The Levellers REMONSTRANCE, SENT IN A LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE Lord Gen: cromwell: CONCERNING The Government of this Commonwealth, his wearing of the Crown of Honour, and preservation of the laws, Liberties, and privileges thereof. Together with their Propositions and Desires, in the Name of all the Commoners of England; And a strange prophesy, fore-telling the great and wonderful things that will befall the Rulers of this Nation, in case they set not the Land free to the poor Oppressed People.  
PUblished by Authority; And presented to the view of all Nations in the World.  
London, Printed for George Horton, 1652.   

A DECLARATION OF THE LEVELLERS TO His Excellency the Lord general cronwell.  
SIR,  
GOD hath honoured you with the highest Honor of any man since Moses time, to be the Head of a people, who have cast out an Oppressing Pharaoh: for when the Norman Power had conquered our Forefathers, he took the free use of our English ground from them, and made them his servants. And God hath made you a successful Instrument to cast out that Conqueror, and to recover our Land and Liberties again, by your Victories, out of that Norman hand. That which is yet wanting on your part to be done, is this, To see the Oppressors power to be cast out with his person; and to see that the free possession of the Land and Liberties be put into the hands of the Oppressed Commoners of England. For the Crown of Honour cannot be yours; neither can those Victories be called Victories on your part, till the Land & Freedoms won be possessed by them who adventured person and purse for them. Now you know Sir, that the Kingly Conqueror was not beaten by you onely as you are a single man, nor by the Officers of the Army joined to you; but by the hand and assistance of the Commoners, whereof some came in person, and adventured their lives with you; others stayed at home, and planted the Earth, and paid Taxes and Free-quarter to maintain you that went to war. So that whatsoever is recovered from the Conqueror, is recovered by a joint consent of the Commoners: therefore it is all Equity, That all the Commoners who assisted you, should be set free from the Conquerors power with you. And now you have the power of the Land in your hand, you must do one of these things: First, either set the Land free to the Oppressed Commoners, who assisted you, and paid the Army their wages; and then you will fulfil the Scriptures and own Engagements, and so take possession of your deserved Honor. Or secondly, you must only remove the conquerors power out of the Kingly hand into other mens, maintaining the old Laws still: And then your Wisdom and honour is blasted for ever; and you will either lose yourself, or lay the foundation of greater slavery to posterity then you ever knew. You have the eyes of the people all the Land over, nay I think I may say all neighbouring Nations over, waiting to see what you will do: And the eyes of your oppressed friends, who lye yet under Kingly power, are waiting to have the possession given them of that Freedom in the Land, which was promised by you, if in case you prevailed. Lose not your Crown, take it up, & wear it. But know, that it is no Crown of Honor, till Promises and Engagements, made by you, be performed to your friends. And it is our desire, That the Common-wealths Land, which is the ancient Commons and waste Land, and the Lands newly got in, by the Armies Victories, out of the Oppressors hands, as Parks, Forests, chaces, and the like, may be set free to all that have lent assistance, either of person or purse, to obtain it; and to all that are willing to come in to the practise of this Government, and be obedient to the Laws thereof.  

The Freemans Appeal.  
As for my own part I am a free-man; yea, a free Denizen of England; and I have been in the field with my sword in my hand, to adventure my life and my blood( against Tyrants) for the preservation of my just freedom; and I do not know that ever I did an act in all my life, that disfranchised me of my freedom; and by virtue of my being a freeman( I conceive) I have as true a right to all the privileges that do belong to a freeman as the greatest man in England whatsoever he be; and the ground and foundation of my freedom I build upon the grand Charter of England, which is published and expressed in the 9 of HEN. 3. Chap. 29. which I humbly crave leave to illustrate as followeth, viz. That no freeman shall be taken or imprisoned; or be diseised of his free-hold or liberties; or free Customs; or be out-lawed or exiled; or any wise destroyed: Nor we will not pass upon him, nor condemn him; but by lawful judgement of his Peers; or by the Law of the Land; we will sell to no man; we will not deny; or defer to any man either Justice or Right. And the privileges contained herein are my birth-right and inheritance; which privileges have been ratified and confirmed to the free people of England by the Parliament assembled at Westmidster; and many Declarations put out against the late King for violating of them.  
And truly, I cannot choose but remind you, That the Law of England is the birth-right and inheritance of the people of England; yea of the meanest as well as of the richest: And although the Law of England be not so good in every particular, especially in the administrative part of it, as I could wish it were; yet till I can see a better, I( for my part) will make much of that which we have, as the principal Earthly preserver and safeguard of my life, liberty and property for it, viz. Magna Charta Chap. 29. saith, No free-man shall be taken or imprisoned, or be disseifed of his freehold or free customs, or be outlawed or exiled, or any otherwise destroyed; nor past upon, nor condemned, but by lawful judgement of his Peers; or by the Law of the Land; and that Justice and Right shall not be sold denied, or deferred to any man. See Sir Edw. Cook's excellent Exposition upon this in his 2. par. Instit. fol. 46, 47. &c. Printed by the late forcibly dissolved Parliament for good Law. And positively declared, To preserve unto the people inviolably their fundamental Laws and Liberties, in reference to their Lives, Estates, and all things appertaining thereunto.   
As for the Common-wealths Government, it is the Restorer of ancient Peace, and long lost Freedoms( if it be right in power, as well as in name) and so becomes the joy of all Nations, and the blessing of the whole Earth. Therefore all you, who profess Religion and spiritual things, now look to it, and see what spirit you do profess, for you profession is brought to trial. If once Commonwealths Oovernment be set upon the Throne, then no Tyranny or Oppression can look him in the face and live.  
O ENGLAND, ENGLAND, wouldst thou have thy Government sound and healthful? then cast about, and see, and search diligently to find out all those burdens that came in by Kings, and remove them; and then will thy Government arise from under the clods, under which as yet it is buried, and covered with deformity.  
FINIS