THE LEVELLERS (Falsely so called) VINDICATED, OR THE CASE Of the twelve Troops (which by Treachery in a Treaty) was lately surprised, and defeated at Burford, truly stated, and offered to the Judgement of all , and well-minded People, especially of the Army, their fellow Soldiers, under the Conduct of the Lord Fairfax.  
By a faithful remnant, late of Col. Scroops, Commissary General Iretons, and Col. harrison's Regiments, that hath not yet bowed their knee unto Baal, whose names (in the behalf of themselves, and by the appointment of the rest of their Friends) are here unto subscribed.  
The Case, etc.  
IT is well known, and yet fresh in the public memory, with what monstrous and hateful defamations, as Antiscripturists, L●thertines, Atheists, Mutineers, Levellers, etc. we have most falsely and maliciously been deciphered out to the people and Army, on purpose to bury us under the rage and edium of our fellow-soldiers; and utterly to blast, and prejudice the common acceptance, against our late, lawful, and conscientious Undertaking: And seeing the equity of all transactions is most commonly measured by the event, and success that befalls them; few considering how God many times suffereth unjust me● to prosper, and spread themselves in the world, like the Green Bay Tree; and the just (for their correction and proof) to be subdued and trod under foot for a season. We are thereby at so great a seeming disadvantage amongst men, That in every thing we are fore-spoken, our truths (how ●●●able and evident soever) are rendered as incredible, and regardless, strength and po●●● being on their side to countenance their actions, our enemies over awing all judgements, and forcing by the might of their lawless Sword, a credit or subjection to their own most perfidious and deceitful ways; so that, as for the fruit or success that we expect, we could still have sat in patience, and not have uttered a word, but the dishonest and treacherous deal received, with the woeful ruin of the Nation, therewith sustained in ours (evidently appearing) do so boil at our hearts, and so prevalently press upon our consciences, that we are not able longer to rest in silence; but let the hazard to us be what it will, we shall so far presume upon the public view, as faithfully and impartially, to set down the true state and manner of our whole proceed in that our late undertaking, hitherto most falsely and deceitfully represented by the ruling Faction of the Army, and so leave the same to the judgement and timely consideration of all honest and conscientious people, especially of the Army, our fellow-soldiers, under the conduct of the Lord Fairfax, and amongst them in a special manner, all those that really in judgement and conscience, took up Arms for the Rights and Liberties of their Native Country, as the whole Army in their Declaration of the 14 of June, 1647. declare they all did. Thus then understanding, that we the soldiers of Col. Scroops Regiment, and others, were allotted for the service of Ireland, without our consent, or of any of our fellow-soldiers in Counsel for us, we fell into serious debate (as in reason and honesty we could do no less, considering likewise our late solemn Engagement) whether we could lawfully, in safety to ourselves, and our own Native Rights in England, submit unto that foreign Service, or no? And finding by that our old solemn Engagement at New Market, and Trip●o Heaths, June 5. 1647▪ with the manifold Declarations, Promises, and Protestations of the Army, in pursuance thereof, were all utterly declined, and most perfidiously broken, and the whole fabric of the Commonwealth fallen into the grossest and vilest Tyranny that ever English men groaned under; all their Laws, Rights, Lives, Liberties, and Properties, wholly subdued (under the vizard and form of that Engagement) to the 〈◊〉 wills of some deceitful persons, having devolved the whole Magistracy of England 〈◊〉 their Martial Domination, ruling the people with a Rod of Iron, as most men's woeful experience can clearly witness; which, with the consideration of the particular, most insufferable abuses and dis-satisfactions put upon us, moved us to an unanimous refusal to go, till our Conscience were discharged in the faithful fulfilment of our 〈◊〉 Solemn Engagement to our Native Country; in which Engagement, we were expressly and particularly obliged against the Service of Ireland, till full satisfaction and security were given to us as Soldiers and Commoners, by a Council of our own free 〈…〉 according to the rule and tenor of that Engagement, Recorded in the Army's 〈◊〉 of Declarations▪ pag. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27. Whereupon we drew up a Paper of some 〈◊〉 by way of Declaration, concerning our said refusal, to deliver to our Colo●●● 〈◊〉 which, we all cheerfully subscribed, with many of our Officers (especially 〈◊〉, who then seemingly was extreme forward in assisting us to effect our desires) 〈◊〉 being delivered a day or two after, immediately our Officers caused a 〈…〉 ●●ar unto Salisbury, where they declared, That the General intended not to force 〈◊〉, but that we might either go or stay; and so testifying our intents to stay, we were all drawn into the Town again, and the Colonel, with the rest of the Officers, full of discontent, threatened us the Soldiers; and because we were all, or most of one mind, he termed our Unity a Combination, or Mutiny; yet himself upon our request to know, told us, That he could not assure us, that he would go. Which forementioned Paper, with a Letter, we sent to Commissary General Iretons Regiment, who took it so well, That they were immediately upon their march towards our quarters, to join with us, for the making good of their and our Engagement, which we, they, and the rest of the Army had engaged at Newmarket and Triple Heaths.  
After this, all politic means that could be thought upon, were put in practice to work us off from our Resolutions, as severing the Troops, and dealing with them apart, not suffering the Soldiers of one Troop to come to any of the other, employing Agents and Preaching Officers from Troop to Troop, to work us to that Service; and craftily, and lyingly, telling each Troop, That the other Troops were listed for the Irish Service, sin rupticiously to over reach, and gain us by that deceit. A crime they most maliciously fix upon others, whom they would make the world believe drew us to that undertaking, as in their Declaration of their proceed against us, published last May 22. is to be seen, where page 6. speaking scandalously of some persons, naming none, yet strongly implying our four worthy Friends in the Tower, they say of them, That they sent their Emissaries and Agents into all parts, pretending from one Regiment to another, that each Regiment had declared, That so by that Artifice, they might draw each to declare. To the Forces in Wales, and the West, they gave assurances, that the forces about London would revolt; to th●se about London, that those in Wales, and the West, would do the same. Thus to shroud their own vildness, and to effect their own evil ends, they are not sparing to blast innocent persons with their own wicked devices themselves are so apparently and foully guilty of; and yet wipe their mouths, as if no speck or stain were upon them, and raise the report upon others.  
All those devices working nothing upon us (there being no satisfaction given to our just exceptions) our Colonel fell to violent threats, and commanded us to put our Horses in a Field two miles from our Quarters; which though at first we did, yet finding the bitterness of his spirit to increase, and that upon his information, That the General, and Lieutenant General were preparing a force against us: what could we do less, then put ourselves into the best posture we could to preserve ourselves, which we immediately did (and in this no man was more forward, and violently earnest, than that perfidious Apostate, Cornet D●n.) And for our justification therein, we need go no further than their own words, in the Army's Declaration of the 14 of June, 1647. where to justify their own opposition and rebellion to the Orders of a full, free, unforced, unravished, and un●w●er purged Parliament, they tell us, That the Parliament hath declared it not resisting of Magistracy, to side with the just principles, and Law of Nature and Nations, being that Law upon which the Army assisted; and that the Soldiers may lawfully hold the hands of the General that will turn his Cannon against his Army, on purpose to destroy them.  
This being done, we had further Intelligence 〈◊〉 ●he greatness and speediness of the General's preparations against us, and that, Though what we had done, did not amount to so much, as the Army had formerly done at Saffron Walden, upon the Parliaments commanding them for Ireland, yet were we strangely represented to our fellow Soldiers, by the Lieutenant General in Hide Park, under the notion of Mutineers, Levellers, and deniers of the Scriptures, of purpose to make them engage against us 
* Though none act more directly against the tenor thereof then themselves, as is too manifest by their frequent breaking of all Faith, and Premises, making nothing of Treachery, dissembling, yea, and lying too (which is not once to be mentioned amongst Saints, as they would have men think of them.) O abominable Hypocrites! know ye not, that dissembling Piety is double Iniquity; but we fear, while ye pretend to Scripture, ye believe neither it, nor the Resurrection: For if ye did, ye would not condemn the Innocent, against Knowledge and Conscience, of those things yourselves are guilty. Repent betimes, or else your portion will be with Hypocrites. ; so that now we saw, there was 〈…〉 of safety left us, but by standing upon our 〈◊〉 and capitulating with our Sword in our hands, ●●ing encouraged thereto, as well by our own innocency, and the equity of those things, upon 〈◊〉 we had grounded our Resolutions: As also for 〈◊〉 we could not think our fellow Soldiers of the Army, who with us engaged at Newmarket He●●● would fight against us, for upholding the said solemn Engagement, wherein they were equally concerned and obliged with us, both as Soldiers and Commoners to each other, to us, and the whole Nat●●●, with whom it was made. But indeed, this Treacherous Tragedy was principally managed and acted by (that Turn Coat) Reynolds, and his Regiment; who for the most of them were Strangers to that Engagement. A company of Bloodthirsty Rogues, Murderers, Thiefs, High-way-men, and some that were taken in Colchester, and such as were cashiered out of other Regiment, for high misdemeanours, being entertained therein. And these were the men principally designed, and to be trusted against us, as most fittest to fight for the truth of the Scriptures, and such Saints as the Lieutenant General 
(*) These are of the men that usually asperee the People's best Friends with such Language, as Atheists, Levellers, Antiscripturists, and who lives more like such, than they? for it is they who ruin all, and destroy Propriety, by their Arbitrary and Lawless Power; and who more like Jesuits they themselves for crafty Policy, Lying, and Treachery? and certainly these be the effects, or fruits of Atheism: For by their works you shall know them.   
But to return. Hereupon our Officers leaving us, we choose new ones, and disposed of our Colours, and immediately drew up a Declaration, wherein we signified the Resolutions of the General (upon our refusal to go for Ireland) in a s●ght and unworthy manner to disband us, after our so many years hard and faithful Services; which 〈◊〉 then knew to have been practised upon many of our fellow Soldiers in Colonel Hu●son, and Cooks Regiments; and thereupon, we resolved to stand to our former Engagement made at Newmarket; which the proceed of the General and our Officers, did expressly contradict and make void. This Declaration was publicly read as our Rendeavous in old Sarum, where four Troops of Commissarie General Iretons met us, and unanimously assented to by both Regiments; whereupon our conjunction we advanced to Marlborough, and so to Vantage, where Commissioners from the General met us, to wit, Major White, Captain Scotten, Captain Pev●●al, and Captain Lieutenant Baily, with whom that day we did nothing, but agreed to meet at Sta●ford Green, the next morning by eight of the Clock, where we were all according to appointment, but the Commissioners not coming, we marched out of the field, on our way towards Abbington; and as we were upon our march the Commissioners came posting after us, and we presently made a Halt; then they overtaking us, and told us, They had Order from the General, and Lieutenant General, to hear our Desires, and endeavour the Composure of our Differences; then they rea● a Letter unto us from the General, which took but little effect upon our Spirits; and so marching a little is further, two of Col. Harrison Troops, to wit, Cap. Picks and Captain Winthrops were marching to their Quarters, where Cornet Den and divers others met them, And read a Declaration to them, and used many glorious invitations of them to desire them to come and join with us, making appear the lawfulness of our cause, telling them that we were resolved to stand to our first principles, and that if there were but ten men would stand for those just things, he would make the eleventh, with divers such like expressions, the two Troops being very willing to be satisfied in the lawfulness of the engagement, telling us they were marching to Th●●n●, and the next morning we should know their resolutions: But as we were marching back again, before we were half out of the field, we spied a party of horse, which it seemed was the Apostate Reynolds with his mercenary dam crew (such as in our hearing most desperately swore, That if the Devil would come from hell and give them a great a day more than the State, they would fight for him against the Levellers or any others) well, upon this we drew out a Forlorn hope, and thereupon two Troops of Colonel Harrisons marched with us towards them; they retreated towards New-●ridge and kept it by force against us, but we unwilling to shed blood, or to be the original occasion of a new war (though they have often branded us with it as if we wholly sought it) but our actions did then clearly manifest the contrary; for we seeing Soldiers, coming in a Hostile manner against us as aforesaid, did meet them, having forty or fifty of them at our mercy, and could have destroyed them, for we had them two miles from the foresaid bridge, but we did not then in the least offer them any violence or diminish a hair of their heads, but let them go to their body again, and withal marched to a Ford, because we would not in the least be on occasion of any bloodshed; And having marched through the Ford into the Marsh on the other side, we called our Council together, who referred the appointment of our quarters to Lieut. Ray, and Cornet Den, who designed us for Burford, where being in the Treaty with the Commissioners, and having intelligence, that the General and Lt. General were upon their march towards us, many of us several times, urged to Major White, and pressed upon him, that he came to betray us, to which he replied. That the General and Lieutenant General had engaged their Honours not to engage against us in any Hostile manner till they had received our Answer, no not so much as to follow their Messengers or Commissioners with force, and being too credulous to the General's words, knowing that he never broke engagement with the Cavaliers in that kind; We gave the more credit to the Major, who seemed extreme forward and hasty to make the Composure, pretending so far to approve of our standing for the things contained in our engagement at Triplo-Heath, that himself with our consents drew up a Paper in Answer to the General for us, so fully according to our desires as that it gave us satisfaction, so that the Agreement betwixt the General's Commissioners and us, seemed to be even concluded and at an end, And for full satisfaction take Copy of the said Letter which is as followeth:  
Nay it please your Excellency.  
We are your Excellency's Soldiers, who have engaged our lives under your Excellency's conduct, through all difficulties and hazards in order to the procurement of Freedom Safety and Peace to this Nation, and ourselves as Members thereof, and being lately designed by lot to be divided, and sent over into Ireland for the prosecution of that service, in order to the Peace and safety of this Commonwealth, which we think necessary to be performed, but looking back to take a view of our former proceeding, we find that we cannot in conscience to ourselves, in duty to God, this Nation, and the rest of our fellow soldiers undertake that service, but by such a decision as is Agreeable to our solemn Engagement made at New-market Heath, the 5 of June 1647. where we did in the presence of God, with one consent solemnly engage one to another, not to disband nor divide, nor suffer ourselves to be disbanded nor divided, Until satisfaction and security was received by the judgement of a counsel consisting of two Officers and two Soldiers together with the General Officers that did concur, such satisfaction and security as that engagement refers unto; And being now departed from our obedience to you because you keep not Covenant with us: yet we shall not in the least barber any evil thought or prejudice against you, nor use any act of hostility, unless necessitated thereunto in our own defence, which we desire God to prevent; All that we desire (and we speak it in the presence of God, who knows our hearts) is, that your Excellency will call a General Council according to the solemn Engagement. In the Judgement whereof we will acquiesse, and refer ourselves to them to take an account of our late actions. This being assured we will every man with cheerfulness return to our obedience, and submit to your Excellency and the Judgement of that Council in all matters that concern us as Soldiers, or Members of this Commonwealth; this we beg of your Excellency to grant, out of the respect of your duty to God, this Nation, and the Army, that we may thereby retain our peace with him and procure the happiness of this Nation under him, which is the desire of our souls: If you shall deny us this, we must lay at your door all the Misery, Bloodshed and Ruin that will fall upon this Nation and Army; for we are resolved as one man by God's assistance to stand in this Just desire, and although our bodies perish, yet we shall keep our consciences clear, and we are confident our souls will be at peace; now till we have a full determination herein, we desire your Excellency will forbear all manner of hostility, or marching towards us for avoiding any inconveniencies that may come to ourselves or the Country; these desires with affection being granted, we hope the falling out of friends will be the renewing of love, And we shall subscribe and manifest ourselves your Excellencies faithful Soldiers, and servants to this Commonwealth.  
But to return, during the time of treaty, while the Commissioners thus assured us all security, one of them, to wit, Captain Scotten privately slipped from us, and two others, to wit, Captain Bayley and Peverill left notes at every Town of our strength and condition, whilst Major White held us in hand, and told us, that if they fell upon us, he would stand between the bullets and us: So that when notice had been sufficiently given, and we with all the means that could be used, wrought into a secure condition at Burford, & after the setting of our Guard, which was commanded by Quartermaster More who was thereupon appointed, by his Brother Traitor, Cornet Den (who himself) since his coming to London hath avowedly declared to M●. W.W. to this effect that his beginning, and continuing with the Burford Tro●●● was out of premeditated and complotted design, that so at last he might the easier bring on their destruction, holding all the time he was with them, correspondency with the General's creatures, which said Quartermaster More after he had set the guard in this slight manner, and possessed us with as much security as he could, and under the pretence of going to refresh himself and horse, did most villainously and treacherously leave the guard without any Orders, and himself in person posted away to the General's forces and brought them in upon us, marching in the head of them with his sword drawn against us; And Quartermaster More being afterward called Traitor by some of the Soldiers, Cap. Gotherd of Scroops Regiment made answer, he was none, for that he did nothing but what he was sent to do; so that most Treacherously, that same night the General's forces came pouring on both sides of the Town of Burford, where we had not been above three hours, swearing, Damn them and sink them, and violently fell upon us, and so by a fraudulent and Treacherous surprise defeated us, not expecting it during the Treaty, especially from them with whom we had joined these seven years for the defence of England's Liberties and Freedoms, and though divers of us had fair quarter promised us by Colonel Okey, Major Barton and the rest of the Officers then with them, as that not a hair of our heads should perish, yet did they suffer their soldiers to plunder us, strip us, and barbarously to use us, worse than Cavaliers, yea Cromwell stood by to see Cornet Tomson, Master Church and Master Perkins murdered, and we were all condemned to death, although Colonel Okey, Major Barton and others of the Grandees had engaged that not a hair of our heads should perish, when they surrendered themselves unto them, Tompson being then at the head of a party of two Troops of horse, and the other with their fellow Soldiers made good their Quarters while they had the conditions promised them, and then Cromwell after this horrid murder was committed upon the three forementioned, contrary to Okeys, barton's and others of their promises at their taking them, came to us in the Church, and making his old manner of dissembling speeches, told us it was not they that had saved our lives, but providence had so ordered it, and told us that he could not deny but that many of the things that we desired were good, and they intendended to have many of them done, but we went in a mutinous way, and disobeyed the General's Orders; but withal he told us that we should not be put off with dishonourable terms, because we should not become a reproach to the common Enemy: but we desire all  men to judge, whether ten shillings a man, and a piece of paper for seven year's Service, be honourable terms: the paper being good for nothing but to sell to Parliament men's Agents, who have set them a work to buy them for three shillings, or four shillings in the pound at most; and we are forced to sell them to supply our wants, to keep us from starving, or forcing us to go to the high way, by reason they will not pay us one penny of our Arrears any other way but by papers, that so they may rob us and the rest of the Soldiers of the Army of their seven year's Service, to make themselves and their adherents the sole possessors of the late King's Lands for little or nothing: and for aught we know, the moneys they buy our Debenters withal, is the money the Nation cannot have any account of. But this their dealing is not only so to us, whom they pretend disobeyed their commands; but they dealt so basely by other Soldiers who never resisted their unjust Commands, as we believe no age can parallel: For in the first place, they turned them off with two months' pay. Secondly, They have taken away three parts of their Arrears for Freequarter, though the Country (whose victuals, grass and corn they eat) be never the better; and do also force them to sell their papers at the rate aforesaid. And de●● fellow-soldiers, think not, because you are in Arms a little longer than we, that you shall speed better than we, which they have disbanded before you; but be assured, that when they have their own ends served on you, as they have already on 〈◊〉, you shall have as bad conditions of them, and may be, worse, if it be possible, than we have had before you; and may also reward you for your good services, by raising a company of mercenary Rogues to cut your throats, as they did traitorously to cut ours at Burford.  
But to return, from this sad and long digression: by this their serpentine craft, and our own over credulous innocency, we were overthrown, and our hopeful beginnings for the rescue and delivery of ourselves and the nation from thraldom, blasted and destroyed; and then utterly to break and dash in pieces our spirits, and in us all Assertors of the Freedoms of England, and to put an utter inconfidence and jealousy for ever amongst such upon all future engagements, they made that wretched Judas Den, to that end their pander and slave: they pretendedly spare his life after his condemnation to death, although now upon good grounds and intelligence, (yea partly from his own confessions as is noted before) we do believe that from the beginnings of our proceed, he was their appointed Emissary (aswell as the forementioned Quartermaster) to be most zealous and forward of any man for us, the better to compass our ruin and lead us like poor sheep to the slaughter; they enjoin Den, to preach Apostasy to us in the Pulpit of Burford Church, to assert and plead the unlawfulness of our engagement, as much as before the lawfulness to vindicate, and justify all those wicked and abominable proceed of the General, Lieutenant General and their officers against us, howling and weeping like a Crocodile, and to make him a perfect Rogue and villain upon everlasting Record, to which like the most abhorred of mankind to bring about their pernicious ends upon the people, he willingly submitted, and to this end published a Recantation paper fraught with lies, infamies and most Traitorous assertions of an arbitrary power evidently tending to the introduction thereof upon this Nation in the persons of the chief Leaders of the Army, and in that paper at the advantage of this wicked and treacherous overthrow of ours endeavoured to bury our solemn Engagement at New market heath in our ruins, as if long since cancelled and of no longer force or obligation, pretending that by petition we had called home our council of Agitators and so dissolved our engagement at New-market heath, And so the Army absolved from all further observation thereof.  
Now to this, is to be considered, that the said engagement was radical upon the grounds of common freedom, safety, and security to the Nation, and upon that account and to that end only undertaken and solemnly made, and all righteous oaths, vows, and covenants are indissolveble and of force till their full and perfect accomplishment; the Apostasy and defection of no man, though of him or those that vows, or makes such oaths or engagements can absolve or untie them; and this no man that hath any spark of Conscience or Christianity in him can deny. Therefore it was most deceitfully and corruptly urged, that the same power that gave it a being dissolved it; for till the vows of that engagement be paid unto the people, it standeth firm and obligatory, till then the gates of hell a●e not able to prevail against the being and obliging power thereof; and we are sure none can say, the genuine ends and intents of that engagement are yet obtained, but a thousand times further off, then at the making of that vow: besides, as that engagement enjoins, what security or satisfaction to their private or public rights, both as Soldiers and commoners, have we or the rest of our fellow soldiers yet received from a council consisting of two Soldiers chosen out of every Regiment, two Commission officers with such General officers only as assented to that undertaking, when or where was it? Indeed had such a Council so concluded, and we the soldiers by our unanimous testimony and subscription (as we did to our engagement) testify our satisfaction, there might have been some plausible pretence for its dissolution; but to this day it is evident to the whole world that no such thing hath been, and this was the express letter and intent of that New-market engagement; and to urge a petition for recalling the Agitators is a blind excuse; for put the case there had been such an one, and that of general concurrence yet could it not detract or any way diminish from that righteous engagement; though the defection and subscription were both of General, Officers and Soldiers, yet the foundation of that Vow standeth sure to us all, it is immovable till its own proper end, viz. the accomplishment of the righteous end therein contained, affix its period: which we earnestly desire, may be conscientiously and seriously laid to heart by all our fellow-soldiers in solemn covenant with us; for there is a God that over-seeth, and one day (when there will be no Articles of War to prevent) will call us to a strict reckoning for the breach of our faith and vows one to another, and the Nation, and account with us for all the blood, ruin, misery and oppression that thereby hath ensued, and still dependeth upon that most monstrous Apostasy. That pretended Petition at that day will be found to be but a broken reed to lean upon, it will nothing abate of the guilt: and however it is now highly urged to wipe off all worldly dishonour from the iron Rulers of our age, we are not such strangers to the Army, if any such Army-Petition were, as not to know it: Sure we are, no such Petition can be produced from any single Troop, Company, or Regiment, much less from the Army. And though some such endeavours were for the promotion of so wicked and vile an enterprise, and now as evilly made use of; yet it never fell under the cognizance of the Army, neither yet of any single entire Regiment, Troop or Company; and the Engagement by the Army was made as an Army, by unanimous consent, and therefore no otherwise dissolvable, but unanimously as an Army and that neither otherwise then righteously, after the tenor and true intent of that Engagement, as we have clearly evinced, and therein have discharged our Consciences: See further upon this Subject a late Book of Aug. 1649. Lieut. Col. john Lilburne, Entitled, An Impeachment of High Treason against Oliver Cromwell, and Henry Ireton Esquires page 4, 5. See also the 40, 41, 42, 43, 81, pages of the second Edition of his Book of the eight of June 1646. Entitled, The Legal Fundamental Liberties of the People of England, asserted, revived, and vindicated.  
Thus we have truly stated the case of our late proceed and differences betwixt our Officers and us, and hope sufficiently to beget a right understanding and approvement, especially with all honest and conscientious people, of the equity of our late undertake: however to those that are and shall come after, we have published and left upon record a perfect view and Prospect of our condition, that if the present Perusers shall not, yet happily that those that are to come may be thereby provoked to consideration thereof, and equal resentment with us of the righteous ends of that now betrayed, deserted, Engagement of the Army, which we chivy desire and expect at the hands of our Fellow Soldiers, that they may not longer like their Leaders be numbered amongst such as will not be limited or circumscribed within any Bounds, Engagements, Oaths, Promises, or Protestations, but level, break, frustrate and throw off all, (as if no ties betwixt man and man were to be on mankind) to bring about the corrupt ends of their ambition and avarice, as not only in this case of ours, but in all others of their public undertake since the beginning of the Army's Engagement is clearly manifest, and yet all their successes, and advancements over the People, gained by their perjury, fraud, equivocations, treacheries and deceits they ascribe to the immediate approving hand of God, and zeal over their delusions with the glorious exercise of Religious formalities to the eye of the People, by which a thick mist, as thick as the Egyptian darkness is lately come over the eyes of the greatest pretenders to true puriritie and Religion, and many conscientious people therewith bewitched into the favour and approvement of their alone Jesuitical, wicked, desperate and bloody ways, even to the opposition and persecution of the most faithful and constant promoters of, and sufferers for, the just freedoms of the Nation.  
But in case our fellow Soldiers will not remember their vows, but still slight & desert the same their sin be upon their own heads, we have discharged ourselves: yet considering they may again possibly incline to their country's redemption (as labouring more under ignorance than wilfulness) we shall offer them and all others that bear good will to the Nation, what in reason and Equity is most conducing to a safe and well grounded peace amongst us, and which by its greatest Adversaries cannot be denied but to be righteous and just, though contadictory to the lawless Lordship and ambitions of their Officers.  
And first, We desire it may be considered, that our Hostile engagements against the late King, was not against him as out of any personal enmity, but simply and singly against his Oppressions and Tyranny on the People, and for their removal, but the use and advantage on all the success God hath been pleased to give us is perverted to that personal end, that by his removal the Ruling swordmen might intrude into his Throne, set up a Martial Monarchy more cruel, arbitrary and Tyrannical than England ever yet tasted of, and that under the Notion of a Free State, when as the People had no share at all in the constitution thereof, but by the perjury and falseness of the Lieutenant General and his Son in Law Ireton with their Faction was enforced and obtruded by mere conquest upon the People, a Title which Mr John Cook in his Book Entitled, King Charles his Case, etc. there confesseth to be more fit for Wolves and Bears then amongst men, and that such Tyrants that do so govern with a rod of Iron, do not govern by God's permissive hand of approbation, and in such Cases its lawful for a People to rise up and force their deliverance, See page 8, 10.  
Now, rather than thus to be vassallaged, and thus trampled and trod under foot by such that over our backs, and by the many lives, and loss of our blood from us and our fellow-soldiers, have thus stepped into the chair of this hateful Kingship and presumption over us, in despite and defiance of the consent, choice, and allowance of the free-people of this Land (the true fountain and original of all just power, (as their own Votes against Kingly Government confess) we will choose subjection to the Prince, choosing rather ten thousand times to be his slaves then theirs, yet hating slavery under both: and to that end, to avoid it in both, we desire it may be timely and seriously weighed,  
That whereas a most judicious and faithful Expedient to this purpose, hath, 〈◊〉 A Peace-offering been tendered to the acceptance of the free people of England, entitled, An Agreement of the People, dated May 1 1649, from our four faithful Friends, now close prisoners in the Tower of London, we cannot but judge, that that way of Settlement, to wit, by an Agreement of the People, is the only and alone way of atonement, reconciliation, peace, freedom, and security (under God) to the Nation; it being impossible by way of Conquest to allay the feud, divisions, parties and Quarrels amongst us, which if not stopped, will certainly devour us up in Civil and domestic Broils, though we should have none from abroad; for the Sword convinceth not, it doth but enforce; it begetteth no love, but fomenteth and engendereth hatred and revenge; for blood thirsteth after blood, and vengeance rageth for vengeance, and this devoureth and destroyeth all where it cometh. And though our present Rulers have settled themselves and their conquest-Government over us; yet are we farther from peace and reconciliation then ever: the discontents and dissatisfact●ons amongst the people in the King's time, which at length burst into desperate War) was not the hundreth part so great as the discontents that are now; and if so much did follow the lesser, can better be expected from the greater? never were there such repine, heart-burnings, grudge, envyings and curse in England as now, against the present Governors and Government; never such fraction and division into parties, b●nding, biting, countermining and plotting one against another for preeminency and majority then now; and of all this nothing is the cause, but this way of force and martial obtrusion: And can it be imagined such counterplotting, repine and divisions can be with safety and peace? it is impossible: Insurrections, tumults, revoltings, war and commotions are the proper issues of the ways of such violence, and no better is to be expected: none but intruders, usurpers and tyrants can be for the way of forc●; such as would be but servants to the people, and not make the people their servants, cannot but abhor it, and lay down their glory at the feet of the people: these (that now ramp and rage over us) were they other then Tyrants, could do no less: they draw near it indeed in words, but are as far as hell from it in actions; they vote and declare the People the supreme Power, and the original of all just Authority; pretend the promotion of an Agreement of the people, style this the First year of England's Freedom, entitle their Government a Free State, and yet none more violent, bloody and perverse enemies thereto; for not under pains of death, and confiscation of lands and goods, may any man challenge and promote those rights of the nation, so lately pretended to by themselves: if we ask them a Fish, they give us a Scorpion, if bread, they give us a stone. Nothing but their boundless, lawless wills, their naked swords, Armies, arms and ammunition is now law in England; never were a people so cheated, so abused and trod under foot; enough to enrage them (as once the children of Israel against Adoram) to stone them to death as they pass the streets; which some could not certainly escape, were it not for the fiery sword, vengeance that surrounds them, which at the best is but the arm of flesh, for their shelter and protection, and may fail ere they are ware: all sorts of people watch but for their opportunity, and if it once come like a raging sea on Pharaoh and his host, they will swallow and devour them up alive: and sure, this kind of constitution of Government thus by force in despite of the people obtruded and settled, thus grudged, cursed and hated, will never bring any peace, quiet or rest unto this Nation, it will be but as a continual fire in their bones: therefore this conquest Constitution is not the way of England's peace: There is but two ways, by Conquest, or Agreement; by fire and sword, or by compact and love; and both these are contrary to each other as light is to darkness, and take their rise from ●●●trary ends; and the way of love must needs be of God, for God is love, and all ●●●ways are love; therefore we are bold of all other ways and Expedients whatsoever 〈◊〉 commend only this way of love, of popular Agreement to the public con 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a well founded and safe settled peace: and upon this account, and no other, 〈◊〉 any security or enjoyment be expected to any public transactors in this Eng●●●● Theatry, whether Prince or others. We believe, he that now judgeth otherwise, 〈◊〉 at the length, it may be, when it is too late, find himself as much deceived, as he 〈◊〉 lost his head against his own Palace gate.  
Therefore considering there can be no sure building without a firm foundation, and for prevention of further homebred divisions and backslidings 〈◊〉 blood, we desire our fellow Soldiers for their several Regiments of Horse and Foot to choose their respective Agents to consider of this way of Peace, that 〈◊〉 at length they may be instrumental in saving (as now they are in destroying) th●● Nation; but considering what unsetledness, and wavering from their principles, hath appeared among them, and how slender grounds we have of their return from Apostasy, we hearty desire that all serious and well-affected people, that have any bowels of compassion in them to an afflicted, distressed nation, any sense of piety, justice, mercy or goodness in them, any hatred to oppression or remorse of spirit, 〈◊〉 the afflicted, or desire of deliverance, or freedom from their worse than Egyptian bondage, that they would lay the miserable condition of the Nation to heart and unite themselves in their endeavours for a new, equal, and speedy Representative● and we humbly offer this motion as a just expedient to that end that they would choose two or three or more faithful persons from their several and respective Counties of the Land to come up to London to demand the freedom and release of the Owners and Publishers of the foresaid Agreement unjustly detained in Prison by Will and Force, 〈◊〉 debate and consult with them etc. of some way if possible to accomplish the said Agreement, before a deluge of Intestine insurrections and Foreign Invasions from Ireland, Scotland, Swethland, Denmark, France, and Spain, sweep us away from 〈◊〉 Land of our Nativity; and for our parts we do declare, that though we have 〈◊〉 thus abused and defeated, we have still the hearts of Englishmen in us, and 〈◊〉 freely (if there be occasion) spend the Remainder of our strength and blood, 〈◊〉 the redemption and purchase of an Agreement of the People, upon the foresaid principles, the which for the satisfaction of such as have not seen it, We have hereunto annexed the forementioned draught of the said Agreement of our 4. impriso●●● Friends in the Tower of London, as containing those things our souls like and approve of as the most exactest that our eyes have seen, and commend the effect●●● promoting of it to the serious consideration of all the true hearted friends of 〈◊〉 miserable and distressed Nation, and rest  
The Nations true Friends and hearty Wellwishers w●●●● we have a drop of blood running in our Veins.  
Signed at London this 20 of August 1649, by us 

John Wood  
Humphrey Marston  
Robert Everard  
William Hutchinson  
Hugh H●rst  
James Carpe●   in the behalf of ourselves, and by the appointment of the rest of our forementioned Friends of the three forementioned Regiments.  
FINIS.