An express from the knights and gentlemen now engaged with Sir George Booth to the city and citizens of London, and all other free-men of England.

An express from the knights and gentlemen now engaged with Sir George Booth to the city and citizens of London, and all other free-men of England.

Table of contents

An EXPRESS from the KNIGHTS and GENTLEMEN now engaged with Sir GEORGE BOOTH; To the CITY and CITIZENS of London, And all other FREE-MEN of ENGLAND.

Sir GEORGE BOOTH to a Friend of his in London.

[Page]

An EXPRESS from the KNIGHTS and GENTLEMEN now engaged with Sir GEORGE BOOTH; To the CITY and CITIZENS of London, And all other FREE-MEN of ENGLAND.

Worthy CITIZENS, and all other our English FREE-MEN and BRETHREN,

AS we are English-men we are all incorporated into one Body, and though distinct and different Families, Fortunes, and Qualities, yet fellow Members and Coheirs of one and the same Birthright; not onely by nature, as we are the Sons of men, (nature obliging all in one Common and equal Bond of Freedom and Unity,) but by certain sacred Laws and Customes of peculiar and inherent Right to this Nation; general, equal, and impartial to all, without respect of persons, rank, quality, or degree, derived through all successions of Ages, by the blood Justice and Prudence of our Fore-fathers to us their posterity, as ours, and the Right of our Children after us, not disinheritable: though this Age were wholly made up of Apostates and Traytors to Common Justice and Freedom, and should make sale of, and deliver up their Children as slaves and vassails, yet English Right abideth, to wit, our just Lawes and Liberties, and may justly be reinforced as opportunity may present; Sometimes they sleep but never dye, their total Extinguishment is not to be imagined so long as any English-man, or English-blood abideth: and whoever undertaketh, (though by Arms, or otherwise,) their recovery and redemption is justified in that very Action by the Laws of God, of Nations, Nature, Reason, and by the Laws of the Land; and within the Bowels of our Nation amongst our selves no War can be justified, but upon that score, the contrary is Sedition, Murder, Treason, Tyranny and what not, and the Instruments thereof no other in the Eye of English Freedom and Right, but as Bears, Wolves, and other Beasts of prey.

Now right worthy and noble Citizens, and all other our English Brethren, let us consider and lay to heart the sad and deplorable condition of our native Countrey: Oppression, Injustice, and Tyranny raigneth; Division, Discord, and Dissimulation fomented and fostered; Trade and industery discouraged, our Land rent into parties and factions, and the Common Band of Unity Cancell'd, our Fundamental Laws supplanted, High Courts of Justice introduced, the blood of War shed in times of Peace; Arbitrary and illegal imprisonments, Pattents, Monopolies Excise, and other payments brought upon us, and continued Contrary to Magna Charta, and the Petition of Right; no form or face of Government of English Constitution amongst us; the name and Authority of the People in Parliament usurped and abused, and the stamp thereof put upon strange and prodigious Actions, vexing and oppressing the people with dayly Changes and Alterations in Government, as the Interest of some few ambitious Grandees alter and change, or get advantages one of another, and all under the Name of a Common-wealth, when as the Nature is not practised or intended at all, it being utterly inconsistent with their very temper and interest; they are wrapt up and compounded of nothing but guilt blood and Tyranny; and Equal and Common Justice (the Essence of a Common-wealth) are utterly repugnant thereto; and whatsoever they can doe must be planted and maintained by Sword and violence against the very Heart and Sence of the Nation; and they know not where nor how to centre an Oligarchy or something they would have to be Masters of the People, and perpetuate their power and Tyranny, and therefore would amaze and confound us with their New Debates of a Coordinate Power, or Senate for Life, such as our English Laws and Liberties know not of, and of pernitious Consequence to this Nation; so that from these men that thus handle the Sterne at Westminster, there is no expectation of any just Settlement of peace, or Freedom from oppression; especially considering, the Apostacy, Hypocrisy, Deceipt, and Perjury of those men, their manifold Sollemn Engagements, Oaths, Vows, Protestations, Appeals unto Heaven; Promises, Remonstrances, Declarations all by them broken again and again, never keeping Faith, Truce, or Oath, being unbounded, unlimited, Certain to nothing, not to be held either by the Law of God, of Man, of Conscience, or Reason; and from such Persons in Government good Lord deliver us, and all the good people of England; and that all this is true of them, your own Consciences Noble Citizens, and all other the Free people of England can witness, there is no tongue, no pen is able to vindicate them in this point, it is known of all, owned by all, and can be denyed by none; how then can any honest or just man shed any blood in their Quarrel, or lend them Assistance? surely that blood will be required at their hands, and we doubt not but you will be careful what you do.

And therefore from those Considerations and just provocations we have taken up Arms in pursuance of, and Inquisition after our Government, Laws, and Liberties, that every English-man may be protected and secured in his Religion, Liberty, and Property; and though it may be suggested, that we intend to introduce Prosecution for Conscience into the Land again, we do hereby (in the presence of Almighty God) protest and Declare against all Coercive Power in matters of Religion, and that to the utmost of our strength (through Gods Assistance) we will endevour to the hazzard of our Blood and Fortunes the Freedome and Protection of all virtuous and religious People, by what Name soever differenced from us, Equal with our selves: And that no Forraign or other other Authority save onely the Civil be exercised in England: That the Practise of the Law be reformed; all Corrupt Statutes repealed; Annual Elections of all Officers and Magistrates, with the Constant Succession of Parliaments restored; our Fundamental Laws cleared and asserted, and whatever is contrary there to to be abolished: That no Tryals be admitted in England for Life, Limb, Liberty or Estate but by the good old way of Juries, and that they be restored▪ to their Original power▪ and purity: That all Extrajudicial and Illegal proceedings by High-Courts of Justice, or otherwise, with all Illegal and Arbitrary Committees be strictly provided against: That the Excise, and all other Payments and Taxes such as our Ancestors never knew of, together with all Monopolies and Pattents destructive to Trade and the Common Good of the Nation be also abolished: And, that our Parliaments and Magistrates be secured from all Force and Violence; and utterly cleared from all boundless Prerogative, and unlimited Priviledge: That the Right of the Poor in the Commons of England, all Donations for Charitable Uses, and all Lands formerly belonging to the People be restor'd again: And that Mercy and Justice be truely established amongst us. And for these ends, and what else may be of publick good to the Nation, we do desire, and indeed challenge as of English Right, the speedy Election of a New Free Parliament.

And thus, Most noble Citizens, Brethren and fellow Free-men of England, we have dealt truely and plainly with you, and given you the real Grounds and Reasons of our taking up Arms; looking upon you as the most concern'd in the Nation, and therefore hold our selves the more oblieged to give you this Early Advice of our Candid and Just intentions in this Undertaking, that you may not be deluded or frighted (though falsly) into any strange opinion of us, either through your own mistake, or by the pollicy of those men who will leave no means unattempted to render us as Publick Enemies, Rebels and Traitors, Plunderers, Tyrants and Persecuters, or whatever is odious and monstrous, to engage you in Blood.

Beleeve us, Right worthy Citizens, and Free-born English Brethren, we have no Designe of Fire or Sword, or of Evil toward you or your City, or any part of the Nation, or any person in it: We know there are thousands amongst you that are satisfied in us; it may be indeed that many or most of the Gathered Sepeate Churches may be fearful and jealous of us, and so may be induced to Arms against us; but we do again and again protest before Almighty God, and the whole World, that we have no other purpose towards them, but that they with us, and we with them, may be bound up as Friends and Brethren in the Common Cause of our Countrey, that every English-man may have English Freedom and Right; and we do not desire to wrong either Man, Woman, or Childe the worth of a Shooe-latchet: Therefore we hope you will first well advise before you proceed in a new War, lest you bring not only your own, but others blood on your heads (for we are resolved to prosecute this to the last drop of our blood.) The Case of England is laid before you, our Laws and Liberties, they are yours as well as ours, and for which we have all engaged in the first War, and not to be so streightly vai [...]d as to be set at stake against the private ends of some ambitious and corrupt persons: Salus Populi, Suprema Lex; Let the People live, and their Enemies perish.

Therefore we beseech you, we conjure you as English men, to stand by your Native Countrey, and your Countreys Cause: Our voyce is, and it is no other than the Consent and Voyce of the People, A New Free Parliament, A New Free Parliament; it is the English mans main Birthright, which we are resolved to put the People in possession of, or to perish with our Swords in our hands. But if you will not joyn, but degenerate, we hope nothwithstanding (by Gods blessing) to carry on this Work: Yet to that just and glorious Work we may challenge your concurrence, it being your duty as well as ours to endevour the procurement thereof: And therefore to you make it our Proposall, to your Militia, to the Army, and the whole People, for the prevention of a New War, and the effusion of English blood, that you would be Instrumental with us for the speedy Election of a New Free Parliament, for the ends aforesaid; and in the interim all hostility to be forborn▪ and that a day may be appointed, and the People suffered to go to their free Elections, and we shall quietly submit unto their Authority; heartily desiring that all revenge, division, rancor, and animositie of spirit may be for ever buried in one General Act of Oblivion; And that all Parties, Sects, and Sorts (now jarring, and making up interests one against another) may reconcile, cement, and concenter in the common Brotherhood of English Freedome and Right; in and for which we are

Sir GEORGE BOOTH to a Friend of his in London.

SIR,

MY last to you of the second Instant I understand you have committed to open view, the Publication whereof was of general Satisfaction to your Friends here, and for which we all hold our selves obliged. I have sent you here inclosed An Express from the Knights and Gentlemen engaged with me, and beg this further addition to your former many Favours, that you would please to take the care upon you, to get the same printed and published, for the undeceiving of those amongst you, and all other that are yet doubtful or unsatisfied in us. This Messenger will inform you of the present State and Condition of Affairs with us, to whom I refer you. In hast I rest,

SIR,

Your most affectionate Friend and Servant George Booth.

Manchester Aug. 9. 1659.

Information about this book

Title statement

An express from the knights and gentlemen now engaged with Sir George Booth to the city and citizens of London, and all other free-men of England.

Edition statement

1659

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A84300

ID [STC]

Wing E3892

ID [STC]

Thomason 669.f.21[68]

ID [STC]

ESTC R211261

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99869990

ID [PROQUEST]

99869990

ID [VID]

163563

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Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A84300)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 163563)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 247:669f21[68])

Source

— An express from the knights and gentlemen now engaged with Sir George Booth to the city and citizens of London, and all other free-men of England., Delamer, George Booth, Baron, 1622-1684..

Extent

1 sheet ([1] p.)

s.n.,. [London :: 1659]. (Imprint from Wing.) (Included at foot: "Sir George Booth to a friend of his in London" (dated Manchester Aug. 9. 1659).) (Annotation on Thomason copy: "August 12".) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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