whether it be not the same thing we have asserted with our Lives and Fortunes? A Free Parliament: And what a slavery it is to our Understandings, that these men that now call themselves a Parliament, should declare it an act of Illegality and Violence in the late aspiring General Cromwell, to dissolve their Body in 1653. and not make it the like in the garbling the whole Body of the Parliament from 400 to 40, in 1648. What is this, but to act what they condemn in others? Why do they associate themselves to the present Army, or indeed to the present Commanders in chief, and keep out their numerous and fellow-Members, if committing Violence on a Parliament be so notorious a crime? And how do they teach the soldiers boldly to do that, which themselves practise, and make them Instruments of? What is this, but under another shape to act the condemned acts of Usurpation and Tyranny in their old General? What is this, but to necessitate men to complain? and upon Complaints, to be invaded by their power, so to raise (if the English Spirits be not dissolved into baseness and aptitude for Slavery) a Civil War, and to endeavour to water their own root with the blood of many thousands of their countrymen; or to gape after those Confiscations, which by a Victory, upon presumption of the unity of their Army, they hope to gain over all those that dare with danger assert their Liberties, (which presumption yet may fail them; for the soldier hath, and may declare himself, no Mercenary but an English Freeman; which indeed, thought it be now contrary to his actions, may return into his thoughts again:) And what will be the issue of all this? A mean and Schismatical party must depress the Nobility and Understanding Commons; the Land must waste itself, and foreigners, or others, must take the advantage of all. I dare say, I profess for myself, and the greatest part with me, we have no aspect but this singly, that we be not possessed, as Waste Ground is, only by the title of Occupancy, or that the next that gets into the Saddle ride us. Let the Nation freely choose their Representatives, and they as freely sit without awe or force of soldiery; and whatever in such an Assembly is determined, shall be by us freely and cheerfully submitted unto. If this satisfy you, I am glad of it, for you are my noble Friend. I use it not as an Artifice either to engage you, or to make other Counties follow our Example. Which if they do not, let their posterity judge their action and ours: For we were born for our country; and our country, our Religion and Laws are in danger, and we will not be unconcerned: But we are faithful and peaceful in the Land, and if they in Authority will decline hostility, and agree of a means to admit the old Members of both Houses, or to call a new Free Parliament, Let him be (and he only is truly) a Traitor, that resolves not his Judgement and Obedience into their Determinations. I am  
(SIR) Chester Aug. 2. 1659. Your humble Servant GEORGE BOOTH.