No Papist nor Presbyterian: But the modest Desires and Proposals OF Some well-affected and Freeborn People:  
Offered to The General Council of the ARMY, for Redress of Grievances,  
In order to the late Representative, and Agreement of the People.  Quod tibi non vis, alteri nè feceris. 
Published for general satisfaction. 1649.   

Proposals from some well-assected freeborn People, for Redress of Grievances.  
HAving long and sadly expected the settlement of this Kingdom in a firm and lasting Peace, freed from all Tyranny and oppression, and that the Freeborn People of this Land may enjoy such Immunities and Privileges as of right belong unto us, which we being in some present and apparent hope (by the goodness of God) to enjoy; and having always professed and owned that Principle of doing to others as we would be done unto, have thought fit to propound to those, who are at present impowered and entrusted by us the People, as our Representatives, some additional grievances to be inserted into the People's Agreement, and these as well in behalf and out of a fellow-feeling of others interests, as of our own, being clearly in order to that so often repeated and promised Liberty of Conscience; which promise we are confident hath caused some interests to acquiesce, which otherwise might in all probability have assisted or adhered unto our professed enemies, even in the time of ours and the Armies greatest Exigence; But now since God has been pleased to subjugate our enemies, and thus far to advance and own this cause, we hope this success of the sword will not cause any of the chief Officers of the Army or others to recede from their former principles, or forget their so often declared Liberty of Conscience without exception; In confidence whereof, and in order whereunto, we propound as followeth.  
1. That all penal Statutes against non-conformists in Religion may be forthwith repealed, and made null, since for the most part all the well-affected and conscientious men of this Kingdom are as well concerned therein, and liable thereunto, as the Papists. And that all Justices of Peace, Pursuivants, or other Persecutors, that shall any ways proceed upon any of those Statutes, may be severely punished.  
2. That the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, with the Nationall Covenant, and all other compulsory Oaths may be effectually declared against, and taken away.  
3. That there may be a free and unmolested exercise of Religion, at least in private houses, for all sorts of People that profess Christ, none excepted.  
4. That no person be forced to pay or contribute towards the maintenance of the public Ministers, who out of Conscience cannot submit thereunto, but that they may be provided for in some other unoppressive way.  
5. That (as it hath been well propounded by others against Lawyers, and the expense and protraction of Law Suits,) so likewise, that the excessive Fees of Physicians may be regulated and reduced, whereby the poor for a small and reasonable Fee may have the benefit of their skill; As in France, a Physicians common Fee for coming to a patiented is a Quard▪ escu, or 1. sh. 6. d.  
6. That the Lands and Goods of all Papists, who cannot be lawfully charged or convicted by two sufficient witnesses either to have been in Arms against the Parliament, or to have aided or assisted the King, be immediately discharged of all sequestrations, and unjust seizures; since that delinquency being cleared, it will follow, that they suffer merely for Conscience sake, if still sequestered.  
7. That Papists in Arms may be no worse dealt with in their Compositions than others in Arms; since to lay a Fine or mulct upon their Religion, is no ways in order to Liberty of Conscience.  
8. That no person be disabled from bearing any Office in the Commonwealth, for any opinion or practice in Religion, though contrary to the public way.  
9 That all persons whatsoever now in durance, who cannot be charged with any crime against the State, or are not imprisoned for debt, but that suffer only for Conscience sake, may be forthwith discharged.  
Some perhaps may here object, that to grant thus much, would be too much in favour of the Papists; Whereunto we answer, That as we bear them no more love than what one Christian is bound to show unto another, and their tenets much less; so we are clear of opinion, that it cannot perfectly be said to be Liberty of Conscience, nor can it be warranted by Scripture, that they or any others that wear the Title of Christians, should be excluded; besides, if any restrictions or penalties shall be continued on the Papists, though for the present we and other well-affected persons may be secure and unmolested, yet we know not how soon the same Laws or penalties by any change of times, may be laid upon us; As hath been too evident of late years, when as the penal Statutes which we know were primarily intended against Papists and their Adherents, were made a foundation for the Bishops to exercise their Lordly and tyrannical wills over many peaceable and conscientious men, for nonconformity in matters of Religion.  
Here we may add the consistency of Liberty of Conscience, with many, nay most Governments, whether Monarchical, Popular, or mixed, As in France, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, etc. where diversity of Faith exiles no confidence, but persons of all Religions are indifferently employed and found faithful in Offices and places of greatest trust.  
Again if there be such penalties and restrictions put upon men's Consciences, they cannot be termed Freeborn People, and English Natives, but rather aliens, outlaws or men barred of all propriety of persons and goods, and without the protection of the Laws, which are every man's birthright; and what is the case of others to day, may be ours tomorrow, according to the ebb or flow of fortune.  
Here perhaps some others will object and say, that though all other Religions ought to be tolerated, yet Papists ought not, because they are Idolaters; whereto if you will take the answer, which we have heard some of them deliver (for we think it just to hear all parties, and hold it a work of Charity to convert any, by arguments from the Written Word) their answer is this, that they give not Pictures or such representations (as they call them) any Sovereign honour, which is that that properly belongs to God, but an inferior or relative kind of reverence or honour.  
And if we take Papists in our or the common received sense, yet we cannot say they are such Idolaters, as those mentioned in the old Testament, who absolutely adored, even with Sovereign honour, the Images of false Gods, which these Papists (for aught we can learn) do not do, but do adore the Image of the true God; and therefore cannot properly be called Idolaters, at least in Scripture sense, but rather superstitious and Popish persons.  
But supposing it to be lawful or warranted by the Word of God, to persecute the Papists or any other sort of people professing Christ, yet we have observed in these last 7. years of their persecution, (which we confess has been very severe, and we believe that their persecutors, if they ever get the power, will be as rigid and unchristian towards us) when many of them have been hanged, drawn and quartered, others 7. or 8. years imprisoned only for refusing such oaths as we, or perhaps the persecutors themselves cannot in conscience take, and many of their Estates sequestered only for nonconformity in matters of Religion, yet we do not see that this persecution hath any thing at all abated or lessened the number of them, but that they are rather increased by suffering; so that whether we respect our own principle, of doing to others as we would be done unto, or be steered by reasons of Religion or of common policy, we humbly offer and think fit, that no Agreement of the People be concluded (or offered to public test) by any Representative, but that as a principal & material part which belongs to God, Liberty of Conscience to all that profess Christ without exception may be inserted, and the foresaid grievances redressed; so shall we with all true and Freeborn English men join hands and hearts against all Enemies to Peace and Godliness.   
FINIS.