UNderstanding you have received▪ some disturbance of late in examining divers persons about a designe to surprize the Tower, to save your further trou­ble we doe hereby freely own our utmost and hearty endeavours to have put that place into more faithful and confiding hands, and that by Authoritie from the Coun­cil of State, who at the passing of that Resolve, had the [Page 2] sole Legall Power from the Parliament of ordering di­recting, and disposing of all the Garrisons and Forces of this Common wealth, both by Sea and Land; An Acti­on so Honest and Honourable, as would not onely have given check to your Exorbitances at Wallingford-House, and VVhite-Hall, but was most necessary to the preserving the Peace and Safetie of this great Citty, by giving advan­tage to them, to put themselves into a Regular Posture of Defence, and such an Encouragement to the sober Partie a­mongst them, as would (through Gods mercy) have ut­terly defeated the Designes of the Common Enemy.

Sir, Let us tell you this Designe was not so vain but that we had (by the blessing of God) possest that place some weeks since, had we not been frustrated by our mistake in the Courage and Fidelitie of a Person, whose Opportunitie, In­terest and Duetie, (if not Principles) gave us better hopes; But in this Age we are to complain and wonder at nothing, yet we cannot but highly resent the Confidence of sending for one of our number by a party of Souldiers; As if Red­coats and Musketts were a Non Obstante to all Law and publique Priviledge, not as if that person or any of us are affraid or ashamed to own the Enterprize before any that have a lawfull Authoritie to demand an account of it, which we are sure no single Person, Juncto or Pack of Men at White-Hall, or VVallingford-House have a pretence to.

Sir, We have the witnesse with our own Spirits that we have and doe Cordially wish the preservation and good of you and your Family, but if the Lord hath said, you shall not hearken, but be hardned in your way, we must acquiesce in his Providence, and with sorrow look upon that Ruine which is flowing in upon you, as upon one in whom we thought we had seen some good.

[Page 3] Sr. consider that in the day of trouble which is certainly comming upon you, what support you will have to your spirit when you shall be assaulted with the shame you have brought upon God's people, with the breach of Faith to the Parliament, from whom you received your Com­mission; with the ruine you have brought upon your na­tive Countrey (unlesse the Lord by his own almighty Arme prevent it) and with the misery you have led the poor Soldiers into; who instead of being the instruments of securing and settling the Peace and Liberty of these Na­tions, enjoying the honour and quiet thereof, their arreares fully paid, future pay and advancement settled and esta­blished, in order and with the blessing of their Countrey­men, are now become the instruments of nine men's am­bition, have made the whole Nation their enemies, and are exposed again to the hardship and hazard of a new unnaturall War, without prospect of ever hoping that the issue of these affaires can leave their new Masters so rich (though conquerors) as to satisfy their arreares, or so se­cure as to trust preferment in any hands but such whose fa­natick principles or personall relations makes them ir­reconcileable to the publick interest: But God (we trust) has raised up a deliverer, having by admirable providence put an opportunity and power into the hands of Generall Monck the ablest and most experienced Commander of these Nations whom he hath also spirited to stand firm for the interest of this Commonwealth, as well against a Rebel­lious party of our own forces as the designes of the com­mon enemy (notwithstanding all causlesse and false asper­sions maliciously cast upon him) being warranted in his present actings by especial Commission and Authourity from the Council of State, whereas yours is that only of the Sword. Our prayers and earnest request for you and all honest men amongst you are, that you may timely joyn with him, and [Page 4] partake of the honour and blessing of his actions, and your true repentance shall be a greater rejoycing▪ then your de­fection was a trouble. When providence shall have separa­ted the precious from the vile, and no have suffered our scumme to boyl in, but shall have placed the Sword and Civil Authority in the hands of men ofthe best and sobe­rest principles.

Sir be not so farre deceived as to think sober men see not through the mask of this strange new Parliament, whose Li­berty▪ and safety, either of meeting or debating must be at your pleasures, who having taken upon you, to be Conserva­tors of the cause, will onely make use of them as your Asses­sours and Tax-gatherers: The present interrupted Parlia­ment being the sole lawfull Authority, and which can onely be hoped to make the Sword subservient to the Civil inte­rest, and settle the Government in the hands of the people, by successive and free Parliaments lawfully derived to them.

Sir, we have in sincerity given you our sense, and shall leave you to him that disposes ofall mens hearts, and remain