A LETTER to the Lord General Monck In answer to his Excellencies LETTER unto the Gentry of Devon; which also relates to the secluded Members, grievances of the Citizens of London, Sir George Booth, and Nations in Generall.

May it please your Excellency,

HAving perused yours of the 21. of January from Leycester, unto the Gentry of Devon, I finde an expostulation or rea­soning of the case in reference to our present distractions, and extream grievances of the people, then and every where remonstrated unto you, Therefore, my Lord, since you have wisdome to discover the several interests which you then mention to be interwoven both in Church, State, &c. It will also be as considerable to consider that those persons are but few in respect to the whole, and they are onely those who now obstruct our peace, and cause the Nations thus to complaine; So that to make any conclusion with your Excellency, that those are rational or satisfactory grounds (under fa­vour) cannot be admitted since it opposes the peoples freedom, their ancient Rights, and that which is of more concern­ment, even the Scriptures which (without yea and nay) are the revealed will of God, for that the Government apparently declares it self to be built upon, or by the blood and ruines (not to name all our consciences tells us) of our brethren, Countrey-men and friends, and is upheld by persons whose interests at this day in temporals denies them any thoughts of Christ and his Laws, which is restitution and severe repentance, and who certainly, although for a few dayes of momentary joy they are seemingly by successeful errours allowed of, can­not long deface this State, and once glorious Church of God, by which further I must tell your Lordship, and all must confesse, that those foundations thus built upon are altogether sandy and fallacious, and all those who seek and endeavour to be Builders in that Babel by the fierce­nesse of the wrath of God shall be destroyed even in the imaginations of their own hearts. And now, my Lord, I am come to that particular where the people and the secluded Members, as I humbly conceive, are denyed a right upon a supposition of necessity, and as to that the answer is easily reduced to this, who or what brought us or them to this necessity, was it not former crimes? if so then, My Lord, all neces­sities are lawful if not so, and that they dread not punishments or losse of worldly interests for some deviations and crying sins, why do they not acquiesse in this, that the power is in the people, as they for their own ends somtimes did declare (those Members being twice the major part, and thrown out by Cromwel and his adherents, these men then countenancing and contriving the same which your Lordship knows hath abundant­ly returned upon them to the great destruction and hazard of these Nations, Therefore my Lord, I would to God I might be the Prophet to forewarn you of the violence and oppression which is in their hands, that you might be kept from so sinful compliances, for to defend a few discontents in self interest onely is obstinancy almost beyond parallel: And therefore, my Lord, since Noble actions do always attend a generous mind. It is my greatest hopes, and not onely mine, but the expections and longings for of these Nations (since the prise is put into your hands,) That you should now be the happy instrument of their Redemption, by such conditions as may secure all persons so concerned, or else what meanes all those Addresses made unto your selfe from the City of London, tumults and importunate desires for a Free Parliament of the Nations in General, whose burthens are unsufferable to uphold the envious ambition of some few, and cannot but be grievous as clamourous in your eares.

But, My Lord, there are yet some considerable Observations and remembrances to be laid before you; was it not their sinne in that place of Naboths Vineyard that kill'd? and was it not the aggravation that they also took possession? Is not rebellion as the sinne of witchcraft? is it not our Saviours expresse command, give unto Caesar that which is Caesars? and is not this the Royal Law? do as you would that others should do unto you; innumerable are the Texts, and readings in History that might be here inserted, which doubtlesse, My Lord, you will recollect to your eternal honour, and the everlasting peace and settlement of these afflicted Nations, whose perjuries in breaking Allegiances, Vowes and Covenants, both with God and man, and lead thereunto by their various Governours, e­ven as if we had been in trouble until we were double damn'd in sinning, and causing others to finne is matter of amazement. In a word, to conclude your Excellencies trouble, be pleased to let this Maxime remain with you, That Government which once becomes a by­word to the people is not durable, this is so, we have tried all formes and models, and this is yet the judgement upon us, that we strive against his providence, and will not be healed: How many who had commands almost equal with your's, have outlived the days they might have been renowned, who by countenancing factions and crying sins afterwards fell into tribulation and great scorn, being tor­mented by their own confederates: And this, my Lord, is the portion and fate of all such who put their trust in man, taking indirect meanes to attaine glorious ends, as they pretended, and this perpetuates our thraldome and miseries, My Lord, It is therefore my hearts desire, that you may imploy the talent God hath now put into your hands to these purposes, which will for ever make you famous and precious in the sight of God and Good men; and sure I am, it will abundantly illustrate that joy which you may gain in that immortalitie and glorious life to come, in the intrim you cannot but find the secret overflowings in your own breast, the streames of which the people pray may never be diverted by thousands per annum; and this, my Lord, with the present condition of that noble Gentle­man, Sir George Booth and others, who are now under great sufferings for asserting their Countreys Right, and freedome of Parlia­ments, which is the sense and perfect desires of these Nations, is humbly offered unto you as becometh your Excellencies

Most humble and faithful servant, C. E.

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