THE Deep Sighs and Sad COMPLAINTS OF Some late Soldiers in Captain needham's Troop, in Colonel HACKERS Regiment, for wanting of Justice and Judgement, To our Brethren and Fellow-bondslaves, who as yet are compelled to gather straw, and make up your tail of Brick, and hath no ease nor abatemant in your burdens, We do complain.  
We look for Justice but find Oppression, We wait for judgement, but behold a cry.  
DEar friends and Countrymen, you Commoners of England, whom we dearly love, and whose Freedom and Liberty we have long desired, and the Lord that knows the hearts of men, knows that we are yet free and willing to leave Father and Mother, Wife and Children, and all the estate that we have in the world, and to adventure our lives for your freedom, and truly of late we have had great hope that this year had been appointed of the Lord to be your year of lubile, which thoughts of freedom was no small joy to us, and that which caused our hopes was, that the Lord has put such an opportunity into the hands of the Army, who was the great power that then late at the Stern of England's affairs, and might at pleasure have taken of burdens and lose bands of wickedness, and have let the oppressed go free, which they did much pretend, and we hearing their fair pretences, could do no less but believe them, and we ourselves in our places which God had set us, being Members of the same Army, though the least belonging thereto, thought ourselves bound in conscience as far as we are able to help forward with the work, and considering that the first work to set about to do, for men that pretends themselves to be instruments of working out a Nations freedom, is to look into themselves, and amongst themselves, and there to try seriously whether they do lay any part of the burden upon the people, whose freedom they do pretend or no, and if upon Examination they sinned themfelves to be oppressors of the power in the least, or layers on of those heaburdens.  
I say, the first work they ought to do is, to remove that oppression wherewith they do oppress, and then they may proceed boldly to do as Moses did, when he saw one Israelite smite another, and seek the destruction one of another; use means to assuage their Tyranny, and bring down the Oppressor: so I say, we being bound in Conscience thus to do, looking in ourselves, and amongst ourselves, did find out the Acon, one Captain Needham, as we do conceive, that did disobey the Command of God, in not being content with his wages, for God commands all Soldiers whatsoever, to do violence to no man, and be content with their wages; but he like that covetous Acon did proceed to wrong his Masters, the Commoners of England, and the poor soldiers who served under his Command, and being right sensible of this his unjust dealing, one Thomas Fothergill a Soldier under his Command, having his spirit burdened with his and other men's unjust deal, could no longer forbear, but did proceed to exhibit these nineteen ensuing Articles, which I do commend to your judicious considerations.   

Articles exhibited by THOMAS FOTHERGIL against Capt. NEEDHAM, in Colonel HACKERS Regiment.  
Imprimis, that the said Captain mustered in his Troop Robert Lavender in October 1653. and received his pay who never was yet seen in the Troop.  
2. That the said Captain mustered Thomas Vasse in April and May 1653. Who was never yet seen in the Troop.  
3. That the said Captain mustered John Rumfard in April and May 53. who was never yet seen in the Troop.  
4. That the said Captain mustrea Jervis Price in Sept. 1651. who was with Charles Stuart at Worcester fight, and the said Jervis Price ran from his Colours, in October 51. and the said Capt mustered him four months after he was run away, as ●il appear in the Muster-roles.  
5. That the said Captain mustered, and suffered to be mustered William Stephenason the space of five months after he was run away from his Colours, and when orders came to reduce ten men out of a Troop, old soldiers were reduced, and the said William Stepheason was continued in the rolls.  
6. That the said Captain mustered John Ross a little Scotch Boy, who ran on foot after the Troop, and was not any way capable in doing a soldier's duty.  
7. That the said Captain contrary to the orders of the Army, mustered three servants of his own as soldiers in the Troop, and received pay for them, one of those servants being a child, not any way capable in doing a soldier's duty, and hath been mustered since November 1653. as will appear by the Muster-roles, and was never yet seen in the Troop.  
8. That the said Captain did reentertain George Hubbert, who was reduced out of the Troop for disobeying Command, and being drunk, and when the said Captain had orders to reduce all servants out of the Troop, he continued the said George Hubbert still in the Troop; and reduced an old soldier against whom he had no accusation,  
9 That the said Captain bathe detained the Pay of several soldiers above a year, as will appear by evidence.  
10. That the said Capt. when he quartered at Kinardy in Bamph-shire, he drunk so much Ale and strong waters, tell be was so drunk, that he could not find the way into his Chamber, though he had before quartered a long time in the house.  
11. That the said Captain left his Troop when we were in the highlands of Scotland, and came for England about the beginning of July, and hath not been with the Troop in all above twenty days since the aforesaid time.  
12. That the said Captain mastered Henry Hill and his man in April and May 1652. and received their pay, who never was as yet seen in the Troop.  
13. That the said Captain mustered Henry Eden and Ronland Scaife in March 1652, and when he had mustered them, he reduced them, and received their pay.  
14. Tat the said Captain mustered Thomas Fihther, Edward Morley, and Thomas Rigg in April 1652. and detained each man of fifteen shillings of the said Months pay, and the month of May next following, the Rolls being lost, the said Captain did affirm that the aforesaid men were mustrod in the said May: and caused the Clerk of the said Troop to pay him for each of the said men. one month's pay, which they never had, they being reduced before in April muster.  
15. That the said Captain in November 1651. having a drunken and a prophave person to be his servant, he being so sensible of his drunkenness, he could no longer for shame, for the satisfaction of the Troop, but reduce the said servant, and within three days after that he had cashiered him, he re-entertained and continues him him in the Troop almost a year, and received a soldiers Pay for him, notwithstanding the said servant still continued in his profaneness.  
16. That the said Captain being present with the Troop in September 1651. deprived John Lowes, an old soldier, and another ouldier of their muster pretending there was not Room, yet notwithstanding his pretence, mustered one Summerskill, and received his pay though he never was yet seen in the Troop, and further in October next after, his name being in the role, he was called at the Muster, the Golonells Clerk being there present, affirmed that he was mustered in their Troop, so upon that our Captain being absens our Lieutenant croffed him out of the rolls, as will appear by evidence.  
17. That the said Captain when we we●e called into the highlands of Scotland, had five or six servants, for which he received the States pay, besides a little Scotch boy which he mustered, whose employment was the leading of a dog, and the said servants did not perform duty; but was employed about his particular occasions.  
18. That the said Captain and another Gentlemen riding on the high way, and discoursing of some Gentlewomen, and at length pitching their discourse on a particular woman, the Captain said, O she is a pure creature, I wish I were in bed with her, the Gentleman judging his words very uncivil, reproved him, and said, why are you so vainly given? the Captain replied with a light answer, and said, are we not all Flesh.  
19 That the said Captain mustered Henry Hill and his servant mentioned in the twelfth Article upon the third of May 1652. when as orders was foes reducing of thirty men, notwithstanding the reducement, the said Hill and his man, continued in the rolls another muster, though never seen in the Troo●●●nd the said Captain received their Pay.   

These nineteen Articles is either confessed by the Captain, or otherwise punctually proved.  
ANd I desire you to take a little notice of the ninth Article of detaining of pay, the Article is but short, but much contained in it, for twelve several men did make it appear that he had defrauded them of their due; Now Friends, that which I desire you to take notice of, is, that there was a Court chosen by whom we know not, nor by what means this Court was procured, we know not, but it was not the usual Court by which others used to be tried; and whether they were chosen of purpose for some end or no, we know nor, but we have just cause to fear.  
And to say we had no justice, I do not, (neither dare I say it) but I leave it to your consideration, but this we proved, that Captain Needham mustered several men that was never seen in his Troop, and received pay for them, and mustered some four months after they run from their colours, and was gone to the Enemy, and he received pay for them, and the Cou●t did not find him guilty of the breach of that Article of war for false musters but did fine him twenty pounds for the fact. An unheard of thing by us; again we proved that he had kept from many of our Troop, several sums of money above a year and a half; and after the exhibiting of the articles, compounded with several men, payiog some twelve pounds fifteen shillings, and some less, and was not found guilty of that article of war for detaining of pay, but was judged blame worthy by the Court, and reproved for not counting with his soldiers, and paying to every man his due, and ordered to pay to every man what he could challenge, and desired him not to be ready again to stretch out his hand to draw to himself; So we leave it to men of abler judgement than we are to judge, whether we had justice done or no  
But dear friends, this is not all that we have cause to complain of, for here is more injustice offered unto us yet, nay, such as was never yet heard of, for since his, trial they have gone to the General informing against us, we know not what, but one thing we know, if for matter of fact, unjustly, for they have not any thing against us in the least, but that we brought these deed of darkness to light, and possibly they feared if we were suffered, that more of their base dealing would be brought to light, and so upon their information, the General hath granted an order to reduce (as they say) as many, and who they please, denying us absolutely of the privilege of the law under which we live.  
A sad story, and much to be lamented of all men, that men should pretend nations freedom, and say that God hath used them as instruments for the procuring of it and yet deny their fellow labourers of the privilege of a known law and severe, the which will take hold of a man for the least offence that may be, what shall we say in such cases, all that I have to say to you my friends the Commoners of England, cease you from man whose breath is in his own nostrils, and learn to wait upon the true and everliving God, who is that Moses that must lead you out of bondage, into that land of true rest and happiness, which if you do in faith, patience and obedience, you are sure to have your expectations answered, for though man fail us, yet he never failed those that waited on him.   

A WORD TO THE ARMY.  
OH gallant Army of England whom the Lord hath made valiant, and hath crowned with as much honour as ever was Army crowned with since the world began, and hath made the enemies of this nation flve before you with shame and confusion of face, and those was the Enemies of England which the Lord had a controversy with, whom he had formerly made great, and put power in their hands, and set over the people in this nation, to lead and to keep in safety and freedom, and without all doubt gave this command, both to King Charles, and the late Parliament, to take off heavy burdens, lose the bonds of wickedness, and let the oppressed go free; which command they disobeyed, and continued the poor oppressed people of this Nation in as much bondage and slavery as might be, so that the poor was forced with many sad groans to cry unto the Lord, and the Lord heard them, and without all doubt, his wrath was kindled against those unjust men, who had not obeyed his Command, and set his people free, but continued them in their bondage, and raised you up to bring them to confusion; well hath the Lord raised you up to do this great work, and made you instruments to pull down those great and mighty Powers, which in the eye of reason was invincible: Now I beleech you consider, whether the Lord hath put that power into your hands that was in theirs or no? now if it be in your power to lose the bands of wickedness and let the oppressed go free, oh do it! and than you are sure to be gloriour indeed, and crowned with more honour than ever, and shall eat the good things of the land, and the Lord will delight to dwell amongst you; but on the contrary, if you will be like the rest, and make your hearts far, and your ears heavy, and will not hear the cries of the poor oppressed of this nation, and bring them into that freedom which they have so long expected and waited for.  
Surely the Lord will have the same Controversy with you, that he had with those before you, who disobeyed his commaed, and if his wrath be once kindled, who shall be able to deliver you our of his hands? nay, though you be great and mighty, he can raise up poor contemptible creatures, to bring you down, and make you fall with as much shame as the rest. Therefore look about you, and work while it is called to day, lest a night befall you, in which you cannot work, and to will day overtake you at unawares, and then you be if reed to cry for help, when none will deliver you.  
Now my desire and prayer to God for you is both General and Army, that now when you have put down those great and unrighteous men, that you may not endeavour to seat yourselves in their places, and make yourselves Kings and Lords, to lord over the heritage of God, and the Commoners of England, who is as freeborn as yourselves: but instead of so doing, learn to do justice, and love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God, and endeavour to take off those heavy burden:, under which the people do so extremely groan, and at last let the oppressed go free, and remember your fair promises in all your declarations, which did engage all honest hearts so freely, to take your part, and let our ears be no longer filled with those empty sounds of fare promise, but let our hearts be filled with the sense of the enjoyment of Freedom, and that the people of this Nation may have no more cause as they have had, and as we have just Cause to complain of, now of injustice and oppression, but that every one may do as he hath just right, sit down under his own Vine, eating the fruits of his own labours, and that he may not when he hath laboured all day, have some lion or other at night to come and eat both him, and the fruits of his labours up.  
And now my friends, as many of you as desires to live godly in this present world, strive not to contend with the great men of the world, for it is in vain for you so to do, but wait upon that king of peace, who if you do, will give you peace that passeth understanding, and bring you into that freedom, that all the great men in the world cannot deprive you of, so hoping that my God will give me so to do, I rest.  
He who desireth your greatest good. THO. FOTHERGILL.  
The Names of those that complains for want of Justice, reduced out of Captain needham's Troop. 

Tho. Fothergill.  
Tho. Bruce Corporal,  
Christophar Pyhurn Clerk.  
John Wardell.  
William Poyd.  
William Bunkin.  
John Hall.  
Joseph Brooks.  
Francis Kuowles.    
FINIS.