AT how deer a rate we have valued our liberties, both in mat­ters of Conscience and common Right, let our actions speak, and the world judge: as first, for matter of Conscience, when the Bishops and their tyranizing Clergy and Courts did vex and torment all honest Conscientious p [...]ople in our Nation, who did ever oppose them more than we did? and who did ever appear before us, or with a greater number in person, with a Petition to the Parlia­ment, for the stocking of them up root and branch? and what pains we took, and what charge we were at, with the seeking f [...]r justice to be done upon scandalous Priests, let the Clarks books of the Commit­tee for Plundered Ministers speak; and our many weary journeys to London, with many men and women: And yet if a Priests actions were never so foul, as his friends were in the Committee, so was his sentence; as some of us can by deer bought experience witnesse.

And although there is much said to be done, in the reforming of Re­ligion, yet we see little fruit of it, for in some Parishes there is Com­mon Prayers still read to this day, and as wretched scandalous Priests as ever: yea, and those Priests who cost some Parishes twenty or thirty pounds to cast outA glori­ous Refor­mation. (were presently admitted to another) yea, and one Parish that had spent above forty pounds to throw out one base fellow, were by an Assembly-man forc't to have one that had been thrown out three several times before: And those that have not had such as are so scandalous in their lives, yet at the best are but ridged Presbyters, who are so proud and covetous that those who could not in Conscience give them the benefit of their labors, under the name of Tythe, by the power of a cruel Ordi­nance, have made their little finger heavier than their Predecessors loynes. And in the midst of thisSee the Zeale of these reli­gious men. Reforma­tion, aboundance of Parishes that have not great livings are wholy destitute of any Priest at all, and we were never [Page 2]yet so far beholden to any sort of men in power, as to have an Order made for impropriators to allow some means to help to maintain a Priest in any Parish where there was none, although the Tyth was worth five hundred pound per annum. No nor so much as an Order forAlthough this had been no charge nor losse to themselves. giving Liberty to those whom God had taught to know himself, and made willing to teach others freely, what they knew and beleeved, concerning God, with­out Tyth, or other reward. Yea, and all penal Statutes suffered to stand still in force, whereby many peaceable people suffer to this day. And if God had not of late days made Jury-men more wise and honest than some other men, they were like to suffer as deep as ever.

And thus much for our Reformation in that which is called Religi­on. But the Apostle Iames saith, Pure Religion and undefiled, is to visit the fatherlesse and widdows, and to releeve the oppressed, and such like acts as these. And Christ himself said, His Kingdom was not of this world. He hath declared himself to be the King of Saints, and all such whom he hath taught, know his Voice, and follow him, and dare not follow any other; for they know he hath prescribed them a per­fect rule to walk by, and hath been very faithful in all things in his House, more than Moses was, who left nothing undone in matter of Worship, for any other.

And therefore we conclude, That no civil power in the world, can meddle with Religion, but they must intrench upon the Prerogative Royal of Jesus Christ. And for a more full discourse of this point, we referr you to a Sermon of Mr Dell's, entituled, Right Reformation. Yet we desire such a course might be taken, as might cherish Vertue, and punish Vice, more strictly than it hath ever yet been.

And for our Common Rights and Liberties, we shall give a brief account of our actions, and let the world judge at what a rate we valu­ed them: for when by an over-ruling Providence, the grand Tyrant Charles Stuart, was constrained to call a Parliament, although him­self and his crew by their Power, intended thereby to set up iniquity by a Law; yet then we stood it out, in our Election, against Charles Stuart's interest, as much as any one County whatsoever, although much abused and threatred.

And when the Parliament came to contest [...]i h Charles Stuart about the Nations Rights and Freedom, from under his Tyranny, who [Page 3]ever stuck more close to them then we did, both with purse and per­son; witness our free loan upon the propositions, some of us borrowing moneyes at eight per cent. to lend upon that account, thinking no­thing too dear to recover our freedom from Tyrannie and Bondage; many other that were not worth twenty pounds in the worldWho now would be glad of five to buy them bread., did lend ten pounds; and others, if they had no money themselves, if their Wives had but a Ring or a silver spoon, presently carryed it to Guild-hall for pub­lique use, and had no other end in it, but the recovery of long lost Freedom; and no other ground for it but a Declaration of Parliament; in which we found Salus populi Suprema Lex; upon which we resolved not to be wanting for the true establish­ing of that Law: Yea, and when it came to the contest with the sword, who ever appeared in the Militia, and who ever opposed the Commis­sion of Array when it was in our County, more stoutly and resolutely then we did; although our great men did threaten us with Bullets in our foreheads, and hanging by the neck, and burning our houses, &c. And many poor honest hearted men that had not 30 shils. in the world, did spare 20 of it to buy a Musket in this contest; yea, and found all Am­munition, and hired experienced men at their own charges, to exercise them in the use of Armes, for the end and cause aforesaid: And yet this did not rest here, but we sent out a Regiment of men at our own cost and charges, and maintained them abroad for many months together: And after this, we did raise three Regiments more, and maintained them at our own charge, and were upon motion very often, somtimes a month or five weeks, somtimes more; and all at our own charge, without any allowance from the State, or one penny abatement in our proportion of Taxes; although no County in the Land of our quality were at the like charge: Yea and when by neglect of doing justice up­on Charles Stuart and his crew, Kent and Essex did joyn with the old Cavaliers and raised a new War, we did not onely keep our own County at quiet, but were as ready to help others, and did never for­sake our first Principles, viz: common Rights and Freedom: And whereas there is great complaining of parties carrying on the design of Charles Stuart, under the name of Levellers, we are sure this cannot be spoken by us who never appeared directly or indirectly in his design. But we declare to the world, that we would be glad to injoy what these mens declared Principles hold forth: For their intentions, if they [Page 4]had any base end, we cannot see their hearts, but are to judge of their intentions by what is declared in words; for we had nothing but De­clarations to cause us to do all that we have done. And whereas there is much said to be done in order to the ends declared for, truly we could be glad we were truly sensible of it. But in answer to what is said to be done, viz: in taking away his Commissions, Star-chamber-Courts, Ship-money, and Monopolies, projects and purveyancies, and the Court of WardsTo this we answer,, they were all taken away except the Court of Wards at the begining of this Parliament, before any contest with Charles Stuart with the sword, and used as an Argument to induce us to assist the Parliament against Charles Stuart: So that it is clear, this is just nothing in answer to our expectatations, grounded upon the Parliaments Declarations, which were made before these things were done: And truly this is but a small requital for our service and expence, this being all paid for before by way of Subsedy. And for the Court of Wards, we acknowledge it hath bin taken away since: But we desire to know if this becomes those, who say they are, and desire to prove themselves good Patriots and good Christians in the discharging their trust, to free themselves from all oppressions that lay upon them, and the rest of the great men of the Nation; although they know the greatest part of them have bin their professed and deadly Enemies: And to keep all those, or the great­est part of those that have adhered to the first declared Parliamentory principles, in slavery to themselves, and the gaeatest Cavaliers of the Land, by base tenures, fines, hariots, fealty, homage, &c. and by tithes, and the Lawes in the Norman Tongue; for it is notoriously known, that those that hid adhere to Charles Stuart, were such whose interest was in the peoples oppressions: And that the most of those that did ad­here to the Parliament, were not great men, but such as were oppressed by great men, either in Coppy-holds or Tithes; or by the subtilty of the Lawyers, who Caterpillar-like, eat and devour all they possibly can, not regarding equity or justice, but how to get money right or wrong. Now although there is much talking of common freedom, in that book, yet how far this is off, or short of common freedom, let the world judge: This single Act of taking away the Court of Wards, be­ing all that can be said in order to common freedom, and this reacheth onely the Actors, and the rest of the great men of the Nation; of which he greatest part are perfect Cavaliers, who make the utmost use of [Page 5]their power to ruine and destroy all those who oppose their Tyranny, by imposing great fines upon them, in their Estates by alienation or de­cent, even to the ruining of some mens Estates.

And others have found the like from Impropriators, in the matters of Tythes, who have by Ordinance of Parliament destroyed some of the Parliaments faithful friends.

We are also left in the like condition for many other oppressions, as the Norman Laws in an unknown Tongue, and the cruel practise of the same, by Vipers: as also the towle of Markets, that none may sell their corn, which is their own, but first there must come Publicans and take away what they please, to feast some who never take any pains for it.

By what hath been said, let the World judge vvhether this tend to Common Freedom, or to self interest; or whether it is not an act of grace to the great Tyrants of the Land, rather then Common Free­dom; and whether it is not an act of cruelty to the greatest part of the People of the Nation, who have spent so much blood and treasure for the ends before mentioned. And vvhereas there is much said about some mens going into Egypt, under Pharaohs oppressions, We declare to the whole World, that vve are resolved never to look back to Pha­raohs bondage again: vve confess we are brought into the Wilderness, and there we meet vvith hardship and difficulty, but vve are resolved for the Land of Promise, in the power of the Lord of Hosts, and the God of all our mercies vve have already received: and he vvho brought us from Pharaohs bondage and Tyranny, vve beleeve vvill carry us into the Promised Land, vvhere none shall hurt or oppresse or make a prey of us in any kind: and although many (like Israel of old) vvhen Canaan vvas to be possessed, gave an ill report of it, and said, There were Gyants, and the Walls high; so novv, many say in the vvay to Common Freedom, There is the Gyants of Self-interests, Lords of Mannors, and Impropriators, and Lavvyers novv in povver, vvho vvill never y [...]eld to let the People go free: in this vve shall like Ioshuah and Caleb rest upon, That God, vvho brought us thus neer to the Promised Land, to bring us into the possession of our deer bought Liberties: and though vve are novv in straits and troubles in the Wildernesse, yet if e­ver God shall be pleased to raise us up a Ioshuah to go before us; vve mean a Nevv and equal Representative, chosen and elected upon the grounds of equity and reason, vve shall vvith all cheerful readinesse go [Page 6]along vvith them, for the attaining all just ends desired and laboured for by all good men. And if any shall say, There is a Parliament already fir­ing. To this vve answer, in our understandings there can be none, for we are sure if there vvere, there ought to be some elected by us, to treat for us in things concerning our Freedom and Liberty, vvhich vve sensibly knovv there is not, and therefore of necessity vve must appeal to a Nevv.

It is also declared in that book, that some complain of, or aggravate the charge and burden of the Nation, and that there can be no accounts given of their money; and truly we say, none need to tell us of our burdens or oppressions that are laid upon us, for they are so heavie, that we feel them sufficiently; and for Accounts, we believe that those who share the Nations Treasure among thems [...]lves by hundreds and thou­sands, never intend to give account for it, unless they are forced to it. It is also said, there are special Commissions given out to Try some men as Disturbers of the Common-Wealth; At which we stand amazed, that those who call themselves good Patriots, and good Christians, should (at this time) set up that which at the begining of the Parliament was so much cried down for cruelty, when it was done by Charles Stuart; but truly we declare to those men who sit to do such Acts, that they would have got as much credit and love, if they had spent that time to have done some good Action for the Nation, which they spent to destroy honest men that have stood alwaies for Common good. And taking notice also of a thing called an Act for taking the Engagement; We declare our resolution at once for standing against King, or kingly pow­er, we are fully resolved upon the grounds of reason, that Government being tyranical, vexatious, and very chargeable; and for the House of Lords, we are the like, for when we had a Parliament (although the House of Commons made but few good motions for us, yet) we alwaies found the Lords obstructing and hindring, and therefore we shall to the utmost, endeavor against them; but to engage to be true to the Com­mon-wealth as it is now established, we know not what that means; for Government we see none, but the old tyranical Norman Govern­ment, or a Government by the power of the Sword, which if it conti­nue, is very tedious to us; but put the case there were a just Govern­ment setled, which we see none, yet in reason vve could not engage to stand to it, because vve have no men impowered by us that have bad any hand in making or establishing it, if it vvere, for in so doing, we [...] up our vvhole Right of Election, by consenting and seting out [...] [Page 7]such a Government as vvas made vvhen vve had no part or share in the making of it; and by this our resolution is declared concerning it. We also declare to the vvhole World, that if ever vve recover our Right of a New Election of a New Representative, for vvhich vve engaged against the chief Tyrant of the Norman Race; We also resolve against all his Creatures, and never intend to chuse one of them more for a Parliament man vvhile vve live; vve mean lords of Mannors, Impropriators, and Lawyers, vvhose Interest is in our oppression, and at this day keep us in bondage like Egyptian Task-masters, having by policy and our money, got the Soldiers to decline their promises to us, and support them. We also resolve never to petition these men more vvho now rule over us, nor never to recruit them if they would have us; By this it shall be known to be a general consent of those exprest in the Title.