To his Excellency the Lord General CROMWELL AND THE COUNCIL of STATE: The humble Remonstrance of divers well-affected Inhabitants of the Town of COLCHESTER in ESSEX.  
SHOWETHS,  
THat we have been a long time much supported under our heavy pressures, with the expectation of the performances o● the many Vows and Engagements made by your Excellency, the late Parliament, and the Army; that when the Nation (through the blessing of God upon the Forces under your Command, and the expense of our blood and treasure) wa● free from the Common enemy, that we should have been established upon principles of Righteousness, and Justice, and been fa● from oppression: But in stead thereof, how hath Judgement been turned into Wormwood, and Righteousness rejected as a thing o● no value? How have our Enemies been made the Chief? How hath the Tabernacles of Robbers prospered? and the oppressions o● the Nation been increased? For which things sake, hath the Lord been as a swift witness to visit our former Governors, whose actions declared, that they thought never to be removed.  
But now seeing the set time is come, that God hath put a period to his actings in, and by, and through the late Parliament, and hath given us occasion (yielding all due respect to the precious amongst them) to take up the Proverb, How hath the Oppressor ceased? and where is the fury of the Oppressor? And hath highly honoured you, and made you the Chief amongst the People; ou● hopes and prayers are.  
I. That you may be faithful to God, to your own souls, and to the People of this Commonwealth, whose eyes are upon you whose desires are towards you, and whose prayers are for you; that the God of all might would strengthen you in the inward and outward man, that a spirit of Judgement and Justice may rest upon you, that you may do worthily in Ephratah, and famously in Bethlehem; that by your means Judgement may run down our streets as Water, freely, fluently, and impartially; and Righteousness a mighty Stream: And the rather, that you would strengthen your hands in this work, from the consideration of the quietness o● the Nation, during this alteration of Government, which we cannot but look upon, as a signal pledge and testimony of God's presence with you, who stills the raging of the Sea, and the tumults of the People,  
II. That as you have cut Rahab, and wounded the Harlot, so you would search into her entrails, and call the Money-mongers of the Nation to account, and make them disgorge themselves, of those many millions of Money that they have unrighteously heaped up to themselves as the Dust of the Streets.  
III. That all unrighteousness, and Arbitrary powers, in all Courts of Judicature and Committees, and what ever hath the facen of oppression, may be taken away; that the Laws may be regulated, Trading encouraged, Tithes annihillated, and another way (no● compulsary) to maintain Ministers settled, evil men punished, good men rewarded, and the public debts of the Nation satisfied, according to your engagements at Tripplo, and Newmarket heaths; the promises are registered with God, and Freedom is our inheritance.  
FOUR That in all places you would appoint men to act under you; that may be men of courage, fearing God, and hating covetousness, that so we may in some measure, arrive at the happy days promised, and prophesied of, that our Officers shall be peace, and our Exactors righteousness; and consider what a plague an evil man is in Magistracy.  
V That you may avoid those dangerous rocks, of selfseeking, and self-advancing interests, which former powers have suffered shipwreck upon; that your ears may be readily open to hear the cries of the poor and needy in the land, that faces may not be known in judgement, that the poor may not be subject to the oppression of the rich, nor the rich open to the disorder of the poor; then shall not destruction be your heritage, nor you be brought low for oppression, as other powers before you.  
VI That some faithful men may be appointed to take the Petitions of the people, to whom the miseries and the grievances of the Nation may be truly presented, that as the Lord heareth and avengeth his elect (that cry day and night unto him) though he tarry long: so the sighs and groans of this languishing Commonwealth, may at last be heard, that we be no longer sold as slaves, but that our privileges may be given us at our desires, and our liberties at our requests; then shall you decree a thing, and it shall be established unto you, and the light shall shine upon your ways.  
VII. That your spirits may not in process of time cool, but that you would execute judgement, in the morning of your proceed, and deliver the land that is nigh spoiled; and in the evening of your days let not your hand rest, that our reformation may not be nominal, but real; that you would improve this opportunity that God hath given you to the height, for the glory of God, and good of his people: so shall the upright love you, and men shall call you Trees of the Lord, Plants of righteousness, God shall be glorified in you, and the whole Nation shall have cause to bless God for you, and stand by you (as ourselves) with their Lives and Fortunes.  
VIII. Consider that the Judgements of the Lord are abroad in the world, Supreme powers must be emptied from vessel to vessel, until they do appear girt about the paps with a golden girdle, and then they will not mind their own interests, no nor their lives, in respect of the good of those whom they serve; injustice shall be punished as in the late King, for no strong Hold or Sword can be built or sharpened against Heaven; so shall you be as Joshua not only to deliver, but to settle the people in Canaan.  
IX. Remember what is spoken of the oppressing City; though Babylon should mount up to Heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith the Lord, jeremiah 51. 53.  


Mr. john Furley,  
Mr. Thomas Peak,  
Mr. Richard Allen,  
Mr. john Vickers,  
Mr. Robert Beal,  
Thomas Curling,  
Mr. Thomas Radham,  
Thomas Gibson,  
Mr. john Aston,  
Mr. Thomas Hastewood.  
Mr. john Drywood.  
Mr. Nathaniel Strickson.   With divers hundreds more in a Rowl ready to be produced.