UPon the serious and sober review of all our pristine magnanimous, and undaunted Actions in the Army in time of Warre, And that while we were all unanimous and zealous for the common good and welfare of this Nation, We were a Ter­rour to all our Enemies round about, though now become a laughing-stock to all our ene­mies that see our inconstancies, whom no­thing can please; but what we cry up to day, we cry down to morrow, onely led there­unto by the Capricious brains of a few weak single persons, Who without us, are nothing; yet we looke not into our own Abilities and Power, but like heedlesse Children cast our dearly bought Honour at our heeles: So we are emptied from Vessel to Vessel, and every day made more and more Slaves to to our own Countrey-men, which is as dis­honourable in every true English man to suffer, as it is unworthy in them to impose; and yet all must be done politically, under pretence of Religion, and the Liberties, and Privi­ledges of the People, when dayly Experi­ence shewes us, that nothing lesse is inten­ded: Is it not then a shame the Power and [Page 2]change of Government being in us, that we cannot see and prevent our own Ruine and Destruction? when every Man can clearly discern the Face of Fallacies, in the Glasse of his own Woes, and that we are headlong running to Confusion. In the abundance therefore of our zeal and Cordiall Love to­wards the rest of You our Fellow-sufferers, and Souldiers in the Army, We have thought very fit to acquaint you, as well with what we have Discovered, and Collected from the Actings of our Superiours, as our resolutions to let loose the Raines of our Power and Li­bertie. For it is not a Time for our Superi­ours to strive who shall be Greatest, and per­petuate themselves a Multitude of Princes, Feeding upon the Ruines of the People, and Fat of the Nation, when We, our Families, Wives, and Children, and all that is neare and deare unto us, may beg, starve, and pe­rish: Therefore as stout Souldiers, whet and rowse up your Spirits, Let us not any longer with great Words be over-awed, like Doggs with a Cudgell.

It is well known that we are all very much in Arreare of Pay, And that the Monethly Taxes have been paid before-hand, with the the Excise in all the Counties, Customes, De­linquents Estates, besides many other Ad­vantages, whereby farre greater summs have [Page 3]been raysed, then would satisfie all our Ar­rears, through want whereof, our Wives and Children have been so much destitute of Bread and Drinke, that we have been forced to sell and pawn what we had for Bread to satisfie their hungery stomacks; yet no care or pro­vision is made for our payment by our present Masters, who will still exact Taxes, though they distract Trading, and make many thousand Beggers, as well in the City, as Countrey; nor care they how despicable, or to what extremities they expose us, so they make themselves great.

In the time of Oliver late Protector, there was constantly some reasonable time taken for payment of us: And doe but consider how carefull was Richard the Protector, for paying off all our Arreares to which purpose he was very earnest with the late Parliament, and they thereunto with him did Comply, so that we are truely sensible to have been paid off cleare, before this time, if they had been suffe­red to sit, for which we now repent at our own weaknesse, in suffering the Dissolution thereof, by a few Ambitious self-ended per­sons, who dayly studie new Formes of Government thereby to Advance them­selves, though to the ruine of a Nation: When time and experience hath taught all Ages, that a Government in a single person [Page 4]lawfully Elected, is most safe, most for the ease and appeal of the Oppressed, most Ho­nourable, most Peaceable, most Heaven-like; and most Consentaneous to an English heart.

That we well understand the Resolves and Intentions of Parliament, are first to settle the Militia, as stawking Horses for them, the the better to catch their Game, then after that, either to send us beyond Seas, out of our Na­tive Countrey, to be destroyed like Vaga­bonds in a strange Countrey at their pleasures, Contrary to the Libertie of Free-born Peo­ple, or else Disband us at Home, and leave us with our Wives and Children to beg our Bread in our own Nation, where we shall be quickly destroyed and our Posterities, by such as have been, and are inveterate Ene­mies to us and the Common-wealth; And which shall be all our reward, after shedding of so much bloud as hath been lost, for regain­ing our lost Liberties; And therefore is it not pertinent we all in time provide for our own safetie, which we shall never enioy without the Government of a single person, our abso­lute and chief preservation?

That Richard Protector, nominated by his late Father, according to the humble Ad­vice, Chosen and Proclaimed, by Consent of Councell, Parliament and Army, is undoubt­edly [Page 5]the Lawfull Successive Governour over these Nations, and acknowledged by the ma­ny Addresses from most Counties and Cor­porations in England, and also from the Ar­mies in Scotland and Ireland, looking upon him as their Lawfull and Supreme Gover­nour, which we are Unanimously resolved to maintain, being well assured of the City of Londons Faithfull Complyance with us; And doe therefore require your willingness, and undaunted Spirits of Assistance to joyn with us.

That we are not resolved to passe any Mu­sters, (though we may draw to the Field the better to be informed of all your freenesse, and willingnesse herein) untill our present Masters shall, and have paid all the Arreares due un­to us.

That so soon as the Lord Henry Cromwell, shall appear with an Army in England, We are, and shall be generally resolved to joyn with Him, for Re-establishing Richard, Lord Pro­tector, in which Resolution we hope you will be as free to joyn with us as the Citie; And chiefly it being the onely way for all our Ad­vancements, and Preservations of our selves and you, yours, and your Wives and Children from the intended Destructions.

And lastly, The whole Countrie being ge­rerally sensible, our new and present Ma­sters act no good or settlement of Trade in the Common wealth, nor for relief of the Op­pressed; We are resolved to Dissolve them (without advice or consent of Officer) at such time as shall be concluded upon at our next generall meeting, having many thousands with and about the Citie in readinesse to joyn with us; And doe there desire your Appearance and Compliance at the time, for doth not the power of change of any Government test upon us? Then let us act like Men and Chri­stians, not fearing any, so shall we bring a set­led Government in a single person again, and perfect Libertie as Free-born People, which at present is enjoyed but by some particular persons.