THE VINDICATION OF SEVERAL PERSONS Committed Prisoners to the TOWER, GATEHOUSE, and other Prisons of this Nation; Publicly reproached, as Actors or Contrivers of some horrid Plot.  
Published by PETER GOODMAN, who continues a Visitor of Prisoners, Encouraged by this following Warrant; Prov. 31. 8. Open thy Mouth for the Dumb in the Cause of all such as are appointed to Destruction.  
I. 
 I Find that the Persons Imprisoned, having in all faithfulness publicly manifested their Peaceable Demeanours, were (some of them) formerly, notwithstanding his Majesty's gracious Letter from Breda, and the Act for Indemnity, upon false Informations, without seeing Accuser or Accusation, imprisoned in the Tower and elsewhere, their Houses, as hostile Enemies, by Soldiers (without Warrants) searched and disarmed; but after very long and chargeable Restraints, were thereof discharged: And whenas they, according to Justice, might have expected Satisfaction for the Loss of Goods and wrongful Imprisonment, from those who were the Authors and occasion thereof, the Parliament was pleased (in one Clause, inserted in an Act, Entitled, An Act declaring the Sole Right of the Militia to be in the King) to indemnify and save harmless all such persons, as having acted for the Service of his Majesty.  
II. 
 That the aforesaid Persons, hoping for the future not to have heard of any more Names or Terms of Distinction, but expecting Protection equal with others, did again apply themselves to their several Callings and Employments, for support to them and their Families, believing their Concernments so wrapped up in the General Act of Indemnity, as not to be Disarmed, Reproached, or Imprisoned, upon any pretence, who specious soever; which nevertheless is now their Portion, when those of the Popish Religion, who have neither the Law, as to wearing Arms, nor Public Promises to lay claim to, yet both in their Persons and Estates are very much Indulged, whilst others remain in loathsome Prisons; wherein also are many other Sufferers because of Oaths, which in their original institution were to discover Papists from Protestants; but now, as to the Papists, are dis-used, and are become a Snare to entrap all other Persuasions, who in Doctrine and Discipline are most contrary to the Pope and his Adherents.  
III. 
 That within the months of October and November last, many of those Persons were again taken from their several Habitations, by Pursuivants or Messengers, and carried to the Tower, Gatehouse, etc. (the Keeper's refusing to deliver Copies of the Cause of their Detainor) and not a little wounded in their Reputations and Credits, being publicly aspersed, as if they, amongst others, were the Contrivers or Actors in some horrid Plot, thereby rendering them and their Friends most odiously Infamous, both in City and Country; as if their Actions did occasion the loading the Nation with more Taxes, and continuing of Mercenary Soldiers; Whereas in truth their Demeanours have been very inoffensive; and for aught they, or any of their Relations yet know, they are not so much as accused of any Crime: and might they but be permitted to speak for themselves, or to enjoy a Trial according to the known just Laws of this Nation, doubt not but they would soon make known, and vindicate their Innocency to all People, however at present by such Aspersions prejudiced against them in their suffering Conditions.  
IV. 
 I also find, in these places, and in this manner, have many been continued about a quarter of a year; others, upon as slight pretences, have remained above a whole year past: And albeit the utmost endeavours of their Relations have not been wanting, some for Ten, Eleven, and more weeks past, by their humble Petitions to his Majesty and Council, to procure their Liberties, who are not permitted Pen, Ink or Paper, their Friends, Attorneys, Solicitors, and domestic Servants not suffered to come at them, to be directed in any manner of business: And although some of their Conditions, as to Maintenance, be extreme sad, who after the loss of their Estates, have (many of them) by the proceedings aforesaid, been forced to expend within these Eighteen Months last passed, upon Jailor's Fees, and Charges within, and to get out of Prisons, much more Moneys, than is now left them to maintain themselves, their Wives and Children: And further to aggravate their distressed Conditions, against the very Law of God, Nature and Nations, their Wives are denied the society of their Husbands; only some of them, after chargeable Solicitations, are permitted to see them, which is but at certain seasons, and for a short time in the presence of a Keeper; whose Afflictions are rather increased than lessened, to behold their Relations under such cruel Restraints.  
V. 
 This being the Truth of their sad and distressed Cases, I find them every way disabled, by speaking or writing, to spread their deplorable Cases before the Commons of England assembled in Parliament, the wont Refuge of all oppressed Commoners, Unless some grave Patriot, in faithfulness to his Country and Posterity, meeting with this their Just Vindication, will vouchsafe, on the behalf of the Prisoners, to implore their Relief, by setting them at Liberty, without paying Fees or Chamber-Rent, repairing them for Losses and Damages sustained, and make Provision to prevent such hard usage and Arbitrary Proceedings for the future, That so Innocent People may not be thus hurried from Prison to Prison, but may enjoy Protection to live peaceably in the Land of their Nativity: Or, if after this long Imprisonment, Accusations shall be pretended against all, or any of them, That then a speedy Trial may be ordered to be had, agreeable to the known just Laws of this Nation; wherein, if any of them shall be found guilty of any Plot, Conspiracy, or Oath of Secrecy, against his Majesty's Person or Government, (as lately published in two learned Speeches) Then let never more Credit be given to the Visitor of Prisoners, who aims at no other advantage but the Peace and Welfare of these Nations.  
January the 8th, 1661.   

LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1661.